Acts 15:36 - 16:10 "Paul's Second Missionary Journey"
Acts of the Apostles • Sermon • Submitted
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Good morning Calvary Chapel Lake City! We have come as far as Acts 15… and we are looking at Acts 15:36 to 16:10 today
Acts 15 is an important chapter because it presents a controversy in the early church, where Jewish men from Judea travelled to Antioch and to deliver a confusing message to Gentiles of the early church…
“Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
This message was contrary to Paul’s message to “continue in the grace of God.”
Grace… not works.
Dissension and a sharp dispute arose… so, all parties went from Antioch up to Jerusalem to stand before the Apostles and Elders in what became known as ‘The Jerusalem Council.’
After much dispute on what constitutes salvation, it was determined the Gentiles need not be troubled with circumcision,…
But for the sake of unity and not offending their Jewish brethren… they should abstain from certain pagan idolatrous traditions:
“...from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood.”
This was a victory for the church, and for Christianity… for we are not saved by works, but ‘by grace we have been saved through faith… which is a gift of God’ according to Eph 2:8.
A decree was written and sent back to Antioch by the hands of Paul, Barnabas, Judas, Silas, and some other men from Jerusalem.
The decree confirmed that circumcision and adherence to the law was not a burden necessary for the Gentiles,…
But it was wise and prudent for them to not stumble their Jewish brethren by continuing in idolatrous practices.
The church at Antioch rejoiced over this encouragement… and a season of sweet teaching and preaching the word of the Lord ensued.
After some time, Paul’s missionary heart… wanted to return to the cities where he and Barnabas had planted churches.
Which brings us to our message today titled, “Paul’s Second Missionary Journey.”
A roughly three year journey… around the end of 49 A.D. to the beginning of 53 A.D.... highlighted from Acts 15:36 to Acts 18:22.
Let’s Pray!
Acts 15:36-41 “Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.” 37 Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark. 38 But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work. 39 Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; 40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God. 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.”
In V36, Paul proposes to return to the cities where they planted churches on their first missionary journey… Salamis and Paphos on the island of Cyprus… then to Asia Minor to visit the cities Perga, Antioch of Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe.
What seems like a good plan and God’s will… to check on and encourage these churches… it has a rough start even before they venture out.
Paul and Barnabas find themselves in a dispute… Specifically, a sharp contention over taking Barnabas’ cousin (according to Col 4:10)… John Mark on this second mission’s trip.
If you recall, on Paul’s First Missionary Journey in Acts 13:13… when they came to Paphos in Asia Minor… John Mark departed and returned to Jerusalem.
We’re not told why John Mark departed… though there are several theories which I discussed in an Acts 13 sermon…
But we know he indeed departs, and Paul did not take kindly to this desertion.
Fortunately, Paul and Mark eventually reconcile as we see in 2 Tim 4:11 where in Paul, in his final letter before death, pens, “Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful for me in ministry.”
God took the person Paul thought was a deserter… and turned him into the person Paul called for in the end.
But, here in Acts 15… Paul and Barnabas were far from reconciliation…
We read in V37 “Barnabas was determined” and in V38 “Paul insisted.”
When one person is determined and the other insists… V39 is not surprising “the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another.”
And, the question has been raised, “Who was right and who was wrong?”
Which is impossible to determine because we don’t have all the facts.
Still some think Paul was right since Barnabas essentially disappears off the scene here.
I’ve heard Pastors say, “They were both right because God then had two missionary parties.”
Two missionary parties is a great by-product, and certainly God redeemed this ugly situation for His good…
But, I struggle thinking they are both right.
I lean towards they are either both wrong in their pride.
Or, they are just in disagreement… not right or wrong…but at an impasse.
Presently, Paul is not willing to chance John Mark joining them and deserting again.
And, Barnabas, the son of encouragement, extends grace wants to give John Mark a second chance.
And, I do struggle with Paul’s response here in consideration of Barnabas’ gracious treatment of Paul after Paul was saved.
