Being Used By The Lord. . . . . .

Acts 16:6-40 "And they passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia; -7- and when they had come 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. -10- And 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. -11- Therefore putting out to sea from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and on the day following to Neapolis; -12- and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia, a Roman colony; and we were staying in this city for some days. -13- 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. -14- And a certain 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. -15- 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. -16- And it happened that as we were going to the place of prayer, a certain slave-girl having a spirit of divination met us, who was bringing her masters much profit by fortunetelling. -17- 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." -18- And 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. -19- But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the market place before the authorities, -20- and when they had brought them to the chief magistrates, they said, "These men are throwing our city into confusion, being Jews, -21- and are proclaiming customs which it is not lawful for us to accept or to observe, being Romans." -22- And the crowd rose up together against them, and the chief magistrates tore their robes off them, and proceeded to order them to be beaten with rods. -23- And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely; -24- and he, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison, and fastened their feet in the stocks. -25- But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; -26- and suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's chains were unfastened. -27- And when the jailer had been roused out of sleep and had seen the prison doors opened, he drew his sword and was about to , supposing that the prisoners had escaped. -28- But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Do yourself no harm, for we are all here!" -29- And he called for lights and rushed in and, trembling with fear, he fell down before Paul and Silas, -30- and after he brought them out, he said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" -31- And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved, you and your household." -32- And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house. -33- And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household. -34- And he brought them into his house and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, having believed in God with his whole household. -35- Now when day came, the chief magistrates sent their policemen, saying, "Release those men." -36- And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, "The chief magistrates have sent to release you. Now therefore, come out and go in peace." -37- But Paul said to them, "They have beaten us in public without trial, men who are Romans, and have thrown us into prison; and now are they sending us away secretly? No indeed! But let them come themselves and bring us out." -38- And the policemen reported these words to the chief magistrates. And they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans, -39- and they came and appealed to them, and when they had brought them out, they kept begging them to leave the city. -40- And they went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia, and when they saw the brethren, they encouraged them and departed."

Principle 1 God gives His call in key areas of our lives.

i. The call comes when we are doing right things.

Paul and Silas had been called to preach The Gospel. They thought it would be good to go to Asia (ancient south eastern Europe). In each case The Holy Spirit stopped them. If God apparently stops you doing a good thing - it is important to find out why. Paul would have been praying for guidance, but all the answers until this point are negative

Lesser charactors would leave the work of God and go on a retreat - not so with the apostles, if one door closed they were confident that another would open. Evntually they arrived at the coastal port of Troas (Western Turkey). They met up with Dr Luke and that night The Lord gave Paul a night vision. -9- And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a certain man of Macedonia was standing and appealing to him, and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us."

I once was asked by a zealous young believer why he could not hear God's call on his life. He had given up doing everything while he sought God's voice. Through out the centuries there have been those who retreat in one way or another to seek God. Most of them return dissappointed or with their own ideas on what God wants. The normal way that the call of God comes is when we are being faithful in what we have to do. David was faithful in his care for the sheep when God called him. Samuel was faithful in his Temple service when God called him. Almost every bible character has a call when they least expect it, I cannot think of any one who goes away to seek God and then is called. Seek God while obeying The word of God and doing what is right in God's sight and you are in a much better position to hear God's call!

A ship that is not moving cannot be steered, and a Christian who is not progressing for God is rarely called or usable.

ii.The outworking of the vision is often different than expected.

No doubt the four friends; Paul, Silas, Timothy and Luke, were very keen to meet this man in the vision. We are never told whether they did find the man in particular. The point is that Paul didn't wait for the man to arrive, but immediately went to the riverside to speak to some Women who were worshippers of God. The European Church began in a women's's prayer meeting - and why not?

The call of God may seem very different when we come to implement it, but when we know God well and have matured through faithful service, we will just get on with the work.

Preconceived ideas can hinder us from going on for God. During the Welsh revival, it was reported of some who had been longing and praying for revival for years. When they went to see "the revival" they were shocked at the disorderly conduct of some of the people. They are reported to have said "This cannot be of God." They were sure that revival would be a deep quiet respectable thing. Many years later they admitted that they had missed the out pouring of revival. It is not that we encourage will or unruly behaviour; but let us not let our own prejudices get in God's way.

iii.The plan of God almost always involves suffering, discouragements and hardships.

Today, possibly more than ever before in history, folks want a quiet life, free from pain or inconvenient. It is as if they will follow God provided it doesn't involve time, effort or money! If it costs nothing it is worth nothing. Salvation is not nothing and it is not free - someone paid a great deal for it - The Lord Jesus paid the ultimate price for us. If we will follow The Lord it will involve suffering. This may be persecution or inner suffering. Paul saw great benefit in suffering although he three times asked God to let him off. Yet when he wrote to the Philippians "that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;" Phil 3:10

iv. We can opt out - but will never see what God has for us.

