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by Sandy Shaw
Acts 16:25-40. These two men of God, Paul and Silas, are in this Philippian prison, as a direct consequence of their ministry in the Name of Jesus Christ, and in the Power of the Holy Spirit. That girl had been delivered from an evil spirit - a python spirit.
None of us in our fellowship in Scotland has experienced being in prison for our faith - yet! How would we face up to that if it became a distinct possibility? How would we react and respond if we were confronted by some kind of threat, because we claimed to belong to Jesus Christ?
We saw how the ministry of Paul and Silas had touched people's lives - transforming some - and they had also touched the wallets and pockets of others, before Jesus had touched their hearts. These pimps had lost a source of income, and when you challenge a man in that way, he will rise up against you - and that can seldom be avoided.
Are you facing real opposition for your faith in Jesus Christ and as a consequence of your ministry in the power of the Holy Spirit? I want to say - "You should be!"
Paul and Silas had been beaten and had received many stripes - many lashes of the whip - and it was sore. They are thrown into the high security cell - with feet in the stocks - and at midnight they are praying and singing hymns to God - and the prisoners heard them.
Paul and Silas regarded suffering for the sake of Jesus Christ to be an honour and privilege - not in some twisted morbid way - there is no 'poor us' syndrome - see where we've ended up - not much chance of preaching The Gospel here. There is nothing like that - almost the opposite - no grumbling, criticising the authorities, moaning, groaning, girning against the government of Philippi. That was not part of their make-up.
Their very positive witness is flowing round that prison. Others hear us and see us - and observe us - and are aware of how we react. Prisoners had never seen this before!
Be honest now - how will you react when you are opposed, criticised, ridiculed, mocked - or worse - for your steadfast faith in Jesus Christ?
"Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life" from
Choking can be Hazardous to Your Eternal Health
Read Article »Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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