7-22-18 My Vacation on a boat is not the same as Jesus’ vacation on a boat!

Scripture   Matthew 11:28-30

          SIT IN LAWN CHAIR - pastor vacation song.

We need vacations/rest/time away. The human part of Jesus was no different and there were times he got away - like me he got away in a boat - no better way to do a vacation then when a boat is involved. However, SLIDE - Boat 7 My vacation on a boat is different than Jesus’ vacation on a boat.

My ideal vacation would be in the winter going to a tropical paradise spending every day on the beach or on a boat on the water. My more realistic vacation is staying in the 54 year old cottage at Put in Bay and feeling no need to do work (that is difficult for me). I always think I could be working on things for church as well as working on things around the cottage. SO I tend not to get the relaxation there that I would in the tropics.

Why do we want or need a vacation anyway?

Our bodies need to recuperate. Our minds need to slow down. But there is something even more important that we need - and I don’t know that a vacation will do this, but I am sure it doesn’t hurt - we need SOUL rest - SPIRIT renewal.

          Jesus knew the disciples needed a vacation or SOUL rest - SPIRIT renewal - time away in quiet with him. A story is told of an exploration team in Africa which had employed a group of natives to carry their supplies to go with them into the interior. Being in a hurry to reach their objective, the team pushed forward at a rather quick pace for several days. At one point, the natives just sat down and would not go further. Frustrated by this stoppage, they asked why they were sitting instead of moving forward? The spokesperson for the natives replied, "We are waiting for our souls to catch up with our bodies."

          Jesus knew the disciples souls needed to catch up with their bodies, and, on one occasion, this is what happened:

Mark 6:30-56

The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

FOOT RACE WITH A BOAT

32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. / But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them.  When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

FEEDING THE 5000

35 By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late. Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” But he answered, “You give them something to eat.” They said to him, *$ “That would take more than half a year’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?” “How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.” When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.” Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. (DO SKIT HERE) They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.

JESUS SENT THE BOAT AHEAD

45 Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd.  After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray. Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land.  He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them.

48 Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”  Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.

53 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there.  As soon as they got out of the boat, (they got their vacation) people recognized Jesus. They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was.  And wherever he went—into villages, towns or countryside—they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.

THE REST TEXT

Matt 11:28-30     NIV

 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

It is not about needing a vacation - yes vacations are important. But this text is talking about vacating your agenda, your struggle, your anxiety, your depression, your workaholism, your religiosity, anything that makes you move so fast or get so distracted…you forget to rest with Jesus - not just for moment - but with your whole life.  Here is the same text from the MESSAGE version:

Matt 11:28-30      The Message

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me — watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.”

CONCLUSION

          Yes Jesus, as man, had to get away to rest in God his Father. But Jesus as God needs no rest:

Psalm 121:1-8

1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord watches over you—the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life;
8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

Matthew 11:28-30 was the text of the preacher one night. His heart was so full of Christ that his words could not express what he wanted to say. All he could say was, "'Come unto Me'—what does it mean? 'Come unto Me'—what does it mean?" Again and again he repeated, "What does it mean? What does it mean?" All at once, a little girl, sitting on a front seat, timidly rose and held out her hand. "Well," asked the preacher, "what does it mean, dear child?" "It means that He wants me,". The preacher sat down. Both he and the people felt no more needed to be said. "The wisest and most able among us could not have given a truer and sweeter exposition of the text.” "Come unto Me" means that "Jesus wants ME."

7-15-18 Kindness – The NEW witness!

Scripture  Ephesians 4:29-32

This past week I was the recipient of an act of kindness; and I was a witness to an act of kindness from one person to another.

We live in a world that is anything but kind. Words and actions of unkindness, meanness, nastiness, brutality, malice, spite, vindictiveness, callousness, harshness and heartlessness abound from the wealthiest and highest positions to the poorest and the outcast. Unkindness has no boundaries and escapes no segment of life.

Ephesians 4:29-32

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

ILUSTRATION:

A Youth in Japan was moved by the kindness of a gentle elderly man. The man, a missionary, had not been in this Asian country for many years and was still limited in his use of Japanese. Yet, each week he visited the young man’s home to discuss the Bible. With friendly smiles and kindly manners, he patiently answered the many questions that the curious young student raised.

