DCLM HIGHER EVERYDAY 12 June 2022 — From suicide attempt to salvation
DCLM Higher Everyday 12 June 2022 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — From suicide attempt to salvation
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TOPIC: FROM SUICIDE ATTEMPT TO SALVATION
TEXT: ACTS 16:23-34
24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.
27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
MEMORY VERSE: “And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house” (ACTS 16:34).
MESSAGE
Adolf Hitler, leader of Nazi Germany from 1934-1945, committed suicide by gunshot on 30 April, 1945, in his Fuhrer Bunker in Germany. He was instrumental to the death of some six million Jews by torture in concentration camps, with many of them dying in gas chambers. When towards the end of World War II, it was obvious to him that he would be caught and humiliated by the Allied forces for his atrocities, he allegedly shot himself. Reasons for suicide include: fear of the consequences of crimes committed, discouragement, shame, inferiority complex, failure and anger.
The jailer in our memory verse wanted to commit suicide because he thought that the prisoners put under his care had escaped as a result of the earthquake while he was sleeping on duty. He knew that he would be held responsible for their escape and did not want to face the wrath of the law. However, Paul and Silas rescued him, and that same night, he and his family heard the gospel message and received Christ’s free salvation. Always avoid hasty decisions; confide in Christ.
QUOTE: Always avoid hasty decisions.
CHALLENGE: Suicide is not an option: take your problem to Jesus.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I surrender my life to You.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
