Transformed

Thank you for tuning into the radio ministry Community Church Clearview.

Our focus is making Christ visible providing an atmosphere of worship come check us out at 3485 Oxford Rd. in Henderson or visit us online. I Clearview BC.org join us for this week's message by Pastor Albert on shop this morning and are serious with the book of Philippians were still in the book of acts.

Learning how the charge was granted in Philippi by the apostle Paul and so this morning we come to acts chapter 16 regular C-3 transformations of three very different individuals through the same gospel of Jesus Christ of you have your Bibles turn to acts chapter 16 and let us all stand for the reading of God's word. So where are we. We are in Philippi by the Riverside where Paul came in acts chapter 16 listen to what is says. Acts 16 in verse 13 on the Sabbath day he went out of the city to the Riverside web prayer was customarily made and we sat down and spoke to the women we met there so you can imagine Paul coming here talking to the people here, especially the women who were coming here highest women praying to God, not a certain woman named Lydia. She was a seller from the city of Tyra who worship God, the Lord opened her heart to heed the things Bob had been when she and household web app five. The likely in this river. She begged us saying if you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay so she persuaded is awesome to think about the first question Lydia was baptized when she heard the gospel, Bob, Paul, and she didn't wait right away. This was the place Lydia heard the gospel in her life was transformed as the Lord transformed your life.

You can only happen when you hear the gospel. Have you heard the gospel. Do you even know what the gospel is on a different note, it was Paul who was faithful to go and share the gospel. Are you faithful in sharing the gospel with others. After receiving the Macedonian call Paul enter his missionary team which was Silas, Timothy and Luke the left show. As in the headed towards Greece.

Listen to what he says in chapter 16 verse 11. Therefore, sailing from Troy as we ran a straight crow course to Samothrace and the next day came to Minneapolis now. The distance from Troy Western Neapolis is about hundred and 50 miles Samothrace was right in the midpoint between Troy as a Neapolis there's a reason why I'm emphasizing these things when Nicole and I went to Greece just the way Luke describes it, everything is still there. That is true as we can see at a distance in the middle you can see the big island of Samothrace and then you become to words Neapolis not Neapolis is the modern-day Kabbalah, which is the port city. You cannot just sail to Philippi, you have to come to Neapolis and then 10 miles inland is Philippi why my mentioning all these things. Sometimes you hear people say you know the Bible has errors. The Bible has mistakes. The Bible is not historically accurate.

That's just not true. The more you study the Bible, the more you see these historical details.

This simply prove the historicity and the accuracy of the word of God. These places still exist just the way Luke described and so you can trust the Bible, you can trust not only the principles of the truth but also the historical details in the Bible to listen to what happens in verse 12 and from there to Philippi, which is the foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a colony Luke calls it a foremost city what Lou called Philippi foremost city.

First, it was a very important and prosperous city in the Roman Empire. It was a Roman colony Roman colony means the people who lived in Philippi where Roman veterans. They were generals they were soldiers who fought in Roman wars, there was a sense of pride among them something else important about Philippi is that a major Roman road which is known as the VA may share pass-through Philippi, not Philippi was not as Athens or as role, but it still would've been amazing to see. I'm just last year when we went there simply remains but I could just imagine a visitor coming into Philippi and seeing the Roman Agoura see the temple seeing the library there was a librarian Philippi.

The commercial Agoura which like is a is a mall that we have today. There was a big mall that was there in Philippi.

The cholesterol which was a Greek wrestling school so you can see a lot of activity going on in this big city. There was a theater there Roman baths, the Acropolis, many shrines to the various gods and goddesses was also there in Philippi, not there some reason why I'm giving you all this information when Paul went to Macedonia. He could've looked for a very less intimidating small place just like back home, but he didn't.

He went to Philippi, he went to a foremost city. He went to a leading city in the Greek world.

Why do you think you did that. That's where people are. So what happens in Philippi is Paul's destination.

He comes there, God begins to change the lives of people working to briefly look at these three transformations that happen in three different people by the same gospel listen the first transformation starting in verse 12 and we were staying in that city for some days Paul comes to Philippi and he stays in the city he's looking for an inroad into the culture.

