Turn Obstacles into Opportunities
David Cook
Acts 16: 25-34
Newsweek carried the fascinating story of Karen Hartley. During a skiing trip she was stranded and alone due to an avalanche. As the darkness and cold of night descended, she wondered, "What am I to do?" What came to her was this: she was to dance to the music that kept coming into her head. She could have curled up into a fetal position and allowed the darkness and cold to end her life. Instead, she chose to dance all night, and in the coming day she was saved.
In Acts 16, Paul and Silas find themselves surrounded by obstacles that would have made the best of us turn to despair. Yet, these men saw things from a different perspective. As they focused on God's glory and greatness, their obstacles became an opportunity for God to show His mighty power.
What do you see as the greatest obstacle in your life or family today? This morning let's see that obstacle as an opportunity to experience the presence of God in a fresh way.
I. Obstacle And Opportunity # 1
A. Obstacle - Prison
Acts 16:22-24, "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. Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks."
Paul and Silas were thrown into prison evidently because Paul had ruined a massive money making business! A young slave girl, making a great deal for her owners through fortune telling, followed Paul and his companions around for days declaring, "These are the servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved," (Acts 16:17).
As this continued on for days, Paul finally had enough! Through the power of the Name of Jesus, he cast that spirit out of her and it left her. This action infuriated the slave girl owners because they had lost thei ...
David Cook
Acts 16: 25-34
Newsweek carried the fascinating story of Karen Hartley. During a skiing trip she was stranded and alone due to an avalanche. As the darkness and cold of night descended, she wondered, "What am I to do?" What came to her was this: she was to dance to the music that kept coming into her head. She could have curled up into a fetal position and allowed the darkness and cold to end her life. Instead, she chose to dance all night, and in the coming day she was saved.
In Acts 16, Paul and Silas find themselves surrounded by obstacles that would have made the best of us turn to despair. Yet, these men saw things from a different perspective. As they focused on God's glory and greatness, their obstacles became an opportunity for God to show His mighty power.
What do you see as the greatest obstacle in your life or family today? This morning let's see that obstacle as an opportunity to experience the presence of God in a fresh way.
I. Obstacle And Opportunity # 1
A. Obstacle - Prison
Acts 16:22-24, "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. Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks."
Paul and Silas were thrown into prison evidently because Paul had ruined a massive money making business! A young slave girl, making a great deal for her owners through fortune telling, followed Paul and his companions around for days declaring, "These are the servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved," (Acts 16:17).
As this continued on for days, Paul finally had enough! Through the power of the Name of Jesus, he cast that spirit out of her and it left her. This action infuriated the slave girl owners because they had lost thei ...
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