The Freedom of the Jailer
Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. And 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 himself. But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.” Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Then they 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 their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.
Acts 16:26-34 NKJV
What must I do to be saved?
This is an amazing story of Redemption!
Paul and Silas had been thrown into prison.
They had been beaten with rods.
It’s said that they laid many stripes on them.
And the jailer was commanded to lock them up.
The jailer’s duty was to take the orders but also obey them.
There was a responsibility that was expected from him.
Watch these prisoners with your own life!
Let not one soul escape.
That is exactly what the prison of sin and darkness is.
Sometimes the soul is looking for Salvation.
There are those that don’t even know that they are searching. Emptiness fills the hearts. Their minds will wander to the things of this world and its uncertainty.
We forget how much influence in someone’s eternity we have. If the Holy Spirit is housed in us there is the light. The peace and even the joy in the roughest and toughest trials that this world will definitely supply.
Even in the darkness of a heart’s prison cell, there’s someone always watching. They are looking for character in how we live our lives. They are looking to see if we really believe what we say.
Waiting to see how we react.
We are just weak human beings serving an all powerful God!
Not by power nor by might, but by the Spirit of the Lord. If those that are watching us, let this be what they see!
Someone that is dependent on the promises of the Holy Spirit!
It’s so easy to profess the name of Jesus.
What the difficult part is, truly living it out like we actually walk and follow Him.
Depending on His grace and mercy to see us through even in the darkest cells of prison!
The “keeper of the prison” was asleep.
Unaware of what was happening around him. No care, just going about his life and doing his job. Assuming all is good.
This is the biggest lie the world gives us,
” all is good”. So many will give this response even in their most desperate need. Not wanting to admit that they need to be saved from something. No one is good, no not one!
God does the miraculous! He makes the earth shake and rumble.
He commands the earth to quake! And as that mighty earthquake flings open the doors of the prison, something happens.
Yes, we hear how the Lord saved Paul and Silas. But the Lord was doing more than that.
A man and his whole household were about to experience the mercy of God!
God caught the attention of the jailer!
God will use any means necessary to wake us up from our sleep. He has no shame in using every resource He has to bring even the most depraved soul to repentance. Even an earthquake!
Then He will use His people to guide them to the Cross that brings them Salvation!
The jailer assumes that all the prisoners would leave. He assumes that his fate had been sealed.
He assumes death waits for Him because of his failure to watch and keep guard.
Never make the assumption that this is just the way it’s supposed to be. Never get caught up in the lie that this is just how you always have to be.
Don’t get trapped by this lie of unworthiness. That we are not worthy to receive the mercy of God. We are not good enough for the free gift of Salvation Jesus offers.
The truth is, no one is!
We have all failed. We all fall short of the Glory of God.
But Praise Him that He sent His only Son to redeem that have assumed that Salvation, Redemption and Restoration is impossible.
Never assume God is done with you!
The jailer was out of hope. Facing shame and expecting judgment for his failure.
Then the voice of Paul the Apostle reaches his ear.
“Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.”
Isn’t that what we are supposed to do?
Be there in the darkness of people’s lives. To shed the light. To give them hope.
With these simple words the trajectory of a family and generations were changed.
All it takes sometimes is just to be present.
Just the ministry of presence can be so powerful.
The jailer sees and asks what must I do to be saved!
The jailer was in his own prison and needed to be freed. Paul had the keys to his freedom.
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
There is a freedom in Christ that no one understands until they have experienced it. The weight of sin is the chain that no man can loosen much less free themselves from!
Paul gives him the key to the lock. This man did not realize that these are the same keys to the Kingdom of God!
Paul teaches him about Jesus and it solidified his decision to follow!
The jailer takes these keys and finds freedom.
There are two amazing points in this story.
Yes the jailer was saved. Yes he and His family were baptized.
Here was a man that was used to sitting in the dark. The Light shines and it changes his whole perspective.
He believes the Gospel. He is transformed. How do we know this?
He takes Paul and Silas’ beaten bodies and washed their stripes.
There is something that happens in us when we see the compassion of Jesus shine upon us, even to those that may be enemies. How the Lord takes us and cleanses us from the inside out. How He restores the parts of us that have been wounded and He heals them.
It becomes natural to us to show the same compassion to others!
Having empathy for another’s situation is having the heart of Christ to bring them the comfort they need!
The other is Paul and Silas served their God well!
These men were beaten. Sitting in the darkness of the inner parts of prison.
Even in the state of persecution they remained loyal and true in service to the Lord!
How is this even possible?
By recalling His promises He has made to you.
Not just recalling but believing in them. Understanding that He is a God that cannot and does not lie. That our Holy God is Faithful to keep all that He has said!
My question is this.
How deep is the tenderness of your heart for those that need to see the compassion of Jesus?
Are you willing to show it? No matter the cost.
There were going to be consequences for the jailer if any of the prisoners were gone.
He took Paul and Silas out of the prison to tend to them. No matter what would come he was willing to sacrifice it all.
How well are you serving Jesus today?
Even the most faithful people of God will go through the hardships of this world. That should never determine if we will serve our Savior faithfully!
Today go forth with the compassion of Christ in full service to Him no matter the situation!
Free the locked heart with the Keys to the Kingdom of God! Tend to the wounds of the hurt. Let the light of Christ burn brighter than any prison that tries to captivate you!
Serve you King well!
Pastor Ed
