Praising God At The Midnight Hour
Sammy Burgess
Acts 16:20-34
Introduction: Have you figured out by now that you are going to have days that nothing will go right? You are going to have days where no matter how hard you try; no matter what you do, nothing is going to work out for you.
{Illustration}
Many are like the young paratrooper who was learning to jump. He was given the following instructions. ''First, jump when you are told; second, count to ten and pull the ripcord; third, in the very unlikely event that it doesn't open, pull the second chute open; and fourth, when you get down, a truck will take you back to the base.''
The plane ascended up to the proper height, the men started peeling out, and the young paratrooper jumped when told. He counted to ten and pulled the cord, but the chute failed to open. He proceeded to the back-up plan; pulled the cord of the second chute. It too, failed to open. As he was falling very rapidly, he hollered as he looked back up at the airplane and said; ''And I suppose the truck won't be there either when I get down.''
{Acts 16} begins as though nothing could go wrong. It seems as though everything is going to go right. In fact, it begins so good that there were 2 great conversions that took place. We see the conversion of Lydia {16:13-15}. She had a tender heart. We also see the conversion of unnamed slave girl {16:16-18}. She had a tormented heart. Every thing seemed to be going in the right direction.
But then we come to {16:23-25} where we find Paul and Silas in prison. {23}- ''they cast them into prison.'' Now, you would think that after all that had happened - that everyone would be filled with joy and happiness. But this wasn't the case.
Why were Paul and Silas cast into prison? Why were some so angry at what had taken place? All they were accused of doing was casting a demon out of a demon possessed girl. This crowd had just watched Jesus set a girl free from demon possession. But the problem ...
Sammy Burgess
Acts 16:20-34
Introduction: Have you figured out by now that you are going to have days that nothing will go right? You are going to have days where no matter how hard you try; no matter what you do, nothing is going to work out for you.
{Illustration}
Many are like the young paratrooper who was learning to jump. He was given the following instructions. ''First, jump when you are told; second, count to ten and pull the ripcord; third, in the very unlikely event that it doesn't open, pull the second chute open; and fourth, when you get down, a truck will take you back to the base.''
The plane ascended up to the proper height, the men started peeling out, and the young paratrooper jumped when told. He counted to ten and pulled the cord, but the chute failed to open. He proceeded to the back-up plan; pulled the cord of the second chute. It too, failed to open. As he was falling very rapidly, he hollered as he looked back up at the airplane and said; ''And I suppose the truck won't be there either when I get down.''
{Acts 16} begins as though nothing could go wrong. It seems as though everything is going to go right. In fact, it begins so good that there were 2 great conversions that took place. We see the conversion of Lydia {16:13-15}. She had a tender heart. We also see the conversion of unnamed slave girl {16:16-18}. She had a tormented heart. Every thing seemed to be going in the right direction.
But then we come to {16:23-25} where we find Paul and Silas in prison. {23}- ''they cast them into prison.'' Now, you would think that after all that had happened - that everyone would be filled with joy and happiness. But this wasn't the case.
Why were Paul and Silas cast into prison? Why were some so angry at what had taken place? All they were accused of doing was casting a demon out of a demon possessed girl. This crowd had just watched Jesus set a girl free from demon possession. But the problem ...
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