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“Success” Defined

Acts 16 – the Second Missionary Journey. “Success” Defined. God Defines Lasting Success…. Peter: “God chose us…to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away…” 1 Peter 1:4

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“Success” Defined

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  1. Acts 16 – the Second Missionary Journey “Success” Defined

  2. God Defines Lasting Success… • Peter: “God chose us…to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away…” 1 Peter 1:4 • Paul: “We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10 • Jesus: "If you knew the gift of God, you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water…whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; the water that I give becomes a well springing up into eternal life." John 4:10,14

  3. How Do You Define “Success” ?

  4. In Pursuit of a “Better Life” “The declining job duration and declining probability of long-term employment clearly implies that individuals are changing jobs more” WSJ 9/3/2010 “the average U.S. worker will have many careers—seven is the most widely cited number—in his or her lifetime…the estimate has had extraordinary staying power.” WSJ 9/4/2010

  5. God Raises Up Nomads…

  6. Underway in “Acts” This is the message of Good News for the people of Israel—that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. Acts 10:36 They reported everything God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles Acts 14:27

  7. The Victorious Life:a Picture That night Paul had a vision: A man from Macedonia in northern Greece was standing there, pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” So we decided to leave for Macedonia at once, having concluded that God was calling us to preach the Good News there. Acts 16:9-10 Under God’s Leadership …the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time. Acts 16:6 …they headed north for the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there. Acts 16:7

  8. The Victorious Life:a Picture We reached Philippi, a major city of that district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. And we stayed there several days. Acts 16:12 Under God’s Leadership Strategic

  9. The Victorious Life:a Picture And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to a riverside, where we were supposing that there would be a place of prayer; and we sat down and began speaking to the women who had assembled. Acts 16:13 Under God’s Leadership Strategic Unconventional

  10. The Victorious Life:a Picture A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay." And she prevailed upon us. Acts 16:14-15 Under God’s Leadership Strategic Unconventional Hearts Prepared by God “Do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.” Matthew 7:6 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father… 1 Peter 1:1-2

  11. The Victorious Life:a Picture "Whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace be to this house.' If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. "Stay in that house, eating and drinking what they give you; for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not keep moving from house to house.” Luke 10:5-7 Under God’s Leadership Strategic Unconventional Hearts Prepared by God Relational – NOT Activistic "Whatever city you enter and they receive you, eat what is set before you; Luke 10:8

  12. The Victorious Life:a Picture It happened that as we were going to the place of prayer, a slave-girl having a spirit of divinationmet us, who was bringing her masters much profit by fortune-telling. Following after Paul and us, she kept crying out, saying, "These men are bond-servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation." Acts 16:16-17 Under God’s Leadership Using Spiritual Authority Having “Spiritual Discernment” Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1

  13. The Victorious Life:a Picture It happened that as we were going to the place of prayer, a slave-girl having a spirit of divination met us, who was bringing her masters much profit by fortune-telling. Following after Paul and us, she kept crying out, saying, "These men are bond-servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation." Acts 16:16-17 Under God’s Leadership Using Spiritual Authority Having “Spiritual Discernment” Not Compromised

  14. The Victorious Life:a Picture She continued doing this for many days. But Paul was greatly annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!" And it came out at that very moment. Acts 16:18 Under God’s Leadership Using Spiritual Authority Having “Spiritual Discernment” Not Compromised Exercising Authority Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore…!” Matthew 28:18-19 “…I brought him to your disciples, but they couldn’t heal him.” Jesus replied, “You faithless and corrupt people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” Then Jesus rebuked the demon in the boy, and it left him. From that moment the boy was well. Matthew 17:17-18

  15. The Victorious Life:a Picture Her masters’ hopes of wealth were now shattered, so they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities at the marketplace… Acts 16:19-21 Under God’s Leadership Using Spiritual Authority Facing Persecution “Powerless vs. Powerful”

  16. The Victorious Life:a Picture “The whole city is in an uproar because of these Jews!” they shouted to the city officials. “They are teaching customs that are illegal for us Romans to practice.” Acts 16:20-21 Under God’s Leadership Using Spiritual Authority Facing Persecution “Powerless vs. Powerful” Lies, lies, lies!

  17. The Victorious Life:a Picture A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks. Acts 16:22-24 Under God’s Leadership Using Spiritual Authority Facing Persecution “Powerless vs. Powerful” Lies, lies, lies! Facing “Group-Think”

  18. The Victorious Life:a Picture Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Acts 16:25-26 Under God’s Leadership Using Spiritual Authority Facing Persecution Living In True Joy

  19. The Victorious Life:a Picture Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! Acts 16:25-26 Under God’s Leadership Using Spiritual Authority Facing Persecution Living In True Joy GOD is At Work! By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. Women received their loved ones back again from death. Hebrews 11:33-34

  20. The Victorious Life:a Picture “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.” Acts 16:31 Under God’s Leadership Using Spiritual Authority Facing Persecution Living In True Joy GOD is At Work! Our “Good News” is GOOD NEWS!

  21. The Victorious Life:a Picture And they shared the word of the Lord with him and with all who lived in his household. Even at that hour of the night, the jailer cared for them and washed their wounds. Then he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized. He brought them into his house and set a meal before them, and he and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God. Acts 16:32-34 Under God’s Leadership Using Spiritual Authority Facing Persecution Living In True Joy GOD is At Work! Our “Good News” is GOOD NEWS! Victorious Fruit!

  22. The Victorious Life:a Picture The next morning the city officials sent the police to tell the jailer, “Let those men go!” So the jailer told Paul, “The city officials have said you and Silas are free to leave. Go in peace.” But Paul replied, “They have publicly beaten us without a trial and put us in prison—and we are Roman citizens. So now they want us to leave secretly? Certainly not! Let them come themselves to release us!” Acts 16:35-37 When the police reported this, the city officials were alarmed to learn that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. So they came to the jail and apologized to them. Then they brought them out and begged them to leave the city. When Paul and Silas left the prison, they returned to the home of Lydia. There they met with the believers and encouraged them once more. Then they left town. Acts 16:38-40 Under God’s Leadership Using Spiritual Authority Facing Persecution Living In True Joy GOD is At Work! Our “Good News” is GOOD NEWS! Victorious Fruit! Working With God!

  23. The Victorious Life:a Picture For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. According to the grace of God which was given to me…each man must be careful how he builds on it. 1 Corinthians 3:9-10 Under God’s Leadership Using Spiritual Authority Facing Persecution Living In True Joy GOD is At Work! Victorious Fruit! Our “Good News” is GOOD NEWS! Working With God!

  24. “Success” Defined …and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground… Hebrews 11:36ff Economic Migration Patterns Spiritual Migration Patterns because God had provided something better… Hebrews 11:40

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