WELCOME WORSHIP

Text: Acts 16:16-34

Satan will try to stop you from praying

In our text a possessed damsel met Paul and Silas as they went to pray

he may send someone with an evil spirit to mock you

“These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.” she cried loudly

their persecution may seem relentless 

“And this did she many days.”

it may become necessary to call the devil out

“Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.”

when you take a stand against evil it will show it’s ugly face

“And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,”

people will openly accuse you falsely

“And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.”

you may be physically harmed or imprisoned

“And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely”

you may be held captive to their demands

“Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.

But, when you WELCOME WORSHIP God will deliver you!

I. WHEN you WELCOME WORSHIP HE will RELIEVE your BURDENS (vss. 25,26)

Acts 16:25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

He will relieve your burden for lost souls

Paul was not a stranger to suffering

He welcomed worship when he was tested

worship is a testimony to those who are lost

worship will draw men to Christ… “If I be lifted up… I will draw”

souls were the reason He went to the cross “for the joy set before him”

Acts 16:26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened and every one’s bands were loosed.…

He will relieve your burden of suffering

the enemy may have you bound

God is able to open doors you thought were closed

worship will break the chains of oppression

worship will bring freedom for forgiveness

Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. (John 8:34-35)

There is power in the name of Jesus for freedom

II. WHEN you WELCOME WORSHIP you will RENEW your WITNESS (vss.27,28)

Acts 16:27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.

You will witness to heal broken hearts

desperate times call for desperate measures

Albert Barnes writes in his commentary

He supposed that the prisoners had fled. He presumed that their escape would be charged on him. It was customary to hold a jailor responsible for the safe keeping of prisoners, and to subject him to the punishment due them if he suffered them to escape. It should be added that it was common and approved among the Greeks and Romans for a man to commit suicide when he was encompassed with dangers from which he could not escape. (Barnes Notes on the Bible)

This world has no concern for the brokenhearted

Acts 16:28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.

You will witness by revealing your righteousness

Satan wants to destroy the souls of men

he wants to silence the witness of believers

God can use anyone anywhere at anytime

But we must have the integrity to be honest alway

Jesus resumed His witness after the Resurrection

he prepared his disciples as to be witnesses in the midst of persecution

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses (martyrs) unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts 1:8

The fruit of the Spirit is the revelation of righteousness

III. WHEN you WELCOME WORSHIP HE will REVEAL your PURPOSE (vss.29-32)

Acts 16:29, 30 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

He will reveal the purpose for your darkness

trials reveal the true purpose for your suffering

In this case it was for the salvation of a jailor

The purpose in suffering is to bring comfort to someone else

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. (2 Corinthians 1:3-6)

your purpose is to restore sight to the spiritually blind

But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.(2Corinhians 4:3-4)

your purpose is to used by the Holy Ghost for conviction of sinners

Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment…(John 16:7,8)

Acts 16:31,32 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.

Believe translates to think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, or place confidence in. (Strongs)

He will enable you share the gospel

no two people are exactly alike God deals with us as individuals

without the cross there is no plan of salvation

preaching the cross releases God’s power for salvation through faith

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. (Romans 1:16,17)

IV. WHEN you WELCOME WORSHIP you will RECEIVE YOUR BLESSINGS (vss.33,34)

Acts 16:33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.

You will receive the blessing of fellowship

God can make the best of a bad situation

You will receive the fellowship of HIS suffering

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

(1 Corinthians 12:9,19)

Acts 16:34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.

You will receive nourishment for more worship

food will replenish the body and restore your strength

doing the will of God through worship will renew your spirit

Jesus was rejuvenated after ministering to the woman at the well

In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat. But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat? Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. (John 4:31-34)

the jailor and all his household were baptized within the hour

all heaven rejoices when a sinner repents

I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. (Luke 15:4-7)

consider the words of worship in the following chorus;

Holy Spirit you are welcome here

Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere

Your glory God is what our hearts long for

To be overcome by your presence Lord

Let us become more aware of your presence

Let us experience the glory of your goodness

Come let us Welcome Worship together in anticipation of Relieving your Burdens,

Won’t you Welcome Worship to Renew your Power to Witness in the Holy Ghost,

Come on and Welcome Worship to Reveal your Purpose for Suffering so that sinners might be saved.

Go ahead and Welcome Worship to Receive your Blessing of the Power of Christ in you the hope of glory.

Only that which is done to glorify God will last forever.