sermon
The Irrepressible Spirit: Joy in Hard Places
June 29, 2025
In 2011, an earthquake in central Virginia was felt all the way up here in Doylestown. Some of you might remember where you were when it happened—because we often remember exactly where we were when something shakes up our world.
Though I didn’t feel it myself, I heard our former senior pastor shout, “We just had an earthquake!” and saw the giant cross in the Sanctuary swaying. Thankfully, there was no damage—just surprised people asking, “Did anyone else feel that?”
Speaking of earthquakes, there’s one in Acts 16 that shakes more than a building. It opens prison doors, loosens chains, and opens hearts. Life shakes us, but the Spirit inside remains firm. The Holy Spirit is not just a force or feeling—He is God Himself dwelling in every believer, our Helper, Comforter, and Strength.
He gives boldness, joy, and power to keep going—even through difficult times. Sometimes God shakes things not to destroy us but to remind us He is still working.
But before we get to the Acts 16 earthquake, we have to rewind a bit—because the story actually begins miles away and days earlier where the Spirit of God was already moving.
Paul wasn’t planning to go to Philippi; the Spirit blocked his way twice. Then in Troas, Paul had a vision of a man from Macedonia pleading, “Come help us!” The Spirit was guiding him there.
Paul wasn’t planning to go to Philippi. He actually tried to go other places first—but Scripture tells us the Holy Spirit blocked the way, not once but twice. Imagine being on fire for Jesus, ready to go share the gospel, and God says, “Not here…not there either.”
Eventually, in the city of Troas, Paul had a vision of a man from Macedonia pleading, “Come over here and help us!” Paul knew it was the Spirit guiding him to Philippi. That kind of clarity only comes from knowing the Spirit’s voice and trusting Him—even when it disrupts your own plans.
Once in Philippi, Paul met a woman named Lydia who was a worshiper of God but didn’t yet know Jesus. Paul preached to her and the Bible says, “The Lord opened her heart to respond.” Looking back at what led him there, you can clearly see that the Holy Spirit was orchestrating it all.
This was the first conversion in Philippi, and it happened because the Holy Spirit said “no” to Paul’s plans and “yes” to something better. The Holy Spirit didn’t just guide Paul to the right city—He opened hearts so people would hear. That same Spirit who redirected Paul is the one who fills us with courage and joy today.
One day, on their way there, they met someone very different from Lydia—a slave girl with a spirit of darkness that enabled her to tell fortunes. And that’s when things got…complicated, and where Paul and Silas entered a trajectory that would land them in prison.
How they ended up there is interesting—and even a bit humorous. Not that their imprisonment was funny, of course, but the events that led to it were a little ironic.
Here’s how it went down: Paul and his companions regularly went to a riverside place outside Philippi’s city gate to pray. On their way one day, they met:
…a slave girl who had a spirit that enabled her to tell the future. She earned a lot of money for her masters by telling fortunes.
This fortune-telling girl followed Paul around, shouting: “This is Paul. He’s preaching the name of Jesus. He’s here to show you the way to be saved!” Now, what she said wasn’t wrong, but the spirit inside her wasn’t from God—it was a demon.
This girl kept this up for days, and Paul finally got so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit: “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!”
Paul didn’t act on irritation alone. It was righteous boldness from the Holy Spirit—a boldness not just to do good, but to confront evil.
In verse 18, we see the result of the authority of Jesus through the Holy Spirit:
“At that moment the spirit left her. 19 When her owners realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities. 20 They brought them before the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar 21 by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice.” 22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. 23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.
This presents us with a hard truth: The Holy Spirit dwelling in us doesn’t mean we’re exempt from suffering or injustice. In fact, sometimes following Jesus leads us straight into it. But the Spirit doesn’t leave us there.
Paul and Silas are in prison. It’s midnight, their backs are lacerated and bloodied, their hands and feet are in chains—and they’re praying and singing (vs. 25), not because they feel good, but because they know God is good—even in the dark. The Holy Spirit didn’t keep Paul and Silas out of the cell, but He absolutely met them in it.
This Spirit fills us with joy—a joy we can’t manufacture or lose. It’s peace in the midst of diagnosis, hope when plans fail, patience when worn thin, laughter with friends even at funerals. It’s not the world’s joy but the Spirit’s joy alive in us.
