Acts Series

1. Power 120 Acts Series

2. This evening we are going to discuss the beginning of Paul’s 2nd Missionary Journey. • In particular, I want to spend some time focusing on receiving guidance from the Lord. How can I know God’s will for my life? • Most followers of Jesus have asked that question one time or another in their life. • I won’t give all the answers, but we will look at part of how to obtain the answer.

3. Alexander [the Great] had moved from west to east to conquer brilliantly and infuse [the world] . . . with everything Greek. Now a converted Jew was moving in the opposite direction, from Asia to Europe, to conquer for Christ. — Everett Harrison

4. It’sreally amazing what Paul did during his 2nd Missionary Journey. • He revisited all the cities where he had planted churches on his 1st journey. • In addition, he took the Gospel to Europe. • He planted churches in Phillipi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, Corinth, and Ephesus among other places. • Pretty significant if you think about it!

6. Acts 16:1 – Paul went first to Derbe and then to Lystra, where there was a young disciple named Timothy. His mother was a Jewish believer, but his father was a Greek.

7. If you remember what happened in Lystra when Paul 1st went there. • He was not treated very well. • He had been stoned and left for dead. • This is the 3rd time he returned there. • You can see his desire to strengthen the new believers. • He was willing to risk his life to make sure they were growing.

8. One of the blessings of going to Lystra was that he met Timothy there. • He would be a part of Paul’s ministry for the rest of his life. • He would become “a son”(1 Cor. 4:17; 1 Tim. 1:2). • It is also interesting that Timothy replaced Mark as a young man travelling with him. • Perhaps Paul learned something from Barnabas and was willing to be patient and develop him.

9. Timothy had a Jewish mother & a Greek father. • According to the rabbinic teachings, you are considered Jewish if your mother is Jewish. • You can prove who your mother is, but you can’t prove who your father is (until DNA testing). • Also, Timothy was the first 2nd generation Christian in Acts. • His mother, Eunice, and grandmother, Lois, had become believers 1st and then Timothy accepted the Lord.

10. 2 Timothy was well thought of by the believers in Lystra and Iconium, 3 so Paul wanted him to join them on their journey. In deference to the Jews of the area, he arranged for Timothy to be circumcised before they left, for everyone knew that his father was a Greek.   • This can be confusing to some. Why did Paul have Timothy circumcised after he had fought so strongly against Gentiles having to be circumcised?

11. Galatians 2:3 – And they supported me and did not even demand that my companion Titus be circumcised, though he was a Gentile. • It was more for reaching people for Jesus and not for theological reasons. • He didn’t have to in order to be accepted by the Lord. • He willingly took the extra step, so he could reach others with the Gospel. • He did not want anything to be a hindrance to the Jews receiving Jesus. • That’s unselfish commitment.

12. 1 Corinthians 9:20–23 – When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law. 21 When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ.

13. 22 When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. 23 I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.

14. Paul: I become all things to all men in order to reach some. • In other words, we are to remove any potential barriers that might get in the way of someone coming to Christ or growing in their faith. • This doesn’t mean that we compromise our convictions. • We are called to identify with the world without losing our Christian identity. • Paul said that he does not ignore the law. • Don’t go partying to reach someone for Christ. • Playing football on Sunday

15. 4 Then they went from town to town, instructing the believers to follow the decisions made by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem. 5 So the churches were strengthened in their faith and grew larger every day. • Luke quickly describes their ministry to the towns where the church had been planted. • He delivered the message from the Jerusalem Council. • The Gentiles did not have to be circumcised in order to become a believer. • They did not have to become Jews in order to become believers. • This caused the church to grow significantly.

16. 6 Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time. 7 Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed north for the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there. 8 So instead, they went on through Mysia to the seaport of Troas.

17. 9 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!" 10 So we decided to leave for Macedonia at once, having concluded that God was calling us to preach the Good News there.

18. Have you ever been in the place where you were so sure of something to the point that you told others about it? Then you realized you were wrong? • This is what happened to Paul. • If finding God’s will is sometimes difficult, you are in good company. • Paul struggled with it here. • God called Paul to take the gospel to the Gentiles, and he was doing it.