The kind ways of the elderly missionary left an indelible impression on the young man. ‘If the Bible makes a man so kind and loving,’ thought the young man, ‘then by all means I should learn about it.’ This gave him the incentive he needed to study something totally foreign to him. Yes, kindness touches the human heart and speaks to it, often more powerfully than words can. You may have heard the phrase – “You may be the only bible someone ever reads.”

Should people be kind just because it is the right thing to do? YES! Daily life would be so much better if people (regardless of religion) would use words and perform acts of kindness.  How many of us hear an unkind word or are subjected to an unkind act every day? In the world of social media, the lack of kindness has soared to new levels as people hide behind a screen name and say all kinds of nasty things. I used to love to play online hearts – played with people al over the world and could chat as you played. It became a problem as people would play and become cruel if they weren’t winning. I stopped playing years ago because of that. This last week I thought I would see if it still exists – it does…but without the live chat.

          For non spiritual reasons it makes sense - Proverbs 11:17  Those who are kind benefit themselves, but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.

Luke 6:31  Do to others as you would have them do to you.

          Even though we should all be kind because it is a better way to live, that may not be reason enough. There are two higher reasons we should speak and act kindly.

REASON 1 Because God does

          Over and over the bible speaks of God’s kindness – Isaiah 63:7 I will tell of the kindnesses of the Lord, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the Lord has done for us—yes, the many good things he has done for Israel, according to his compassion and many kindnesses.

          Romns 5:8  But God demonstrates his own love (kindness) for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

REASON 2 Because Jesus wants us too – the bible says so

Jesus wants us too:

Matthew 5:46-48

 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

The bible tells us too:

I Cor 13:4-8, 13

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love (which is kindness).

NOTE the contrast between what not to do and what to do – only 2 things to do – be patient and kind. Paul carries that Don’t do this and do this theme into our text for today…

Ephesians 4:29-32

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs.

31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

          Paul gives us an ethic of kindness – he paints a picture if you will and we must stare at that picture daily if we are to change and become more Christlike. We cannot copy what we do not see. We must see the picture of the kindness of Christ – dying on the cross out of kindness for those who sinned and turned their back on him.  When we see that picture, we can’t help but act toward others ALL OTHERS in kindness. When we do that, we become the artist and are painting a picture of kindness, therefore of Christ, for all the world to see.

          KINDNESS is the new witness. We are now no longer motivated to be kind because it is the right and better way to live – we now have the intention of experiencing God as we speak words and do acts of kindness because he is living and working through us – what a difference that makes. I can take it or leave it if it simply benefits me – but if it somehow allows me to experience the reality of God in my life – I want that more than anything. Let the kindness begin. Keep in mind that kindness is an act of the will – God works with us – not on us.

I mentioned that I received words and an act of kindness this week. Someone responded to a need, not because it was a right or better thing to do, but because they were living as the hands and feet of their savior Jesus Christ.

The words and act of kindness I observed I was also involved in. My kindness motivation was because it was right – so my the words I said…and those I refrained from saying were less Christ influenced and more duty influenced. Then along comes a church member who takes the person and shows them great words and acts of kindness that were absolutely an ethical intention based on an awareness of Christ – having seen the picture of his kindness toward them and measuring it out to one of the least of these. It was a beautiful thing to watch and made me want to be more like that, therefore more like Christ in his kindness toward others.

Matthew 25:31-    When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.

          Remember the young man in Japan who was shown kindness by an elderly missionary -because of that kindness – he found NEW life in Christ. Kindness…the new witness.

7-8-18 BEHOLD, I got nothing new!

Scripture  Hebrews 11:1-2, 12:1-2

Hebrews 11:1-2

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.

Hebrews 12:1-2

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Duncan Phillips talks about the importance of standing up and saying, 'This is who we are.'

The Newsboys band appeared in the hit film, "God's Not Dead," and their song, "We Believe," appears on the Billy Graham tribute album.

 During an interview about the song We Believe, Duncan Phillips said, Christian music

is a funny thing. It is one of the only genres of music that is characterized by its lyrical content rather than its musical style. Sometimes because of that, the art of the music tends to be second rate. That is not as important as the lyrical content. I get it, but I don't necessarily agree with it.

