The Philippian Jailer - a Look at the Evangelistic Style of the Apostle Paul
By Pastor Norman S. Lao
Text: Acts 16:22-34
Introduction
Last Sunday we started a series on Christian Witnessing and we studied the Evangelistic Style of Jesus using His encounter with the Samaritan Woman at the well (John 4).
Today we are going to study the style of another Master Soul Winner. His name is Paul and we are going to use his experience in a Philippian Jail to learn his Soul-Winning Strategy. Of course, this is just one incident in the long history of Paul’s evangelistic endeavors. However, it still speaks of the man and his ways in evangelism.
THE PLOT OF THE STORY.
Principle 1. Every opportunity can be turned into an Evangelistic Opportunity.
Paul and Silas understood their calling. So, they transformed a painful experience into an evangelistic opportunity and won a family to Christ.
How can we turn every opportunity into an evangelistic opportunity?
A. Realization of your calling.
In Acts 1:8 Jesus declared that his disciples were his witnesses (saksi). We must have a sense of our calling. We were called to be Christ’s witnesses.
We are witnesses. Witness is not what we do. Witness is what we are!
B. Preparation for your calling.
Illustration: A man went fishing at the fishing port. When he saw a large fish swimming in the water he took his fishing rod and tried to catch it. The fish bit into the hook and the battle began. But the fish got away after a few minutes. When the fisherman checked his hook it was not sharp - he forgot to sharpen it!
In other words, always keep yourself ready, keep yourself fit for evangelism because you never know when you will have the opportunity to share the Gospel and win someone to Christ.
The Bible tells us to “Preach the Word, be prepared in season or out of season…” (2 Timothy 4:2)
We must continually improve ourselves in the area of evangelism. We must study the Bible, we must pray and we must study people. If we do these, we will become effective fishers of men.
§ Evangelism should not only be a summer program of the church. It should not be something that happens only every summer.
§ Evangelism should not only happen when an “Evangelist from America” comes.
§ Evangelism should not be an event.
§ Evangelism must be a lifestyle, a way of life for all Christians.
C. Appropriation of your calling
In other words, exercise your calling. DO IT! Do not be lazy, do not be fearful, do not be complacent. Be ready for every opportunity that presents itself. Jump at every Opportunity. Make an opportunity.
Paul witnessed to Onesimus in Prison.
Paul witnessed to his guard in Prison.
There is one Latin phrase we need to understand: Carpe Diem - Seize the Moment!
Principle 2. Our Main business is Saving People. (We must make it our Business to Save People)
A. Because of their Hopelessness
The jailor was going to commit suicide and Paul and Silas presented him with hope. There are people who do not know the way out of their problems. For them, ending it all is the only way out. They do not have hope. Their life is one dark day after another. Suicide is an inviting alternative.
How many people today are thinking about this? How many people are walking our streets, riding on jeepneys, working in offices who are, because of the load of problems, hoping to end it all?
B. Because of their Helplessness
People want to go to heaven but they do not know the way. And those who know the way are silent and are not helpful.
People are asking, “How are we going to be saved?” This is the deepest desire, longing of both the religious and the irreligious. Many times they get the wrong answer because those who have the right answer do not care. And those who have the wrong answer are diligent (bakas) in sharing the wrong answer. We see Mormons two-by-two. We see Jehovah’s witnesses in long sleeves and leather bags. We see Fourth Watch at Plazoleta Guy every day.
Illustration: Mr. Belo’s predicament. He was interested in the Gospel. He wrote letters, but only Armstrong responded. He read Armstrong’s materials to a point where even though he was going to our church he did not believe in hell anymore. WHEN THE TRUE WITNESSES FAIL, PEOPLE WILL TURN TO CULTS FOR THEIR ANSWERS.
C. Because of their Haplessness
Unbelievers are most unfortunate. They do not know God, they do not have peace, they do not know where they are going. Some find comfort in bottles, in false hopes (like gambling, lotto), some in drugs, etc.
We must use people’s problems to help them see their need for God.
Principle 3. Aim for the Head
Men are important. I don’t say this because I am a man. I say this because this is how God designed the world.
Our societies are built in such a way that fathers have full authority. Families are built upon the headship of the man. No matter how weak he is, no matter how unintelligent if he asserts his position, everybody in his household will follow him.
Illustration: We have a Bible study in Balabag, the wife and children attend our Bible studies and children’s meetings. The husband does not.
Illustration: Generally speaking churches are basically 80% men and 20% women.
Illustration: Jang’s church: children and mothers.
Illustration: My own dad.
It is a general observation that when the father of the house is brought to the Lord the other members of the family will follow. Maybe this is one reason why Most of Jesus’ disciples were MEN. Look at Bro. Roy Declaro, Bro. Ananias Casuncad, Roy Gomez, Mr. Cornelius of Acts 10.
We need to share the gospel with the men, the fathers, the husbands.
Principle 4. Reach the Whole Household
“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved–you and your household.” (Acts 16:31)
We can see this throughout the Bible:
- God saved Noah and his house.
- God saved Abraham and his house.
- God saved Lot and his house.
- God saved Cornelius and his house (Acts 10).
- God saved the Philippian Jailer and his house (Acts 16).
When I got saved in 1987 I believed in this Word and I tried to bring my whole house to the Lord. Whole house means everyone in your house including helpers, slaves, etc.
My first convert was my grandmother. Today, out of seven of us, only one is left outside the Kingdom.
God want’s whole families to get saved. God wants all your house to get saved! And you have a promise: You and your household! As long as someone in your house is not saved God’s will is not yet done. Pray, “Your kingdom come, your will be done in my house, as it is in heaven.”
Principle 5. Ask for Commitment
A. Water Baptism
AC 16:31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved–you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized.
The only tangible evidence of faith is water baptism (that’s why Jesus said, “Go into all the world and make disciples of all nations, call them to the altar to accept me as Lord and Savior?” NO! Make disciples of all nations BAPTIZING THEM!).
Eternal Decisions demand strong commitment. Strong commitment in this case is Water Baptism. If you love each another, get married. If you want to follow Jesus, be baptized.
B. Church Membership
The simple, but comprehensive, definition of Evangelism is this:
Evangelism is the sharing of the Gospel so that men and women will put their Trust (Faith) in Christ, submit to water baptism, become members of the Church, grow and mature in fellowship and discipleship, and become effective and productive in their ministry inside the church and in their mission to the world.
Evangelism is not simply sharing the Gospel and helping people accept Christ. We must bring them to church where they will grow and mature and become useful in the Kingdom of God. This is where many crusades fail. They only count how many came forward to accept Christ. They do not count how many were baptized and they do not count how many stayed in church and became strong and faithful Christians.
The Church in Philippi had the Family of Lydia and the Family of the Jailer as its first members. Church is the only place where you can grow.
Conclusion
We may not be Paul, but we are called to be a witness to a world that needs a Savior. No matter what circumstances you face, you can turn it into an evangelistic opportunity.
This is a story about four people named
Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody.
There was an important job to be done and
Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it.
Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it.
Somebody got angry because it was Everybody’s job.
Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Somebody wouldn’t do it.
It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when
Nobody did what Anybody could have done.
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