Christmas Grace II: The Deeply Personal Gospel of Grace

Acts 16:11-34 (NLT)  
    We boarded a boat at Troas and sailed straight across to the island of Samothrace, and the next day we landed at Neapolis. [12] From there we reached Philippi, a major city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony; we stayed there several days.
    [13] On the Sabbath we went a little way outside the city to a riverbank, where we supposed that some people met for prayer, and we sat down to speak with some women who had come together. [14] One of them was Lydia from Thyatira, a merchant of expensive purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. As she listened to us, the Lord opened her heart, and she accepted what Paul was saying. [15] She was baptized along with other members of her household, and she asked us to be her guests. "If you agree that I am faithful to the Lord," she said, "come and stay at my home." And she urged us until we did.
     [16] One day as we were going down to the place of prayer, we met a demon-possessed slave girl. She was a fortune-teller who earned a lot of money for her masters. [17] She followed along behind us shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, and they have come to tell you how to be saved."
    [18] This went on day after day until Paul got so exasperated that he turned and spoke to the demon within her. "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her," he said. And instantly it left her.
    [19] Her masters' hopes of wealth were now shattered, so they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities at the marketplace. [20] "The whole city is in an uproar because of these Jews!" they shouted. [21] "They are teaching the people to do things that are against Roman customs."
    [22] A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. [23] They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn't escape. [24] So he took no chances but put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks.
    [25] Around midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. [26] Suddenly, there was a great earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! [27] The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. [28] But Paul shouted to him, "Don't do it! We are all here!"
    [29] Trembling with fear, the jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down before Paul and Silas. [30] He brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
    [31] They replied, "Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with your entire household." [32] Then they shared the word of the Lord with him and all who lived in his household. [33] That same hour the jailer washed their wounds, and he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized. [34] Then he brought them into his house and set a meal before them. He and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God.

1. Whenever we build our joy and life’s purpose on something temporary, it can crumble anytime – build rather on the unshakable rock of Jesus

Romans 6:16 (NIV)  
    Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey--whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?

The jailer was a slave to duty
Lydia was a slave to power, influence and success
The slave girl was a slave to a bad master

Accomplishing more, owning more, or even possessing more freedom does not make us happier or more joyful people.

2. The Good News of grace, forgiveness and a new life that Jesus brings is for everyone and not just for specific “religious types.”

Be flexible in how we present the Good News of Jesus Christ to the people that God brings into our lives

3.  Be a “slave” to the One who will satisfy us deeply, forgives us when we fail Him, and Who will still wait for us even if we reject Him

Romans 6:22 (NLT)  
    But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life.