If you recall in Acts 9, the saints in Jerusalem were afraid of Paul… after all, Paul had a bad reputation of persecuting the church.
And yet, in Acts 9:27 Barnabas extends grace to Paul, “But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.”
Barnabas encouraged and vouched for Paul after Paul did many despicable things to the church.
I'm sure John Mark did nothing nearly as egregious.
And, yet… Paul doesn’t extend grace. This feels hypocritical to me.
And, this may indicate that Paul was just a man that God used despite his flaws.
You could have a lot of flaws, but God can still use you.
God used my Uncle Ralph to lead me to the Lord. He had poor hygiene, let himself go physically, told the most awkward jokes at family gatherings, and made questionable decisions in life that turned most of the family against him.
And yet, God used Uncle Ralph to lead me to the Lord…
In this disagreement between Paul and Barnabas… God’s grace is on display.
God did not discard them as useless, but continued to use these flawed men to carry the Gospel message throughout the region.
Your flaws are smaller than God’s grace.
So, Paul and Barnabas go their separate ways… and I have a map of their routes.
Barnabas and John Mark return to Cyprus (the route in Orange)… Barnabas’ home town… according to Act 4:36… a territory familiar to Barnabas… an advantage to spread the Gospel.
Paul and Silas head North (the route in green) and go through the Region of Syria, and then to the Region of Cilicia… the location of Paul’s hometown- Tarsus.
So, both of the missionaries head home… and sometimes it’s nice to head home, before diving deep into the next calling.
I know when we came off the mission field of the Philippines, God called us back to serve at our sending church in Maryland for a year and a half… a soft landing for us.
A great church family. A great season of ministry. It’s where the Butcher’s and my family met and got our first glimpse of a church plant.
Then, He sent us here to Indiana… to re-establish our lives, and eventually establish this church with other saints.
If you want to call the Swanson’s and the Butcher’s ‘saints.’ They could say the same about the Transparenti’s.
Truly, God is gracious to use any of us.
Yet, He calls us… and includes us to build His kingdom.
And, He was moving in Paul’s life again. And, on this missionary journey… Paul chose Silas… which was a wise choice. Let’s take a moment and get to know Silas.
We first encountered Silas last week in Acts 15:22 where he, and others, were called to return to Antioch with Paul to deliver the Jerusalem Decree.
There Silas was grouped with men who were titled, “leading men among the brethren.”
So, Silas was a leader… an official in the early church,…
And, he had a good reputation to be trusted in delivering this decree.
He was also known by the church both in Antioch and Jerusalem… the two main churches at this time.
In Acts 15:32, Silas was titled a “Prophet.” He was in touch with the Holy Spirit, and used to proclaim the will of God and speak divinely inspired messages.
And, his name would compliment this idea.
Not by “Silas” his Latin name… which means “Woody” or “Of the Forest.”
Perhaps he was a woodsman… maybe even a hunter.
But, his Gk. name “Silvanus” (which Silas is a shortened version of).
Silvanus means “Lover of Words.”
I take this as he was eloquent and his words were impactful.
We get a glimpse of this in 2 Cor 1:19-20 “For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me, Silvanus, and Timothy—was not Yes and No, but in Him was Yes. 20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.”
Silas was a powerful preacher.
In 1 Pet 5:12 Silvanus was titled a “faithful brother”… in fact it seems that Silas served as the amanuensis for Peter.
An amanuensis is literally "a servant from the hand." It seems that Peter dictated his epistle to Silas, and Silas wrote most of 1 Peter.
1 Peter ends with “By Silvanus, our faithful brother as I consider him...”
And being that Silas’ name was Roman, and he could write in Greek, like Paul he had Roman citizenship… meaning privileges to travel… plus a grasp on the culture…
All things considered... Silas was a very wise choice as a travel companion to Paul.
And, so the two traveled throughout Syria and Cilicia… and Chapter 15 closes with a picture of what they did in these regions… they ‘strengthened the churches.’
