Turning A City Upside-Down – Part 2 (Linton Hall Sermon)
April 6, 2025
Acts 17:6b CSB – These men are turning the world upside down.
“When you cease to make a contribution, you begin to die.” – Elinor Roosevelt,
“I have one life and one chance to make it count for something. My faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I can, whenever I can, for as long as I can with whatever I have, to try to make a difference.” – President Jimmy Carter
They are Bold When Facing Spiritual Warfare
Acts 16:16-18 CSB – Once, as we were on our way to prayer, a slave girl met us who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She made a large profit for her owners by fortune-telling. 17 As she followed Paul and us she cried out, “These men, who are proclaiming to you a way of salvation, are the servants of the Most High God.” 18 She did this for many days.
Acts 16:18 CSB – She did this for many days. Paul was greatly annoyed.
Acts 16:18b CSB – Turning to the spirit, he said, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” And it came out right away.
1 Peter 5:8 CSB – Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.
Ephesians 6:11-12 CSB – Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.
Ephesians 6:11-12 (J.B. Phillips’ paraphrase) – For our fight is not against any physical enemy: it is against organizations and powers that are spiritual. We are up against the unseen power that controls this dark world, and spiritual agents from the very headquarters of evil.
1 John 4:4 CSB – You are from God, little children, and you have conquered them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
John 16:7 CSB – Jesus assures, I am telling you the truth. It is for your benefit that I go away, because if I don’t go away the Counselor will not come to you. If I go, I will send him to you.
2 Corinthians 10:5 CSB – We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
They Endure Suffering (without losing joy)
Pain—Paul and Silas suffer unjustly
Acts 16:19 CSB – When her owners realized that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities. 20 Bringing them before the chief magistrates, they said, “These men are seriously disturbing our city.
Acts 16:22-24 CSB – The crowd joined in the attack against them, and the chief magistrates stripped off their clothes and ordered them to be beaten with rods. 23 After they had severely flogged them, they threw them in jail, ordering the jailer to guard them carefully. 24 Receiving such an order, he put them into the inner prison and secured their feet in the stocks.
Praise: Paul and Silas respond joyfully
Acts 16:25 CSB – About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.
“Jesus promised His disciples three things—that they would be completely fearless, absurdly happy, and in constant trouble.” – G. K. Chesterton
Power—God intervenes
Acts 16:26 CSB – Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the jail were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains came loose. 27 When the jailer woke up and saw the doors of the prison standing open, he drew his sword and was going to kill himself, since he thought the prisoners had escaped.
Perspective— They choose grace over vengeance
Acts 16:28-29 CSB – But Paul called out in a loud voice, “Don’t harm yourself, because we’re all here!”
29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.
Psalm 71:5 CSB – For you are my hope, Lord God,
my confidence from my youth.
Isaiah 41:10 CSB – Do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be afraid, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you; I will help you;
I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand.
Principle— Joy is a choice rooted in Christ
Romans 15:13 CSB – Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
They Stood Ready to Share the Good News of Jesus
Acts 16:29-30 CSB – The jailer called for lights, rushed in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He escorted them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
Acts 16:31 CSB – They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”
James 2:19 CSB – Even the demons believe—and they shudder.
Acts 2:38 CSB – people asked, “What do we need to do?”
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 16:32 CSB – And they spoke the word of the Lord to him along with everyone in his house. 33 He took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds. Right away he and all his family were baptized.
Pentecost
Acts 2:37 CSB – What do we need to do to be saved?
Ethiopian leader
Acts 8:35-36 CSB – Philip proceeded to tell him the good news about Jesus… As they were traveling down the road, they came to some water. The eunuch said, “Look, there’s water. What would keep me from being baptized?”
Apostle Paul
Acts 9:18b CSB – Then he got up and was baptized.
Philippian jailor
Acts 16:33 CSB – the same hour of the night and washed their wounds. Right away he and all his family were baptized.
They Keep Focused on Mission
Acts 16:35-36 CSB – When daylight came, the chief magistrates sent the police to say, “Release those men.”
36 The jailer reported these words to Paul: “The magistrates have sent orders for you to be released. So come out now and go in peace.”
Acts 16:37-38 CSB – But Paul said to them, “They beat us in public without a trial, although we are Roman citizens, and threw us in jail. And now are they going to send us away secretly? Certainly not! On the contrary, let them come themselves and escort us out.”
38 The police reported these words to the magistrates. They were afraid when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens.
Acts 16:39 CSB – So they came to appease them, and escorting them from prison, they urged them to leave town.
Acts 16:40 CSB – After leaving the jail, they came to Lydia’s house, where they saw and encouraged the brothers and sisters, and departed.
The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.