Although sometimes The Lord may put a lot of persuasion, there is always an opportunity to refuse to God. God called Terah, Abram's father to go to Israel. He went as far as Haran in Turkey and stopped there. Terah should have been the great pioneer of faith - but he stopped short of God's plan. As a result nearly every one has heard of Abraham, but few of Terah. He is mentioned in that he originally obeyed God in leaving Ur in Iraq, but he is later only named as the father of Abraham and that he was an idolater (Josh 24v2)

We can live for ourselves or live for the Lord. Many want to do both - and they will not go far for God unfortunately.

2. God often uses small things for accomplish big things.

i. Don't despise the day of small things

What ever their expectations would have been, Philippi was not a welcoming place. In the city there were so few Jewish men that no synagogue was there. It seems that the population of Philippi were anti Jewish - it certainly seems part of their accusation against the Apostles.

There was no synagogue, and few if any Jewish men who would understand anything about Messiah Jesus!

A mile from the city gates a few women met for prayer. It was a small beginning for the great Apostle of the Gentiles - but never despise God's small things.

ii.Women were always important in Philippi.

Lydia was not only the first convert in Europe, she also was the owner of the house that was to become the first church in Europe. God's way may be unexpected, but it is the best.

Despite some quarrels, the church was good, faithful and sound. Thank God for women!

iii The initial evangelism began at the house of prayer, at the riverside.

That is not to say that it was Paul's plan - it was just the way it turned out to be. It has been so good to see the great response to the Wednesday Morning Prayer meeting. Who knows what will come from it, as well as the other times of prayer!

Don't fail to notice that the earthquake also came after prayer and praise.

3. God often uses set-backs as the way forward!

i.Paul had to be very careful in Philippi - it was a fanatical Roman Colony and was most intolerant of outside influences - especially Jewish.

It made it very hard for Paul to deal with the demon possessed woman.

The patience of Paul is demonstrated in how he refused to instantly deal with this nightmare - the woman kept following him.
Every day as Paul, the three companions, Lydia and other converts made the trip out of the city gates and the twenty minute walk to the river to pray, this woman would follow them shouting and taunting them. In one sense it could be the cry of a tormented soul - as is always the case in demon possession, but in another sense the demon would delight in distracting the Christians. It must have been hard to pray after that escort, and maybe the woman carried on while they prayed? What ever is the case, Paul was sorely grieved at this unwelcome attention.
Demons do not praise God, and this demon was not magnifying God or salvation. In fact she was bringing it down to her level.
Paul was being set up by Satan - and it certainly seemed to be effective, wearing Paul down. I am sure that he knew it was a trap and so avoided it as long as he could.
Later he wrote that he was not ignorant of Satan's schemes! (2 Cor 2v11)

ii. Paul must have spent so much time praying about this disruption -"following him, screaming out." Why did this demon not respond to prayer - it would have saved them a lot of bother?

Have you ever thought that apparent unanswered prayer might be for a bigger purpose? Satan thought he had Paul baited into a trap. Satan couldn't lose, he didn't care about the woman, and probably hardly miss one less slave if she were delivered.- 'If Paul does nothing he gets worn down and the gospel cheapened, if he throws out the demon there will be a riot' - for Satan knew the slave's owner well.

iii.At this time Dr Luke left - we don't know where, but he often seemed to disappear just before there was trouble!

Perhaps The Lord was protecting this gentle soul? Maybe it was Luke who kept Paul from confronting the woman - who knows? But Paul must have lost a trusty companion when he and presumably Timothy went off on some mission.
Often we bewail how at our time of need we seem to be at a greater disadvantage than usual. We can blame Satan for dirty tricks - and that may be so. But at the same time stop and consider that The Lord also may have made the circumstances more difficult? Who knows if the greater difficulty can result in the greater victory and greater Glory to God?

4. God doesn't use cheap methods

i.Suffering is an unpleasant experience. We are trained to avoid it where ever possible. In the days when child discipline was normal, we learned that wrong doing often resulted in suffering of some sort. Yet without suffering we do not mature in this evil world.
We certainly can learn from suffering the seriousness of human rebellion from God's way. Suffering in its self has no virtue - it is unmitigated misery! Without purpose, suffering is unbearable.
Today the dentists are very good, and real pain is uncommon. But in the old days it was a terrible experience. The will power that it took to stay in the chair was only accomplished by the certainty of it being a brief experience and escape possible afterwards!
If there is purpose in suffering - then somehow it is more bearable."fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Heb 12:2
Sometimes the purpose is hidden from us, and maybe we need to hold on in faith during those difficult days.

ii.The early disciples when they were beaten (literally had the skin torn off them), rejoiced in suffering for their faith.

Paul & Silas with beaten raw with rods, then put in the inner prison, in stocks - legs in air, raw backs on the putrid sewage of the inner cell. In great pain and soreness - they prayed and sang praises.

They used their suffering as an opportunity to Pray and Praise!
The Government did not see them as religious martyrs, only troublesome Jews who had interfered with a legitimate business.
Outside of the small body of believer, there were no one who cared if they rotted in the prison.

