12 - How to Handle Stress God’s Way (Metamorphosis)

Text: “The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!” The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then 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—you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house” At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.(Acts 16:22-34, NIV).

Theme: Stress gives us a unique opportunity to see God’s glory manifested in our difficult situations.

Intro: How can you handle stress God’s way? In Acts 16:22-34, Paul and Silas’ response to being stripped, beaten and locked up gives us the answer. Their response is very similar to Jehoshaphat’s response: praying, singing and praising the Lord. Paul was soaked in the Scriptures from a young boy, and now he’s putting into practice the very thing he learned from the Rabbis––it’s the power of praise.

Last week, we focused on 2 Chronicles 20:1-30. Our first point of response when under pressure is to PURSUE GOD. Our second point was to RAISE A VOICE OF PRAISE. Praising God welcomes his Kingdom on earth, transforming our atmosphere. Today, we will cover four more points that spell the acrostic PRAISE. I also made a new infographic to help you remember. You can find it at www.brisbanefire.com/infographics.

1) A - Appreciate the attributes of God (Acts 16:25-30; 2 Chron. 20:12, 21).

There’s a greater miracle in Acts 16 that we often overlook.

Amazingly, through Paul and Silas’ praying and praising, the earth violently quakes, and all the gates flew open, and the prisoners’ chains fell off.

This meant the end for the jailer––all the prisoners would run for their life––right?

But that’s not what happened.

Instead, Paul, Silas and the prisoners stayed put.

The prisoners staying put––not moving even though set free––is the greater miracle.

To stay for the sake of the Gospel when you have an opportunity to escape is the apostolic way.

You see, all the prisoners were following the lead of Paul and Silas.

Today, in stressful situations, people are looking to genuine believers.

What are they going to do?

Are they going to live selfishly?

Or are they centred around the good news?

This greater miracle––Paul and Silas caring about their jailer and staying put––allows them to lead the jailer to Jesus.

The jailer went from suicide to salvation in one day.

The salvation of the jailer and his whole household is the greatest miracle in this story.

Jesus saves.

And how did he save?

He used the praise of Paul and Silas as the catalyst.

Stress can cause us to have two reactions.

1) To focus on the problem and come up with a solution––a solution in the flesh

2) To focus on God and get our eyes on him.

This response always unleashes the supernatural power of God.

It also unleashes God’s love.

The power led to love––loving those who needed saving.

“Well, this person just had us locked up. We should just let him commit suicide. He should get what he deserves.”

No, no, no. The greatest miracle in this story is how praising God led to love.

Why is that?

When you praise God, you focus on his attributes, especially his hesed––his kind and loyal love.

According to 2 Corinthians 3:18, when you look at Jesus, you are transformed into his image, going from glory to glory.

The glory of God is like a diamond, and God’s attributes are facets of this otherworldly diamond.

2) I - Inquire (Acts 16:25, 30).

In both the story of Jehoshaphat (2 Chron 20) and Paul and Silas, there’s praying and inquiring of God.

To inquire is to ask.

God loves questions.

But there are two kinds of questions.

1) First is asking a question to seek understanding.

2) Second is asking a question to trap.

The Pharisees were experts at this kind of questioning.

It’s like the questioning of a prosecuting lawyer.

Look at Luke 20:22-23: “Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Cesar, or not? But he detected their trickery…”

When you ask the Lord questions, it should be to know him more.

The foundation of the questions we ask should be surrender and submission, not fighting and rebellion.

Neither should we inquire of God to find out about stuff and do the opposite.

We are not sampling wine and tasting at a buffet.

The Father answers the sincere heart––the heart that wants to know and obey him.

And it’s critical that you inquire so that in your stress, you don’t react in the flesh.

Remember, under stress, you can either fight in the flesh, flee or fervently seek God.

Be aware of the natural mode of ‘fight or flight.’

Instead, SURRENDER TO GOD.

Listen to how Jesus teaches us to pray in the Lord’s Prayer (Matt. 6:9-13).

We can divide it into ten portions:

1) The Person of the God (‘Our Father’)

2) The Place of God (‘who is in heaven’)

3) The Praise of God (‘Hallowed be your name’)

4) The Presence of God (‘Your Kingdom Come’)

5) The Purpose of God (‘Your will be done…’)

6) The Provision of God (‘Give us this day…’)

7) The Purification of God (‘Forgive us…’)

8) The Preservation of God (‘Lead us not into temptation…”)

9) The Power of God (‘For yours is the Kingdom, power…).

10) The Perfection of God (‘and the glory forever. Amen.’)

It’s these ten principles that should guide our prayer and inquiry of God.

Let’s remember it was the sincere inquiry of the jailer asking, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved,” that led to his and his household’s salvation.

The answer back then is the same as today: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household” (Acts 16:31).

3) S - Sing (Acts 16:25, 2 Chron. 20:21-22).

Listen to Colossians 3:16:

“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.”

One study suggested that singing was more effective at relieving stress than a body massage.

https://healthymagazine.com/singing-stress-reliever/

The article above mentions several different studies.

Yet, singing is not just for our benefit.

In Acts 16 and 2 Chronicles 20, we see that it welcomes God’s Kingdom and moves him to fight against our spiritual enemies.

We also see it brings salvation to people, setting them free from their prisons and chains.

Listen to the song in 2 Chronicles 20:21.

It wasn’t long, but it was potent.

It focused on giving thanks and God’s eternal love.

Hesed

הוֹד֣וּ לַיהוָ֔ה כִּ֥י לְעוֹלָ֖ם חַסְדּֽוֹ׃

(2 Ch 20:21)

Compare with Psalm 136.

Psalm 136 continually repeats ki l’olam chasdo (for forever is his kind love).

In the same way, our singing should focus on thanking God for who he is, what he has done and what he is doing.

Jesus is Lord above our storm and stress.

4) E - Express your praise (2 Chron. 20:18-19).

Praise is not meant to be locked in your heart but expressed.

Stand, sing, lift your hands, dance, and raise your voice. Jesus is worthy (2 Chron. 20:18-19).

Remember all the examples of active praise in Scripture.

When we gather together, it’s not a funeral. It’s a time to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection.

Conclusion: Let’s put this into practice now. And remember, there’s also an infographic @ www.brisbanefire.com/infographics to remind you of the message and share it with others.

Related Media

Related Sermons