6.25.9 "The Jailer from Thyatira"

"The Jailer from Thyatira"

2 Kings 8:1-9:15a
Acts 16:16-40
Psalm 143:1-12
Proverbs 17:26

We've all heard the story of Paul & Silas singing in prison. Again, it's one of those Sunday School stories that we can remember the pictures of... Men in chains worship God. Often the lesson we glean from that is "when your in trouble, praise God, and you'll get set free." While that is a lesson we must apply to our lives, I think we can look at this from a different angle. There's a much bigger picture.

Acts 16:16-40 covers the story of Paul & Silas being thrown into prison. Let's look at this story from a different perspective.

There's a man in Thyatira. He's a good man, with a good family. He's not rich, but he's not poor either. He has enough. He works for the government as a jailer. He may not realize it, but God has a big plan for his life.

What's it gonna take for God to get the attention of this jailer? Just as the story of the shepherd and the lost sheep, he's willing to go to great lengths to bring him home. He was going to have to connect some dots.

He gives Paul a vision of a man from Macedonia. Paul "could only conclude that God was sending us to preach the Good News there." (Acts 15:10) Paul and Silas went to Philippi. They were closer. The first dot was in place.

There was a well off lady from Thyatira named Lydia. She was a faithful worshiper of the Lord. Her business was selling purple cloth, which was more the choice of the wealthy, and gave her the means to bring her household with her as she traveled to expand her sales. No matter where she was, she was faithful to meet with others to discuss scripture. This day, she was was to visit a prayer meeting outside Philippi near a river bank. Philippi? Isn't that where Paul & Silas are? Another dot.

Meanwhile, the Lord was watching over the Jailer from Thyatira.

Paul & Silas decided to check out this prayer meeting they had heard about by the river bank. They went and taught scriptures to some women who came. After they finished, a woman named Lydia accepted all their teachings, and along with her household, was baptized. She begged them to come stay in her home in Thyatira. This wasn't a part of their original plans, but it was part of God's. "She urged us until we did." Acts 16:15

The dots were connecting.

Paul & Silas went regularly to teach by the river. Many came, but never the jailer... There MUST be a way to bring them together.

While they were there, a demon possessed slave girl was driving Paul & Silas nuts. They finally couldn't take it any more, so they set the girl free. This greatly angered the owners of the slave girl. There goes their source of income. They got a mob together. As the mob was forming, another dot was in place. The judges ordered that Paul and Silas be beaten.

But wait! How can this be? These men are obedient! They're doing what they were called to do! It shouldn't be this way!

The Lord felt it each time a rod hit their backs. It hurt him, too, but "dots" are getting closer.

The Jailer heard about the beatings, and didn't much approve, but that wasn't his department. He had a job to do.

Paul and Silas were thrown into prision. The Jailer's superiors told him that he would be killed if he allowed these two to escape. He didn't see what the big deal about these two was, but he knew this was no idle threat. As the prisoners were brought in, the jailer's eyes met theirs. It was a casual glance, but significant in the eyes of eternity. The prisoners were secured.

God was so proud of Paul and Silas. He knew their love and commitment to Him could never be diminished by a beating, no matter how severe. Paul had proved that a few weeks before when he was stoned by the people of Lystra. Now, the anticipation was great.

Sure enough, the prisoners began to sing. At first the other prisoners began to mock, but then they were silenced by the praise. It was as if they could feel something shaking inside of them. The jailer saw all of this. He was awed by what he was seeing, but tried to remain true to the task.

Then it happened.

A shaking that hadn't been experienced there before. The earthquake caused the prisoners shackles to fall off. Not just the chains of the prisoners who were singing, but their singing shook EVERYONE'S chains off! Paul & Silas got up and walked out of the area they were in. They could have ran, but something inside caused them to wait to make sure everything was ok.

The Jailer could not believe the destruction, but was more in awe of the fact that no one seemed to be hurt. He knew his responsibility though, and seeing the doors wide open, he knew the prisoners must be gone.

His world stopped. This was the end. He knew what would come. He had brought shame to his family. His love for them caused him to want to protect them from public humiliation. It would be better to handle this himself. He prepared to take his own life.

God was watching.

"Wait!"

It was as if time had stopped.

"Don't do it! We are all here!"

It took a minute for this to sink in. The sound of the words of the prisoners rang as if they were from the hearts of free men. It was then when the jailer realized he found a prison inside himself. He broke.

"Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

It was as if all of heaven stood to cheer. The plan of God was carried out in the life of the Jailer.

There were alot of factors. There were alot of variables.

God's people were faithful. They didn't falter, they didn't question. They couldn't see the big picture.

The dot's were connected.

What about you? What part do you play today? Do you know that you're a part of God's big picture? You may not get whipped by rods, nor see an earthquake, but God's plan is just as miraculous. Just as God was looking out for the Jailer from Thyatira, he's looking out for the Cashier from Kenosha or the Banker from Burlington. One thing you can know for sure...

He's looking out for you.



Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!

P Greg


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