9-Setting the Prisoners Free
3/9/14
Intro:
I.Acts 16:15-31
II.PHILIP II OF MACEDONIA VISITING THE ORACLE OF DELPHI (PYTHIA).
1)“With silver spears you may conquer the world.” (359 BC)
2)He established Philippi as a garrison along the Via Egnatia.
3)He used the gold and silver Thracian mines to finance his conquests.
4)His son became Alexander the Great.
5)That is why the church in Philippi all had Greek names.
III.The first time the gospel was preached on European soil.
Body:
I.The Freedom of the Spirit
Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” (Acts 16:18)
A.Worshipping spirits other than Jesus only invites spiritual bondage.
1)1 Corinthians 10:19-20
Do I mean then that . . . an idol is anything? No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons.
2)DEMONS ARE MENTIONED WHERE GREEK RELIGION REIGNED
a)Apollo killed Python who guarded the Oracle at Delphi.
(Not used of an Indian Python until 1758)
b)Priestess would sit over the chasm and breath the fumes.
c)Apollo was said to enter her body and speak in a trance.
d)Priests would translate her murmurings for a price.
Grk (manteuomai) rants, ecstatic utterance, “maniac”
3)PAUL WAS SHOWING CHRIST’S AUTHORITY OVER APOLLO
B.The authority of Jesus is greater than any spiritual power.
1)NOT THE SAME HELPLESSNESS AS IN THE MOVIES
Grk (diaponeo) worried, grieved, disturbed, irritated
2)Colossians 2:8-10
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ . . . He is the head over every power and authority.
3)THE POWER OF SUPERSTITION IS FEAR
a)Fear leads to reference
b)Reverence leads to worship
c)Worship leads to servitude
II.The Freedom of Joy
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.(Acts 16:25-26)
A.There is a Joy in the Lord that no circumstance of life can keep down.
1)Long before the earthquake came, Paul and Silas were free.
2)Philippians 4:4-6
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! . . . Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
3)STEVE MCQUEEN IN THE GREAT ESCAPE—THE COOLER KING
B.Joy doesn’t just set us free, it sets everyone around us free too.
1)Philippians 1:14 (From Rome 11 years later)
And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.
2)HE HAS TO SHAKE THE FOUNDATION TO LOOSE THE CHAINS
III.The Freedom of the Gospel
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?”(Acts 16:29-30)
A.Before he can set us free, we have to see the prison for what it is.
1)The Jailor was in charge of the jail, but he was the one in bondage.
2)Luke 4:18
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free.
3)PREACHING WHEN THE LIGHTS WENT OUT IN ZIMAPAN
B.The gospel of Jesus is always a message of freedom.
1)John 8:36
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
2)A PRAYER FOR FREEDOM
Other Scriptures:
John 16:22
So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.
1 Corinthians 12:2-3
You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:17
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Peter 1:8-9
Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.