What We Learn From Act Chapter 16: Verses 6-15

All that Jesus began to do and teach in His incarnate body of the flesh He is notwithstanding doing, but now He does it in a unlike body. He is no longer limited, no longer restricted. Having risen ascended, and by the baptism of the Holy Spirit having united Himself with those who believe in Him, He created a new Trunk, a spiritual Body. Now we lookout that same Lord carrying on the same piece of work through these members of His Body––the local church building.

We are given some other skilful example of the work of Christ through this Trunk in Acts chapter sixteen. We see Christ through His Spirit leading and guiding the Body of Christ in ministry. Paul left on the 2d missionary journey from Antioch to revisit the churches already founded on the previous trip. He had no vision of the invasion of Europe with the Gospel when he left Antioch on that journey. He was headed to Asia when the Holy Spirit blocked him. At Troas he had a vision, a surprise, a fresh new telephone call, and open door of vast expanses stretching out before his eyes of a whole new continent. There was the deep conviction of Paul and his team that this was the mind of God. When he saw the man over in Macedonia in his vision pleading for assist he then inverse course and headed to Republic of macedonia. He and his team came to the ultimate result of processing and concluding that God had called them to preach the gospel there. It is the lesson of Divine overruling and the Divine government in sovereign command of His eternal purposes.

In this experience of the apostle Paul and his team nosotros learn principles for our walking with Christ today. How do you know when God is leading in your life?

CHRIST IS SEEN OPENING AND CLOSING DOORS

Christ prepares hearts to receive Him

Watch Christ at work preparing the hearts of individuals who will receive His discussion (Acts 16:v-10).

Sometimes God closes doors for those who are willing to serve Him (vv. 5-viii). It seems strange to us when God closes doors because this is our passion to run across people come to Christ and their Lord and Savior.

The churches that had been founded on the previous journey "were beingness strengthened in the faith, and were increasing in number daily" (v. v). They were enjoying an effective ministry of helping these churches become established, settled, confirmed and mature in their organized religion. There was also a day-past-day increase of people coming to Christ. There was an inward intensive spiritual growth and an outward extensive evangelistic growth. God was at work in their midst.

Information technology is startling for us when we think of the Holy Spirit forbidding, hindering or preventing Paul from preaching. However, Luke tells us the apostles passed on through the region of Phrygian and Galatia, simply were "forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak to work in Asia," i.e., west coast province of Asia Small (v. 6). They so went to Mysia and "were trying to get into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them." It is the picture of them attempting, trying again and again to enter an area to minister and the Holy Spirit forbidding them. It must take been a puzzling and baffling time. So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas (vv. 7-8). Asia needed the Gospel, simply this was not in God's timing. Need did not plant their call. The Holy Spirit is the Administrator of missions. He is the Ane who is seen forbidding, guiding, directing, opening and closing of the doors. It is clearly a picture show of the Holy Spirit forbidding Paul and company of starting new work in the northwest province of Asia Minor. He moves on to the east and is forbidden by the Spirit of Jesus to stop and preach. We accept the moving-picture show of Paul skirting along the edge of Mysia and Bithynia. They had merely come from the east and had been forbidden to go south or north, but they did not assume that the Lord was leading them to the west. They waited for His specific directions. Just equally need is not the ground of a call, neither is logic solitary the basis. Then God opened the doors of ministry. These prohibitions led to a profound conviction of the open doors to preach the gospel in Europe.

Watch how God opens the doors (vv. 9-10). They were now at Troas, near the site of aboriginal Troy. In poetry 9 Luke tells us, "A vision appeared to Paul in the night: a human being of Republic of macedonia was standing and appealing to him, and saying, 'Come up over to Macedonia and assist us.'" Come, "help us," to be saved. Come up, "assist us" to obtain salvation. This is a Macedonian, Greek in Europe pleading to hear the gospel.

It reminds the states of the words of Jesus to the church at Philadelphia, Asia Minor in Revelation 3:8. "I know your deeds. Behold, I have put earlier you an open door which no i can shut, because yous have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name."

I sometimes wonder if Dr. Luke didn't have a twinkle in his centre or grin when he wrote, "a sure man of Macedonia was standing and appealing." It wasn't a single appeal. He "kept standing and kept on pleading" to Paul and squad "Aid!" "Help u.s.!" Luke by his linguistic communication indicates he could have identified him if he wanted to. Luke knew who the Macedonian man was. Was that homo in the vision Dr. Luke? We don't know, merely Luke sure knew him.

Paul saw in his vision a human of the providence of Macedonia continuing there and appealing to him and he "kept standing and kept on pleading," "Help!" "Assist united states!"

God is at piece of work all about us and He invites us to come and join Him in His work. What a shame when nosotros go off half-cocked on our own in our ain strength to do the volition of God. God every bit this passage teaches is already at work and He chooses to invite us to come up and join Him were He is at work.

