Faith in Adversity: God's Power in Our Trials

This morning, we explored the reality that life is not just a series of random events, but a spiritual journey where God is always active, even—especially—when things seem to be going against us. Looking at Acts 16, we saw Paul and Silas move from a season of open doors and gospel fruit in Philippi to a time of intense spiritual opposition. Their story reminds us that the Christian life is marked by both building and battling, and that spiritual conflict is not a sign of God’s absence, but often the very place where His power is most clearly revealed.

We began by acknowledging the supernatural reality that undergirds our world. The story of the slave girl possessed by a spirit of divination is not just an ancient curiosity, but a window into the ongoing spiritual battle between light and darkness. The Bible does not shy away from the reality of evil, nor does it suggest that such things are mere superstition. Instead, it calls us to be discerning, to avoid practices that open us to spiritual harm, and to remember that “the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”

When Paul and Silas cast out the spirit, they faced immediate backlash—not just from spiritual forces, but from people whose livelihoods were threatened by the gospel’s power to set people free. Their imprisonment was unjust, yet in the darkest hour, they chose to pray and sing hymns. Their response was not to demand their rights or to despair, but to turn to God in faith. In that place of suffering, God intervened with an earthquake, opening prison doors and breaking chains—not just for Paul and Silas, but for everyone present.

The jailer’s desperate question, “What must I do to be saved?” points us to the heart of the gospel: believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved. God’s activity in our trials is not just for our benefit, but for the sake of those around us who need hope and salvation. We are called to be spiritually awake, to see God’s fingerprints in our lives, and to be ready to give an answer for the hope we have, even in times of opposition.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Spiritual Reality Is Deeper Than We Think The world is not merely material; there are unseen spiritual forces at work, both good and evil. Ignoring or trivializing the supernatural can leave us vulnerable to deception or apathy. God calls us to discernment, to avoid practices that open us to darkness, and to remember that Christ’s power is greater than any force we face. [45:27]
• 2. Opposition Often Follows Opportunity Seasons of gospel fruit are often followed by times of gospel friction. When we step out in faith, we should not be surprised by resistance—whether spiritual, cultural, or personal. The door of opportunity often swings on the hinges of opposition, and God uses these moments to deepen our dependence on Him and to advance His mission in unexpected ways. [40:31]
• 3. Faithfulness in the Dark Prepares Us for the Dawn Paul and Silas responded to suffering not with complaint, but with prayer and praise. Their faithfulness in the darkness became the context for God’s miraculous intervention. The way we handle small challenges shapes our readiness for greater trials; cultivating trust and worship in the ordinary prepares us for extraordinary moments of deliverance. [60:33]
• 4. God’s Activity Is Not Limited by Human Barriers No prison door, no chain, no human opposition can keep God’s Spirit out. The earthquake that freed Paul and Silas was a visible sign of God’s power, but His presence had been with them all along. Even when circumstances seem impossible, God is at work—often in ways we cannot see—bringing freedom, hope, and new life. [54:11]
• 5. Our Trials Are Part of God’s Mission to Others The suffering of Paul and Silas was not just about their own faith, but became the means by which the jailer and his household encountered salvation. Our struggles may be the very context in which others see the reality of Christ in us. God’s activity in our lives is always bigger than us; He is working for the sake of those who need to hear and believe. [65:21]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [34:08] - Why Are We Here?
• [34:36] - Setting the Scene: Acts 16
• [35:45] - The Supernatural in Scripture and Life
• [37:31] - Our Assurance: 1 John 4:4
• [38:50] - Paul and Silas Arrive in Philippi
• [40:31] - From Building to Battling
• [42:23] - When Life Is Against You, God Is Active
• [43:17] - The Slave Girl and Spiritual Reality
• [45:27] - Discernment in a Supernatural World
• [49:44] - Backlash and Injustice
• [52:07] - Opportunity Hinges on Opposition
• [54:11] - The Earthquake: God Breaks Chains
• [56:29] - Responding to Suffering: Prayer and Praise
• [65:21] - The Jailer’s Question and the Gospel’s Heart
• [70:15] - Next Steps: Believe, Study, and See
• [73:09] - Living Awake in a Spiritual Battle
• [80:36] - Praying for the Church in Persecution
• [82:54] - Closing Prayer and Benediction

Bible Reading

Acts 16:16-34 (ESV) — 16 As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling.
17 She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.”
18 And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.
19 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.
20 And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city.
21 They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice.”
22 The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods.
23 And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely.
24 Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,
26 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.
27 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.
28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.”
29 And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas.
30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.
33 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.
34 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.

1 John 4:4 (ESV) — Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

Romans 10:9-10 (ESV) — Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Observation Questions

1. What supernatural events take place in Acts 16:16-34, and how do they affect the people involved?
2. How do Paul and Silas respond to being unjustly imprisoned, and what are the other prisoners doing while this happens?
3. What question does the jailer ask Paul and Silas after the earthquake, and what is their answer?
4. According to 1 John 4:4, what assurance do believers have when facing spiritual opposition?

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon describes the world as a place where spiritual realities are at work, not just material ones. How does this perspective change the way someone might view everyday challenges or opposition?
2. Paul and Silas choose to pray and sing hymns in prison rather than complain or demand their rights. What does this reveal about their faith and understanding of God’s presence in suffering?
3. The jailer’s question, “What must I do to be saved?” comes after witnessing God’s power and the faith of Paul and Silas. What does this suggest about how God uses our trials to reach others?
4. The sermon says, “Opposition often follows opportunity.” Why might stepping out in faith sometimes lead to increased resistance or hardship?

Application Questions

1. The sermon warns against ignoring or trivializing the supernatural side of life. Are there ways you have dismissed spiritual realities in your own life? How might you become more spiritually discerning this week?
2. Paul and Silas responded to suffering with prayer and praise. Think of a recent challenge or “dark” moment in your life. How did you respond? What would it look like to choose prayer and worship next time?
3. The owners of the slave girl were upset because the gospel threatened their income. Are there areas in your life where following Jesus might cost you something important? How do you handle those tensions?
4. The sermon says, “The door of opportunity often swings on the hinges of opposition.” Can you think of a time when a difficult situation led to unexpected spiritual growth or opportunity? What did you learn from it?
5. Paul and Silas’ faithfulness in prison led to the jailer and his family coming to faith. Who in your life might be watching how you handle hardship? How could your response point them to Jesus?
6. The sermon encourages us to “look for God’s fingerprints” in our lives. What is one practical way you can be more alert to God’s activity this week, even in small things?
7. The message closes by reminding us that God’s activity in our lives is always bigger than just us. How can you be ready to share the hope you have with someone who is searching or struggling?