20. After he left the churches, he decided to go into the province of Asia, but Holy Spirit said “no.” • God shut the door. • Then he traveled on and tried to go north into Bithynia toward the Black Sea. • Once again God shut the door. • It must have been a puzzling time for Paul. • He was on mission for God and the doors kept shutting.

21. Paul didn’t retreat. • He didn’t camp out. • He kept moving west. • When he came to Troas, God gave him the Macedonian Vision to take the Gospel to Europe. • There are several points about being led by the Lord to find His will for your life.

22. Don’t get discouraged about closed doors. • You can become frustrated because it seems as if doors of opportunity are being closed. • It is true that God shuts doors, but He isn’t the only one who shuts doors. • When you encounter a closed door, your 1st question should be, Did God close this door? • Other people can close the door, and the devil will try to place obstacles in the way as well. • Just because you encounter resistance or difficulty, it doesn’t necessarily mean God has shut the door. • If God has sent you in a direction & the devil tries to close the door–then knock it down!

23. Gospel group goes to a country church . . . • When Satan, our adversary, tries to block our way, knock through his resistance! • If you’re certain that God closed a door, don’t be discouraged, just start looking for His open door. • When God said, “no” to Paul it was because he was going to say “yes” to something better. Our disappointments can become God’s appointments. • What we think of as failures and problems can often end up being blessings in disguise.

24. Cotton & the Boll Weevil • What was first seen as a disaster–a closed door for cotton–actually became a blessing. • The farmers were forced to diversify. • Keep moving as you look for the open door. • When Paul encountered the closed doors, he didn’t give up and return to Antioch. • Nor did he sulk and complain. • The worst thing he could have done would have been to sit still. Okay, God I’m not moving until you show me which way to go.

25. Instead, he kept on moving–West. • And as he was moving West, God directed him to take the gospel into Europe. • When a door closes, don’t quit moving. • You may think, But what about waiting on the Lord? • Waitingis not a passive experience. • Waiting on the Lord is acting like a waiter. Waiting on the Lord is asking God, May I take Your order? Is there anything else You need? • God doesn’t tip–but His retirement benefits are out of this world!

26. You’ve heard me say that God can steer a moving car, but He can’t steer a parked one. • Another way: it’s easier for God to direct a person if he or she is already in motion serving Him. • A boat sitting still in the water can’t be steered by the rudder. • That boat is dead in the water. • It has to be in forward motion in order for the rudder to work. • In the same way, if you are seeking God’s direction, don’t sit still–if you do, you’re dead in the water.

27. When you find God’s direction, move immediately. • Verse 10 says they sailed immediately. • As they headed west, they made a straight line to the coast. • In other words, they had a heavenly tail wind. • When you are going in the right direction, there may be opposition, but you’ll have a tailwind from heaven.

28. Notice the Macedonian Vision came because Paul had positioned himself in the right place. • He kept moving west until he received a clear direction. • Visions and dreams are valid ways God uses to direct us. • God is using them all over the world right now to introduce Himself to people from other religions.

29. Acts 2:17-18 – ‘In the last days,' God says, 'I will pour out My Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. 18 In those days I will pour out My Spirit even on My servants—men and women alike—and they will prophesy. • You can clearly see that dreams and visions are a normal Christian experience. • But, we must remember that all things must be in accordance to the Word of God. • Your dream cannot contradict the Word of God.

30. Dr. Luke joins the missionary team at this point. 8 So instead, they went on through Mysia to the seaport of Troas. 9 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!" 10 So we decided to leave for Macedonia at once, having concluded that God was calling us to preach the Good News there. See the shift from 3rd Person “they” to 1st Person “we”? • It’s subtle but clear that Luke is now beginning to write from firsthand experience.

31. 11 We boarded a boat at Troas and sailed straight across to the island of Samothrace, and the next day we landed at Neapolis. 12 From there we reached Philippi, a major city of that district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. And we stayed there several days.   • Europe would never be the same! • From Phillipi the Gospel would be entrenched on the continent of Europe.

33. Conclusion • Dangerous Italian Harbor • 3 lights • God has provided three lights for us. • When you line up: • open/closed doors • the voice of the Holy Spirit • His Word you know you can proceed safely. • God always confirms His direction. • It has been said that 90% of your direction will come from the Word of God.

34. Power 120 Acts Series