They visited various churches and encouraged them, prayed with them, taught them, broke bread in fellowship with them…
You can imagine all the various things they did on these blessed visitations to strengthen the churches.
Then, chapter 16 opens with our missionaries departing the region of Cilicia and now entering the Region of Galatia to re-visit cities on the first missionary journey.
Acts 16:1-2 “Then he came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek. 2 He was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium.”
Boldly Paul returns to Derbe, Lystra… cities where he was persecuted.
I have a map of this next leg of Paul & Silas’ journey, from Tarsus in Cilicia to Lystra.
Lystra was especially a hard city for Paul… if you recall in Acts 14, at Iconium, the city became divided over the Gospel and a violent attempt was made to abuse and stone Paul and Barnabas. So, they fled to Lystra where they continued to preach the Gospel.
In Lystra, the people attempted to worship Paul as Hermes and Barnabas as Zeus, after Paul healed a lame man from birth.
Paul and Barnabas rejected this worship… and then Jews from Antioch in Pisidia and Iconium turned the people against the missionaries.
They stoned Paul, dragged him out of the city and thought he was dead.
But, he arose… whether a miracle of resurrection or a miracle of rapid recovery… either way Paul arose and went right back into Lystra… and then on to Derbe where many disciples were made after they preached the Gospel.
And, now they are back. These cities were a mix of persecution and many blessings on the first missionary trip.
In VSS 1-2, in Lystra, Timothy enters the scene.
Timothy was a young man who became a significant disciple of Paul. Let’s get to know Timothy.
Likely during the first missionary trip, Paul met Timothy’s Grandmother Lois and Mother Eunice in Lystra.
In 2 Tim 1:5 Paul mentioned them in his final letter to Timothy, “… when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.”
Timothy came to faith in Jesus Christ as a result of his upbringing by these ladies. And, these ladies came to faith as a result of Paul preaching the gospel.
So Timothy is a 3rd generation Christian… and becomes very close to Paul. In fact in 1 Tim 1:2, Paul opens this letter “To Timothy, a true son in the faith...”
Timothy was like a son to Paul because of their common bond of faith.
And, what a beautiful thing it is, when people of an older generation are intentional to mentor the next generation in faith.
We have several people here in our church who serve in children’s ministry and do just that.
Many of you bring your kids or Grandkids here to church and disciple them in your homes… pouring into the next generation.
And, I’m sure there is a crown of reward in heaven for your faithfulness.
Professor and Author Howard Hendricks said, “Every disciple needs three types of relationships in his life. He needs a 'Paul' who can mentor him and challenge him. He needs a 'Barnabas' who can come along side and encourage him. And he needs a 'Timothy,' someone that he can pour his life into.”
I encourage you, if you are not already, to get involved in church life to develop these relationships where you are poured into, and pour into others.
Timothy’s faith was a by-product of Paul’s faithfulness to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit to go and preach the Gospel.
And, so it has been throughout the generations since. The Holy Spirit moves on people, families, and cities… and disciples in the next generation are made.
We get a glimpse of this mentoring in Timothy’s upbringing… 2 Tim 3:14-15 “But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
Timothy was raised learning Scripture, taught to him by these ladies, and likely other Godly influences at the church in Lystra.
If you are the only believing parent or Grandparent in a young person’s life, it’s on you to teach your child or Grandchild the Holy Scriptures like Lois and Eunice.
Timothy’s father was Greek and was presumed a non-believer… as he’s never referred to as a believer…
And so, his Mom and Grandmom step up.
And, while is was not ideal that Timothy’s home was divided… there were some advantages for Timothy…
Timothy was accepted as a Jew because of his Jewish mother, but also had Roman citizenship because of his Greek father.
Plus, his upbringing in a Roman province, with Jewish influence (similar to Paul) helped both of them to be missionaries to the Jews and Gentiles and travel freely with Roman privileges.
In choosing to follow the Lord, Timothy’s name become eternally etched in Scripture.
