Key verse- Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Proposition- Christian: Live for Jesus and you will influence others for Christ.
I. Opposition Vs. 22-24
Objection #1– Every time I try to live for Christ, I get too much opposition.
Answer- Opposition part of Christian life, & can further the sharing of the gospel.
A. Paul & Silas
They were treated unfairly, and brutally.
This was the result of Paul casting a demon out of a young slave girl.
She brought her masters profit by supposedly being able to predict the future.
Her deliverance angered her masters, who in turn attacked Paul & Silas.
They were persecuted b/c of their faith in & service to Jesus Christ.
B. Us- Jesus taught that persecution was part of the Christian life.
Matthew 5:11, 12 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven…
There are two ways to view persecution:
- Man’s view-loss, humiliation, rejection, something to endure.
- God’s view-Joy, great reward in heaven, identified with Christ.
- It isn’t natural to be joyful about being insulted or persecuted.
- Jesus takes the Christian from the natural to the heavenly response.
NOTE- Persecution comes in many forms.
- It can come from a human attack or from demonic attack.
- It can come visibly or invisibly. Physically or mentally, emotionally.
NOTE- Persecution put Paul & Silas in position to share Christ.
- Don’t believe the lie that b/c it gets difficult, you can’t be effective.
- Persecution can make us more effective in reaching people for Jesus.
II. Discouragement V. 25
Objection #2- I get too discouraged and depressed when I am persecuted.
Answer- We can choose to stay depressed or choose to pray & worship.
A. Paul & Silas
Paul and Silas’ love for God wasn’t based upon circumstances.
They had been unlawfully apprehended.
They had been wrongly accused and unlawfully beaten.
They had been unlawfully imprisoned.
Still, they sang and prayed.
B. Us- By God’s grace, and by our own choice, we can choose to worship instead of focusing on our problems.
- Paul was in another prison when he wrote the book of Philippians.
- 10x’s he uses the word “rejoice” in that letter.
- Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
- Worship, prayer and rejoicing are a matter of choice, not circumstance.
- We have the same Jesus & the same Holy Spirit as Paul & Silas did.
III. I’m Not Making Any Difference V. 25
Objection #3- I don’t think that my life is affecting anyone else for Christ.
Answer- We never know who is watching or listening
A. Paul & Silas- NOTICE- The other prisoners were listening.
- Singing & praying isn’t the norm in most jails.
- Cursing, blaspheming, and fighting were probably the norm.
- Paul & Silas were easily noticed simply b/c they were so different.
NOTICE- Paul & Silas may not have realized that others were listening.
- The jailer had to bring a light to where they were being held. V. 29
- They were in the “inner prison”, singing in the dark.
- They were influencing others simply by their prayers & worship.
B. Us- If we will choose to live for Christ all the time, people will notice.
You might not know it, but people are watching & listening.
- Matthew 5:14-16 14“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
- Live your Christianity openly for others to see.
- Live on a hill, not under a basket.
IV. No Opportunities V. 26
Objection #4- I never seem to have an opportunity to share Christ.
Answer-Be ready, praying, and worshipping. An opportunity will come.
A. Paul- Paul was walking in the Spirit.
He was mindful of God, was worshipping and praying.
He was quick to see the opportunity
B. Us- 1 Peter 3:15, 16a
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16keeping a clear conscience…
V. I Don’t Know Who To Talk To Vs. 26-30
Objection #5- I don’t know who to talk to.
Answer- Care about every person around you, and you’ll find a listener.
A. Paul & Silas
Paul could have easily been angry or uncaring for this man.
The jailer was part of the system that had treated Paul so brutally.
Instead, Paul cares for this man.
Paul could have tried to escape, but he stays in place.
The jailer sees God’s power, sees Paul’s & Silas’ lives, recognizes his need.
B. Us- “Preach to broken hearts, and you’ll never lack an audience”.
Matthew 9:36-38 36But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. 37Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”
VI. I Don’t Know What To Say Vs. 31-34
Objection #6- I don’t know what to say.
Answer- The Christian message always points to the cross of Christ.
A. Paul & Silas
When answering the question of salvation, heaven, hell & eternity, the answer is always the same.
1 Cor. 1:22-25 22For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, 24but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
NOTE- Some here today may find yourselves in the jailer’s position.
He was ready to die, b/c he had thought the prisoners had escaped.
Touched by the power of godly Christian lives.
Wanting to know what to do to be saved.
B. Us- We are to share the same message
- Every Christian needs to learn how to share the gospel.
- Learn how to explain God’s offer of salvation through faith in Christ.
- If you are unsure, we have New Believers classes.
- We have books in the bookstore.
- Ask the person next to you, or some Christian that you know.
- Study and understand how to share your faith.
- And then…”live on a hill, not under a basket.”
- Daniel 12:3 Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.