Day 118, Acts 16
We follow Paul and his apostolic team on the second missionary journey.
First in Derbe, and then Lystra, Paul and Silas are following the Holy Spirit. They see the grace of God on Timothy, who already has a powerful reputation among the believers there. The team travel out to the local areas and communicate the wisdom of the apostles from the council in Jerusalem (although Paul has Timothy circumcised to pre-empt any troublemakers who know that his father is not a Jew). The result in verse 5 is amazing: All the churches were growing daily and were encouraged and strengthened in their faith. Do it again, Lord!
Next, Luke records how the team were able to be so successful in their church-planting and Kingdom-building ministry: they are led entirely by the Holy Spirit. For us in a first-world, North American culture, this is a foreign concept. There is no strategic plan, no preaching calendar, no dream team recruitment drive, no “ten steps to planting a church” seminar, just close and punctual obedience to the voice of God.
I am not dismissing those other things, but I am longing for a resurgence of the central characteristic of these chapters: God is in charge, and the believers and missionary teams are militant in their obedience, even at great personal cost.
In Philippi, some women at a house of prayer by the river are the first place where the gospel bears fruit: Lydia is saved and baptized, along with her household. As this new community of believers starts to grow, there is demonic opposition. Notice that demonic opposition can often appear truthful. It is vital to discern the source and fruit of such attacks by listening to Holy Spirit, as Paul clearly did. But obeying God’s voice often gets us into trouble with worldly authorities, especially when profits are affected! The Roman authorities take them to be Jewish troublemakers so Paul and Silas are beaten and thrown in jail.
That treatment would be enough for most of us to sit and wallow in our pain and sorrow (well I would, even if you wouldn’t)! Not so with Paul and Silas, though: they are singing praise to God through the night from the most secure cell in the prison! God is impressed with such praise: He shakes the jail so much that every door is thrown open and every chain falls off. This calls for urgent action to prevent the jailer killing himself in despair, and Paul and Silas not only convince him not to hurt himself, but they also lead him to Jesus (along with his whole family), prophesy over them, and baptize them.
There’s another twist to the story - the magistrates tell the jailer to release the prisoners (that is humorous because God already did that in the night). But Paul and Silas take the opportunity to witness further by insisting that they come and apologize for beating two Roman citizens without due process! So the officials not only apologize, but also plead with them to leave the city.
Paul and Silas comply with that request, pausing to encourage Lydia and the other believers before they depart.
How do we know when to cast out a demon, when to worship after beating and false imprisonment, and when to insist that unjust governmental officials be humbled? There can only be one answer to all these contrasting actions: listen to holy Spirit and do what He says. This is the same “method” as Jesus used: only do what God is doing (John 5:19 for example).
Have a great, obedient day!
Mark