He is mentioned by name in four chapters of Acts (Acts 16-20) where he travels as Paul’s protege on his 2nd missionary journey…
Two of Paul’s epistles (his letters) are specifically written to Timothy… do you know which ones they are?
1 and 2 Timothy… that’s right! Boy you all are sharp.
And, in Paul’s other epistles… 13x Timothy is mentioned by name, plus 1x in Hebrews (maybe a support for Paul being the author).
Many of you know I have a son named Timothy which was my wife’s idea.
During the Summer of 2012, both of us were baptized with the Holy Spirit and called into ministry,…
… and the first Bible Study I taught after my calling was 1 Timothy, so Amanda suggested we name our son ‘Timothy.’
I wasn’t feeling it though… I honestly didn’t like the name that much.
And, I just kept telling her… “I just want to give him a name that honors God.” So, she told me to look up his name, and pray about it.
Well, neither of us knew… but, the name ‘Timothy’ is the combination of two Greek words: timē meaning “honor, reverence,” and theos, meaning “God.”
I kept saying, “I just want a name that honors God.” And, literally that’s what the name Timothy means, “Honoring God.”
With that I yielded.
Now, his middle name is Andrew… which the Holy Spirit just impressed upon me one day while driving.
Andrew means “manliness”… and I said, “Alright Lord. No need to pray on that one.”
So, Paul and Silas are now building a relationship with Timothy… a young man who honors God, and as V2 states, “… was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium.”
He had a good reputation. But, there was one hang up… Timothy was not circumcised… so Paul remedied this… Look at V3.
Acts 16:3 “Paul wanted to have him go on with him. And he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region, for they all knew that his father was Greek.”
Talk about having your private business aired out for all eternity. My goodness.
People think it’s devastating when their personal life gets exposed on the internet.
The internet is nothing compared to God’s eternal word. Poor Timothy.
Now why would Paul advocate for Timothy to be circumcised, after he fought hard against circumcision in Acts 15? The Jerusalem Council determined this was NOT necessary.
And, that’s true. Circumcision was not necessary for SALVATION.
Paul even confirmed that his disciple Titus was not forced to be circumcised in Gal 2:3 “Yet not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.”
So, why should Timothy get circumcised?
Here in Acts 15… the issue was NOT salvation… but a matter of consideration… to not give offense.
Just as the Jerusalem council determined… don’t stumble the Jews by engaging in idolatrous pagan practices (abstaining from food offered to idols, sexual immorality, things strangled and blood)…
The Gentiles were instructed to abstain in order for unity to prevail… and Timothy’s circumcision also demonstrated unity and not causing offense to the Jews.
It was an active consideration to remove a stumbling stone or a roadblock to faith.
Timothy had the liberty… the freedom in Christ not to get circumcised,…
BUT if he was to join Paul on mission journeys… and minister to Jews… Timothy, who was a Jew (unlike Titus), should adhere to this Jewish custom.
If your mother is Jewish, you are considered a Jew… because it’s obvious who the mother is… the father could be anyone.
So, since Timothy’s mother was Jewish… Paul knew Timothy would cause offense to the Jews by NOT being circumcised… and this hang up was not worth interfering with the proclamation of the Gospel.
So, in love Timothy agrees… even as a young man… to let Paul circumcise him.
Timothy, like Paul, would become all things to all men.
In 1 Cor 9:19-23, Paul reflects this idea… “For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; 20 and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; 21 to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; 22 to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.”
Paul and Timothy elevated the Gospel and love for others above their own liberties.
They subjugated themselves to the law when with Jews.
They exercised greater liberty when associating with Gentiles.
This was not two-faced, but sacrificial. Paul was willing… not to compromise, but to exercise discernment and love and to go to great lengths for people and for the Gospel.
Just like Hudson Taylor, a missionary to China… he and his wife had the freedom to wear whatever clothes they liked. Yet, in love, they honored the Chinese culture and dressed as they did for the Gospel’s sake.
Just as God has gone to great lengths for us.
Jn 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
Great lengths. He gave His Son to win us.
