SPIRITUALITY AND FAITH
feet in the stocks and locked in a dark inner prison…yet they chose to trust God was in control of it all. Instead of grumbling over their pain and mistreatment, they chose to thank God in the midst of it all and v. 25 “were praising and singing hymns to God” at midnight with the prisoners listening to them. Like them…
B. Don’t believe for a moment that man’s SENTENCE is the final sentence. Though the evil businessmen had dragged them into the marketplace in Acts 16:19, the multitude “rose up together against them, Acts 16:22; the magistrates tore off their clothes, beat their backs with rods and sentencing them “to be kept securely” in prison…that was not the final sentence! Though the prison was undoubtedly dank, dark, dirty and discouraging …they kept the faith, believing God was watching all this from heaven! In the same way, God loves you and has something special planned so:
C. Don’t allow the confining circumstances confine or define you—FORGIVE and move on! Here in the story, Paul and Silas were not only beaten publically, they were thrown in prison, cast into the dungeon, and the jailer placed their feet in stocks to confine them. In the same way, the devil may have done things to try to shut you down spiritually. But notice Paul and Silas didn’t let circumstances confine or define them and forgave the jailer because they knew true freedom comes from God. In the same way to get FREE, forgive others as you realize no one is perfect. The Bible says, “There is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and
who never sins” (Eccl. 7:20). As a result…
1. Relinquish your right to get even. This is the heart of forgiveness. The Bible says, “Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, as is written “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord (Rom. 12:19).
2. Respond to evil with good. The Bible tells us in Gal. 6:1 - “If anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of gentleness…” remembering Jesus said in Matt. 6:14, “If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. Remember, I Cor. 13:5 says, God’s Love “does not take into account a wrong suffered”. Then:
3. Refocus on God’s plan for your life. As long as you continue to focus on the person who has hurt you, that person controls you and you will begin to resemble your offender. Instead of focusing on the hurt and the one who
“If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. Remember, I Cor. 13:5 says, God’s Love “does not take into account a wrong suffered”.