Sermon: Being Bright Lights in A Dark World
Scripture - Acts 16:25-40 “Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. But Paul shouted to him, “Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!” The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.” And they shared the word of the Lord with him and with all who lived in his household. Even at that hour of the night, the jailer cared for them and washed their wounds. Then he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized. He brought them into his house and set a meal before them, and he and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God. The next morning the city officials sent the police to tell the jailer, “Let those men go!” So the jailer told Paul, “The city officials have said you and Silas are free to leave. Go in peace.” But Paul replied, “They have publicly beaten us without a trial and put us in prison—and we are Roman citizens. So now they want us to leave secretly? Certainly not! Let them come themselves to release us!” When the police reported this, the city officials were alarmed to learn that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. So they came to the jail and apologized to them. Then they brought them out and begged them to leave the city. When Paul and Silas left the prison, they returned to the home of Lydia. There they met with the believers and encouraged them once more. Then they left town.”
Introduction: Your theology, what you really believe, comes out at midnight. What I mean by midnight is at the darkest moment of your soul; when things seem hopeless, when the pressure mounts, when the pain intensifies, when things are darkest. That's when your theology comes out; when what you really believe about God is revealed. Until then, it's theory. When midnight comes you discover the difference between theory and reality; between darkness and light. Mt 5:15,16 Jesus said, “Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Then James says in James 1:3, "You know that the testing of your faith produces endurance."
In God's sovereignty, for his good purposes, he allows us to experience the tests, the hardships, and struggles. He allows us to go through midnight. And it's at midnight when your theology comes out; it's at midnight theory meets reality. As we continue in our ongoing series through the book of Acts, I have entitled this message: “Being Bright Lights in A Dark Night.”
Paul is on his second missionary journey! His is accompanied by Silas, Timothy, and Luke as they make their way to a leading Roman colony known as Philippi, were cast a demon out of one women and encounters another on the opposite ends of the spectrum. Yet we discovered that there's no one so good they don't need salvation, and no one so bad they can't receive salvation. One of those liberated women was a young slave girl; a girl who was possessed by an evil spirit - a python spirit - a spirit of divination. Her owners exploited that possession to make money. This demon inside her became attached to the missionary team and the girl began following them around, saying, "These men are servants of the most high God who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” Now that might sound like she’s on their team, after all what she’s saying is accurate, true. But I assure you, the demon was not seeking to enhance or commend their ministry.
After this goes on for days, Luke tells us in the text that Paul became “Greatly annoyed.” Paul turns and says to the evil spirit inside this girl, “I command you to come out.” And the demon came out at once. Now when he cast out the demon, there went the source of Paul’s frustration and annoyance, but along with it went the source of her masters’ financial profit. So, what do they do? They seized Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities, making many false accusations against them, turn them over to the police who then strip their clothes off and beat them with rods. They then throw them into prison like common criminals. Paul and Silas in prison were experiencing their darkest night. You would have thought Paul and Silas would have sang the blues, but they sang praises unto God. If we are going to be lights in a dark world we learn to sing at midnight.
1. Being Bright Lights in Darkness Is Believers Best Witness. Acts 16:25 “Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off!”
Allowing your light to shine is a matter of choice. Some may choose to hide their light under a basket. The smallest light shines brightest in the darkest night. Instead of mourning and complaining, Paul and Silas chose to sing at midnight. Badly beaten, backs bloodied and bruised, their feet in stocks, in pitch black inner prison, they chose to rejoice. That’s why later when the jailer is panicking, he calls for lights. There they are sitting in the cold, damp utter darkness, open wounds, dried blood, immense pain, yet singing for joy, the jailer was totally confused. After guarding prisoners for years, he had never witness anything like this. What Paul’s preaching had not done, nor had the casting out devil had done, their light of joy and peace was their best witness.
The jailer was exposed to one of the basic concepts of the Christian faith that God supplies all we need. God gives peace in confusion, strength in weakness, and joy in sorrow. The jailer encountered Christians who were different, what they possessed was credible, it was authentic. It was something he could not deny, but acknowledge and respect. And then in his moment of crisis, he asked, “What must I do to be saved?”
