God is always at work in your life. He will be there to guide you.
• But He does not do that by dropping a map onto your lap, with clear markers showing you the route.
• You move and He guides you. Abraham did that, Moses did that, Paul did that.
• The Lord has given us the wisdom and the burden in our hearts, to see the needs and do the necessary things. And as you do it, He will be there to guide you. He opens and closes door.
[Acts 15:36] Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing."
There is no vision, no angelic call. No dream, no special word from the Spirit.
• This is simply the responsible concern of Paul and Barnabas for the people whom they had led to Christ.
• They remembered all those Gentiles believers who had come to Christ in the cities of Antioch in Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe, and they said to one another, "We have a responsibility to help them grow. They do not yet know the whole counsel of God; there are truths that they must understand. Let us go and see how they are."
The Holy Spirit does not have to speak to you only in supernatural way.
• He dwells in your heart. He has given you eyes to see, a heart to feel, and a burden for things He wants you to do.
• God does not want to give orders to you about everything you do. He is not interested in robots. He does not want puppets that wait for some special feeling before they act.
• Paul did not stay in Jerusalem and ask God, “Lord, what is your will?” And then stay put in Jerusalem waiting for God to show up in a dream or vision.
Paul chose to respond to the burden in his heart.
• The choice is yours. You can choose to respond to what you see as a work that needs to be done, or just stay put. The initiative lies with you.
• God wants you to respond to the needs you see around. There are some things you know you need to do, some things you know God wants you to do. Just do it.
• And when you take the step of faith and start doing what is right, the Spirit of God will be with you in it.
This is what we see here, and Paul teaches it in Phil 2:13 “…for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.”
• Don’t always have to wait for someone to tell you what to do. Jesus dwells in your heart. He moves you by the things you see and feel. And when you take the step to do His work, you’ll find that He is in it with you.
• So do not wait, you see a work that needs to be done for God, just move out and do it. Don’t wait for some particular invitation to come. If you sense an opportunity to show concern for someone, move into it, and God will be with you in it.
[Acts 15:37-41] Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, 38 but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. 39 They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 41He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
Here is a quarrel between Barnabas and Paul.
• It’s good that Luke puts it down for us to know. Having conflict is normal, even among good Christians who wanted to do God’s work.
• They could not agree whether or not to take young John Mark with them again.
• He was with them on the first journey, but left halfway through (cf. Acts 13:13).
Barnabas was his cousin and wanted to give the young man another chance.
• But Paul did not want to take the chance because the work was important and probably dangerous, and he did not think it wise to take someone they could not count on.
• So we read the sad note that they had “a sharp disagreement”. Who is right? We do not know, and it is not really the important point.
I believe both of these men were right. One was looking at the work and the other at the person.
• As Paul looked at the work he was right to say, “We don’t want somebody who is likely give up midway.” That is right. Christian ministry is demanding and only those who are faithful and can persevere to the end should be involved. God’s cause may be compromised if you quit halfway.
• On the other hand, Barnabas was looking at the young man. I believe he too agreed that the work is important but he is a people-person. He has the gift of sporting potential like Paul, and now Mark. He knew Mark was gifted. Sure, he had failed but who doesn’t? Barnabas wants to groom him and give him a second chance.
So they parted company – Barnabas and Mark went to Cyprus, Paul and Silas went north to Syria and Cilicia.
• We have now two teams going on two different directions, but the will of God is fulfilled. More churches can be encouraged by their visits.
• Subsequently Mark became one of Paul’s good co-workers. He tells Timothy in 2 Tim 4:11 “Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.”
[Acts 16:6-8] Paul and his companions travelled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. 7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas.
Paul did not wait for directions from God as to where he was to go; he went to the most logical place.
• He went to where it appeared there was an open door. He took the next step in the path ahead. He tried to enter Bithynia but the Holy Spirit prevented it. Two times here he said he was kept by the Holy Spirit from certain route.
• We do not know how the Spirit shut the door – was it a strong inner witness in his spirit, a political obstacle, or some form of persecution. But one thing we are sure, God’s Spirit is there to guide him.
• Prov 16:9 “In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.”
It is important to note, that the Spirit of God is willing to confirm to us, or deny to us, whether or not we have made a correct decision, BUT ONLY AFTER we take the step to do His will.
• Isa 30:21 “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’”
• Take the step of faith and do the work of God. As you step out, the Lord will be there to show you. You will experience a sense of peace from the Holy Spirit, confirming what you are doing.
• Paul is not rebuked here because he tried to go into Asia or Bithynia. That was perfectly all right. The Spirit simply said, “No, Paul, the time is not yet.” Later Paul did go into Asia, and entered Ephesus in Acts 19. So it is about timing.
For some reason, God wants him to go into Europe first.
• If God shuts one door, He opens another. (Irish Proverb)
• This time God spoke to him in a supernatural way - through a vision. A Macedonian calls out to him in the vision, “Come over and help us.” (v.9)
• Paul was sure, he said in verse 10 that he concluded “that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.” Paul’s response was immediate.
• Paul expects God to lead him and he knows it when He has spoken. He does not doubt. He acts on faith. He “got ready at once to leave for Macedonia” (v.10).
God did not dictate Paul or control his every movement.
• The Spirit of God closes the door only when necessary, but Paul took the initiate to do what he needs to do.
• The burdens God has placed upon our heart, the needs you see around you, that may be the work that God wants you to do.
• “God’s way becomes plain when we start walking in it.” (Roy L. Smith). You cannot stand still and expect to know God’s will for you. It’s like standing in a dense fog and not moving.
• You need to take the step of faith – like Abraham, Moses, Paul – and start moving, and when you do so, you see more. You’ll see the plan of God revealing itself.
Here are the lessons we learn today.
(1) God guides. He is present in your life and He will guide you to fulfil His work and His purposes in your life.
(2) Take the Step of Faith and do the work of God.
(3) Maintain an Attitude of Dependence on God.
The important thing is whatever action you take or whatever you do, remember to do it with an attitude of dependence upon God’s help.
• Paul went around with that reliance, and he knows it when God speaks.
In A Slow and Certain Light, Elizabeth Elliot tells of 2 adventurers who stopped by to see her, all loaded with equipment for the rainforest East of the Andes. It was the first time they are trekking the forest but they sought no advice, just a few phrases to converse with the Indians.
She writes, "Sometimes we come to God as the 2 adventurers came to me —confident and, we think, well-informed and well-equipped. But has it occurred to us that with all our accumulation of stuff, something is missing?"
She suggests that we often ask God for too little. "We know what we need — a ‘yes or no’ answer please, to a simple question. Or perhaps a road sign, something quick and easy to point the way.
What we really ought to have is the Guide Himself. Maps, road signs, a few useful phrases are good things, but infinitely better is someone who has been there before and knows the way."
Andrew Dhuse: “God’s will is not an itinerary but an attitude.”
Prayer:
Lord, make what we read and heard today a practical help in our daily life. May we be available instruments, ready to be used to fulfil Your purpose, right where we are. Not waiting for something dramatic to happen but be ever ready to do your work, knowing that You will lead us and work through us, as You have promised to do. May all that we say and do glorify Your Name. May we be a constant channel of blessing to all around. We thank you in Jesus’ name, Amen.