Verse ten gives us the reasoned decision and consensus of the squad. "When he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to get into Macedonia, final that God had chosen united states to preach the gospel to them."

Here was the clear management that Paul needed. Paul saw the vision and "immediately nosotros sought to get into Macedonia, concluding that God had called usa to preach the gospel to them." Information technology was a squad consensus. They sensed the same leading and conclusion that Paul did. The word "final" ways, "to make go together, to knit together." They came to the conclusion later on looking at the evidence that this is where God wants usa to go and work. God uses various ways to guide and lead us.

God gave Paul the vision and the team concluded that this is where God wanted them to work. There was confirmation from the Body of Christ that God had spoken to Paul through the Holy Spirit in the vision.

It is quite interesting to the observer that beginning with verse ten Luke changes pronouns from "they" to "nosotros" and "us" implying his own presence and participation in the events recorded. It is natural to take the view that the writer joined Paul at Troas, maybe as his doc (Col. 4:10; cf. Gal. 4:13, 14; 2 Cor. 12:7). The utilise of the get-go person begins at Troas and ceases at Philippi (v. 17), and is resumed again at Philippi on a subsequent voyage (xx:6). I think it is plausible to call back Luke volition stay on and minister and rejoin the team in Acts 20:5 where he says some of the team "had gone on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas," and in the next verse says "we sailed from Philippi." This may well take been his place of residence and that he was the human being in Paul's vision.

A. T. Robertson writes, "'We sought.' This sudden utilise of the plural, dropped in 17:1 when Paul leaves Philippi, and resumed in 20:five when Paul rejoins Luke in Philippi, argues conclusively that Luke, the author, is in the party ('we' portions of Acts) and shows in a writer of such literary skill equally Luke that he is non copying a document in a unmeant sort of manner. Paul told his vision to the party and they were all set up to reply to the call." And so he writes on 20:five, "Here again we have 'us' for the first time since chapter sixteen where Paul was with Luke in Philippi. Had Luke remained all this time in Philippi? We practise not know, but he is with Paul now till Rome is reached. The seven brethren of verse 4 went on ahead from Philippi to Troas while Paul remained with Luke in Philippi" (Word Pictures, Acts).

Paul'due south response to an open door (vv. eleven-12)

Observe carefully the response of Paul and company to the call of God. They acted on what they believed to exist the volition of God. The adjacent day they went to the harbor, purchased their tickets and set sheet by boat to the port city of Neapolis. They struck a beeline to the commune of Macedonia. It was a speedy trip because they got the wind in their sails.

"And then putting out to sea from Troas, nosotros ran a direct course to Samothrace, and on the day following to Neapolis; and from there to Philippi, which is a leading urban center of the district of Republic of macedonia, a Roman colony; and nosotros were staying in this urban center for some days" (vv. 11-12).

They landed at Neapolis and without staying there headed to Philippi where a Roman colony was located. At this indicate Paul was probably impatient to arrive at a town and commence his ministry building. He consistently sought cities of main importance in which radiating centers of Christian influence could be established in a greater outreach of the Gospel to smaller communities.

The ancient proper name for Philippi was Crenides from its many springs in the area. Later Philippi was seized and named in honor of Philip of Macedon who rebuilt the urban center and fortified it. It passed to the Romans with the balance of Macedonia in 168 B.C. In 42 B.C. it was the scene of the swell battle which decided the fate of the Roman republic, in which Octavian and Anthony defeated Brutus and Cassius. Augustus established a colony equanimous of soldiers who had been partisans of Anthony. These Roman colonies such equally Philippi were organized precisely on the model of the keen urban center with government, laws, and linguistic communication so that information technology was a miniature Rome. Philippi was a first-class city of the highest rank.

The give-and-take for "direct form" means they struck a beeline, sailing before the air current with a speedy trip. Luke'due south language is vivid. It helps the states feel the excitement of being at the center of the volition of God. What an example this experience is for us.

What is my mental attitude when I know God'southward will? Do I run a straight course, or do I linger behind? Practise I expect for excuses, and elevate my feet? Do I have the right attitude toward God in hitting a beeline of obedience? It is wonderful being involved in something that will however be worthwhile a million years from now. Paul had the correct attitude. God aid us to be like-minded.

When the team arrived at Philippi they "were staying in the metropolis some time" with the thought of resting quietly, observing and doing nothing else. They were observing the culture and watching to meet where God was at work. They were waiting for the specific opportunity to share Christ. What a dissimilarity this scene is from that in Asia.

CHRIST WAS PREPARING THE HEART OF A Woman

A concern woman in Thyatira

A adult female of commerce was the get-go known convert on the continent of Europe. Thyatira is where the majestic dye manufacture was located. The dye was procured from a shell-fish (purpura murex) and used to dye cloth.

