How Christians respond to trials is a witness about hope and faith in Christ. How we respond and what we do in the midst of difficulty and trouble actually is a witness.

The question is: Are we different than other people? Are we different than the world in the way we respond?

Last time we were in Acts 16, God led Paul and his mission team to Philippi, a leading Roman city. They preached the gospel to a group of women down at the riverside. Specifically, it talks about Lydia. God opened her heart and she believed the gospel. She was transformed there.

Today we will see their further encounters in Philippi. One—a confrontation that leads to persecution. The other—a miraculous conversion leading to life and hope.

The claim of the message this morning is: God demonstrates power through the gospel to deliver his servants and save sinners from the bond of the world.

In the end, we will be reminded that following Christ is sometimes a costly thing. Jesus has the power over every authority on earth.

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