You can’t have real joy without the Holy Spirit. That joy shines brightest in hardship. Paul said suffering for Jesus is a privilege drawing us closer to Him (Philippians 2:17-18). The Spirit gives joy that endures, power to endure suffering, not just miracles.
We see at the end of verse 25 that the “…other prisoners were listening to them.”
They listened because joy in suffering is a strange and holy sound. Paul and Silas prayed and worshiped, knowing God was good, reminding us of what Paul later wrote in Philippians 4:6-7:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:6-7
That peace guarded them, even bruised and chained. When God is with you, it’s always a good time to give thanks and worship.
In verse 26, we see that a violent earthquake rocked the foundations of the prison. Chains fell. Doors flew open. Yet none of the prisoners ran. Do you think this could it have been the Holy Spirit restraining panic and stirring awe in that place? What else could explain it?
Today, God still surprises us and still works miracles—not always when or how we expect—but to remind us: “You’re not alone. I’m still here!”
Next we see that Paul and Silas shared the message of Jesus, and the jailer and his family believed. Paul and Silas’ wounds were washed. The jailer’s entire family was baptized. A meal was shared. And the jailer—this hardened Roman official who started the night ready to take his own life—ends it rejoicing with his whole family.
This is more than rescue—it’s redemption. The irrepressible Spirit broke through fear and filled them with joy. What a transformation—from despair to joy, from death to life, from chains to freedom—not just for Paul and Silas, but for the jailer and his whole household.
That’s what the Holy Spirit does. He doesn’t just shake prison walls—He shakes hearts awake. He brings salvation, healing, hope, and joy where there once was only fear. And that same Holy Spirit is still at work today, giving us courage to stand, peace to endure, joy in the shadows, and the power to bring others from death to life.
What prison do you find yourself in today? Maybe you’re hurting, singing in the dark, or wondering if hope is possible. The Spirit who filled Paul and Silas fills you. He may not prevent hardship, but He never leaves you alone.
If you ask, “What must I do to be saved?” the answer is still: Believe in the Lord Jesus. To believe means to trust, surrender, and respond. Without the Spirit, we can’t truly follow Jesus or endure suffering with joy.
So will you believe? Will you receive the Spirit who fills you with joy—even in hard places?
If so, let this be your anthem, just as it was Paul’s—even from a prison cell:
“Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 3:13–14
The Spirit who filled Paul and Silas is the same Spirit who fills you—to help you press on with joy, courage, and peace, no matter what you face.
Though I didn’t feel it myself, I heard our former senior pastor shout, “We just had an earthquake!” and saw the giant cross in the Sanctuary swaying. Thankfully, there was no damage—just surprised people asking, “Did anyone else feel that?”
Speaking of earthquakes, there’s one in Acts 16 that shakes more than a building. It opens prison doors, loosens chains, and opens hearts. Life shakes us, but the Spirit inside remains firm. The Holy Spirit is not just a force or feeling—He is God Himself dwelling in every believer, our Helper, Comforter, and Strength.
He gives boldness, joy, and power to keep going—even through difficult times. Sometimes God shakes things not to destroy us but to remind us He is still working.
But before we get to the Acts 16 earthquake, we have to rewind a bit—because the story actually begins miles away and days earlier where the Spirit of God was already moving.
Paul wasn’t planning to go to Philippi; the Spirit blocked his way twice. Then in Troas, Paul had a vision of a man from Macedonia pleading, “Come help us!” The Spirit was guiding him there.
Paul wasn’t planning to go to Philippi. He actually tried to go other places first—but Scripture tells us the Holy Spirit blocked the way, not once but twice. Imagine being on fire for Jesus, ready to go share the gospel, and God says, “Not here…not there either.”
Eventually, in the city of Troas, Paul had a vision of a man from Macedonia pleading, “Come over here and help us!” Paul knew it was the Spirit guiding him to Philippi. That kind of clarity only comes from knowing the Spirit’s voice and trusting Him—even when it disrupts your own plans.
Once in Philippi, Paul met a woman named Lydia who was a worshiper of God but didn’t yet know Jesus. Paul preached to her and the Bible says, “The Lord opened her heart to respond.” Looking back at what led him there, you can clearly see that the Holy Spirit was orchestrating it all.
This was the first conversion in Philippi, and it happened because the Holy Spirit said “no” to Paul’s plans and “yes” to something better. The Holy Spirit didn’t just guide Paul to the right city—He opened hearts so people would hear. That same Spirit who redirected Paul is the one who fills us with courage and joy today.
