“Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, "These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation." And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And he came out that very hour.”
Acts 16:16-18
Introduction:
This morning we are going to take a journey together. A journey down the pathway of scripture and a journey for many of us down memory lane. Back to those childhood days when we first saw the movie classic, “The Wizard of Oz.” In this familiar cinema great, Dorothy and her little dog, Toto are transported by a cyclone from their home in Kansas to the amazing land of Oz, where she eventually connects with three travel companions. The scare crow, The Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion.
Together this unlikely group endeavors to find hope…. And home. In so many ways their search resembles the search of every person. To find hope, and home.
In Acts chapter 16, Paul and Silas find themselves in an unenviable situation. They are in Philippi during Paul’s second missionary journey, and as part of their practice they daily went to this place that scripture calls “the place of prayer.” Philippi is a major city in the region known as Macedonia, yet it has little Jewish influence, and there is no synagogue. So Paul and Silas would go to “the place of prayer,” this would be the place were the Jewish believers would gather.
Verse 16 of Acts chapter 16 sets the scene:
“Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. 17This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, "These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation." 18And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And he came out that very hour. 19But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities. 20And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, "These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city; 21and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe."
Acts 16:16-21
The owners of the slave girl were not at all happy that Paul had interfered with their money maker and then next thing Paul and Silas knew, they found themselves standing in front of the magistrate, and then beaten, flogged, and imprisoned. They weren’t just imprisoned, scripture tells us that they were place in the inner cell and were placed in stocks. The stocks served in those days as both a form of security, and a form of torture. They were in a horrendous place.
Yet, as we catch a glimpse at their dilemma through the window of scripture we find them praying and singing hymns to God. It is reminiscent of Acts 5:41, when the apostles were excited when they had stood before the Sanhedrin and cast out... the apostles rejoiced because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace in the name of Jesus.
Why would these men, these followers of Christ rejoice in the midst of suffering? What kind of joy is it that counts it a blessing to suffer? What kind of disposition does it take for a prisoner to sing hymns of praise? What kind of Joy is it that caused the disciples when facing death in face, viewed it as a great victory?
This joy that we see embodied in Paul and Silas impromptu praise session in the jail is the joy that Christ Jesus came to reveal. John 15:11, Jesus says, “I tell you this that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.”
It is God’s desire for us to have this possession, this disposition of joy.
It is in pursuit of this joy that we find our friends in the movie classic, The Wizard of Oz, travelling down the yellow brick road. Each one of the character would give a slightly different definition to joy, but each one is looking for that which they perceive would fill the void in their life, that would bring a sense of completeness to their world.
The Scare Crow – If I only had a brain (pursuing wisdom)
Like the Scare Crow, so many today look for a sense of completeness in knowledge, in wisdom. Scripture responds in 1 Corinthians, “Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?” 1 Corinthians 1:20 NIV
While it is true that God’s Word challenges us to live not as unwise but as wise, it is imperative that we realize were wisdom is found. The Scare Crow was convinced that the all powerful Oz could provide him with a brain. It was his dream. We find in Job 12:13
“To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his.” Colossians 2 informs us that “in Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
The Tin Man believed that the answer to the void in his life was the ability to feel emotion. But for the Christian, we know that true heart goes beyond mere emotionalism
Matt 5:8
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Rom 10:10
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
For the Cowardly Lion, he hoped that the road to Oz would be the path to courage. We Know Christ have come to discover that courage itself in not a source of joy, courage is a direct result of a trusting in God’s promises:
1 Cor 16:13-14
Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.
Josh 1:6-7
Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous
Dorothy simply wanted to get back home… and the great news is this We have a home, we are to live our lives here as strangers: 1 Peter 2:11 - Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world; 1 Peter 1:17 – Live your lives as strangers.
The Scare Crow with his companions were in pursuit of a dream, much like so many in our society are in pursuit of what is often called the American dream, but what I am convinced is more adequately described as the American Mirage.
Though their expressed desires were different all were in pursuit of a common result, they were looking for that thing they believed would fill the void or respond to the deficiency in their life. They perceived a lack, and that everything would be complete if they could just attain this one thing. You remember it don’t you… the scarecrow’s song: “If I only had a brain.”
Society today is on a quest much like those on the road to Oz. The American dream, birthed in the rugged individualism of the early pioneers has found its greatest energy at the dawn of the electronic age. And modern media has served to embed the image of the American dream deep into today’s culture. There is a significant shift in our values and the meaning of the word necessity has been rewritten. (Perceived vs. Actual needs)
The result of our passionate pursuit of the American Dream is a people that have been transformed into a nation of consumers and the American Dream threatens to consume us!