Later Paul faced worse, he was imprisoned, and many of the believers he had won to Jesus turned against him (2 Tim 1v15) Most of us have experienced that at some time or other-being let down at your time of need. "Like a bad tooth and an unsteady foot Is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble." Prov 25:19

iii.Sometimes The Lord wishes for a believer to be faithful to death.

Apostle James arrested and murdered - the church must have been praying - but he still died.

Life, suffering and death are themes that stretch our understanding beyond what we are able. Sometimes we hold on to The Goodness of God, when everything inside us seems to demand the opposite. This is truly the trial of your faith.."so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;" 1 Pet 1:7

iv. Suffering outside of The Lord is waste and the results of sin and the fall. However suffering in The Lord is redemptive. I don't believe sickness is what Jesus meant when He told us to take up our cross and follow Him. But our attitude of refusing self-pity and trust God through sickness and healing is the self denial Jesus was speaking of.

Paul's suffering was to show the great power of The Lord's grace.

God will not take second place

We may not always see the fruit of suffering or steps of faith - but usually we will:-

i. One benefit that Paul was to take advantage of was that their beating was illegal.
It would later protect the church from trouble from the authorities. If they tried to take action on the church, they would be afraid that their actions might be reported to Rome.
Paul wasn't being stubborn when he insisted that the Magistrates came down to him personally to apologise and to admit their wrong doing. They would think twice before taking on Christians again!

ii. Let us see that when the jailor was saved - albeit through the great earthquake how God turned everything

Paul & Silas could have been wallowing in pain, self-pity and anger, when, then to top it all; there was a great earthquake. However they did not; and everything that night, worked together for good.

That night would have been the only night amid the chaos and terror that a jailor and a prisoner could pass through the gates of Philippi and a mile in the dark down to the gangites river.

Where prayer had been made - now converts were being baptised- in the middle of the night!

iii.Notice that they didn't get their priorities mixed up - how backslidden we seem in comparison.

There has been a great earthquake - there are trapped people, confusion and fire. There will be screaming and crowds fleeing the city in panic. But the Jailor, his family and Paul & Silas see their first priority to be Baptised.

iv.For them "seek ye first the Kingdom," took priority over everything else - even beating and earthquakes.
How we allow petty things to stop us. Some secondary hurt or disagreement and folks are off on their own. How many times have people gone off because of some trivial upset or discontent. Paul and Silas knew what suffering was and encourages the whole Philippian Church to live in unity -which except the two women Euodia and Syntyche did. Phil 4:2

v.Just because a few unbalanced people or the cults have manipulated people into a fanatical commitment to the cult - does that give us the right to put The Lord in second place.
There were those type of fanatics in Jesus's day. For each of us seeking God and His kingdom is total priority. We are committed because we choose to be, not because we are manipulated or shamed into it. True commitment to The Lord does not negate our responsibilities to our families or society. Jesus has promised that if we put The Kingdom first, He will make sure that the rest will be looked after.

vi. The point is that God will not take second place. His Kingdom takes precedent over all else. It would be an unbearable burden if He hadn't promised that all the other things will be taken care of. The Gentiles were ignorant of this principle and had to work and struggle to make ends meet. But the believer who puts The Kingdom of God first will also find that the other needs and matter will be taken care of by The Lord.

Conclusion: God first is meaningless without The kingdom first.

To illustrate this is the story of the three ministers. One was a Priest, the second a Pastor, and the third a Jewish Rabbi. They were discussing giving to God. The Priest mentioned that the offering bag didn't come to the front - so he gave occasionally; the Pastor said: "I give God 10% of all I get!" . The Jewish Rabbi said that he thought the other two were too unspiritual. He gave all of the collection. "When I get paid I put it all in a basket and toss it into the air. "What stays up is Heaven's what comes down is mine!"
Similarly if we say we put God first, but not His kingdom, then it the same as the Rabbi giving everything to God!

Anyone can say God is first.
Anyone can claim "God led me"

But it is our attitude and commitment to The Kingdom that really is the proof of the pudding!
Faith without action is lifeless!
Jesus said "Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?" Luke 6:46
God's call means action. We need to be moving in God's work before we get guidance.
Serving God always involves cost and often suffering and sacrifice:- Can The Lord trust us, or rather count us worthy to suffer for Him. The Lord never does cheap things, and Calvary is the total proof of that. He doesn't expect us to do cheap things - that cost us nothing and only feeds our own well being.
Can I decide now to consider this week in what way am I responding to God's call on my life?

Do I know God's call?
* Am I doing all that I can at present?
* Have I drifted from that unconditional commitment to Him?
* What am I going to do about it?

The Philippian Jailor stung by the fear of the earthquake and the loss of his own life was told to believe on Christ. But he understood that believing involved commitment - firstly bathing the Apostles wounds, then getting baptised in the aftermath of the great earthquake. God was first and so was God's Kingdom - and he was the newest recruit!

"But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul." Heb 10:39

No wonder there was great joy that night!
Is the kingdom first in your life? If not why not - don't we trust God?