Now… regarding this scene of Timothy getting circumcised… I do have questions…
First, why didn’t Paul call the Mohel? If you are not familiar with the title ‘Mohel’… this is a Jew trained in the practice of brit milah, the "covenant of circumcision".
On the eighth day of a child’s life he visits the home to circumcise according to Lev 12:3.
Act 16:3 seems to indicate Paul… by his own hand circumcised Timothy. Why not call the Mohel?
The NLT translation states, “In deference to the Jews of the area, he arranged for Timothy to be circumcised before they left…”
And, I do hope that’s correct… that Paul made arrangements with the Mohel… otherwise that’s just an awkward way to begin a missionary trip.
I’m not sure I could follow Paul after that.
I also wonder… How would the Jews even know whether Timothy was circumcised or not?
I don’t think anyone was checking before you entered synagogue.
Circumcision is not as obvious as something like wearing a Kippah.
Did they have a circumcision card? Was it an honor system?
I’m sure some of us would have been tempted to lie and say, “Oh yeah… I checked that box a long time ago… on my eighth day in fact.”
But not Timothy… Mr. honoring God… he goes through with it.
And, so Timothy gets circumcised and joins the missionary trip…
Feels like hazing to me. Anyway…
Acts 16:4-5 “And as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to keep, which were determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.”
Delivering the news of the Jerusalem Decree became a priority… all the churches needed to know that salvation was by faith in Jesus alone.
This reminds me of the end of the Book of Esther… when wicked Haman was defeated, and Mordecai wrote a decree that went out by courier to 127 provinces… from India to Ethiopia… allowing the Jews to protect their lives. And a great victory ensued.
And, here in Acts… our missionaries carry the decree that salvation is a matter of grace… the church… Jews and Gentiles alike were not bound to the Law… the Law and works DO NOT save.
This was a huge victory for the church.
Thus, we read in V5 of the church being strengthened in the faith… meaning they were made solid or firm.
Not faith in themselves, but faith in Jesus Christ. The word “the” is a definite article emphasizing this is “the faith.”
The church was solidified and their numbers swelled daily.
Like in Acts 2:47 “And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”
As Paul, Silas, and Timothy continue to visit Regions and Cities in Asia Minor… next they are redirected by the Holy Spirit to travel to Macedonia…
In what is commonly called, “The Macedonian Call.”
Acts 16:6-10 “Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. 7 After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. 8 So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.”
The Macedonian Call… an interesting scene. Let’s pull up a map of this next leg of the journey… from Lystra to Troas.
Paul, Silas, and Timothy depart Timothy’s hometown of Lystra… and it’s assumed they return to Iconium to deliver news of the Jerusalem Decree…
Then head Northwest to the Regions of Phrygia and Galatia. And, they desire to head Southwest to preach the Gospel in Asia… the Southwest coastal area of modern day Turkey… where the Seven Churches of Revelation 2-3 are located.
But, V6 says, “… they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia.”
Then, in V7… they come to the Region of Mysia… and try to go to Northeast to Bithynia… look at how far North Bithynia is on this next map.
But, V7 says, “…the Spirit did not permit them.”
They try to go Southwest and the Spirit says, “No.” So, they try to go “Northeast” and the Spirit says, “No.”
So, in V8, all they did in this region was ‘pass by.’ “So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.”
And, this raises a question, Why would the Holy Spirit stop missionaries from preaching the Gospel to Asia and Bithynia?
Did God not love the people of these regions? Did they not need to hear the Gospel message?
Of course God loved them, and of course they needed the Gospel… but this work was not designated for this time, nor for this missionary party.
God’s timing is not your timing, and God may not want to use you for a particular task. Humbling, but true.
According to 1 Pet, it appears God set aside the Regions of Asia and Bithynia for Peter… NOT for Paul and his party.
In 1 Pet 1:1, Peter opened his epistle greeting these areas. “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia...”
But Paul and his party, so often like us… not aware of God’s perfect timing or God’s perfect plan… they look to do a good work… to take the Gospel North or South…
But, that was their will. Not God’s will.
