Earthquake Faith

Acts 16:26-34

Often, we refer to things like hurricanes and earthquakes as natural phenomena, but if you and your best friend are beat and thrown into prison and your feet or in the stocks, a device designed to keep you from moving, and by the way, all you have done is cast out a demon from a poor young girl under it’s control and share that in Jesus Christ you have found abundant life.  Your first thought might be, that will never happen to me, faith is a very private matter and I do not believe in demons!  You are 100% correct this will never happen to you, but you also will not have any effect on the kingdom of God.  I must tell you that if you have those kinds of thoughts, they come from the father of lies, and your only hope is to believe that “Jesus tells the Truth.”

The night that Paul and Silas are singing and praying to God, at midnight a not so natural phenomenon called a great earthquake shook the very foundations of the prison.  This is Luke’s account: “And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.” (Acts 16:26-34 ESV)

Earthquake faith does not happen when one keeps their faith private, neither does anyone ask the question of you that the jailer ask of Paul and Silas; “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” A private faith can’t fulfill the calling of Christ, for we have been called to be His ambassadors, (2 Corinthians 5:17-21) so as James has told us, a private faith is not faith, it has no actions, it will never be earthquake faith.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice