Set Free!

Job 11; Job 12; Acts 15; Acts 16
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Scripture

Acts 16

22 A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. 23 They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. 24 So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks.

25 Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. 26 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! 27 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. 28 But Paul shouted to him, “Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!”

29 The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.” 32 And they shared the word of the Lord with him and with all who lived in his household. 33 Even at that hour of the night, the jailer cared for them and washed their wounds. Then he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized. 34 He brought them into his house and set a meal before them, and he and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God.

Observation

Paul and Silas were severely beaten with wooden rods. I guess that would be like getting hit with baseball bats. Then they were thrown in jail. After be severely beaten and thrown into the darkest part of the jail Paul and Silas began to sing hymns and pray to God at around midnight. The other prisoners were listening.

Then God caused a massive earthquake to set the prisoners free; no He sent the mighty earthquake to set the jailer free. You see even though the gates on the prison were opened not one of the prisoners escaped. The earthquake and how Paul and Silas controlled the situation made the jailer realize that he was standing on holy ground and he fell on his knees at Paul and Silas’ feet and cried out, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

This jailer thought that his world had come to an end when he saw the gates and the doors of the jail all open, but then when he realized that no one dared go out the gates (because they must have known that God was at work) then he realized that God had caused all of this. Paul’s answer to the jailer is the answer for everyone that is seeking a relationship with God.

“Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved…”

That night the jailer and his entire family were set free by a couple of prisoners. It is an incredible story. It shows you the heart of God. God wants to set us all free. You can have true freedom even if you are behind bars and are being held prisoner if you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Many of those guarding prisoners in our jails and prisons don’t have the freedom that some of the inmates have. If you don’t have Jesus in your life as Lord and Savior then you are a prisoner to sin. If you have Christ as Lord of your life then you have been set free no matter where you are.

Application

I will continue to share the Gospel so people can be set free.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I pray for those that are in bondage to sin that they be set free. Give me the chance to share the Good News with someone today. I pray for Kathy’s niece that needs Your healing touch. I pray for others that are depending on you. I pray for one very close to me that is trapped in sin. I pray Lord that You set him free.

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