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MIDNIGHT MISSIONARIES
ACTS 16:25-34
AIM
AIM
To teach listeners how the Lord uses our experiences to reach and lead those who are lost to believe in Jesus for salvation.
INTRODUCTION
Just about the time you think things are going great, the bottom drops out of something.
Paul was blazing the trail as a pioneer missionary and doing a wonderful job spreading the gospel of Jesus to the lost in Philippi after hearing the Macedonian call.
Tell the story of the reason for Paul and Silas going to Philippi and being arrested from .
There are some valuable lessons we can learn from God’s midnight missionaries.
THE MIDNIGHT MISSIONARIES WERE FOCUSED ON JESUS
Paul and Silas could have complained by focusing on their incarceration and injuries, and who would have blamed them?
Carnally speaking, the night vision of the Macedonian call had turned into a nightmare for God’s missionaries.
Spiritually speaking, they were in exactly the right place at precisely the right time.
I know it is difficult for us to understand why the Lord would allow such a horrible thing to happen to the mission team He led into Philippi.
Even so, there were lost people in desperate need of salvation who may have been missed had Paul and Silas not been incarcerated.
It is doubtful either man would have put an evangelistic prison crusade for Christ on their missionary bucket list of people to see and places to visit.
Paul and Silas took their eyes off themselves and placed them on Jesus.
They chose to use the prison cell as a prayer closet and worship center.
None of us can be completely certain about the content of their prayers, but we may be fairly confident they were not centered on themselves.
Most likely, they were praying for the salvation of every person inside the walls of the prison.
Knowing most of our prayers in this generation very rarely, we could say, almost never, includes those who are lost is very unfortunate.
It has taken about two generations for us to lose our burden for the lost and the desire to see them saved.
We would probably be amazed if we shared the same burden for the lost as we do for the sick.
More often than not, our prayer requests reveal we are more concerned about praying the saved out of heaven than we are the lost out of hell.
Paul and Silas were praying about the souls of the lost.
Paul and Silas focused on Jesus with their singing.
They could not see the prisoners, but the prisoners could hear the hymns of praise to the Lord.
Apparently, the hymns were not sad, but vibrant and uplifting.
THE MIDNIGHT MISSIONARIES WITNESSED THE FAITHFULNESS OF JESUS
This is the second time in the book of Acts the Lord opened to prison cells.
The first time was for Simeon Peter.
Acts 12:5-11
God is faithful and, if necessary, will not hesitate to use His sovereign power to deliver His people.
He will use a strong wind to divide the sea and dry the land or an earthquake to shake the foundation of a prison.
This scene is filled with the miracle working power of the Lord.
The prison doors were opened, everyone’s chains were unfastened and no one was harmed or lost their life.
The jailer understood the penalty of allowing prisoners to escape on their watch.
He could have been imprisoned or executed had any prisoners escaped.
He decided to end his own life rather than suffer the consequences for losing the prisoners for which he was responsible.
Paul knew what was happening and told the jailer not to kill himself because everyone was present and could be accounted for.
This would be another miracle from the Lord.
Under a different set of circumstances, how many prisoners do you think would have stayed if they had an opportunity to escape, especially if they were sentenced to be executed or serving life with no parole?
THE MIDNIGHT MISSIONARIES WERE BEARING FRUIT FOR JESUS
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The jailer was filled with fear and trembling.
Who can blame him?
He requested lights and a fell down before Paul and Silas.
Why would he do this unless he sensed the hand of God was upon them?
Acts
His only question was, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
This is a valid question and it should be asked by all who are lost and in need of salvation.
A valid question deserves a valid answer.
Paul gave the jailer a very simple answer for his spiritual need, so simple, in fact, many people miss it.
Many think God will accept them for being good, doing good works, loving others or being baptized.
There is nothing fundamentally wrong with any any of these characteristics and acts, but none of them will save a lost soul.
The only way for a lost soul to be saved is to “Believe in the Lord Jesus.”
We should take note of how they used “the word of the Lord” when they witnessed to the jailer and everyone who was in the house.
Many try to use their own opinions or the opinions of others to reach the lost.
The gospel is the only message the Holy Spirit uses to lead the lost to be saved.
This compassionate act offers proof of repentance of sin and faith in Jesus for salvation.
The jailer never considered taking care of their wounds before he was saved.
The jailer offered no apparent compassion for Paul and Silas prior to his salvation.
Scripture teaches us the jailer inflicted more pain on Paul and Silas when he put them in stocks.
The jailer and everyone in his house were baptized after they had received Jesus as their Savior.
This would be called geographical and biological evangelism.
Geographical growth happens when we reach people in our community with the gospel; biological growth happens when we reach our families with the gospel.
The jailer invited Paul and Silas to enjoy a meal with him.
There was a strong desire to fellowship with other believers.
The house was filled with rejoicing over those who were saved.
CONCLUSION
Do you focus on yourself or the Lord Jesus when you are going through difficult times?
Have you taken time to thank the Lord for His faithfulness in delivering you from bad situations?
Are you allowing the Lord to use your experiences to bear fruit for Jesus?
Prepared for First Baptist Church Oakdale - August 13, 2017
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