Preface:
1. The Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that followed. Mk.16:20
2. Jesus said: I am the Christ. I will build my church. Matt.16:15-18
3. Therefore, the church has to be church of Christ! Ro.16:16, Gal.1:22
A. This is how the church of Christ in Philippi was established! Acts 16:12-34
1. Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of the district of Macedonia. Acts 16:12
2. On Sabbath we went outside city gate to the river, we expected to find a place for prayer. Ac16:13
3. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. Acts 16:13
4. One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira.
She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message. Acts 16:14
5. When she and the members of her family were baptized, she invited us to her home.
Saying: If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house. And she persuaded us. Ac.16:15
B. This was how the Lord worked with them! Acts 16:16-25
1. Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future.
She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. Ac.16:16
2. This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting:
These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved. Acts 16:17
3. She kept this up for many days.
Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit: In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!
At that moment the spirit left her. Acts 16:18
4. When the owners of the slave girl realized that their hope of making money was gone.
They seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities. Ac.16:19
5. They brought them before the magistrates and said:
These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice. Acts 16:20-21
***Satan’s people always lie! The truth: Paul saved the slave girl!
6. The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten.
After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. Acts 16:22-23
7. Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.
8. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Acts 16:24-25
C. The Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that followed. Acts 16:26-29
1. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken.
At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose. Acts 16:26
2. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open.
He drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. Acts 16:27
3. But Paul shouted: Don't harm yourself! We are all here! Acts 16:28
***This is such a giant pleasant surprise for the Jailer!
4. The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. Acts 16:29
***These two must not be human! If they were, they would be gone and leave me to die!
D. The conversion of the Philippians jailer and family!
1. He then brought them out and asked: Sirs, what must I do to be saved? Acts 16:30
2. They replied: Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved-- you and your household. Ac.16:31
***Any preacher stop here has to be a child of Satan! A child of God will continue to verse 34!
3. Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. Acts 16:32
4. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds.
Then immediately he and all his family were baptized. Acts 16:33
5. The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them;
he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God-- he and his whole family. Acts 16:34
E. Conclusion: The church of Christ in Philippi started with two substantial families!
This church became financial supporter of Paul’s evangelistic works! Phil.4:15-19
VIDEO SERMON BY BROTHER CHAN ON JANUARY 21, 2018
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywJLf5R2nFE