Staying on Target During Adversity

Staying On Target During Adversity Scripture: Acts 16:16-34; Luke 24:44-53 Theme: When we are obedient to Christ, we sometimes get attacked by Satan and his followers. When things turn ugly, we need to stay on focused on the main thing we are about. God has a way of working through the adversity and bringing about the victory. May 12, 2013; Ascension Sunday, Mother’s Day

Introduction Have you ever experienced an emotional high followed shortly by a time when the wheels came off the wagon and everything was going wrong and you ended down in the dumps feeling persecuted? You may have asked yourself what happened. I can remember many times when a mountain- high Sunday was followed by a disastrous

Monday. Now I am not talking about the normal Monday back to work blues; this is different. I began to see this long before I became a minister of the gospel.

As committed lay person, I can remember great celebrations at Conley’s UMC followed by Monday’s where nothing seemed to go right. As a certified lay speaker, a

Sunday school teacher, and through the many opportunities I had to speak in numerous churches across Sussex County for the Gideons International, I finally figured out that my service for Jesus was aggravating someone. And that someone was called Satan. I learned to brace myself for Satan’s counter-attack following a Sunday high. I don’t know if any of you have experienced that for yourself, but I am telling you it is real. You take a stand for Jesus, and I guarantee you that you will stir-up opposition. It is just the way it is. Paul told his key disciple Timothy: “12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12). In the Beatitudes during his sermon on the mount Jesus taught the same thing. “11 ‘Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12

1 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:11-12).

Discussing the Bible Text (Acts 16:16-34) Paul and Silas experienced exactly what we are talking about. Last week we studied about Paul being prevented by the Holy Spirit from going to Asia; and instead he was directed to Macedonia (current day Greece). They went to the city of Philippi and there on the Sabbath Day they went down by the river to worship God and found a small group of women praying. Among them was a God-fearing Gentile woman named Lydia.

Paul immediately seized the opportunity and began proclaiming Jesus to them. This prominent business woman opened her heart and received Jesus. Before it was all over,

Lydia and her entire household were baptized into the Christian faith. As a result, Paul and Silas and others believers with them had to be elated at the conversion of this family.

As Jesus said in the Parable of the Lost Sheep, “7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who do not need to repent.” Everybody who witnessed Lydia’s conversion had to be on a spiritual high. But oh-oh, here comes Monday. With it came the backlash!!

As they were going to prayer they met the opposition. A slave girl who was possessed by a demonic spirit was able to predict the future. And her owners were making a profit from her. This slave girl had unwittingly thrown down the gauntlet of sorts to Paul. She became quite annoying and Paul took action and in the name of Jesus called the spirit to come out of her. His action demonstrates his spiritual authority as a prophet like Jesus. Paul’s Holy Spirit is greater than the unholy spirit who spoke through this girl. This is confirmation of God’s power over evil.

2 In a way the slave girl helps the cause of Christ by describing Paul and Silas as

“slaves of the most-high God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation” (Acts 16:17).

Ironically, she introduces the theme that happens later when the Philippian jailer listens to

Paul and Silas.

The loss of the profit motive of the greedy owners of the slave girl causes a violent reaction. Satan doesn’t like it when he is denied his way. The greedy owners used a back door approach to get their way with the civil authorities. Their line was:

“They are Jews and are advocating customs that are not lawful for us.” We see this back door approach used in the political arena today for certain groups to get their way. For instance, proponents of the marriage law change in Delaware used similar tactics. People who stand up for God and Biblical morality are often ridiculed, called “bigots,” and threatened with all kinds of retaliation.

The jailer doing his job followed orders as a faithful civil authority and locked

Paul and Silas in prison. They were punished for standing up for righteousness and

God’s way. The prison itself symbolized a place where the cosmic and invisible battle between good and evil was being waged. Paul and Silas did what exemplary believers must do when waiting for God to act; they began “praying and singing hymns to God”

(Acts 16:25). While observing their witness, the attention of their co-prisoners and jailor was directed to the source of liberating power. The grace of God was at work on the jailor and the other prisoners.

Paul and Silas had a chance to escape once the earthquake hit and freed them, but they didn’t. Instead, they stayed around for the victory they could see unfolding before their eyes. They cared about the souls of the jailor, his family, and the other prisoners.

3 Seeing their resolute faith in action, the jailor perhaps remembered the words of the slave girl when she spoke about Paul and Silas being “slaves of the most high God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation;” and he rushed in and asked the most important question of his life. “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts16:30). That question is always music to the ears of the Holy Spirit. 1Peter 3:15 says. “…Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have…” Paul was ready to give an answer for the hope that was in him and he said,

“Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved…” (Acts 16:31). Are you prepared to give an answer should someone ask you “What must I do to be saved?”

There is a dramatic contrast between Lydia’s conversion and the jailor’s. Lydia was a God-fearer who attached herself to the local Jewish worshippers; the jailor is a pagan attached to the civil authorities who oppose the church’s mission. Yet, lovingly

God saves them both. First a woman, and then a man, and the households of both get saved showing the universal scope of God’s saving work. Paul was faithful to proclaim the gospel on both occasions. One was easy without resistance; the second was under very tough circumstances—but he persevered through to gain the victory for Jesus Christ.

Typically, conversions are the by-product of the faithfulness of others, when believers are ever alert to the needs of those around them. Paul and Silas were alert to others’ need to be saved. Conversion often occurs when a person’s physical needs prompts his or her sensitivity to hear the gospel message. The jailor found himself in a very difficult situation. If the prisoners escaped under his watch, he most likely would have been executed. But glory to God, his temporary life was prolonged and his eternal life was secured along with that of his entire family and household. Isn’t God awesome?

4 Application Have you wondered how you would make out when put to the test like Paul and

Silas were in Philippi? If it hasn’t happened to you, it will as you stay obedient to

Christ. Taking a stand on moral issues will draw attacks from Satan and his agents. St.

Peter warned us, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). When things turn ugly, we need to stay focused on the main thing we are about. God has a way of working through the adversity and bringing about the victory.

Peter continues with these words of encouragement: “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast” (1 Peter 5:10). So we can take courage in the face of adversity when we stand up for Jesus. We can do it because we do not stand alone. The Spirit of God is our defender, as King David wrote in Psalm

18: “2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” 16 He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. 17 He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. 18 They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the LORD was my support. 19 He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.”

Conclusion Although their heritage was Methodist, my mother’s family moved in next door to the Presbyterian Church in Kennett Square, PA when she was a youngster. Reverend

Loikel (Sp?) was the pastor and he invited “Little Dorothy” to Sunday School and she grew up a Presbyterian. Years later Rev. Loikel was called to Sussex County as pastor of

5 the Georgetown Presbyterian Church and Coolspring Presbyterian Church within a mile of our farm home. It wasn’t long before Rev. Loikel found us and was a frequent visitor in our home. For a while we were Sunday morning Methodists and Sunday afternoon

Presbyterians. It wasn’t as bad as you may think because for a while I had a crush on one of girls whose family attended the Presbyterian Church. So I looked forward to those double church Sundays. But that isn’t the point of the story. They often sang a song at

Coolspring Presbyterian that I liked a lot and the lyrics support this sermon. It was titled,

“Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus.” Verse three of the song reads: “Stand up, stand up for

Jesus, stand in his strength alone; the arm of flesh will fail, ye dare not trust your own.”

Like it or not spiritual conflict is a fact of life for dedicated Christians and we will always need help beyond our own capabilities. We can take courage because we have powerful fire support at our disposal to help us “stay on target during times of adversity.”

We never walk alone when we are in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Primary Resources: The New Interpreter’s Bible