ACTS 16

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Five years ago Paul was in these cities and now he returns to find them vibrant and growing. That must have been an encouraging experience for him to see the fruit of his labor. Then he found a special disciple: 1Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra and a disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek, 2and he was well spoken of by the brethren who were in Lystra and Iconium. 3Paul wanted this man to go with him; and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those parts, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 5So the churches were being strengthened in the faith and were increasing in number daily.

Because Paul perceived Timothy to be so special, he believed he could be very effective coming alongside Paul to reach the same people was to reach. Therefore, he required Timothy, as an adult, to be circumcised. What an amazing act of devotion on Timothy's part, yet probably no one was shocked at this, knowing how faithful and outstanding Timothy had proven to be.

12and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia, a Roman colony; and we were staying in this city for some days. 13And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to a riverside, where we were supposing that there would be a place of prayer; and we sat down and began speaking to the women who had assembled.

In Philippi there was no synagogue for Paul and Timothy to orbit around. But where the Jews were unable to have a synagogue they had a place of prayer and these places of prayer were usually by the riverside. On the Sabbath Paul and his friends took their way there and talked with the women who met in that place. They met a special lady that day, Lydia.

14A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. 15And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay." And she prevailed upon us.

The extraordinary thing about Paul's work in Philippi is the amazing cross-section of the population that was won over to Christ. Lydia came from the very top end of the social scale; she was a purple merchant. The purple dye had to be gathered drop by drop from a certain shell-fish and was so costly that to dye a pound of wool with it would be the equivalent of a small fortune. Lydia, wealthy woman and merchant prince that she was, was attracted to Jesus.

NOTE her immediate reaction was to offer the hospitality of her house to Paul and his friends. When Paul is describing her character he says that the believer should be "given to hospitality". There is no better place to show hospitality than in someone's home. In the fellowship of Jesus, your home is an open door!

22The crowd rose up together against them, and the chief magistrates tore their robes off them and proceeded to order them to be beaten with rods. 23When they had struck them with many blows, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely; 24and he, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.

25But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; 26and suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were unfastened. 27When the jailer awoke and saw the prison doors opened, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!" 29And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, 30and after he brought them out, he said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

You just can't give up, no matter how tough your situation is. The Lord is very capable of coming through on your behalf. Don't give up on Him, no matter how dark it seems to be! The response from the jailor was incredible! He had been LISTENING in on Paul and Silas as they sang and prayed, then when the supernatural happenings took place, he instantly asked, "What must I do to be saved?"

31They said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." 32And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house. 33And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household. 34And he brought them into his house and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, having believed in God with his whole household.

After the prison scene was over, 40They went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia, and when they saw the brethren, they encouraged them and departed.

NOTE 4 things in this chapter. 1. People came to faith after listening to the Good News-Lydia at the place of prayer and the jailor overheard Paul and Silas singing and praying. All that is required is that you be interested!

2. Both Lydia and the jailor, once they entered into a genuine faith relationship with Jesus, turned on the hospitality. Lydia invited them to stay with her. The jailor took them home to clean up their wounds.

3. The entire households of Lydia and the Philippian jailor also came to faith in Jesus. Your influence is very clear and God has brought many around you who will come to Jesus. All for just hanging around these people.

4. Their hospitality focused around their homes. This is what we've lost in many circles-THE HOME. It's the home where people are most comfortable and feel very safe.

Two questions come to mind: FIRST-Are you listening with your heart? Are you leaning in to learn more about Jesus?

SECOND-Are you willing to use your home to make people feel more comfortable and safe?

The JESUS MOVEMENT of the 21st Century is happening outside the local, organized church. This movement is the largest, fastest growing movement in our world today. My philosophy of life is to find out where the Lord is moving and go there immediately to be with Him and His people!