PennDel Network Superintendent Don Immel
The freedoms we enjoy are among God’s greatest blessings, but they also carry great responsibility. We are free to worship, proclaim the Gospel, raise our families according to biblical values, and serve our communities. Those freedoms should never be taken for granted. They are gifts to steward faithfully for the glory of God.
Let Freedom Ring | Acts 16:16-40 reminds us that while political climates may change, the mission of the Church never does. Through the story of Paul and Silas, we discover how followers of Jesus can faithfully engage culture, stand for truth, and keep the Gospel at the center of everything they do.
Freedom Is a Gift to Steward
In America, we enjoy remarkable freedoms. We are free to gather for worship and prayer, proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, raise our families, serve our neighbors, and live out our faith openly. Yet freedom is more than a privilege to enjoy. It is a responsibility to embrace.
Scripture reminds us that every blessing God gives should be used for His glory. Freedom should move us to gratitude, humility, service, and prayer. Rather than taking these blessings for granted, believers are called to steward them well by living lives that honor Christ and point others to Him.
One of the greatest ways we can steward our freedom is by praying for our nation. God’s promise in 2 Chronicles 7:14 reminds us that lasting change begins when His people humble themselves, pray, seek His face, and turn from their sin. Revival has never started in government buildings. It begins in the hearts of God’s people.
When Faith and Culture Collide
The tension between faith and culture is nothing new. In Acts 16:16-24, Paul and Silas encountered a slave girl possessed by a spirit of divination. After Paul commanded the spirit to leave her in the name of Jesus, everything changed.
Her owners were no longer making money from her fortune-telling, so they dragged Paul and Silas before the city officials. What began as an act of spiritual freedom quickly became a legal, economic, and political conflict. Paul and Silas were falsely accused, publicly beaten, and thrown into prison.
Living faithfully for Christ will sometimes place believers at odds with the surrounding culture. Questions involving morality, religious liberty, family, education, and biblical truth often intersect with society and government. While Christians should never make politics their primary mission, neither can they pretend these issues do not exist.
The classic musical Fiddler on the Roof humorously illustrates this tension. As opposing viewpoints are each declared “right,” someone finally points out that they cannot both be right. The exchange reminds us that while every person deserves love and respect, truth cannot be determined by popular opinion. For followers of Christ, God’s Word remains the ultimate authority.
The Gospel Must Always Come First
After suffering injustice, Paul and Silas had every reason to become bitter. Instead, they worshiped.
At midnight they prayed and sang hymns to God while the other prisoners listened (Acts 16:25). Their circumstances did not determine their faithfulness. Their confidence remained in God.
Then God shook the prison with an earthquake, opening every prison door and loosening every chain. Yet Paul and Silas did something remarkable. Rather than escaping, they stayed.
The jailer, believing every prisoner had fled, prepared to take his own life. Paul cried out, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here” (Acts 16:28).
That moment opened the door for one of the greatest Gospel conversations in the book of Acts.
“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30-31)
Rather than dwelling on their suffering, Paul and Silas focused on salvation. They shared the Gospel, the jailer believed in Jesus, his household was baptized, and what would become the church in Philippi began to grow.
Their example reminds us that no political climate, cultural pressure, or personal hardship should distract believers from the mission Jesus has given His Church.
People Are Watching Our Response
Acts tells us that while Paul and Silas prayed and sang, the other prisoners were listening. Their worship became a testimony before they ever spoke another word.
The same is true today. Our families, neighbors, coworkers, and friends are watching how we respond during seasons of conflict and division. They notice whether our conversations reflect fear or faith, anger or grace, hope or despair.
Our witness is often strengthened not by winning arguments but by faithfully living for Christ through every circumstance. When believers respond with humility, integrity, compassion, and unwavering trust in God, people become more open to hearing the message of Jesus.
Using Our Influence Wisely
After everything Paul and Silas endured, Paul revealed that he was a Roman citizen who had been beaten illegally without receiving a fair trial (Acts 16:37-39).
Paul did not use his citizenship for personal revenge. Instead, he used it wisely to expose injustice and strengthen the credibility of the young church in Philippi. Throughout Scripture, God consistently used His people to influence leaders and nations. Moses confronted Pharaoh. Daniel faithfully served pagan kings. John the Baptist boldly confronted Herod. Jesus testified before Pilate. Paul later appealed to Caesar.
Followers of Christ should faithfully engage the world around them, pray for governing authorities, stand for biblical truth, and seek the good of their communities. At the same time, we must remember that our ultimate citizenship is in heaven and our highest allegiance belongs to Christ alone.
Keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing
Freedom matters. Justice matters. Truth matters. Christians should pray for their leaders, seek the good of their communities, stand for righteousness, and use every opportunity God provides to influence culture for His glory.
But none of those things can ever replace the mission Jesus gave His Church.
The Gospel always comes first.
Political systems rise and fall. Cultural values shift from generation to generation. Nations experience seasons of blessing and seasons of hardship. Yet the message of Jesus Christ remains the only hope capable of transforming hearts, restoring lives, and changing eternity.
Let Freedom Ring | Acts 16:16-40 reminds us that our greatest freedom is found in Christ. May we steward every freedom God has entrusted to us by praying for our nation, standing firmly on His Word, loving our neighbors, and boldly proclaiming the Gospel. And above all, may we never become independent from God, but faithfully use every opportunity to lead others to Jesus.
Watch the Full Message
Watch Let Freedom Ring | Acts 16:16-40 by special guest speaker and PennDel Network Superintendent Dr. Don Immel.
About Harvest Church
Harvest Church is an Assemblies of God church located in Fogelsville, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley. We are currently going through a sermon series called The Famous Ones, a study of well-known figures in the Bible, their relationship with God, and how their stories apply to our lives today. You can explore the rest of the series on our website or listen on your favorite podcast platform.