Acts 16:16-19
One day as we were going down to the place of prayer, we met a slave girl who had a spirit that enabled her to tell the future. She earned a lot of money for her masters by telling fortunes. She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, and they have come to tell you how to be saved.” This went on day after day until Paul got so exasperated that he turned and said to the demon within her, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And instantly it left her. Her masters’ hopes of wealth were now shattered, so they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities at the marketplace.

Acts 16:22-24
A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks.

1. Choose COMMUNITY over ISOLATION.

Acts 16:22-24
A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks.

Genesis 2:18
Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone.

If the enemy can get you ISOLATED, he can get you BEAT.

If you want to change your LIFE, you need to change your FRIENDS!

Acts 16:25
Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening.

2. Choose WORSHIP over WORRY.

Psalm 150:1-6
Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heaven! Praise him for his mighty works; praise his unequaled greatness! Praise him with a blast of the ram’s horn; praise him with the lyre and harp! Praise him with the tambourine and dancing; praise him with strings and flutes! Praise him with a clash of cymbals; praise him with loud clanging cymbals. Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord! Praise the Lord!

God does not command to praise because He is an EGOMANIAC.

He does not command it for His BENEFIT, but for OURS!

He does not need our praise, but we NEED to praise Him!

Worry makes my problem BIG and my God SMALL.

Worship makes my God BIG and my problem SMALL.

Acts 16:26
Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off!

Acts 16:27-33
The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. But Paul shouted to him, “Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!” The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.” And they shared the word of the Lord with him and with all who lived in his household. Even at that hour of the night, the jailer cared for them and washed their wounds. Then he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized.

3. Choose OTHERS over SELF.

We are not saved BY our good works, but we are saved FOR good works.

We are SAVED to SERVE.

Ways to serve:

Be a good NEIGHBOR.

If you SEE a need, try to MEET the need.

Share your RESOURCES.

Share the GOSPEL.