7 Good Things About a Bad Day – Our Response to Difficult Situatons in Life
Ever had a bad day? All of us face circumstances that can affect, or even ruin, our day. No one has to teach us how to have a bad day, sometimes it just comes naturally. The big question is, “How do we respond to difficult situations in our lives?” Acts chapter 16 has something to say about facing hardships and the good that can come from them. Join us Sunday as Pastor Darth shares the message, “Seven good things about a bad day”.
Acts 16: 16-36 (NLT)
16 One day as we were going down to the place of prayer, we met a slave girl who had a spirit that enabled her to tell the future. She earned a lot of money for her masters by telling fortunes. 17 She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, and they have come to tell you how to be saved.”
18 This went on day after day until Paul got so exasperated that he turned and said to the demon within her, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And instantly it left her.
19 Her masters’ hopes of wealth were now shattered, so they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities at the marketplace. 20 “The whole city is in an uproar because of these Jews!” they shouted to the city officials. 21 “They are teaching customs that are illegal for us Romans to practice.”
22 A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. 23 They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. 24 So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks.
25 Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. 26 Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! 27 The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. 28 But Paul shouted to him, “Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!”
29 The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.” 32 And they shared the word of the Lord with him and with all who lived in his household. 33 Even at that hour of the night, the jailer cared for them and washed their wounds. Then he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized. 34 He brought them into his house and set a meal before them, and he and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God.
35 The next morning the city officials sent the police to tell the jailer, “Let those men go!” 36 So the jailer told Paul, “The city officials have said you and Silas are free to leave. Go in peace.”
- Our Life of Joy and Victory Comes from Within; it’s not Determined by Our Outward Circumstances
- Persecution May Come, Even When We are Doing What is Right
- Prayer Gets God’s Attention; Worship Positions Us to Recieve
- Live Unashamedly for Jesus, Even When its Unpopular
- Don’t Miss Opportunities to Minister to Others, Even When You’re in the middle of a Personal Struggle
- We May be Called to Minister to the Very People Who Caused Our Difficulties
- When We Reach Out to Meet the Needs of Others, Our Needs Will be Met