A lot of times if you want to reach kids, the music has got to stand out. It can't be second rate. The music is the conduit to get the message into the heart of a person, into their soul and their spirit. If the music isn't as good as current secular music, there is going to be a barrier. I think we've failed at making the art as good as it could be. With this album more than ever before, we really wanted the art to be great.

I think "We Believe" says, all that aside, this is who we are. This is what we believe. We believe in God the Father, Jesus Christ, The Holy Spirit, the crucifixion, He conquered death, the Resurrection, and He's coming back again!

Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?

John 14:19 (The Voice):  Because I live, you will also live.

John 20:29 (NKJV): Jesus said, Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

1 Corinthians 15:21 (NKJV): "For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead."

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV): "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."

Romans 10:9 (NKJV): That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

What's the takeaway message

This is who we are as Christians. At some point, we must stand up and say this is who we are. No matter what you are going through, when you stand and sing this song and claim your faith in a very simple way, people resonate with it. They stand up and raise their hands and it is a declaration of what we believe.

Through Christ, we need to have joy and express what we stand for more than what we are against. With statements like this song, it is very positive and uplifting.

Lyrics:
In this time of desperation when all we know is doubt and fear, There is only One Foundation - We believe, We believe - In this broken generation when all is dark, You help us see, there is only One Salvation - We believe, We believe

Together we read the Nicene Creed. The shorter Apostles Creed reads like this:

THE APOSTLES CREED

1. I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:

2. And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord:

3. Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary:

4. Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried: He descended into hell:

5. The third day he rose again from the dead:

6. He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty:

7. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead:

8. I believe in the Holy Ghost:

9. I believe in the holy catholic church: the communion of saints:

10. The forgiveness of sins:

1l. The resurrection of the body:

12. And the life everlasting. Amen.

          As Baptist, we have no creeds. Creeds are largely a part of the Catholic Church and are somewhat ascribed to in the Episcopal and the Lutheran Church. Because we have no written authority other than the bible it does not mean the creeds are no good. They are a way of saying, in short form what we believe according to the scriptures. Instead of creeds – which in some cases are placed equal to the scriptures, we would say we have statements of faith that are altered over time due to language, culture and what is se as most important to talk about.

          There have been many Baptist Confessions or statements of faith written over the years. It would be a good exercise for everyone to write their own. For example, if you were writing a statement of faith, to state plainly what you would believe, would you start by saying what you believed about the bible first, or God, or the state of man, or the church, or heaven, or salvation, etc. See, even knowing where to start is challenging.

Once you put the major theological components in a logical order – not necessarily one thing greater than another – simply an order that makes sense, what do you say about each? If you start with the nature of man, do you say that man is good, man is evil? What? How about staring with God created man in his own image and saw that it was very good (Gen 1:26). Man disobeyed God and is in a state we call fallen – as in fallen from grace. Or in a sinful state: There is no one righteous (Rom 3:10) All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23).

Then you might go on to the nature of God – that God is love, etc. Then Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Church, Heaven, etc.

          Is it enough just to believe? We know the Bible says, “Believe on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved!” Acts 16:31 or Romans 10:9 If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Part of my statement of faith would be that the bible is the sole written authority for all things pertaining to God and daily life. Now here is the rub. What does the word believe mean according to the Bible – not only according to our best translated word?

Believe in the Greek is pisteuson pisteuson = To believe or entrust.

You will be saved in the Greek is swqhsh sōthēsē = to save

There is more: Believe is the aorist imperfect followed by you will be saved which is future passive and forms a type of Hebraic conditional sentence.

                       The aorist is a single event in the past – you did believe – but it is also imperfect which is something continuing in the past. So, your belief started at a point in time but continues. Some people could have a single moment of belief that does not continue. That continuing belief according to the word used here is essential for being saved. (Stop arguing for once saved always saved and argue for once believed always believed)

                       The future passive of you will be saved – passive means something is being done to you. You are not saving your self – the saving is being done to you because of your belief that continues. It is future, meaning it has been done, is being done and will be done based on when you started to believe and that you continue believing. 11-4-74 I had my aorist moment of belief and (cause and effect) I was saved. I have (in the imperfect tense) continued to believe and have continued to be saved and yet I also look forward to that day when Christ returns, and I will be saved.

