Bible Text: Acts 16:15-31 | Preacher: Pastor Steve | Series: The Solid Acts of God
Why a mission’s trip to Okinawa?
Why SHARE Jesus in our Olympic Peninsula region?
Obedience!
Sharing the Lord with others can be an after-thought but sharing Jesus must be our first-thought
Sharing and serving others is fulfilling and encouraging
We are called to love people in front of God
and love God in front of people
The fact is: Together Everyone Achieves More
As we start each day:
How can I be useful to you Lord?  What would you have me do today to serve you Lord? How can I bless and love someone today?
As we end each day:
Was I able to make a difference?  Did I do what you wanted me to do Lord? Did I love and bless someone today?
It is a time we make the decision to make Jesus real and our number one priority in life
We are called to be full-time believers not part-time believers whose hobby is Jesus
A walk with God is 24/7 forever!
The benefits of sharing and serving:
Energizes
Encourages
Witnesses
Strengthens
Deepens our community
Reinforces our commitment
The love of God saturates the community
Acts 16:15-28 Paul and Silas in Prison  One day as we were going down to the place of prayer, we met a demon-possessed slave girl. She was a fortune-teller who earned a lot of money for her masters. She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, These men are servants of the Most High God, and they have come to tell you how to be saved.
Why did a demon announce the truth about Paul?
Guilt by association
Demons work at stealing, killing and destroying people’s trust and worship of the Lord
Acts 16:18-21 This went on day after day until Paul got so exasperated that he turned and said to the demon within her, I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And instantly it left her. Her masters’ hopes of wealth were now shattered, so they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities at the marketplace. The whole city is in an uproar because of these Jews! they shouted to the city officials. They are teaching customs that are illegal for us Romans to practice.
Acts 16:22-27 A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks. Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off!
The answer to prayer was a great earthquake
Praise trumps pain!
Singing Songs of the NIGHT
The Fish Bowl Principle
The world is watching how we respond to troubles,
pain and suffering and difficulties
Worshiping the Lord does not require “good feelings”
Matthew 5:11 Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me
The Lord will break us out of our prison of fear, anxiety, loneliness, depression and pain.
Psalm 42:8 But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life.
Acts 16:28 The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. But Paul shouted to him, Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!
Acts 16:29-33 The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. Then he 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, along with everyone in your household. And they shared the word of the Lord with him and with all who lived in his household.
What must I do to be saved?
Acts 16:31 They replied, believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household. And they shared the word of the Lord with him and with all who lived in his household.
All that is needed is FAITH in the Lord Jesus
Believe and receive Jesus who is the Savior and Lord of all
The jailer’s reaction: suicide
The men of God’s reaction: saving life
The difference is Jesus!
Confidence in God! The peace of God!
The jailer… washed the wounds of Paul and Silas…
Today we go into our community to wash wounds…
SHARING JESUS!