This week I want to start off with some verses, About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to 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 everyone’s bonds were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God. But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, “Let those men go.” And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore come out now and go in peace.” But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out.” The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens. So they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city. So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed. Acts 16:25-40 In these verses Paul and Silas are thrown in jail for preaching the gospel, but being in jail did something that their preaching could not do in Macedonia, it helps start the church. When Paul was thrown into jail he did not just preach with his voice, but also with his actions. They were beaten with rods before these verses and then they were thrown into the inter prison, which is the most secure place and they were singing hymns while being chained up in a foreign city. Imagine being one of the other prisoners who were trying to sleep and because they were in the center of the jail, everyone in the jail could hear them. The reason Paul was able to sing while in prison, was that being imprisoned could be used to share the gospel. When we see what we think is holding us back, it could really be where Jesus has placed us. The purpose not to be a burden but to be a blessing to others or to share the gospel. So this week instead of thinking about what is holding us back let’s see who we can help or share the gospel with. Also this Week let’s Stop seeing our barriers as a burden, but see them as a way to bless others and to share the gospel.
Stop seeing our barriers as a burden, but see them as a way to bless others and to share the gospel.
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