Staying Faithful Thru Difficult Circumstances.

The sermons that I have listed are 30 to 40 minute sermons. I have only listed the points and a couple of comments under each point of each sermon to give the preacher a remembrance which the Holy Spirit can lead on and speak through the man of God.

ACTS 16:25-30 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.......

In reviewing these verses we noticed several firsthand evolutions. We see the first prison ministry, the first prison choir, and the first prison prayer meeting. Paul and Silas were doing God’s will preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ, healing the sick, and casting out devils, and they were still cast into prison. Any time you make stand for Jesus you should be ready for the Devil to step in and bring a little hell with him.

1. The timing. V:25a

First, let’s look at the time in these verses, it was at midnight. Our "God never sleeps or slumbers" and He constantly watches over His own (Psalm 121:4). No matter what time of day it is God is always ready and willing to step in and help His faithful servants. God is not constrained by time, He controls time.

2. The location. V:26

Second, let’s look at the location, the prison. No matter where you are God will be there with His faithful servants. God’s power doesn’t stop at a prison’s wall because "He is mighty to save"; no matter where you are He can shake your situation up and bring the result He wants to come to pass (Isaiah 63:1).

3. The faithful. V: 25b

Third, we notice the faithful servants, Paul and Silas. These guys where in prison for doing what God called them to do, God’s work. Don’t let anyone tell you that you will not be persecuted for standing on God’s Word. These two servants where faithful outside the prison, and they were faithful on the inside of the prison where many would have strayed from God while around other unsaved prisoners. Paul and Silas had just been wiped, and put in stocks and thrown in prison, and here both of them are up in the middle of the night singing and praising God. Paul knew that "God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28). Peter and John, received strokes of cane from religious leaders, but they “counted it all joy”, they knew it is actually a privilege to be counted worthy to suffer for the sake of Jesus (Acts 5:40-42).

4. The results. V:30-31

Fourth, we see the results because of these faithful servants. After seeing the power of God working through these two faithful servants, it caused the jailor and his household to be saved through the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Acts 16:30-31). God loves us so much that He will send His faithful servants through hell and back if it will save one lost soul.

Staying Faithful thru difficult circumstances.

1. The timing. V:25a

2. The location. V:26

3. The faithful. V: 25b

4. The results. V:30-31