12th Sep 26 | 04:00
Daily Study
Rest in the Lord
Acts 16 - Series 04/Episode 29 - Fri 14th Aug 2026 - Rest in the Lord - Acts 16:16-40 - EXPERIENCES AT PHILIPPI - Hebrews 04:01-13
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Acts 16:26-28 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 chains were loosed. (27) And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. (28) But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, "Do yourself no harm, for we are all here."
Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns. Did they expect the Lord to cause an earthquake? No. The Lord was bringing about a powerful work for the growth of the Gospel.
The Lord is causing the growth of the Gospel of His kingdom. Our lives need to be God's kingdom-oriented and driven. Sadly, many of us as believers in Christ are preoccupied with our own agenda in life. Periodically, we jump into a kingdom activity because we are troubled that we ought to be seeking God's kingdom here on earth. We are like a swinging pendulum that swings from one compartment to another. We have not yet come to the realisation and reality that life needs to be lived in only one compartment, and that compartment is the kingdom of God.
Paul and Silas rested in the kingdom of God. Their future did not matter to them. They were conscious that they had lived out the kingdom's life and all that had happened to them was allowed by the Lord, for He was building His kingdom. The future was in the Lord's hands. All that they needed to focus on and trust the Lord for was to be fully functional in His kingdom. Would we let the Lord change us so that we, too, will follow the example of Paul and Silas?
This is the place of rest that the Lord longs for the church to come to, but we are not resting in Him. Isaiah 30:15-17 For thus says the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel: "In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength." But you would not, (16) And you said, "No, for we will flee on horses"-Therefore you shall flee! And, "We will ride on swift horses"-Therefore those who pursue you shall be swift! (17) One thousand shall flee at the threat of one, At the threat of five you shall flee, Till you are left as a pole on top of a mountain And as a banner on a hill.
The reason why we, as believers of Christ in India, are frightened at what the present governing political party intend to do to us is that we are not resting in the Lord. We are more worried about what will happen if we lose certain privileges. Our confidence, trust and rest are not really on the Lord but on the benefits and privileges that we have. Let us take our eyes off these things, and let us become like Paul and Silas, who rested in the Lord. Yes, we must speak up against injustice, but let us rest in the Lord. (Paul confronted the authorities - Acts 16:36-39 So the keeper of the prison reported these words to Paul, saying, "The magistrates have sent to let you go. Now therefore depart, and go in peace." (37) But Paul said to them, "They have beaten us openly, uncondemned Romans, and have thrown us into prison. And now do they put us out secretly? No indeed! Let them come themselves and get us out." (38) And the officers told these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans. (39) Then they came and pleaded with them and brought them out, and asked them to depart from the city.
There is rest for the people of God. The word of God penetrates our hearts to reveal whether we are resting in Him or whether our motives are driven by other gods we have erected for ourselves. On the day of judgment, we will have to give an account for the thoughts and intents of our hearts. Hebrews 4:1 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. / Hebrews 4:9-13 There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. (10) For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. (11) Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. (12) For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (13) And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
Let us rest in the Lord as Paul and Silas did. The Lord will do His mighty work, of this we can be certain.
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