JIGM – JESUS IS GLOBAL MINISTRIES
One Lord One Faith
If It Had Not Been…
149th BDS – 12/5/2024
Scripture Reference: Acts 16: 19-24, 25-34
Circumstances that we find ourselves in and experiences we are sure to encounter as allowed by our GOD as they are, are always purpose driven. Like thinking back to moments in our lives whether in the past or near present, GOD has been and is so intentional in everything that He does. In these passages of Scripture, we find Paul and Silas in quite the unfortunate situation.. or is it?
“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, 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.”
Acts 16:19-21 KJV
Paul and Silas met a woman who was possessed with a spirit which her masters had been using to their advantage to gain money. Paul commanded the spirit to come out of her in the Name of The LORD JESUS CHRIST and the spirit came out. Her masters seeing that their cash cow could no longer perform what she used to, took Paul and Silas in anger to the authorities and accused them of unlawful acts. This was just the beginning.
“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 jailor to keep them safely: who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.”
Acts 16:22-24 KJV
Suddenly Paul and Silas found themselves being opposed by the many people that were in the marketplace. What happened next was nothing that Paul or Silas could have even imagined would take place. Much like when we make the choice or decide to do something whether we feel truly justified in what we do or are simply acting on impulse, oftentimes we aren’t exactly ready for the results especially when the outcome is against us.
“And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. 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. 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.”
Acts 16:25-27 KJV
Paul and Silas after being stripped out of their clothes and beaten, they were then thrown in jail. However, Paul and Silas set an example for the other prisoners by praying and giving praise to GOD through songs. Can you see yourself joyfully praising GOD during your circumstances as Paul and Silas did? Or would you be too busy throwing a pity party and/or blaming others for your misfortunes? GOD caused a natural phenomenon to rock the jail to the point where the guard woke up and was ready to take his own life rather than to face those who had given him orders to watch over the prisoners, because he thought that the prisoners including Paul and Silas surely had escaped.
“But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. 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? 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. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.”
Acts 16:28-34 KJV
Paul by hollering out to the guard that everyone was present and accounted for, actually saved the life of the guard. Not only that, GOD moved on the heart of the guard to ask Paul what he had to do to be saved. Paul told him the truth, that he had to believe in The Name of The LORD JESUS CHRIST, his death, burial and resurrection. The Word of GOD spoken to the guard and his family caused them to be baptized in The Name of The LORD JESUS CHRIST and they believed from that point in their lives.
Final Thought: If it had not been for Paul and Silas meeting the possessed woman, if it had not been for GOD allowing them to be imprisoned, if it had not been for the guard coming to the point of wanting to take his own life.. then he nor his family would never have heard the Word of Truth!!! Some of you are going through an “..if it had not been…” moment right now just thinking about what could have been. If it had not been for the LORD being on your side, where would you be? Take the time to give thanks to our GOD, simply because.. IF IT HAD NOT BEEN…
-Minister Marchand, Founder and Overseer of JESUS IS GLOBAL MINISTRIES-JIGM and JESUS IS GLOBAL MINISTRY INTERNATIONAL ASSEMBLY-JIGMIA