The Captive Audience; Whom The Son Has Set Free

Acts 16: 16-40
The Captive Audience; Whom The Son Has Set Free

Though In Bondage For Christ's Sake Many Were Set Free To Live For Christ.

Paul and Silas had been doing what they do, preaching, bringing lost souls to Christ, casting out spirits, setting captivtives free, healing in the name of Jesus....you know just those little things that apostles and disciples do. The little things that believers are called to do today...(clears throat).

However, a lot of people just didn't like the things that those "meddling kids" were doing, so they were constantly beating them and throwing them in jail. Of course God always provided a way of escape for those who were called by His purpose, so Paul often escaped and found himself jumping out of windows, being lowered from ceilings in baskets, busting through brick walls... Oopps, that's the Koolaid Man, but you get my point.

Anyway, no matter how many times he was placed in bondage Paul and his crew of Merry Men ( and Women) never ceased to preach the Gospel and never ceased to pray.

Such as the case the day Paul and Silas were beat openly and placed in prison for setting loose an unclean spirit. The prison guard was given strict orders to watch those two. They were even bound by the ankles. Hmmm, sounds like somebody knew that these men had some holy ghost power! Why else would take all these steps if they didn't believe? Hey even demons believe and Cry Lord, Lord"...

And they did have the power of the Holy Spirit within them. Paul and Silas prayed without ceasing and sang songs of praise. They praised God in and through their circumstances and also were witnesses for God even in prison because the other prisoners received the gospel. See the rulers thought they were putting some good men down, but actually, in their bondage they were doing exactly what they were called to do, set the captives (prisoners) free! What other place could they have such a "captive" audience to minister to? Pun intended! (smile). And even more of the power and glory of God was to be revealed that night.

As Paul and Silas continued to pray and praise all throughout the midnight hour, God made the prison shake. All the doors open and chains were loosed. The prisoners could leave and be free!

The night jailer saw this and was about to take his life because he figured either the prisoners would kill him, or the rulers would kill him because he did not fulfill his duty. But Paul's compassion, mercy and grace called out to him and showed him that every single prisoner was still in place. Through the power of the God, the prisoners heard the gospel from Paul and Silas and choose to do the right thing. They stayed in prison because they were already set free.

The jailer knew then that there was someONE greater working in all this, and He wanted Him. He and his entire family accepted God's salvation and were baptized. He ended up serving his two prisoners and feasting with them in his home.

Oh what a difference pray makes! What a difference God's power makes! Those who were in bondage for the sake of Christ were able to set others free to live for Christ! Whom the Son sets free is truly free indeed. No temporary walls of prison can contain those who are truly free.

No prison like situation, whether it be financial, health issues, relationship issues, can contain those who are truly free. Even death can't contain those who are truly free. For there will come a day when Jesus will call out to the death " Oh Death! oh Death! where is your sting? Where is your victory?" It was not with Paul, Silas, the prisoners or the suicidal jailer that night. In fact, Paul and Silas went in as criminals, despised prisoners. But they were prisoners for The Lord and had no fault other than he message of THe Cross.

When the rulers saw that they Paul and Silas had no other choice but to let these Holy men go ( God opens doors that man thinks he can shut); they wanted to sneak them out the back door unseen and unheard. But Paul said no! Take me out like you brought me in so my God in all His glory can be shown to the people.

See when people despitefully use you, mistreat you, falsely accuse you, you don't have to do anything. If and when God sees fit to reveal his glory in a public way, He will. He will make those things done in the darkness against His servants, come to the light. We must only do as Paul and Silas did: pray, praise, minister, be obedient, lead others to Christ, and reach out to those who persecute you and despitefully use you with loving kindness. (gulp).

God will shake down the walls and shake everything up so that those who were against you will be for you and more importantly be for God! If he be lifted up, He will do the drawing! Amen.

Whatever temporary bondage situation we may face remember that God can use it for our deliverance and the deliverance of others, IF we go through the situation according to his purpose. We must be obedient,, pray without ceasing through our temporary bondage, rejoice always, give thanks, be patient and continue to do what God has already called us to do eventhough we don't feel like it. Somebody needs to see the freedom that is available in Christ and they can receive it through how you go through your temporary bondage.

Created about 1 year ago