A businesswoman was temporarily residing at Philippi for the purpose of selling her dyed cloth. She obviously was a successful and very wealthy baron who made her living past working with this very expensive dye. Nosotros learn that her habitation was large enough to be capable of entertaining Paul and his associates.

Lydia was "one who worshipped God."

Lydia was one of several women who were proselytes to the Hebrew organized religion. The Holy Spirit was preparing her heart to receive His bulletin.

We acquire in verse 13 the opportunity came when they went to "a place of prayer." It appears to take been, not an edifice, just a space or enclosure in the open air consecrated for this purpose. Information technology was a designation of a Jewish religious site. It was a Jewish prayer meeting in open up air, outside the city gates, nigh a stream where a supply of water for washing of easily before prayer was readily available. The small stream of flowing water would also be sufficient for the ordinance of baptism by immersion of adults.

"And on the Sabbath twenty-four hour period nosotros went outside the gate to a riverside, where nosotros were supposing that at that place would exist a place of prayer; and we sat down and began speaking to the women who had assembled" (five. 13).

It was always Paul's programme to address the Jews first, and through them proceeds access to the Gentiles. He was concerned that his ain people hear the Gospel.

Not only was God at work in this woman'south heart, just likewise the Holy Spirit had been decorated working in Paul's eye in by years (maybe in Arabia). Every Pharisee prayed daily, "Oh God, I give thanks Thee that I am non a Gentile, I am not a slave, and I am not a woman." God changed that male child's center.

Paul could write from the depths of his heart: "There can be neither bond nor gratuitous; there can be no male and female; for you are all one human in Christ Jesus."

"We sabbatum downwardly and began speaking to the women." Paul, Silas, Timothy and Luke each took his plough preaching and giving testimony of God's grace. Paul, the converted Pharisee preached the Good News in Christ, and Lydia a Greek proselyte hung on to every word! The resurrected Christ was operating through Paul.

The Lord opened the heart of Lydia as she "was listening" (v. 14). The verb is imperfect meaning a sustained attention. She really kept on listening to each word. She saturday on the edge of her seat listening to every word. She hung on to the words of each of the speakers. Every pastor loves that kind of an audience. She had an open listen and the right attitude for learning groovy spiritual truths.

The "Lord opened her center to reply to the things spoken by Paul." In fact Luke says He "opened up wide, completely, her heart." Her heart was enlightened, impressed by the Holy Spirit and thus prepared to receive the truth about Christ. My good friend Nancy Woolnough used to close our "Happiness Is" broadcast with the words, "Go on your heart tender toward God." Keep it wide open to hear and respond to God'due south Discussion. Lydia heard the practiced news of Christ's death and resurrection and believed on Christ. Paul would later tell the Philippian jailer, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, y'all and your household" (five. 31).

Lydia's immediate response is shared with usa in verse fifteen. And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, 'If you lot accept judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my firm and stay.' And she prevailed upon united states."

The Lord opened her heart up and she believed and afterwards was baptized.

"And her household" indicates she had a potent influence on other members of her family and business acquaintances. Who these individuals were is mere conjecture. They may have been family members or business concern associates. At that place is null in this text, however, that gives any indication that anyone except developed believers were baptized. Children had not begun to be baptized in the time of the apostles. Just developed baptism of believers is demonstrated in the New Testament. The members of the "household" are probably women who assisted Lydia in her business concern. Only in such cases in which they were then far developed spiritually that they could profess it were they baptized. The baptism of children was not an apostolic establishment, but arose gradually in the post-apostolic age and a long-continued resistance. The practice of babe baptism was unknown at this period in church history. We cannot infer the existence of infant baptism from this passage. Baptism of infants did not become general in the church till after the time of Augustine. It is improbable in the highest degree that "her household" includes children of young age.

Our polity is to follow this line of teaching in the New Testament and baptize past immersion only developed believers and not infants. We teach the proper mode of baptism is by immersion of the individual down beneath the h2o. It is a demonstration of the significant of baptism which is our identification with Christ. We were living in sin and we died in Christ and were buried and have risen to new life in Christ. It is a testimony of what has already taken identify within the laic. "Upon your profession of faith in Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and in obedience to His command I baptize you in the name of the Begetter, the Son and the Holy Spirit," and then goes the formula for baptism. It is a testimony of the individual'south faith in Christ to all those present observing the individual being baptized. The believer emerges from the water, dripping moisture indicating their identification with Christ. Such a person is identified equally the wet one. It is an outward sign of a greater inner identification with Christ that took identify the moment the individual believed on Christ equally their Savior.

The apostle Paul always kept his center stock-still on one thing, justification by faith, and carefully avoided everything that could give the impression of back up to the notion of justification past outward things. This would include baptism likewise as circumcision.

