By Mari Sandoval
Today we continue to see the Missionary work of
Paul and some of the disciples: “So
the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they continually increased in number day after day.”
These people were faithful to their calling, (Acts 1:8) and nothing was going
to stop them! The Holy Spirit continually encouraged and empowered them as they
continued to spread the Word of Salvation!
As we read today’s
chapter we find Paul trying to take the Gospel to certain locations, but we
find our God in His sovereignty forbidding them to go there (16:6-10). I mean, hasn’t God chosen to use His people to help lost learn
the way of salvation? Why wouldn’t He allow them to go? But, they waited… their
EARS were always eager to HEAR His voice for directions!
Then Paul had a vision, he saw this man from
Macedonia appealing to him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us” (16:9). When we walk in
obedience to Christ’s Commission, whether it is to talk with a lost neighbor or
to a stranger we happen to meet here in town, or to cross cultural or
national borders, we experience great joy as God is pleased to save some from
their sins and bring them to His Saving Grace. There is joy in when we walk in obedience to
God’s sovereign call to proclaim the gospel, even if we don’t understand the
circumstances at the moment! He ALWAYS has a Perfect Plan and Purpose!
When Paul got to Philippi (a city in eastern
Macedonia), all he had to start with was a small group of women who had
gathered to pray : “ and on the Sabbath day we went outside the city
gate to the bank of the [Gangites] river, where we thought there would be
a [c]place of
prayer, and we sat down and began speaking to the women who had come there.14 A
woman named [d]Lydia, from the
city of Thyatira, a dealer in [e]purple fabrics
who was [already] a worshiper of God, listened to us; …” (Acts 6:13-15)
How can you start a church with just a few women?
Where were the men? But Paul faithfully spoke to them, God opened the heart of
Lydia and of the rest of her family, and that is probably how the first church in
Europe began!
Satan could not tolerate this happening here, so
all of a sudden the disciples found opposition. In this case, it was a
demon-possessed slave-girl who brought her owners much income through her
ability to tell fortunes. This demon recognized Paul and his companions and
cried out, “These men are bond-servants of the Most High God, who are
proclaiming to you the way of salvation” (16:17). This went on for many days,
but finally Paul grew annoyed and cast the demon out of the girl. Now the
girl’s owners had lost their source of income and they were furious, so they
dragged Paul and Silas before the authorities, had them beaten and thrown into
jail, where their feet were fastened into the stocks.
"These stocks had more than two holes for
legs, which could thus be forced apart in a such a way as to cause the utmost
discomfort and cramping pain." (Bruce) But even in their pain, God was not
far from Paul and Silas! "The legs feel nothing in the stocks when the
heart is in heaven." (Tertullian) “But about midnight when Paul and Silas
were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were
listening to them;26 suddenly there was a great
earthquake, so [powerful] that the very foundations of the prison were shaken
and at once all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened.”(16:25-26)
Some people have the false idea that if we obey
God we will be exempt from trials. But such an idea is never taught in the
Bible. In these few chapters in the book of Acts we’ve seen how God’s obedient
messengers suffered as they proclaimed the gospel. But Paul had joy in the midst of these circumstances.
His joy came from a total surrender of loving-obedience and faith to our God! After
all these painful circumstances our Father showed HE was still in charge! God
used the earthquake and the testimony of these faithful disciples, to bring the
jailer and his family to His Saving Grace!
When the jailer and all in his household
believed, they all “rejoiced greatly” (16:34-36). This is the same joy our Father wants each and every
one of us to experience with our families! So let us be of testimony as we
witness to their lives in love and obedience to our God and He will one day “open their hearts to pay attention and to respond to the Gospel”. Amen to that!!
After the jailer ministered to Paul and Silas, they returned to the
prison, and were set free by the magistrates the next day. “40 So they left the prison and went to Lydia’s house; and when they had seen
the brothers and sisters, they encouraged and comforted them, and left”.
“Whenever
people are genuinely saved, there is demonstrable evidence in their changed
lives. Lydia and her household members who believed were baptized and then
showed hospitality to Paul and his companions (16:14, 15). If the slave
girl was converted, you can be sure that she abandoned her occult practices and
joined with the other Christians in following the Lord. The jailer was delivered
from suicide, washed the wounds of Paul and Silas, was baptized, and joyfully
showed them hospitality (16:31-34). The gospel is the power of God to salvation
to everyone who believes (Rom. 1:16).” (Bible Org. Steven J. Cole) Imagine
all these people gathering in the days to come as a Church, sharing their
testimonies with joy and praise!
But, what about you? Do you still remember the
first day of your conversion to Christ and the joy you experimented? Are you
still sharing that testimony to others so that they too, will know the joy that
comes from being reconciled to God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ? Some of us might have gone astray in our Walk
with Jesus, instead of walking in obedience… but you know something? Our God is
a God of Grace, and if you have lost your way and are willing to return to His
paths… He is always willing to start over again! Isn’t that awesome?
Before I close: Remember, there is joy that
comes from walking in obedience to His Great Commission!
Blessings!