One day, on their way there, they met someone very different from Lydia—a slave girl with a spirit of darkness that enabled her to tell fortunes. And that’s when things got…complicated, and where Paul and Silas entered a trajectory that would land them in prison.
How they ended up there is interesting—and even a bit humorous. Not that their imprisonment was funny, of course, but the events that led to it were a little ironic.
Here’s how it went down: Paul and his companions regularly went to a riverside place outside Philippi’s city gate to pray. On their way one day, they met:
…a slave girl who had a spirit that enabled her to tell the future. She earned a lot of money for her masters by telling fortunes.
This fortune-telling girl followed Paul around, shouting: “This is Paul. He’s preaching the name of Jesus. He’s here to show you the way to be saved!” Now, what she said wasn’t wrong, but the spirit inside her wasn’t from God—it was a demon.
This girl kept this up for days, and Paul finally got so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit: “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!”
Paul didn’t act on irritation alone. It was righteous boldness from the Holy Spirit—a boldness not just to do good, but to confront evil.
In verse 18, we see the result of the authority of Jesus through the Holy Spirit:
“At that moment the spirit left her. 19 When her owners realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities. 20 They brought them before the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar 21 by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice.” 22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. 23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.
This presents us with a hard truth: The Holy Spirit dwelling in us doesn’t mean we’re exempt from suffering or injustice. In fact, sometimes following Jesus leads us straight into it. But the Spirit doesn’t leave us there.
Paul and Silas are in prison. It’s midnight, their backs are lacerated and bloodied, their hands and feet are in chains—and they’re praying and singing (vs. 25), not because they feel good, but because they know God is good—even in the dark. The Holy Spirit didn’t keep Paul and Silas out of the cell, but He absolutely met them in it.
This Spirit fills us with joy—a joy we can’t manufacture or lose. It’s peace in the midst of diagnosis, hope when plans fail, patience when worn thin, laughter with friends even at funerals. It’s not the world’s joy but the Spirit’s joy alive in us.
You can’t have real joy without the Holy Spirit. That joy shines brightest in hardship. Paul said suffering for Jesus is a privilege drawing us closer to Him (Philippians 2:17-18). The Spirit gives joy that endures, power to endure suffering, not just miracles.
We see at the end of verse 25 that the “…other prisoners were listening to them.”
They listened because joy in suffering is a strange and holy sound. Paul and Silas prayed and worshiped, knowing God was good, reminding us of what Paul later wrote in Philippians 4:6-7:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:6-7
That peace guarded them, even bruised and chained. When God is with you, it’s always a good time to give thanks and worship.
In verse 26, we see that a violent earthquake rocked the foundations of the prison. Chains fell. Doors flew open. Yet none of the prisoners ran. Do you think this could it have been the Holy Spirit restraining panic and stirring awe in that place? What else could explain it?
Today, God still surprises us and still works miracles—not always when or how we expect—but to remind us: “You’re not alone. I’m still here!”
Next we see that Paul and Silas shared the message of Jesus, and the jailer and his family believed. Paul and Silas’ wounds were washed. The jailer’s entire family was baptized. A meal was shared. And the jailer—this hardened Roman official who started the night ready to take his own life—ends it rejoicing with his whole family.
This is more than rescue—it’s redemption. The irrepressible Spirit broke through fear and filled them with joy. What a transformation—from despair to joy, from death to life, from chains to freedom—not just for Paul and Silas, but for the jailer and his whole household.
That’s what the Holy Spirit does. He doesn’t just shake prison walls—He shakes hearts awake. He brings salvation, healing, hope, and joy where there once was only fear. And that same Holy Spirit is still at work today, giving us courage to stand, peace to endure, joy in the shadows, and the power to bring others from death to life.
What prison do you find yourself in today? Maybe you’re hurting, singing in the dark, or wondering if hope is possible. The Spirit who filled Paul and Silas fills you. He may not prevent hardship, but He never leaves you alone.
If you ask, “What must I do to be saved?” the answer is still: Believe in the Lord Jesus. To believe means to trust, surrender, and respond. Without the Spirit, we can’t truly follow Jesus or endure suffering with joy.
So will you believe? Will you receive the Spirit who fills you with joy—even in hard places?
If so, let this be your anthem, just as it was Paul’s—even from a prison cell:
“Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 3:13–14
The Spirit who filled Paul and Silas is the same Spirit who fills you—to help you press on with joy, courage, and peace, no matter what you face.