-Life Lessons from the Chief of Sinners-
Decide Now
Acts 16:16-34
Introduction
Many people live under the spell of procrastination - especially of things that they would rather not do. It always seems there is something more important now that keeps me from the thing I do not want to do.
Psychologist Dr. Joseph Ferrari says that “20 percent of adult women and men self-identify as “chronic procrastinators,” meaning they purposively delay tasks at home, school, work, in relationships, appointments. ... These 20 percent chronic procrastinators don’t RSVP on time, fail to mail greeting cards on time for celebrations, wait until the gas tank is empty before refilling, have food spoiling in the refrigerator because it got old, receive multiple late notices for unpaid bills, stay up late at night unable to go to bed, etc. This is their lifestyle.”
Best known quote about Procrastination is probably Benjamin Franklin’s: “Never leave till tomorrow that which you can do today.” Probably the most lived, is Mark Twain’s: “Never put off till tomorrow what may be done day after tomorrow just as well.”
In our text today we find a family that is not given to procrastination - they want to follow Jesus NOW. Now is the perfect time to follow Jesus!
2 Corinthians 6:2 “For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
We’ve been learning life lessons from the Chief of Sinners.
- Discern the true hope found in Jesus
- Accept the Truth when you hear it
- Partner up to find encouragement
- Open your Heart to Jesus
- Today’s Life Lesson: Decide Now to follow Jesus.
1. Paul Preaches His Way to Prison (Acts 16:16-34)
In Acts 13-14 Paul and Barnabas travel on missionary journeys. At the end of chapter 15 they part ways and Paul takes Silas and Timothy to be his partners. They travel to Philippi and meet Lydia, who is baptized. They stayed there some time.
Acts 16:16-18 16 As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.
This demon possessed girl is being exploited by ‘owners’. When healed, the girl’s owners were left without income. They must have been connected to powerful people. Paul and Silas severely beaten, thrown into prison. Acts 16:24 The jailer … “put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in stocks.”
What would you do if you were Paul and Silas? Imprisoned unjustly, beaten and sore? Paul and Silas turned their hearts toward the Risen Christ. They began to sing and something amazing happened.
Acts 16:25-28 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.”
The jailor considered suicide, that tells us about the kind of people he worked for.
Acts 16:29-34 And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.
That jailer wasn’t a procrastinator when he heard the greatest news ever - Jesus is the Risen Savior!
2. DECIDE NOW!
*Decide Now to Sing! Appeal to God in Prayer and Praise! Beaten and bloodied, Paul and Silas sang praises! Praise is not just for happy times, but for all times! Jesus broke the chains of death for us and He can help us through our roughest times.Lyrics by Casting Crowns "And I'll praise you in this storm, And I will lift my hands, For you are who you are, No matter where I am. And every tear I've cried, You hold in your hand, You never left my side, And though my heart is torn, I will praise you in this storm”
Psalm 119:50 This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.
Singing praises doesn’t mean ignoring the pain, it means turning to God who heals while we are in pain.
*Decide Now to Serve! Paul and Silas did not hate the jailer, they shouted out to save him! They shared the gospel with by telling him, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved…. And they spoke the word of the Lord to him.” (32). That rough and rugged jailer was moved by their message and he began to serve them by washing their wounds. The way to wade through the roughest times of life is to sing and to serve! Instead of being self-oriented, we need to look outward! We hear this from Jesus while on the cross: forgive them, take care of her, come with me.
1 Peter 4:10-11 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace… whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
*Decide Now to Be Saved! Acts 16:33 “And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family.” Commit to Him in Faith and Baptism. The Jailer washed their physical wounds, God washed their spiritual wounds and brought healing and salvation. The biggest wound that won’t heal on its own: sin. “…the same hour of the night… (vs 33) … ‘About midnight’ (25)
Conclusion
When Paul and Silas were arrested for their works of faith, they decided to sing, to serve, and to help the Philippian jailor to be saved. As they made their decision at midnight, I’m wondering about why? It could be to avoid being seen by those who might harm them. It could be that the good news was SO good, the healing promise of Jesus was SO real, and the desire to be cleansed of their sin was SO intense, that they were happy to have a midnight baptism.
2 Corinthians 6:2 “For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
We might procrastinate about a lot of things - even some very important and difficult things - but let’s never procrastinate obeying the good news! We might be able to think of many good reasons to put it off. When Jesus has promised us a new Father, a new Family, a new Future and continual Forgiveness. Why procrastinate?
The Chief of Sinners was baptized as soon as he heard the gospel from Ananias!
The Ethiopian in Acts 8 was so ready to be baptized after hearing the gospel that he interrupted Phillip to point out the water! Acts 8:37-39 “What prevents me from being baptized?” And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. And when they came up out of the water …the eunuch … went on his way rejoicing.
Deciding to live the Jesus life is something that should be on our minds every day, and growing in that decision is crucial!
The Chief of Sinners teaches us:
- Discern the true hope found in Jesus
- Accept the Truth when you hear it
- Partner up to find encouragement
- Open your Heart to Jesus
- Decide Now to follow Jesus.
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Video of this message can be found on our YouTube Channel at
https://www.youtube.com/c/ForsytheChurchofChrist
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LifeGroup Discussion Questions
1. What do you think about the plight of this slave girl who had a spirit? Why do you think Paul was annoyed by her? Can you think of a circumstance where you might be annoyed with someone who was telling the truth?
2. Can you explain why Paul and Silas were praying and singing in prison after being beaten? What were they praying about, in your opinion? Why would singing and prayer be an appropriate response for us today when facing troubles? What insight does James 5:13-14 offer? Are there any particular songs that help you feel encouraged?
3. The Philippian jailer was about to kill himself, but upon hearing Paul say “we are all here” he fell down before Paul and Silas trembling with fear and said “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” What question is the jailer asking? Is he seeking religious deliverance or something else?
4. The jailer and his family were baptized ‘the same hour of the night… at once’. Why do you think they were baptized at that hour? Today, is there any urgency to the need to be baptized? What are some reasons people procrastinate on this?
5. The jailer ultimately was filled with joy. What elements of the story do you think filled him with joy? It appears from a part of the text we didn’t cover in the sermon (vs. 35-39) that the Jailer, Paul, and Silas went back to the prison. What are some reasons Paul and Silas didn’t just run away?
6. There is quite a contrast between the conversion stories of last week, Lydia, and this week, the jailer. What does this tell us about the opportunities God provides to share the Gospel
7. Is there anything else you wanted to talk about from this text?
Resource: Ferrari, Deacon Joseph. The Prevalance of Procrastination.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/still-procrastinating/202010/the-prevalence-procrastination
