Today, let's learn a story about Paul and Silas pictured above who were cast into prison for preaching the gospel of our Lord Jesus. Acts 16:23 says And when they had laid many stripes upon them (Paul and Silas), 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.
Acts 16:26 goes on to say 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 ones's bands were loosed. And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice saying, Do thyself no harm for we are all here.
Finally, let's read what happened to the jailer at Acts 16:29 that says Then he (the jailer) called for a light and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas. And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Notice the four miracles that occurred in this story: First Paul and Silas were rejoicing at midnight, then the prisoners were released by an earthquake, next the prisoners were restrained by the power of God, and finally the jailer was regenerated and got gloriously saved.
Alright, let's continue the story and see what happened to Paul and Silas after the jailer submitted to the Lord Jesus in the first picture above. Acts 16:32 says And they (Paul and Silas) spake unto him (the jailer) the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he (the jailer) took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway in the second picture above. And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
Now think about this. An earthquake sent by God set Paul and Silas free from jail. The jailer and his family got saved and gave Paul and Silas a blessed meal of baked chicken, mashed potatos, and cornbread. Silas probably told Paul, our work is finished at Philippi; Jesus set us free from jail; the jailer and his family are saved; and we've had a blessed meal of chicken with all the good fixins; Paul let's leave and go to the next city to preach.
But the bible goes on to say that sometime between midnight and sunrise, Paul and Silas returned to the philippian jail cell. I could see Paul telling Silas we're going back to jail. Silas probably responded, Paul are you crazy; Jesus set us free and you want to go back to jail. Then Paul explained to Silas that they needed to go back to jail or the jailer (now their brother in Christ) would be killed for allowing the prisoners to escape. As a result, Paul and Silas willingly submitted themselves to reincarceration.
Friend reading this anywhere think about how Paul and Silas truly showed the love of Jesus to the jailer. Wow, they were willing to suffer and go back to jail to save the jailer's life. As a result, Paul and Silas were freed from prison by the magistrates and the jailer's life was spared. What are we as christians willing to do to help a brother or sister in trouble and even our enemies? 1 John 3:16 tells us Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He (Jesus) laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
Pictured above we see the actual Philippian jail where Paul and Silas were reincarcerated to save the jailer's life. Acts 16:35 speaks about this saying And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants saying, Let these men go. And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul. the magistrates have sent to let you go; now therefore depart, and go in peace. Acts 16:40 goes on to say And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.
Wow, we see that Paul and Silas willingly returned to jail between midnight and daylight to save their brother in the Lord (the jailer's life). As a result, the jailer's life was spared, as the magistrates allowed Paul and Silas to depart Philippi in peace. Let us all be like Paul and Silas and deny our flesh to help our brothers and sisters in the Lord along with our enemies. Jesus said at Luke 9:23 If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Now friend reading this anywhere, what are you willing to do to help your brothers and sisters in Christ along with your enemies? Paul and Silas were willing to return to a jail cell to save their brother the jailer. Now think about this: The greatest act of love was when our Lord Jesus Christ willingly submitted to dying on the cross to save a wretched sinner like you and me. And friends, Brother Bob says along with the apostle Paul, I am the chief of all sinners, and if Jesus can save this chief, Jesus can save all the Indians (be blessed all my friends in India that read these bible studies) and all of Brother Bob's friends and enemies all over this earth. Friends everywhere right now get saved and repent, stop sinning, confess Jesus as your God, believing that Jesus died for you, was buried, and rose again.
To conclude this bible study below are several examples of saints that were willing to deny themselves like Paul and Silas to bless and save lost souls. In the first picture we see Philip who denied popularity and fame by leaving a crowded revival in Samaria to preach to one Ethiopian eunuch in the desert of Gaza. Philip remembered what Jesus said at Luke 15:10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. He also remembered how Noah kept preaching 120 years about the Lord, as he daily worked on the ark, even though no one got saved outside of his family.
And in the second picture we see again where Paul denied his flesh and obeyed the Spirit by traveling to Macedonia instead of his own destination at Bithynia. Acts 16:7 says After they were come to Mysia, they (Paul and his disciples) assayed to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit suffered them not. And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia and help us. And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.
Let's all be like Paul and seek Jesus for direction daily in our lives. Philippians 4:6 says Be careful for nothing (don't worry about anything), but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Friends let's take this advice, pray first about any request, then wait for the peace of God before you move to a destination. If a request to travel to a place is resisted by God with no peace, avoid that place. Remember if we just move without praying and seeking the Spirit's direction, it is usually the wrong move.
OK, below are some more examples of people in the bible who were like Paul and Silas and denied their flesh to bless their brothers and sisters in the Lord along with their enemies. Jonah denied his flesh and was willing to preach to his Ninevite enemies. The Ninevites repented at his 8 word sermon Yet forty days and Ninevah shall be overthrown. The disciples denied their flesh and were willing to take Jesus through a storm in a boat to a lost man at Gadera in the tombs who got saved after Jesus cast out a legion demon. Friend reading this anywhere, are you willing to take Jesus through the troubles of this world to reach lost sinners all over this earth? Lord Jesus give us all boldness to preach Jesus to lost sinners at Walmarts, Targets, Krogers, Piggly Wiggly's, and Cracker Barrel restaurants.
I had to add the following blessed sayings. An elderly husband and wife were in a nursing home. The husband told his wife, I'm blessed by you; The wife said Eh, The husband said louder I'm blessed by you; The wife said I didn't get it; Then the husband said even louder, I'm blessed by you, The wife said I've had enough of you too.
And think about this: King Solomon premiered with wisdom, peaked with wealth, and perished with women. And the life of Belshazzar can be summed up in three words: revelry, revelation, and retribution.
Be blessed everyone in Jesus name. Feel free to email Brother Bob anytime at rz9tlm@gmail.com or write to Brother Bob Malkin, 2233 Pinetree Lane, Apt. N., Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068. (614) 604-7133. Till we all meet again soon to lift up our Lord Jesus, everyone have a blessed day.
Thanks for this 🙏
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