Paul and Silas were mission minded Christians who embraced hardship as a part of life. God does not prevent every difficulty, bump, and bruise that Christians may encounter living in this fallen world. God will use every crisis and trial for good of mankind and the glory of God. Their praises at midnight were so authentic that God performed a jail break. The chains fell off and the doors came open. Their praises were so authentic, the other prisoners compelled to listen, it was so loud, the jailers were awakened. In this text, we are reminded that those closest to believers are always watching to see how believers respond under pressure. When they see you singing at midnight, with confident trust in Christ, it enhances the beauty of the gospel we proclaim; it makes the gospel more attractive to them.
2. Being Bright Lights in Darkness Means Showing Concern for All. Acts 16:27-30 “The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. But Paul shouted to him, “Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!” The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
Sometimes, the believer’s best witness is demonstrated by showing concern to all. Some people think Christians are only concerned about themselves. Many Christians might think, “if the jailer wants to kill himself, so be it.” Paul and Silas showed genuine concern for the jailer. Even as we seek to win the world for Christ, we must be able to consider the needs and difficulties of others and take an active interest in their feelings, capabilities, and perspectives to assist them with the difficulties they face. Paul acted with integrity, warmth, and concern by calling out, “do thou self no harm, we are all here.” Believers must do It, not just say it. In our effort to win the world we must refuse to argue and be willing to listen. Apologize often, even if their witness offends. Do something unexpectedly kind. Sharing is caring. Caring is sharing wisely. Then ready to give an answer to the question, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
Being Bright Lights in Darkness Is the Believers Best Witness; Being Bright Lights in Darkness Means Showing Concern for All; and Being Bright Lights in Darkness Means clearly Proclaiming the way of Salvation.
3. Being Bright Lights in Darkness Means Clearly Proclaiming the way of Salvation. Acts 16:31-34 “They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.” And they shared the word of the Lord with him and with all who lived in his household. Even at that hour of the night, the jailer cared for them and washed their wounds. Then he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized. He brought them into his house and set a meal before them, and he and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God.
Paul and Silas did not talk about religion, or rules and regulations. The proclaimed Jesus as the way to God, believing faith as the entrance way and grace as God’s provisions. Paul and Silas did not talk about limits or restrictions, they proclaimed all need to be saved, all can be saved, and all can know they are saved. If the gospel is clearly proclaimed, some will believe, and the harvest will be amazing. Salvation begins transformation. The jailer’s household was changed, his attitude was changed. The jailer washed their wounds, and bandaged them, extending every hospitality to Paul and his team. We must clearly proclaim the way of salvation to others.
Being Bright Lights in Darkness Is the Believers Best Witness; Being Bright Lights in Darkness Means Showing Concern for All; Being Bright Lights in Darkness Means clearly Proclaiming the way of Salvation, and finally, Being Bright Lights Means Boldly Living Out Our Faith.
4. Being Bright Lights Means Boldly Living Out Our Faith. Acts 16:35-40 “The next morning the city officials sent the police to tell the jailer, “Let those men go!” So the jailer told Paul, “The city officials have said you and Silas are free to leave. Go in peace.” But Paul replied, “They have publicly beaten us without a trial and put us in prison—and we are Roman citizens. So now they want us to leave secretly? Certainly not! Let them come themselves to release us!” When the police reported this, the city officials were alarmed to learn that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. So they came to the jail and apologized to them. Then they brought them out and begged them to leave the city. When Paul and Silas left the prison, they returned to the home of Lydia. There they met with the believers and encouraged them once more. Then they left town.”
I am glad these events were recorded in detail. They show us just because believers walk humbly with their God, they must be bold. Being Bright Lights in Darkness Is the Believers Best Witness; Being Bright Lights in Darkness Means Showing Concern for All; Being Bright Lights in Darkness Means Clearly Proclaiming the Way of Salvation, but it also means boldly living out our faith. We may not be able to prevent every wrong deed we endure, but we should exposed injustice for what it is. Paul and Silas were beaten unjustly, thrust into prison without a trial, without medical care and shown no respect at all. Paul confronted the authorities with their errors in judgment and would not leave without seeing them. So, the Authorities came to the jail and apologized to Paul and Silas. Then they brought them out of the prison and begged them to leave the city. Please know that Christians have rights like any of citizen. Christian can and should enjoy all the lawful privileges as any other citizen. Christians deserve respect and common courtesies as everyone else. When believers shine as lights in darkness, their witness shine brighter; their love and kindness can be seen clearer, and their peace and faith are magnified, others will hear it, see it and be drawn to it. God will use that believer to deliver that same peace and joy to someone else. Be bold, be confident and walk in victory. Amen.
