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See the Study Guide Here: https://myrealchurch.org/teaching/acts/acts-part-30-praising-god-in-the-midnight-hour/

Nothing good happens after midnight—or so the saying goes. It's when our defenses crumble, our resolve weakens, and our problems loom largest. But what if midnight isn't just a time of vulnerability, but an opportunity for extraordinary spiritual breakthrough?

This look into Acts 16 follows Paul and Silas in surely a very dark hour—beaten, stripped, and imprisoned with their feet fastened in stocks for simply doing God's work.

Their response? Midnight praise and prayer that shook the foundations of their prison.

Listen to see why our response to opposition matters. When we're persecuted for our faith—whether through social media attacks, workplace discrimination, or cultural pressure—how we react reveals our spiritual maturity. The story of Paul and Silas demonstrates that praise rooted in Jesus rather than circumstances creates a joy that can never be taken away.

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We read the story of Lydia, a successful businesswoman in Philippi, and connect that to how our everyday work can become a powerful piece in God's kingdom purposes. Her conversion story reveals the beautiful integration of faith and vocation that should characterize every Christian's life.

• When Paul shared the gospel, "the Lord opened her heart" to receive the message
• After her conversion, Lydia didn't change careers but changed her purpose
• Her entire household was baptized
• Lydia used her home and resources to support the early church's mission
• Every job is a divine calling, not just religious vocations
• Christians should be exemplary employees, working "heartily for the Lord"
• Our workplaces are mission fields where we can demonstrate Christ's character
• Martin Luther: "The Christian shoemaker does his duty not by putting little crosses on shoes, but by making good shoes"
• No one should ever be surprised to discover you're a Christian based on your work ethic

We want to see revival come to our city. For that to happen, we need to move outside the four walls of our church and see our workplaces as mission fields where we can glorify God even in the most mundane parts of our lives.

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Have you ever wished for a divine Magic 8-Ball to guide your life decisions? While God doesn't typically write messages in the sky or send divine text messages, He does speak to His children in ways we can learn to recognize and trust.

At the heart of hearing God's voice is a foundation in Scripture. "If I am not reading the Word of God, I will not recognize the voice of God," explains the pastor. This becomes our filter for every impression or prompting. God will never lead contrary to His Word, which is why understanding Scripture is essential for discerning His guidance.

Beyond Scripture, God speaks through multiple channels. In Acts 16, we see Paul and his missionary team experiencing closed doors as the Holy Spirit redirected their journey. What seemed like frustrating roadblocks were actually divine guidance leading them to Macedonia—an entirely different continent than where they planned to minister! God also communicates through dreams and visions (as promised in Acts 2), through prophetic words, and most commonly, through the internal promptings of His Spirit.

For those struggling to hear God clearly, the solution may be surprisingly simple. In our hyper-connected world where the average person spends 4.5 hours daily on their phone (equivalent to 13 years of their lifetime!), creating space for silence has become revolutionary. The challenge is straightforward but potentially life-changing: take five minutes daily, put your phone in another room, and simply listen for God's voice.

Like the frightened boy during the London Blitz whose fear transformed to peace upon hearing his father's voice, we too can experience profound peace amidst life's chaos when we learn to recognize our heavenly Father speaking. The anxiety that plagues so many can give way to confidence when we understand that "all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God."

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Ever noticed how conflict seems to find its way into even our closest relationships? Whether it's with your spouse, a friend, or someone at church, disagreements happen—and how we handle them makes all the difference in whether our relationships thrive or wither.

Through this small story of Paul and Barnabas in Acts 15, we discover that even spiritual leaders in the Bible struggled with conflict. These two men traveled together for years, facing persecution and celebrating revival side by side. Yet one disagreement about John Mark split their partnership apart. Their story offers us a mirror to examine our own approach to conflict resolution.

Most of us handle conflict in one of three ways: ignoring it (like putting tape over a car's check engine light), exploding with anger (smashing the dashboard), or addressing it directly (taking the car to a mechanic). Only the third approach leads to healthy, lasting relationships. Research shows the healthiest relationships maintain a balance of five positive interactions to every one negative interaction—revealing that both too much conflict and too little can damage our connections.

Healthy confrontation requires several key elements: consistent encouragement to balance difficult conversations, humility to acknowledge our own contributions to problems, prayer to center ourselves in God's perspective, emotional control to prevent hurtful outbursts, and a genuine commitment to reconciliation as the ultimate goal. The good news? We're not alone in this challenging work. The Holy Spirit provides exactly what we need—courage, patience, kindness, and love—to address conflict in a way that honors God and preserves relationships.

Like the dragon in the children's story that grew larger the more it was ignored, conflicts only expand when neglected. This week, identify one relationship where unresolved tension exists, and take the courageous step of addressing it with prayer, humility, and a genuine desire for reconciliation. Your relationships—and your spiritual life—will be transformed.

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The Jerusalem Council's wisdom in defining salvation through faith alone preserved the gospel message and forms the foundation of our Christian identity today.

• Defining our identity in Christ is essential to avoid spiritual confusion and deception
• The early church faced an existential threat when some insisted Gentiles must be circumcised and follow Mosaic law to be saved
• Peter testified that God cleansed Gentile hearts by faith, making no distinction between Jewish and Gentile believers
• James affirmed salvation by grace through faith while adding that true faith is evidenced by works.
• The five solas summarize the foundation of salvation: faith alone, grace alone, Christ alone, Scripture alone, glory to God alone
• The foundation of salvation is non-negotiable, but we can show flexibility in areas of personal conviction

We encourage you to take time this week to write 3-4 sentences defining your identity in Christ. If you don't define who you are in Christ, others will define it for you.

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Ordinary people become extraordinary vessels when they surrender to the Holy Spirit's guidance. This powerful message by guest speaker, Jack Buskey, explores what happens when believers commit to radical obedience, regardless of how foolish they might appear to others.

Through decades of ministry experience, Jack shares vulnerable stories that reveal God's pattern of working through simple acts of faithfulness. The remarkable account of a blind baby receiving sight after a simple declaration of healing demonstrates how God honors obedience over ability. Equally moving is the story of a hardened biker who finally surrendered to Christ after three separate believers approached him—each thinking they had failed in their witnessing attempt.

The message skillfully unpacks essential truths about the local church using three primary biblical metaphors: the Bride of Christ, the Body of Christ, and an Army under orders. These compelling images challenge contemporary notions that one can follow Jesus without committed church involvement. As the speaker boldly asserts, "How can you say you accept Christ when you reject his bride?"

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Have you ever let the fear of rejection hold you back from sharing your faith? You're not alone. In this powerful exploration of Acts 14:8-20, we confront one of the biggest obstacles Christians face when it comes to evangelism: the paralyzing fear of being rejected. This message aims at helping you overcome that fear.

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In this sermon, Pastor Chris preaches on what it means to be a Real Follower of Jesus.

Following Jesus demands more than wearing the Christian badge; it requires belief in your heart, unwavering allegiance to Jesus, and perseverance through opposition.

• Following Jesus requires genuine heart-level belief, not just intellectual assent to facts

• The world actively poisons minds against Christians through changed narratives, controlled media, and education systems

• No middle ground exists with Jesus—you are either with Him or against Him

• True faith is marked by perseverance, even through persecution and worldly temptation


If you want to stand with Jesus, reject the poison of this world by staying in church, living in community, reading Scripture, and praying daily. Ask Jesus to "hold you fast" as you fight the good fight, finish the course, and keep the faith.

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