INTRODUCTION

1. Missionary ministry

a) Paul and Barnabas

b) Paul and Silas

c) Paul on his own or with other teams

2. Missionary challenges

a) Opposition

b) Persecution

c) Many different types of hardship faced 2 Corinthians 11

 

THE MACEDONIAN CALL

9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood

and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”

10 Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia,

concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them. Acts 16:9-10

1. A vision of a man from Macedonia given to Paul at Troas Acts 16: 8

2. The Lord’s leading ascertained Acts 16: 10

 

MINISTRY IN PHILIPPI, A MAJOR CITY OF MACEDONIA

1. Ministry at a riverside Acts 16: 13a

2. Reaching out to the womenfolk Acts 16: 13b

3. Conversion of Lydia Acts 16: 14-15

a) She was baptised

b) She offered her home for Paul and team to stay in

c) A good start

 

DEMONIC RESISTANCE

1. A slave girl who was possessed followed Paul and team

2. She kept interfering and was annoying

3. The demon was cast out Acts 16: 16-18

 

PERSECUTION OF PAUL AND SILAS

19 But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone,

they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities.

20 And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, “These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city;

21 and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe.”

22 Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods.

23 And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely.

24 Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. Acts 16:19-24

1. False charges were made against Paul and Silas

2. The magistrates caused them to be beaten

3. They were jailed in the inner prison (maximum security)

 

THE AMAZING RESPONSE OF PAUL AND SILAS

25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.

26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken;

and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. Acts 16:25-26

1. They were praying and singing hymns to God

2. The other prisoners were listening to them

 

GOD’S DELIVERANCE

1. A special deliverance was sent to them

a) A localized earthquake occurred

b) Foundations of the prison shaken

c) All the prison doors were opened

d) The chains of the prisoners were loosed

2. There was no question

a) God’s hand was with Paul and Silas

b) His power was seen and felt

 

THE SALVATION OF THE PHILIPPIAN JAILER

1. He nearly killed himself when he discovered that the prison doors were open

2. Paul stopped him from harming himself

3. He learned about God and salvation

4. He came to faith in the Lord Jesus

5. His whole family was baptised

 

THE GROWTH OF THE PHILIIPPIAN CHURCH

1. The Philippian Church became a dearly loved Church

2. The church was devoted to supporting Paul and his ministry

3. The Lord’s hand of blessing was clearly upon Paul and his ministry

 

CONCLUSION

1. Paul’s prayer for the Philippian Church

9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment,

10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ,

11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1: 9-11

a) That love may abound more and more

b) In knowledge and all discernment

c) To be wise and discerning and sincere till the Lord returns

d) Filled with the fruits of righteousness through the Lord Jesus

2. God’s hand in Missions work

a) His hand of blessing is needed

b) Nothing is to be taken for granted