This is a new culture. This is not Asia minor. This is Greece parking talking Greek.

I believe Paul even knew Latin, but this was a different culture so he is still trying to get to know who is who. How do things work around here and so he is staying in the city for a few days trying to find a way to get the gospel. Nothing happens.

So listen to verse 12 and on the Sabbath day. We went out of the city to the Riverside where prayer was customarily made, not back in the East. When Paul went for ministry. He would go to the synagogue in Philippi. There were no synagogues, so Paul observes or maybe asks around and says, where do Jewish people go to pray oh they go outside the city by the Riverside know anything that would buy the Riverside because when you go to synagogue you have to do a lot of ritual washing ritual purification you need.

Running water don't have a synagogue don't have a building but they still want to be where there is running water. So Paul observes that some of these Jewish people are going outside the city by the river.

This I got this river so he goes there and listen to what happens and we sat down and spoke to the women who met their maybe the men came but I think it was mostly highest women who were coming to pray, something else happens here.

Listen to verse 14 nice certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Tyre Taira who worship God, the Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul so picture this, Paul, Silas, maybe Timothy, maybe Luke and there sitting by the Riverside and their talking and a bunch of women are there who are praying and they begin to listen to what Paul has to say. I can imagine Paul saying things like, you know the God of Israel has come. You know what Isaiah prophesied about this one who was gonna come and suffer.

He has come, and he has suffered. And guess what he has risen again and the one Jeremiah talks about that one day. Blessings are coming. He has come in. I can imagine one by one these women who are listening to what's happening to come and begin to sit around in the listening to what Paul has to say and by the way, isn't it ironic Paul had a vision, a man from Macedonia tells him to come but the first convert is actually a woman from Tartar which means this. Don't ever try to put God in a box you might be trying to witness to this person over here what you don't realize is the whole time. The Holy Spirit is working on that person over there that's happened to me many times people come to church and nothing man right there is a person who's going to be amazing for the kingdom of God. God is working there.

Why don't realize is, God is working in the band right next to on how God does those things that hard work. Have you ever seen that you try to witness somebody and using in this person right here is open.

I think the heart is ready and they may even say things that make you feel all this is it, then you come to realize that that wasn't real. But this person next to him was really listening.

So listen to what happens. She was a seller of purple from the city of Tartar Mitch. Mitch means she was a businesswoman back in those days for women to have businesses was not uncommon, but it was a big deal. Even to this day I mean a lot of women struggle in the business world and this woman, 2000 years ago was selling dies from high attire which were made from the root of this this matter planned with red in color and God began to work on our hearts to listen to what happens here and when she and her household were baptized. She begged us, saying if you have judge me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and staying up focus on that for just a moment. She hears the gospel. What is the very next thing that Luke tells us what happened to them. What are the do they got baptized, folks, baptism doesn't wash your sins away.

Baptism doesn't miraculously change you or whatever but that is the first step of obedience and if you've never been baptized. You need to be back to you so I was baptized as a baby. Listen those things were done at one time with the hopes that one day you will have a believers baptism. Baptism doesn't wash your sins, but baptism tells you that you are not ashamed to say that you are a follower of Jesus Christ is about the tradition we come from the denomination.

We come from. Listen traditions and denominations can be wrong, but the word of God is always the truth. And if that is a sticking point. I encourage you get away with God and say, God, what is it that you want me to do and then live by baptism. It is something so important because it number one. It grounds us in the soil of Hebrew Christianity. It tells us that we have roots were not just something to sprouted here and there. We have roots. Jesus was baptized.

John was baptizing people. And when Jesus ascended in the heavens. What did he say go into all the world preach the gospel make disciples and what baptizing them in the name of the father son and the Holy Spirit, which means baptism happens after you say what happens next. When she and her house will rebaptize she begged us saying what she begged you that if you have judge me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay so she persuaded us. What a big change that comes into our life, not Lydia was a God-fearing Gentile woman. She was a God-fearing Gentile woman from Asia minor from high attire or who was seeking God and God sent Paul in her life to help her find Jesus Christ their people around us who are seeking God. God is working in their lives and our job is to bring Christ to them. The hearts are open their hearts are soft.