They had their eyes set on specific regions… but God intended for something greater… He wanted them to go to a whole new continent… to take the Gospel to Europe.
And, sometimes that’s how it is with us and God. We set our eyes on a region, when He wants to give us a continent.
We dream small, but God sees big.
As you abide in Him… He will open and close doors allowing you to see His will.
Time and again, the Holy Spirit has opened doors, and forbidden us from going here or there.
As a church, we’ve seen several buildings presented to us… merge opportunities, and the Spirit forbade all of them.
Praise God, it wasn’t His will.
Ps 37:23 states, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way.”
This is true. It’s also true that ‘The STOPS of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way.’
One who abides in the Lords will delight in whichever way the Lord leads, because they trust the Lord.
Whether He says Step or Stop… GO or NO… whether He gives direction or gives you NO direction because you are supposed to wait… “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way.”
Many of us are doers… go getters. We don’t like NO or WAIT, but I encourage you… REST in the wait, and REST in the NO… so you don’t go YOUR direction, but are led in HIS direction… in HIS perfect will.
You may not see the continent the Lord has for you right now, but trust that He has a plan for you… to work in you and through you.
And so, as the Spirit forbade Paul, Silas, and Timothy… in V9, we see why…
One evening in Troas, Paul has a vision… by def. “that which is seen; a supernatural spectacle.”
Paul sees a man of Macedonia… an area 150 miles across the Aegean Sea from Troas… a Roman province… today in Northern Greece.
Some say the man in the vision represented Europe… and whether a specific man or the cry of a nation for Salvation… God heard and gave this vision to Paul.
The man cries out for Salvation, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”
Unbelievers may not cry out for the name of Jesus, but in their hearts… they know they need redemption… salvation… they NEED HELP.
And, this man cries out… not ‘help me’, but “Help us.”
He could look around at the land where he lived and he knew there was a problem. He didn’t have the solution, so he lifts up an honest plea for help.
The word “help” in Gk is bŏēthĕō. It means “to run to the aid of those who cry for help.”
That’s our God. When you cry out for salvation… He runs to your aid.
He doesn’t bend to our every demand and desire. He doesn’t remove every affliction from our lives. But He never leaves us, nor forsakes us…
He pursues us.
Adam and Eve ran and hid from God, but “God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?” (Gen 3:9) God pursued him.
Luke 15. The parable of the lost sheep. He leaves the 99 to find that one lost sheep. He pursues us.
The parable of the lost coin. The woman in the parable rejoiced when she found her lost coin. Luke 15:10 states, “… there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” There is joy over the lost and found.
Jesus’ mission on earth… summarized in Luke 19:10 “… for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” He pursues us.
And, if you are here today and you’re like this Macedonia man who is crying out for help. Know that God hears you.
Ps 34:18 says, “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Ps 145:18 reads, “The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.”
Ps 46:1 states, “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.”
And, as this Macedonian man cried out in sincerity to God, God heard him and sent Paul.
And, this will be true for you as well… if you sincerely cry out to Him.
Ps 34:8 declares, “Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!”
Trust in Him today.
In V10, as Paul sees this vision, immediately he and his party respond and set their eyes on Macedonia… now understanding God’s will.
The Spirit forbade them to go North or South, because His calling was west… to preach the gospel to the Macedonians.
Before we close, note the word “we” in V10. Perhaps circle that word.
Previously, Paul’s party was described with words like “he” or “they”, but starting in Acts 16:10, the word “we” is used.
And, who is the author of Acts? The beloved physician Luke.
Luke has now joined the missionary party. How, why, and where? We do not know...
Look for Luke in heaven… this is a conversation to look forward to.
Let’s pray!
If you need prayer for anything today, please let us know. Especially if today is the day you want to trust in the Lord… to taste and see that He is good.
God bless you family… as you go into the world this week… “be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.”
And, may the Lord fill you with His Holy Spirit so you may do these things well.
Have a great week in the Lord!