“The Power of Faith”
By Rev. Everett R. Kimble, Sr.
“The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and asked, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ He brought them into his house and set a meal before them, and he and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God’” (Acts 16:29, 30, 34, NLT).
I love watching sports on television and it does not have to be anything particular. Often while flipping through the channels, I will stop on whatever comes first and watch the whole game, match, challenge, or round. The thing that intrigues me the most is the determination and drive of the athletes whether they are winning or losing. While the game is in progress you can hear and see the excitement of everyone. When the final buzzer, bell, or horn sounds you quickly realize that the victory is not just for the winning players in the game, but for everybody attached to those players. Teammates, coaches, family, friends, and colleagues — they all felt like winners.
This passage is often used to demonstrate the power of our faith in God. Paul and Silas found themselves in a bad situation and like we have been taught to do, they prayed their way out. But let’s look at the jailer for a moment. He had spent I suppose, much of his life separated from the love of Jesus, but in the jail that night he witnessed something that changed him forever. But not only was he changed, his whole family got the victory because he had the courage to not let the moment pass him by. Acts 16:30-31 records it like this; “30 Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.”(NLT)
And here is where I would like to encourage someone today with the words of one songwriter; “when you win, everything attached to you wins”. Your family, your friends, your neighbors, your church, people on your job, everything and everybody in your circle win when you win. I know that it has been a fight and for most of the battle it seems you have been playing catch up but keep on fighting. I am not trying to add more pressure but to give you peace in knowing that the victory God has in store for you is worth the fight and you are more than a conqueror.
“35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake, we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.” 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.” (Romans 8:35-37, NLT)
You are a winner. Keep fighting and victory will soon be yours. Have a blessed day!!!