She opened up her firm and Luke says she constrained them to enter into her home. Lydia's home became the location of the fiddling church at Philippi. Our English give-and-take "bide" is also stiff for this context considering it suggests a permanent residence. She urged the whole visitor, including Luke to stay there for the time beingness (cf. five. 40). By the style, did you catch where Lydia was from? The first convert was non merely a woman, but also a woman of Thyatira in Asia the very area where Paul had been forbidden to enter on this trip! Very probable through Lydia and her servants and dependants others in Thyatira heard the message when she returned home. I never cease to exist amazed at how God does things when we are obedient to Him.

I had the privilege of sharing Jesus Christ with a young college student from the U. S. who was married to a beautiful Ecuadorian lady. I had been praying for the opportunity to witness to my friend and the Lord opened his heart in a moment of crunch and I told him about the life that Jesus Christ gives. Similar Lydia he opened his centre wide open and put his faith in Christ equally his Savior. Louis went abode that day and shared Christ with his wife and she trusted Christ as her Savior. He became encumbered for a educatee friend at the academy and began praying for the opportunity to share Christ. Nosotros interviewed my friend on the radio several weeks later and his friend at the university sabbatum in the studio listening to the testimony and he turned to me and said, "Man, I accept been wondering what happened to this guy. He is non the aforementioned. He is a inverse man. Now I know." I responded to him and shared Christ and with tears streaming downwardly his cheeks trusted Christ in a radio studio. Today, my friend is a lay pastor in New Orleans and his student friend is an English language and History professor in a academy in New York. Wait all nigh you and run into where God is at work and come across if He volition non let you to join Him in what He is doing.

Some Constant Principles and Personal Applications for Today

When I take the right attitude toward God He volition speak and I will heed.

The Spirit leads men and women who await and watch and look and follow. G. Campbell Morgan captures the heart of this corking passage in his application:

The Spirit guides, not by flaming visions always, non by words clear in human ears; but by circumstances, by commonplace things, by hard things, by nighttime things, by disappointing things. The Spirit guides and molds and fashions all the pathway.

The important thing is that the man whom the Spirit will guide is the homo who is in the attitude in which information technology is possible for the Spirit to guide him. So nosotros expect once again at this man, and we find an attitude of life revealed. It is that of loyalty to the Lord, faith in the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and constant watchfulness. There is where we too often fail. It is when a homo is in fellowship with the Lord that he sees that the disappointment and the difficulty are also under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the watcher of the Lord who sees the Lord. If we make upward our minds that the mode of guidance is the fashion of flaming vision, the rolling thunder, and an articulate voice, and a lifting to a acme of ecstasy, then we may never be guided. But if we are watching for Him, we shall observe Him guiding u.s.a. in the day of difficulty and the day of thwarting, and the day of darkness; when it seems equally though the rhythmic and majestic menses of the river has ceased, and we are in the cross currents, and are tempest-tossed. . . What we need is confidence in the guidance of the Spirit in the hours when no voice is heard, and no vision is seen. If we follow so, the hour of vindication volition come, there will come the vision, there volition come up the man of Macedonia. His phonation will be distinctly heard, and then we shall conclude that God would have united states of america go into Macedonia (The Acts of the Apostles, pp. 377).

When God speaks our response should be a quick obedience.

Always act immediately whenever yous sense God is opening a door. Don't hesitate. Don't put information technology off. "Here am I, Lord, send me" should be our quick response to His will.

Spend some time looking for where God is at work all about you lot.

Observe a place where God is preparing hearts for the Gospel and patiently wait sowing your seeds. God will bring forth the fruit. He will open the hearts of those whom He has prepared for salvation.

Where is God at work in your ain life?

Have y'all come to the place in your spiritual life whereby you know that when you died you will go to heaven?

Permit's suppose you died today and stood before the Lord God and He said, "Why should I let you into my heaven? What would you lot say?" What do you call up you lot would say?

When God opens the door exist ready to share Christ.

Every bit a believer are yous seizing the opportunity God has given you to share the Gospel? Information technology may be that God tin't use you at this fourth dimension because your heart is not correct with Him. If that is the case volition you take a few moments right now and go things straighten out with Him? 1 John 1:6-10 is the Christian'south bar of soap. Use it ofttimes. Merits the forgiveness of Christ and ask Him to have y'all and apply y'all correct where yous are today.

Accept a few minutes today and write out your conservancy experience. Recall it through and include key Scriptures on conservancy. Below is a link to "Peace with God" with Scriptures to help you. This is the best preparation to share Christ with a lost friend or colleague.

Title: Acts sixteen:6-fifteen, forty Lydia: A Woman with an Open Middle

Serial: People in the Life of Christ