There are those who destroy their family and friendships in pursuit of this mirage. They will do whatever it takes to get to the top. There are others who live a life of bitterness because they have discovered the trap of the American Dream, you can never have enough. They sit home in front of the television watching the athlete they once thought the could be… or watching the constant onslaught of commercial they say to themselves I can never have this and never afford that, and what happens is that root of bitterness grows and blossoms into anger, hatred, and even rage. Why are we so easily tangled in this misguided pursuit. The answer is simple: we’re sinners. The Bible tells us this. We are born with a personality that naturally drifts toward self protection and self promotion. Our sense of comfort and accomplishment are given preeminence. It’s a self centered joy that was birthed in the Garden of Eden. The tragedy in it all is this; one can not be self centered and possess true joy. Joy is the direct result of one trusting in God. It is the fruit of one living in right relationship with God. Gal 5:22
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace…”
Joy is a contentment in our heart that makes us emotionally effective, that gives us a sense of destiny and a sense of peace. The mistake we often make is that we pursue happiness in place of joy, and happiness is something we have minimal control over. Happiness is most often forces that are of no control of ours that occasionally line up in our favor. Joy on the other hand is a conscious matter of the heart. It is a result of trusting in God.
Man’s misguided pursuit of joy began in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve chose to believe a satanic lie rather than trust the word of God. The embraced Satan’s deception and in an instant they moved from a God-centered life to a self-centered life. They moved from a shameless life to a shame-filled life, from a care-free existence to an anxiety-ridden world. They sought self protection from clothing they made and self preservation by attempting to hide from God, the one whom they betrayed. In that instant God was no longer the center of their world, mankind became the center of their world and all of the problems that plague man are a result of that act of self. God being the source of joy, when man removed God from the center of their existence, they also removed joy.
We see in Genesis 3 the beginning of sin and self… and man continues to try to find the way back to joy on his own, by himself, by herself. The great paradox is this, the more we strive on our own to find true joy the further we are from it, because joy… the deep sustaining joy that Jesus promises is a gift from God, a direct result of relationship with Him.
Joy is also much more than an absence of pain, discomfort or challenge in our life. It is more than living a life that’s carefree. Hebrews 12:2 speaks of Jesus, “who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, scorning its shame.” Think about that truth for a moment. Jesus knew that the cross was before Him and yet His compass was set on joy. Joy doesn’t mean an absence of challenge. It doesn’t mean an absence of discomfort or an absence of pain. James 1:2, “consider it pure joy my brothers when you face trials of many kinds.” Paul and Silas understood this and that’s why they found reason to sing though in chains. They had come to discover that true joy is not found in possession or position. Their example was Jesus, “Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but humbled Himself taking on the character of a servant….”
Jesus understood that joy had nothing to do with satisfying short-term desires and our human impulses. It had everything to do with walking in the light of the Father’s love and in obedience to His heart. Jesus came to do one thing… the will of the Father. We often make the mistake of confusing joy with pleasure, and Jesus stands as a vivid reminder that true joy is greater than momentary pleasure and true joy is stronger than even the cross or the grave. His commitment to the Father’s however painful it might be was the key. Jesus dependence on the Father, His dependence on God gave Him freedom… and our dependence on God gives us freedom. It brings to our life joy!
So, how does one life a life of joy?
I. Recognize The enemies to Joy:
• FRUSTRATION – Busyness leads to frustration, frustration leads to anxiety Isaiah 40:31“Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength…” Here is the question of the day: Do you include God as a part of your program…. Or do you purpose in your heart to be in step with His program? We live a hurried existence. And what happens for too many is we are hurried right out of God’s plan and His presence. Psalm 46: “Be still and know that I am God.” God speaks to us so often is those quiet moments, those still moments. And Satan the Arch enemy of our soul will frustrate us and fatigue us with busy things. I can look in my own life and see how Satan has tried to rob me of my joy.
• FATIGUE
• FEAR - They have discovered that the American Dream is much like the all powerful Oz,…. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.
II. Respond to God’s Voice
III. Rejoice in God’s Presence
IV. Rest on God’s Promises
Joy is the completeness we know when Christ is indeed in the center of our life. Hebrews 1:9 “You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy."
1 Peter 1:8, “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,”
The fifth chapter of Galatians tells us that one of the fruits of the spirit is JOY!
With God in control of our life we can be sure that all things will work out for our best.
That is what true joy is… it is not a giddiness or a happiness. Rather, it is an unshakable confidence that we have when Christ is at the center of our existence.
I Know this: That nothing can separate me from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus
I know this: That all things work together for good for those that love God and are called according to His purpose.
Therefore, I can be content in all things, whether I find my self in the prison or in the palace. Why, because I can do all things through Christ who gives me my strength and my joy!
The confidence and the peace is the scene in which we find true joy.