Not a whole lot of work has to be done besides hate.

Have you ever given your life to Jesus Christ not never done that. But I go to church okay will let me explain to you how you can receive Christ as your Savior and guess what about 10 seconds.

They receive Christ as her sick.

Their hearts are ready their prime for receiving the gospel. But now I want to see the second transformation, but this person now. The second transformation is about to happen in Philippi's very different. Listen to verse 16. Now it happened as we went to prayer, that is certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination by the way, the word there. The translation is not divination as much as put in office or new up with in us, which means the spirit of Python. It comes out of this ancient Greek mythology, where Apollo, the God Apollo defeated this giant serpent Python and then's name. This Python name was given to Apollo since priestesses at Adelphia bench. Adelphi is very imposing amazing place and people would come from all over Greece. In fact all over the world and they would ask questions to the Oracle. Oracle was this young girl who was possessed by the demon and then she would change her voice and talk all weird and and tell whoever is there what they're answering what they're looking for. For example, of a king was coming King would say or do I need to go to battle do I get more me together in the Oracle will go into all kinds of ecstatic frenzy and then she would say something and the priest would come and say what the Oracle means is that don't go to battle right now. Wait till the spring or something else. If a man is looking to marry. He would come and say Oracle. When should I marry, what should I who should I look for the Oracle will go into ecstasy and and then she will say something and the priest would say well the Oracle is saying that so-and-so girl in your life and and and yeah, it was so open-ended that you can pretty much take it for whatever you want what Luke tells us here is that this young girl this slave had the spirit of Python in her.

She had this disability to speak the future and by the way, the word that Luke uses is not prophecy is mom to you all, my, which is Hagan and false prophecy. Ms. what she was saying was not the truth. Satan doesn't tell you the truth, he will live to you, he will make up stuff he will even try to get your interest so you get hooked, but the Romans enjoyed it. They enjoyed this display of Greek culture.

Greek history and they must've paid good money because what happens.

This girl begins to follow Paul and follow Silas and goes from place to place and listen.

What was she saying she was crying out, these men are the servants of the most high God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation is just picture with me. Paul is going to the city of Philippi, and behind him follows this weird looking creature young girl.

Her hair is all over the place and she is screaming and talking and weird stuff and say this person has come to bring you salvation.

It seems like man is great to have someone go around and brag on you, but it was more distracting than anything else in this she did for many days with Paul greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her and he came out that very hour. Having come from a culture where people are demon possessed is have you seen them yet. Having come from a culture where demonization is all around you.

I warn people in the West. Be careful don't meddle with satanic things. Don't open the door of your heart, your mind, your family, your home to satanic think anything evil and dark.

My recommendation is stay away from it because it never works out.

I've heard people say well it doesn't bother me. Who did.

