Aligning our Will to God's Will. Acts 16:6-10.
Pastor Wayne Hu.
This passage is an encouragement to me [Wayne], because it redirects my thoughts to God and His purposes for my life. Allow yourself to be used by God, for His purposes.
Paul's 2nd Missionary Journey.
Acts 16:6 They passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia; 7 and after they came to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them; 8 and passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. 9 A vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man ofMacedonia was standing and appealing to him, and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 When he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
Flashback and Recap. Paul's 1st Missionary Journey.
Acts 13:4 [Paul curses a Magician and he goes blind. But all the proconsul becomes saved in verse 12.]
Acts: 16-41 [Paul preaches and the people (Jews) ask him to return to preach more.]
Acts 14:9 [Paul heals a man healing a cripple from birth. Crowds then want to worship Paul and Barnabas.]
Acts 15:12 [All assembly fell silent as Paul shares after returning from their journey.]
Now our text for today: The 2nd Journey.
Two failed attempts.
1. Failure to get from east to west, Lystra to Asia.
2. Failure to go north to Bithynia.
Paul's plans were blocked. Things didn't go his way.
Paul's strategy for advancing the gospel was practical: maximum impact where many people are.
God said "no". What can you do when God is the one in your way?
Why not Asia? Why not Bithynia?
God leads them on a journey that doesn't make sense to us humans at all.
Imagine having to walk mountainous terrain from San Diego to San Francisco.
They had no idea how long they were to walk. They were going through trials but didn't know why they were suffering. No converts along this path. Confused and discouraged.
Yet they entrusted themselves to being faithful. Faithful and not just successful. Concerned with pleasing God and not men. They denied themselves and made decisions to follow Christ.
Acts 16:8 and passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. 9 A vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man ofMacedonia was standing and appealing to him, and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”
- The reason God said no to Asia and Bithynia: Because Macedonia (modern-day Greece) needed the gospel.
- Churches established all over Macedonia: Philippi, Thessalonia, Corinthians..
- Gateway for the gospel to Europe.
- I'm glad the Lord said no to Asia and Bithynia.
Application to our lives in general. Sometimes we get discouraged, but it's only when we look back do we understand, to a degree, what God's purpose was. And we won't know until we get to Heaven.
Saying: "God never does only one thing. In everything He does, He is doing 1,000's of different things. In every situation, a 1,000 different things that you do not see, and that you do not know."
Our circumstances may seem difficult, but God has an eternal purpose for His glory. And we must be ready to immediately obey.
"The way I do not know, but well I know my guide.
I don't know where I am going, but I know the one who is holding my hand."
- Martin Luther.
We can have great peace because we know that God knows.
God is our security.
Our security is not in our circumstances.
As Christians, we know.
Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
- We believe that suffering for the Christian is never pointless but always has a God-ordained purpose.
"The more you become aware that He knows all things, the less likely you will be to ask Him questions." - CJ Mahaney
As Christians, we can say, just like Joseph to his brothers... (after being sold to gypsies, thrown into prison, being forgotten by the man he saved for more years)
Genesis 50:20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.
God is sovereign over successes and failures.
Like Paul Silas and Timothy, we are to keep trusting God.
Let us seek to be faithful in 2014, not successful.
"Our goal must not be a certain city or state, but to follow Jesus.
Our goal must not be a desired activity or ministry, but to follow Jesus.
Our goal must not be success in whatever we do, but to follow Jesus.
Our goal must not be to receive only good things in life, but to follow Jesus."
- Greg Harris, The Cup and the Glory
