Preached July 5, 1998 at Faith Baptist Church
By Pastor Steven Mays
THE GREATEST QUESTION EVER ASKED…
TEXT ACTS. 16:16-32
16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:
17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.
18 And this did she many days. But 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.
19 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,
20 And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,
21 And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.
22 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.
23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:
24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
25 ¶ And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
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.
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.
28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
THIS MORNING I WANT TO LOOK AT THE GREATEST QUESTION EVER ASKED: I BELIEVE I CAN SAY WITH CONFIDENCE THAT NOONE WILL DISAGREE WITH ME, ABOUT THIS ASCERTION. IF GOD WILL HELP US TO REALLY LISTEN AND TO APLY THE TRUTH OF THE MESSAGE TODAY…. WHEN WE LEAVE THIS BUILDING WE WILL BE EQUIPED TO SERVE GOD AS NEVER BEFORE.
NOW, THE BIBLE IS FULL OF GREAT QUESTIONS… I LIKE…
1. GEN. 3:9, WHERE ART THOU? BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THAT QUESTION IS AS GREAT AS THE ONE I'M GOING TO DEAL WITH TODAY!
2. GEN. 4:9, WHERE IS ABEL THY BROTHER, WHICH IS FOLLOWED BY… Am I my brother's keeper? TWO GREAT QUESTIONS…. BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THAT QUESTION IS AS GREAT AS THE ONE I'M GOING TO DEAL WITH TODAY!
3. JOB 35:10, WHERE IS GOD MY MAKER? GOOD QUESTION TO ASK, NO DOUBT, ESP. IN SITUATIONS LIKE JOB WAS IN… BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THAT QUESTION IS AS GREAT AS THE ONE I'M GOING TO DEAL WITH TODAY!
4. MAL. 1:6, GOD ASKED, WHERE IS MY HONOR, AND WHERE IS MY FEAR? NOTE GOD ASKED THAT QUESTION, AND CERTAINLY IT IS AN INDITING QUESTION.. BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THAT QUESTION IS AS GREAT AS THE ONE I'M GOING TO DEAL WITH TODAY!
5. MATT. 2:2 ASK'S, WHERE IS HE THAT BORN KING OF THE JEWS.. I LOVE THAT QUESTION, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THAT QUESTION IS AS GREAT AS THE ONE I'M GOING TO DEAL WITH TODAY!
6. ICOR. 15:55 GIVES US GREAT RETORICAL QUESTION, O DEATH WHERE IS THY STING?…. I LOVE THAT TRUTH AND THAT QUESTION BUT…. BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THAT QUESTION IS AS GREAT AS THE ONE I'M GOING TO DEAL WITH TODAY!
7. II PETER 3:4, ASK THE QUESTION THE WORLD WANTS THE ANSWER TO…. WHERE IS THE PROMISE OF THY COMING?… JESUS HAS BEEN GONE 2000 YEARS, WHEN'S HE COMING AGAIN? THE WORLD MOCKS AND WANTS TO KNOW.. BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THAT QUESTION IS AS GREAT AS THE ONE I'M GOING TO DEAL WITH TODAY!
8. MATT. 16:26 ASK'S MAYBE ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS QUESTIONS IN ALL THE WORD OF GOD, WHAT DOTH IT PROFIT A MAN IF HE GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD AND LOSE HIS OWN SOUL? GREAT QUESTION, ONE THAT I'VE DEALT WITH, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THAT QUESTION IS AS GREAT AS THE ONE I'M GOING TO DEAL WITH TODAY!
A LITTLE OVER 12 YEARS AGO I ASKED ANGEL, "WILL YOU MARRY ME?", AND LATTER ON THE PREACHER ASKED, WOULD I TAKE THIS WOMEN TO BE MY LAWFULLY WEDDED WIFE? AND I SURE LOVED THOSE QUESTIONS, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THAT QUESTION IS AS GREAT AS THE ONE I'M GOING TO DEAL WITH TODAY!
WHAT IS THE QUESTION I'M GOING TO PREACH ON? IT'S ASKED IN VERSE, 30, BY A LOST MAN OF ALL PEOPLE, HE SAID, "30. said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
THIS MORNING I WANT TO LOOK AT THIS QUESTION AND ALL OF IT'S ASPECTS..
I.) WHY IS THIS THE GREATEST QUESTION EVER ASKED?
ACTS 16: 30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
I BELIEVE THIS IS THE GREATEST QUESTION BECAUSE IT ADDRESSES MAN'S MOST IMPORTANT NEED, ONE THAT SUPERCEEDS ALL OTHERS.
THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION MUST ALSO BE THE GREATEST ANSWER EVER GIVEN! BY VIRTUE OF THE FACT THAT IT STIMS FROM THE QUESTION.
