Fruitful in the Midst of Difficulty

Text: Acts 16:1-40

Do Whatever it takes

Paul circumcises Timothy so that it would increase the likelihood of his words being respected by the Jews.

Go Wherever He leads you

Paul was forbidden by the Spirit to preach in Asia. Paul was not permitted to speak in Bithynia by the Spirit of Jesus. Paul had a vision calling him to Macedonia.

Speak to Whomever will listen

Paul was preaching on the riverside to an assembly of women.

God opened the heart of Lydia to respond to the gospel.

Whatever the Cost

Paul becomes annoyed at a slave-girl who had a spirit of divination, and who had been crying out about his service to God.

Paul commands the spirit to come out of her.

The slave girl’s owners bring charges against Paul and Silas, and they are beaten and imprisoned.

Whatever the Circumstances

Paul and Silas placed in stocks in the inner prison.

At midnight they were praying and praising God.

An earthquake hit and released their bonds, but they did not escape.

The jailer asks, “What must I do to be saved?”

Share the Gospel

“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” They spoke the word of the Lord to the jailer and his household.

Trust in God

The magistrates decide to release Paul and Silas.

They refuse to go quietly as they were wrongly imprisoned as Roman citizens.

The magistrates appeal to them and beg them to leave.

They instead go to Lydia’s home and encourage the brethren, and then depart.

A Spirit-directed life

Seek to have no will of your own.

Let God take the initiative.

Follow the Spirit’s lead.

Share the Gospel of Jesus.

Trust Him for your life.