Letting Grow
Acts 16:34-36
And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
Look with me now at 2 Corinthians 7:1-7 which the Lord has set before us today. I know, some are still hung up on Paul being the author. But then you see the prison walls and doors broken, shaken, with all the chain supernaturally removed. Yet you still want to know who wrote a certain thing. I will tell you who. God did, that is who. How can you not look around this prison and see the hand of God. Is it any wonder then that he has given us the promise of himself, no matter what we may go through. Is it any wonder then that goodness and mercy follow us from Psalm 23 all the way to glory; they are like two hound dogs of Heaven. Our response to these things should be a cleansing and a holiness due to our fear of the Lord. See, God knows some of you all too well. I hear Paul now telling the church how 'they attacked us; we did no wrong nowhere to nobody.' Now do not have a pity party. Is this not the table of the Lord that the redeemed jailor has set before them. You might have been doing what the magistrates ordered. But look here for God is in this place. There is now no condemnation for these new creations in Christ. Romans 8:1 also applies to that jailor he has redeemed. Paul himself has been captured for Christ; his only goal now is to die and live for Christ and his church. How much more grace is found in the living rather than the dying. For is not God the Lord of both. Only God has enabled Paul to feed the church with spiritual meat in such situations. See, following God may cost you something. For the jailor, it was kindness and the price of the meal. But the result is the church grown and the people fed. Paul speaks here of the spiritual comfort, joy, and glory of God. This is why when these came to Macedonia, there was trouble and fighting and fear no matter where they turned. But when God is done, there will be some joy and glory in that house. You might be only on the side of the road. Yet with God, will he not do all things.
And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go.
Here we see the situation is breaking through. God is already in the middle of it all. I do not know how much more here he could get. Some of you know of what I speak. You have been through hell and high water. God brought you through it all and opened such doors that you never knew were possible. Then Monday morning comes, and you mean to tell me that your boss will make you afraid. See, Paul makes it clear that God brought his child Titus into the situation for this purpose. There is a calling purpose of the unknown messenger in the Spirit. Yet before God and Paul only he was known. In that day many would have been shaking in their boots at the mention of the name Titus. For behold he shared a name also with a certain Roman emperor of the time. Now in those days the Romans held a terrible reputation, especially their rulers. The text will not make it clear if this child of God is the same as the one seated in high places. But see what God will do. What is clear to me is how afraid of this Titus these magistrates are. He showed up in town; then the magistrates were like, 'let these men go.' Let me tell you how much more they should have stood for the King of all creation when he came. John 1:11 says he came unto his own. Yet his own people could not even see him for who he truly was. Some of us need to do a lot more standing before him and less in the courts of men. Let me tell you this. When you fear the Lord, you will not come home drunk and beat your wife. You will not then proceed to lose your life. God will not allow you to do it. Through it all, God will keep you.
And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace.
Look now at what is about to happen unto these godless magistrates with no fear of God. In the African churches the leaders would rise to speak the Word over them. Some of you need some African faith today. Some of you need some Korean faith and some Macedonian faith also. For this cause, we see what a comfort Titus' coming was to Paul. Note how absolutely nothing is said about how Silas beside him felt. In fact, through this time, he has said absolutely nothing at all. Is anyone besides me wondering what exactly God has up his sleeve. For behold his Heavenly arm is a long one. Nor is it too short to reach down to your situation to save you. Now Paul testifies of the character of God. More than that, we see the comfort of God recorded here. I know some of you are saying, 'I thought that was Barnabas' job.' How many of you know that the source of all things is God himself not in man. Some of you get it twisted oh so easily. See, Titus came to the churches and found his comfort there. Not only were they a blessing to him but they blessed Paul also through him. Just do not make the mistake of putting Silas and Titus side by side. It would be easy to do. But I am afraid that is God's job. See, Paul is so happy here that his little church is finally on their way up. Remember how these Corinthians once tried to kill him. Now they mourn for him and pray for his safety. At the same time, they are blessing other people that are going through a few things also. Somebody really ought to give God his best praise today. For behold he deserves it. Some of you really ought to record what he has done. Because like so many of us, we as his people are prone to forget.