Who told you that Satan is out to bother you, he's not after use after you children use after the week you might be able to watch that movie you might be able to read that book and walk away saying Megan bother me was kind of funny. It's gotta it. I love the cost of it just stupid to me. And you don't realize that that is simply a door open for the enemy to go after somebody else in your life and I can only imagine what this young girl must have been going through all her life but she hears Paul and she is set free of the Bible does not tell us. The Bible does not tell us whether she accepted Christ as her Savior, but there was definitely a transformation that came into her life. By the way, have you noticed how Paul did it all he did was in the name of Jesus Christ come out of her means. He was chief Paul was so full of the Holy Spirit and he used the name of Jesus Christ. He was full of Christ, and that power and the authority he said that girl free status. The formula we use. Let your life be full of the Holy Spirit and that you also can say the same thing if the condition so rises, but now here's 1/3 transformation that's coming. What happens to me quickly summarize the masters of that girl are very angry because Paul has messed up their business and so they do the accused Paul and Silas before the magistrate's of being Jewish troublemakers and so the magistrate ordered them to be beaten with rods and then throw them into prison, but listen to what happens at night verse 25. At midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, what happens next. There's a great earthquake, so the foundation of the prison were shaken and immediately all the doors were open, and everyone's chains were loose on the keeper of the prison awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill them, so why was he going to do that. Back in those days if you lose a prisoner. It could even be a capital punishment, which means those same lectors can come in instead of pulling out a rod they could pull out the racks and the magistrate has commanded the prison guard to be put to death.so he's thinking I better kill myself. Hopefully they will not go after my family. What happens next. Paul says with a loud voice, do yourself no harm. We are all here that he called for a light ran in and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas, and he brought them out and said what he says serves what must I do to be saved. It often use that when I preach every Sunday when I preach every Saturday night when I preach every time I speak I say are you saved and sometimes people have trouble understanding what is that mean why do you say are you saved her other ways but I haven't heard are you say this was the biblical way of speaking. Jesus Christ saves us were lost. He saves us were in trouble. He saves us the imagery is that we are sinking in Christ is come to save us, and that amazing that this jailer somehow God was preparing his mind and his question is not tell us what you been talking about, what are you talking to his question is what can I do to be saved. Listen to Paul's answer, so they said, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved you and your household is sometimes people say, well, there must be more that Paul must've said maybe, but I believe just in that one line he has pretty much encapsulated the heart of the gospel believe means you have to trust it's about putting your faith on whom not a church, not a denomination, not the book, not a religion but a person and who is this person three names are given, the Lord, which means he is God. Lord doesn't just mean master. It also had the meaning of God Jesus which Rick literally means God saves.

This is a God who came to save and was the last name Christ Lord means God. Jesus means God saves Christ is the Greek name for Messiah that he is God's anointed one was promised has come gave his life for his people. How do people get saved today same exact name believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved in 2018 where the man do it says you will be saved and you and your household. And this spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house and he took them the same hour of the night and washed her stripes and immediately what happened to him. What are the do was a next step, he and his all his family were wrapped post. This is why we do what we do but but but the way I grew up.

The way I did note is not about any of those they was a Bible say one thing that really helps me here is he and all his family were baptized. If you ask me what is my greatest desire. I'll tell you is to see my family which means my four children walking with God. If that doesn't happen. Nothing else matters. If I can come to the end of my life and say that every one of my children. Whoever their spouses are and who are the grandchildren are that they are following Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

It is what rest is icing on the cake rest. All this I can take it or leave it beautiful that this jailer did not say thank you for saving me. But I'll pray for me and my family on the hopefully they'll come to the Lord is another lip stay right there leaving my family tell them Paul what you were telling me something else. He does when he had brought them into his house. Why thing this man did that for 2000 years ago. We think people were primitive.

He wasn't primitive he was saying. I want the same influence that you made on my life make it on my children make it on my wife to get on my grandchildren my my my other children. I want to talk to them as well when he had brought them into his house. He said food before them, and he rejoiced.

Having believed in God, here we go again with all his household this morning we see another transformation. Unlike the first one of a God-fearing woman and the second one of these demon possessed young girl this man.

I don't know what he was expecting that night who knows he must been like was another day I'll do my job I hate my job. I hate these prisoners. But God sent Paul in that prison to meet him.

He was a hardhearted man obviously loved his family because he was about to kill themselves to save his family. I believe in God got hold of him and not only brought him to Christ. But his entire family, but a different transformation in the church was born in Philippi. Show me a church with their transformations and I'll tell you that church will last.

Show me judgment people to go there because we are where word bridges we just go charge is been my home church been here for years and my granddaddy was here in my granddaddy that doesn't really matter.

Has your life been transformed with the gospel.

Have you received Christ as your Savior has that made a change in your life and your families letter that is a church were thanking God for how does Paul begin his letter to the Philippians. I thank my God upon every remembrance of you means you saying I remember when Lydia got saved. I remember when that young girl got delivered and I remember how that jailer is he still working there. Yeah, you still way the different man. People go to jail but they come out changed this morning not want to change your life, your family's life. Have you met Jesus Christ, if not today. Thank you so much for joining us for this message. It's the power of the gospel transforms our lives and then it's our responsibility to go out and share the gospel so that others lives transformed as well. For more information visit us online@clearviewbc.org for this sermon's notes. Check out Pastor Shah's blog. I would on shop.com