As Americans, we have a thing about standing up for our rights. We’re so easily offended that if our rights are somehow violated, we don’t take it sitting down. From flags to flowers, we will boycott, protest, tweet, re-post something on Facebook, we’ll write our congressman, or whatever it takes to protect our rights.
As Roman citizens, Paul and Silas had a right to a trial before any punishment. Romans were exempt from public beatings. And yet the two missionaries were falsely accused, beaten, and thrown into prison, with their feet locked into the stocks, without any semblance of a trial. Their rights had been violated. If anyone had a right to be angry, they did. In Acts 16:10-40, we discover that real joy comes from being reconciled to God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and sharing that Good News with others.
sermon by: Larry Murray
date: 10.01.2017