Lesson 28: Rejoicing in the Gospel
Question 4
Much as Peter began to sink beneath the waves when he took His eyes off Jesus (Matthew 14:28-32), so we too begin to lose heart and sink beneath our circumstances when we look away from the cross of Jesus.
It might seem impossible to rejoice in the Lord when your heart has been wounded by your spouse, but the key to rejoicing and giving thanks in all things is to look to Jesus. Look at His eyes full of love for you. Look at His hands and remember that He was pierced for your transgressions (Isaiah 53:5). Look at His radiant face, remembering the promise for every believer, "they will see his face" (Revelation 22:4). Look at His suffering in your place. Look at His death and resurrection. Look at how He is interceding for you. Fix your eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2-3), and you will be able to rejoice and give thanks in all things.
Now, not only are these commands—rejoicing, praying and giving thanks as we contemplate Christ—a way for us to walk above our difficult circumstances without sinking, but they are also powerful tools against the evil one.
Look with me now to Acts 16:19-25, “But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice.” The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and 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 bonds were unfastened.”
Question 4. Paul and Silas were beaten and imprisoned for preaching the gospel and casting a demon out of a young girl. According to Acts 16:25, what were Paul and Silas doing during their imprisonment?