                       WAIT – there is more. You may have missed something very important I said in the definition of ‘believe’ according to the Greek. When we talk about belief, we simply mean an intellectual ascent. But that is not enough. It is not enough to just believe it in your mind – check this out: James 2:19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. The demons always believe – they call Jesus the son of the most high God and tremble in fear when he shows up (send us into those pigs over there). Are the demons saved? NO! The bible says believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. We conclude then that just believing as an act of intellectual ascent – is not enough. Remember the definition was not simply believe but entrust – put your trust in. Therefore, when the bible says Believe in Jesus and you will be saved it means you start with intellectually believing but also means you put your trust in the object of that belief - JESUS!

                       What does it mean to trust? It means to commit to another with confidence.  It is not just saying Jesus is Lord (Mt 7:21-23  “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’) You can believe with your mind – you can say I believe – but true belief is much more – you must put commit yourself to trust in Jesus.

                       WAIT, there is more – the one who enters his kingdom is the one who does the will of his father. That is the 3^rd and final part of what the word believe in the Greek means – it implies action. Intellectual belief first – putting trust in Jesus follows – and living the belief completes it. All three parts are inherent in the word believe. Let’s go back to James who so well describes what real belief (or faith is)

James 2:14-23

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith (belief) save them?  Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend.

Yes We believe in God the Father / We believe in Jesus Christ
We believe in the Holy Spirit / And He's given us new life
We believe in the crucifixion / We believe that He conquered death
We believe in the resurrection / And He's comin' back again, we believe

So, let our faith be more than anthems Greater than the songs we sing
And in our weakness and temptations We believe, We believe!

Let the lost be found and the dead be raised! In the here and now, let love invade!
Let the church live loud, our God we'll say We believe, We believe!
And the gates of hell will not prevail! For the power of God, has torn the veil!
Now we know Your love will never fail! We believe, We believe!

Intellectual Belief becomes Committed trust in Jesus becomes Action – lives lived for Christ!

That is the belief we mean when we sing the song WE BELIEVE!

7-01-18 What does Freedom Mean to you?

Scripture    John 8:31-32

VIDEO: What does freedom mean to you?

Most people in the video said: Freedom means I can do whatever I want with no one stopping me. Online dictionary says – Freedom is a Noun: = the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint.

Webster 1928 Freedom = A state of exemption from the power or control of another; liberty; exemption from slavery, servitude or confinement. freedom is personal, civil, political, and religious.

PHYSICAL, SPIRITUAL, ETERNAL FREEDOM

Acts 12:1-19                      PHYSICAL RELEASE FROM PRISON

It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.

So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.

Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.

Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.”

When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John  Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer the door. When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!”

“You’re out of your mind,” they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.”

But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. “Tell James and the other brothers and sisters about this,” he said, and then he left for another place.

In the morning, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed.

Acts 16:16-40                   SPIRITUAL RELEASE FROM PRISON

Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. She 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.” She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed 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.

When her owners realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities. 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.”

The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. 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. But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”

The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then 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—you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. 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 household.

When it was daylight, the magistrates sent their officers to the jailer with the order: “Release those men.” The jailer told Paul, “The magistrates have ordered that you and Silas be released. Now you can leave. Go in peace.”

But Paul said to the officers: “They beat us publicly without a trial, even though we are Roman citizens, and threw us into prison. And now do they want to get rid of us quietly? No! Let them come themselves and escort us out.”

The officers reported this to the magistrates, and when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, they were alarmed. They came to appease them and escorted them from the prison, requesting them to leave the city. After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house, where they met with the brothers and sisters and encouraged them. Then they left.

John 8:31-59              ETERNAL RELEASE FROM PRISON

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word. I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father.”

“Abraham is our father,” they answered.

“If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would do what Abraham did. As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. You are doing the works of your own father.”  “We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.”

Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”

The Jews answered him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?”  “I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.”

At this they exclaimed, “Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that whoever obeys your word will never taste death. Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?”

Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and obey his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.”  “You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!”  “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.