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Due to the large amount of sermons and topics that appear on this site I feel it is necessary to post this disclaimer on all sermons posted. These sermons are original to the author and the leading of the Holy Spirit. While ideas and illustrations are often gleaned from many sources including those at Sermoncentral.com, any similarities and wording including sermon title, that may appear to be the same as any other sermon are purely coincidental. In instances where other minister’s wording is used, due recognition will be given. These sermons are not copyrighted and may be used or preached freely. May God richly bless you as you read these words. It is my sincere desire that all who read them may be enriched. All scriptures quoted in these sermons are copied and quoted from the Authorized King James Version of the Holy Bible.
Pastor James May
JAIL BREAK!
Louisiana District Camp Meeting
Acts 16:16-26, "And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour. And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard 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 every one’s bands were loosed."
Paul and Silas, departed into region of Macedonia. Paul had wanted to go into other regions but God had led him in a different track. When we walk in the Spirit and let God do the leading, we never know the things that He has in store for us.
God requires a walk by faith. None of us know what the next step will be. Even Pastors who everyone looks to for inspiration, guidance and direction, are led by the Spirit one step at a time.
It’s great to want to build, grow and minister in just about any fashion but we must give place for God to give us the direction.
All of our plans will come to nothing if we do not allow God to direct us.
No sooner did their ministry begin to bear fruit when the Devil began to harass them and divert them from their true ministry.
Beware when the world begins to praise your efforts. Beware when the Devil starts to preach the same message that you are preaching. Beware when things are going too smoothly.
First, realize that your enemy is not the messenger of flesh and blood – but the Spirit within that messenger.
The message of those sent by Satan to praise your or to draw attention to you is not designed to bring converts to your ministry.
Those praises are meant to build pride in your heart and to deter you from your true ministry that gives God the glory for all that is done.
Paul and Silas tolerated the spirit of divination for a little while at least. It feels good when people praise you. It feels good when people say how good you preach, how good you teach or how good you sing. It feels good when people speak kindly of your walk with the Lord. It feels good, so we are in no hurry to rebuke that enemy.
Come on, I know something isn’t right about this, but I sure like the sound of it. Let me bask in my self-esteem. Yeah, I’m special, Yeah, I’m good, Yeah – it just doesn’t get any better than this. Until we begin to feel really uncomfortable with all the accolades.
Something is dreadfully wrong now! If we don’t get rid of that devil following us around, God will let us see just how “good” we really are.
I’ve tried preaching under my own knowledge and proved my ignorance.
I’ve tried talking to others from my own experience and realized that I just don’t have the answers.
The answers are only in Christ. Without His guidance, direction and anointing we will all fall flat. I don’t have power to deliver anyone, power to change your life and my words are empty with the anointing.
Watch out! When you try to get rid of that pride and self-recognition, the devil won’t give up easily. He will do his best to get even and destroy you.
Bro. Norton talked about those who tried to destroy his reputation and ministry. I have had those who did the same thing after a fashion. I dare say that anyone who sticks his neck out and begins to rebuke the devil is in for a ride.
Paul and Silas were brought into the market place so that the whole city could see the accusations against them. They were then brought before the civil judges and eventually before the Roman army commanders in an all-out effort to destroy their ministry.
Satan knew that Paul and Silas were there on business for the King of Glory. He knew that their ministry could cause many to accept Christ. He knew that this could be the beginning of a great church in Philippi and he was out to stop it at all costs.
If you are going to do a great work for the Lord, Satan is going to try to stop you too! He doesn’t want to see us build a great work with the Louisiana District PCG, but he can’t stop us no more than he could stop Paul and Silas.
The church at Philippi was built and became a strong church for Christ. God has great things in store for us too, if we will maintain unity, fellowship and allow God to direct our path. God is a great big God and there is nothing impossible for Him.
He has told us not to despise the day of small things for small things will grow and become great in the sight of God. There are multitudes of souls in our state who need Jesus and I don’t see why God can’t use us to reach them if we are willing to be used.
Let the world scream if they want to. Let the devil attempt his best. Greater is He that is in us than anything the world and the devil can throw against us.
When Satan attacks us with his flood of evil forces, my God will lift up that blood-stained banner of His love for His banner over me is love. He is my Jehovah-Nissi and His banner over me is love.
Paul and Silas didn’t get away from some of the effects of Satan’s onslaught and we won’t all get away without some hard lessons and some battle scars.
They were beaten with many stripes, strapped in irons and cast into the deepest dungeon.
Have you ever been there? Have you ever been so low that you couldn’t see your way out? Have you ever felt like no one cared?
Elijah felt that way, Job felt that way, and many more too.
But God never leaves us nor forsakes us and He will never allow us to be defeated. He makes a way of escape where there seems to be none. He watches over us as the apple of his eye. He will never allow your feet to fall.
In the deepest, darkest hour of the night, midnight, Paul and Silas began to sing praises unto God.
Man may stop your ability to reach out in ministry for a time. He may limit your movements or your speech, but he cannot stop you from praising God. God sets the limits on the power of Satan and my Father will never let me be destroyed.
The joy of the Lord is your strength!
Paul and Silas were hurting, they were locked away, they couldn’t call the pastor of the local church for prayer, they couldn’t get in line for another of the Apostles to lay hands on them and deliver them from their oppression, they didn’t know what was going to happen next – but they did know how to praise God in every situation.
They began to sing unto the Lord - they didn’t bark like a dog, squeal like a pig, or laugh themselves into a frenzy – they just sang praises with a grateful heart unto God.
Life was at its darkest hour for these men of God. Their situation seemed hopeless by the world’s standards.
By the world’s estimation, our faith in God is useless. Preaching is foolishness, faith in a non-existent God is ignorance and we are relegated to the status of a monkey. The world points and laughs. Satan sneers and has his moment of triumph – BUT GOD HEARD THE PRAISES OF HIS PEOPLE.
HE INHABITS THE PRAISES OF HIS PEOPLE!
Paul and Silas had learned the secret of victory over self-pride. They had learned the secret of defeating the devil on his own territory.
They had learned to praise God in every situation and to put their trust in God!
When the praises went up - the Spirit came down! The earth began to shake under the power of God. God’s anger was stirred. His kids were in trouble and somebody was about to pay for it.
God shook that jail so hard that every door flew open. He wanted Paul and Silas to be free to accomplish the work that they were called to do.
God not only set Paul and Silas free but all the jail cell doors came open. God sets every prisoner free. His power to deliver is unlimited.
God not only set Paul and Silas free but He used their witness to convert the Jailor to Christ. Satan lost one of his chief servants that night because He meddled in God’s affairs with God’s children.
God is here to set you free right now!
He is here to deliver, if we will only learn to praise Him!
Praise him in the darkest times!
Praise Him in the good times and the bad times!
Praise Him in the morning – when your spirit is being renewed and the day of labor is ahead of you!
Praise Him in the Noon-time – when it seems you are on the mountain top in the light of God’s love and walking in His perfect will!
Praise Him in the evening – when doubts, fear, discouragement and disappointment come against you
Praise Him in the night-time – when it seems that the devil has won the battle
Satan may have won the battle but he has already lost the war!
God is ready to shake this world to its very foundation. He is ready to shake your chains away! He is ready to set you free!
Won’t you come to Him right now and praise Him!
Let God shake those
bonds of doubt,
bonds of sickness,
bonds of discouragement,
bonds of despair,
bonds of sin and
every other chain that holds us back –
let God set you free right now.