BEFORE WE LOOK AT THE ANSWER AND MEDITATE ON IT A MINUTE, LET'S BE SURE WE ARE PREPARED FOR THE ANSWER…
THE QUESTION IS WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED? GOD WHO INSPIRED ALL THE SCRIPTURE IS ABOUT TO GIVE A CLEAR, CONCISE ANSWER… IF HE SAYS YOU MUST:
1. STAND ON YOUR HEAD AND COUNT TO 100 THAT'S WHAT IT'LL TAKE, TO ARGUE WITH THAT WILL BE TO ARGUE WITH THE WORD OF GOD…
2. IF HE SAYS YOU MUST, JOIN THE CHURCH
3. IF HE SAYS YOU MUST BE BAPTIZED
4. IF HE SAYS YOU MUST KEEP ALL 10 OF THE 10 COMMANDMENTS
5. IF HE SAYS YOU MUST FAST, CUT YOURSELF, CHANT, LOVE TREES, SAVE THE EARTH, WHAT EVER HE SAYS IN THE NEXT VERSE IS WHAT WE MUST DO, AND WE MUST BE CAREFUL NOT TO ADD TO WHAT HE SAYS,
II.) WHAT IS THE ANSWER TO THE GREATEST QUESTION?
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
ILLUSTRATE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BELIEVING ON, AND BELIEVING IN… BELIEVING IN, IS PURELY MENTAL, DOESN'T INVOLVE ACTION, IT IS MERELY A MENTAL ACCENT. I BELIEVE THE PEW WILL HOLD ME UP, BELIEVING ON, SAYS, IT WILL HOLD ME SO I WILL GO AND SIT DOWN ON IT.
REMEMBER…. James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
To believe that a man named Jesus lived 2000 years ago is history, to believe he was the was God incarnate in Flesh, that he died for our sins, and that if we will Repent and Receive him for the remission of our sins is SALVATION!! HAVE YOU BELIEVED ON HIM? NOT DO YOU BELIEVE IN HIM? HAVE YOU BELIEVED ON HIM?
NOTICE WHAT MUST HAPPEN BEFORE YOU CAN KNOW THAT YOU ARE GOING TO HEAVEN!
John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
1 John 3:23 ¶ And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
1 John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
YOU CAN'T ADD ANYTHING TO BELIEVE ON…. JUST BELIEVE ON HIM…
FRIEND YOU COULD SHARE THIS WITH FOLK SO EASILY… ME AND DENNIS A WEEK AGO OUT ON VISIATION, A FELLA SAID HE HAD ASKED JESUS TO SAVE HIM BUT HADN'T BEEN BAPTIZED… HIS WIFE SAID HE WAS LOST, I TURNED TO THIS VERSE AND READ VERSE 30 TO HIM…. I GOT HIM TO AGREE THAT WHATEVER VERSE 31 SAID, WOULD BE WHAT WE WOULD DO.. SO EASY..
III.) WHY DID THIS FELLA ASK IN THE FIRST PLACE?
16 ¶ And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:
17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.
18 And this did she many days. But 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.
19 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,
20 And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,
21 And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.
22 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.
23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:
24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
25 ¶ And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
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.
RELATE THE BACKGOUND OF CALLING THE DEMON OUT OF THE GIRL…
DOING THE WILL OF GOD… STREET PREACHING, LIVING FOR JESUS.. MANY DAYS… YET THEY ARE LOCKED UP.. HOW WOULD YOU BE RIGHT THERE….?
STAY RIGHT HERE A FEW MINUTES !
A. THEY KEPT THEIR TESTIMONY/.. NO BITTER COMPLAINING/ SINGING AND PRAISING, NOT UNDER THE BREATH STUFF EITHER…
B. THEY STAYED HONEST/ THEY COULD HAVE LEFT WHEN THE DOORS OPENED
C. THEY KEPT THEIR COMPASSION THAT HAD THEM PREACHING IN THE FIRST PLACE, "SIR DO THYSELF NO HARM!", I WOULD HAVE SAID, PRAISE GOD, THAT FELLA THAT HAS HAD US LOCKED UP IS KILLING HIMSELF. THE JUDGMENT OF GOD IS ON HIM…
PAUL AND SILAS UNDERSTOOD,
Romans 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
HOW MANY OPPORTUNITIES HAVE WE MISSED BECAUSE WE WERE NOT READY TO BE USED WHEN GOD PUT US IN A UNIQUE SITUATION SO HE COULD USE US… THE LORD HELP US…
IV.) HOW DID IT ALL COME OUT?
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
A. THE JAILER GOT SAVED AND THEN THE JAILER, (THE SAME ONE WHO WAS GOING TO KILL HIMSELF BECAUSE THE PRISONERS WERE LEAVING) LET PAUL AND SILAS OUT TO GO AND WITNESS TO HIS FAMILY, VR. 32./
B. THEN THEY GOT CLEANED UP. THAT WAS NICE… VR. 33
C. HIS FAMILY GOT SAVED, THEN THE WHOLE BUNCH WAS BAPTIZED VR. 33
D. THEY GOT A GOOD MEAL! VR. 34
E. THEN THE WHOLE BUNCH REJOICED! VR. 34
OH THE JOY THAT CAME FROM THE GREATEST QUESTION AND THE GREATEST ANSWER!
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