Gospel Meeting 20/08/2017

Luke’s Gospel ch16 vs16 – 34.

In this passage, a man’s eternal destination changed in one very short circumstance,

from being Hell – bound, to having an assurance of Heaven.

Tonight, you too can have your sins forgiven and be sure of spending your eternity in Heaven.

Like this man, the Philippian jailor, you can be saved and know the great change he knew in his life, through accepting Jesus Christ, God’s Son, as your Lord and Saviour.

His atoning sacrifice on the Cross, in the laying down of His own sinless body and giving His blood, forgives us of all our sins to every person who will come believing.

In this chapter, we read of two very contrasting people with different conversions…

Lydia was a rich, religious, respectful woman. She had a simple conversion, her heart being opened by The Lord.

However, the jailor was a rough and tough man, and it took an earthquake to change his heart.

Whatever your own background may be, you too need Jesus Christ as your Saviour!

The Lord had prepared the way for this man’s conversion…

Paul and Silas - despite doing much good – suddenly found things tough.

They were arrested, badly beaten and jailed.

How would you feel and react in these circumstances?

Paul and Silas did not moan about this at all.

On the contrary, at midnight they were praying and singing praises unto God!

They did not only know about God – they KNEW God, through their personal relationship with His Son, The Lord Jesus Christ.

Friend, do you just know ABOUT God and religion, or do you personally KNOW Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, having asked Him into your heart and life?

Is there a point in your life when you said “I accepted and know Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour?

The jailor needed to be saved just as much as his prisoners! –

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” –

Romans ch3 vs23.

Friend, have you realised your own sin problem and your need to be saved from the penalty of them?

“…There is none righteous, no, not one…” –

Romans ch3 vs10.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the only answer.

“… the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son cleanseth us from all sin””. –

1^st Epistle of John ch1 vs7.

He is the living Saviour, who overcame the grave and death.

The Philippian jailor was only a second from an eternity in Hell – fearing that the prisoners had fled after the earthquake, he was about to kill himself with his sword and die without his sins being forgiven.

Almost a lost soul for all eternity!

God brought him back from the very brink and saved him.

Hell is the place that we all deserve, but can be saved from it through the great love, grace and mercy of Jesus Christ.

In His great love, The Lord Jesus Christ gave many solemn warnings about this real and awful place, and has provided at Calvary’s Cross the only way to avoid it, and to be able to enter into Heaven.

The jailor was now saved for all eternity!

Friend, what does God need to bring into your life to change your heart and bring you to Christ?

The jailor came from spiritual darkness into light, asking “What must I do to be saved?”.

He came broken and with a contrite heart.

It is a personal question for each of us – “WHAT MUST I DO?” …

“I” – this is your own life’s eternal destination.

Salvation involves a “MUST” –

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we MUST be saved”. – Acts ch4 vs12.

“DO” – requires an action, a step has to be taken.

You can not drift into Heaven, only Hell!

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” – Acts ch16 vs31.

This is a certainty!

The question of being forgiven for your sins has a simple answer –

Realise your guilt, come in repentance, and in faith trust Jesus Christ and His work on the Cross.

Friend, make it personal tonight, like the jailor.

God had not yet finished His work that night however - his family were also saved through hearing the Gospel.

They were then baptised - by full immersion, which is the next step for believers.

A symbol of showing your new life in Christ!

The prisoners also had the opportunity to be saved that night… but there is no mention of them taking it.

Dear friend, have you had opportunities in the past and let them slip away?

Then tonight, grasp it and accept Jesus Christ as you own Lord and Saviour.

He is ready, willing and able to save anyone and everyone.