When God Begins A Work
Acts 18:1-17
Introduction:
Today, we have a special guest with us. Pastor Pavel Ureche from Romania. We have been working with this man for five years in his city of Turnu-Severin on the western side of Romania. He is pastor of the FBC in that city. We have accomplished work in the city with them in the areas of children’s ministry, pastoral training, revivals, music events, medical, personal evangelism, planting churches, showing the “Jesus Video” and building an orphanage. We are interested in making a covenant partnership with specific plans next year. He is here so that you can meet him, and so that we can cross our language barriers and communicate clearly our intentions concerning this partnership with our sister church. Our mission team has meet with him. After our discussions the mission team and Pastor Pavel, we will present to the deacons a clear and concise covenant to look over so that we can bring it to you for approval. God has not released me from Romania, even though we are working in several others areas around the world. I am preaching this message to show you God’s Pattern in His Working so that we can be confirmed in our direction.
I. God Chooses a Specific Person (v.1)
(Exp.) “Paul”
a. A Person who has experienced a change in his direction. (Acts 9:1-7)
b. A Person who has experienced a call upon his heart. (Acts 9:15)
c. A Person who has experienced a clarifying of his focus. (Acts 13:42-48)
T.S. God has changed you, called you and is clarifying for you His mission through you. God always begins with people. After God chooses you, He reveals to you the place you are to serve Him.
II. God Chooses a Strategic Place (v.1)
(Exp.) “In Corinth”
Paul had a very clear strategy for his work. Paul did not haphazardly move across the world to share the gospel. He pick by the leading of the Spirit, the key cities to spread the gospel.
Corinth in Paul’s day was the largest, most cosmopolitan city of Greece. It was such a strategic place that when the Romans under Julius Caesar conquered the city it was completely destroyed and rebuilt as a Roman colony. The area is a narrow isthmus with two ports on either side. A special road was built between the two ports to transfer goods. Small boats were placed upon carts and driven across the area because the waters were so treacherous around the end. The Adriatic Sea is one side and the Aegean Sea is on the other.
Corinth was a new city and no building was over 100 years old. The Temple of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, was perched high (1900 feet) upon the hill above the city upon the Acrocorinth.
A Temple of Asklepius has been discovered. This was the greek God of healing. Clay replicas of body parts have been found which seem to be offerings for healing to that particular part of the body!
There was small Jewish synagogue there. (v.4) But understand God kept Paul in Corinth longer than he wanted to stay. Paul was a mover and a shaker. He liked to travel. God put him in Corinth for 18 months. Paul was itching to get to Jerusalem. God was itching to use Paul in this church.
The place God puts you will be the best for you, for them and for Him!!! It may not be the easiest, the largest, the most prestigious, but it will be the most strategic!!!
(Ill.) Can you imagine a private in the tank corp of General George Patton, From WWII fame, Having a conversation like this with the General in the middle of war?
“Sir, I realize that I have been trained to drive this tank, I know that my country has paid a lot of money to train me and to place me and my tank in this war on this battlefield, and I know that I have not been in the high level meetings where you and all those Generals who have so much experience have discussed and planned a comprehensive plan for the war, but I really do not like being in a cramped space. I am bigger than this and as I was looking out the small window in front, I see the enemy and bombs and they are shooting at me…there are hills in front and German fortifications, barbed wire, mines…I was thinking about turning around and…”
That is really what we sound like to God! He knows what He is doing. He is in charge.
The general comes back with, “Son, I know you are scared. You have armour around you that is six inches thick. You may die. There is an enemy out there. They don’t like you…You do have some power in your arsenal? You did not volunteer, you were drafted! Go do want to were assigned to do.
T.S.
God has placed you and me in the exact place He wants you. He can use you where you are. Please do not look elsewhere for God’s work. Look around you, near you! Are you itching to get out? Maybe God wants you to settle where you are and minister. If you give 110% where you are…funny things start to happen…relationships begin to deepen…life gets better…ministry begins to blossom…
III. God Gives A Secure Promise (v.9-10)
(Exp.) God came to Paul in a vision at night and said, “Don’t be afraid of them, but speak and do not be silent because I am with you…”
Paul needed confirmation that he was exactly where God wanted him. You need confirmation and God knows that! Two cities prior Paul had faced opposition and had endured a severe beating. He did not want to get hurt again! That is understandable isn’t it?
God was right on time and spoke to Him to reassure his servant of His presence.
Wait upon God to speak to you. Please do not ever jump out on your own. When you know it is God, do not let anyone or anything stop you.
When in doubt, don’t. Wait upon the voice of God.
(Ill.) This has been difficult for me. All of my life on the athletic teams in both high school and college, coaches have drilled into my head…”Don’t hesitate…If you don’t know what to do…don’t just stand there do something!!!” As action/task oriented as I am this is bad advice when it comes to discerning God’s will. Wait upon Him!!!
When He speaks and you understand…Go immediately!
Remember, when there is a Window of Opportunity, yet will always be Wicked Opposition!
(Ill.) I recalled that many years ago I remember playing outside with my friends and my mom calling to me interrupting my play. One of our neighbors had locked herself out of her house. The neighbor knew that one of her windows was unlocked. Mom said to me, “Crawl through the window and unlock the door from the inside.” Clear instructions from mom. I had the direction I needed. The owner of the home was standing there giving me permission to enter. It was not breaking and entering. I had direction and permission. I had a window of opportunity through which to crawl. The reason I was crawling in was to unlock a door. Opposition. Isn’t that way God gives us a window of opportunity?
People are locked out of the Kingdom. The are missing the blessings and the benefits of Christ. We will have Windows of Opportunity. We have the direction and the permission. Crawl…Open the Door…
IV. God Surrounds His Specific Person with Special People (v.10)
(Exp.) “For I have many people in this city”
Let’s count the people in this passage:
(2) Aquila and Priscilla, a couple who God moved out of Italy to get them to Corinth Tent-makers who would meet Paul who had the same trade…leather working…
(2) Silas and Timothy had come from Greece with money so that Paul could do his work of the gospel and not tent-making…
(1) Justus, a god –fearer who just happened to live next door to the synagogue
(1+) Crispus and his household saved…The Jewish ruler of The Synagogue
(1) Gallio—Roman ruler who had been brought in for a one to two year term
Did you notice the diversity of the people? Jews, Romans, Believers, non-believers women children servants…Two missionaries bringing money and encouragement…
Did God have many people in the city? Does God have many people around you?
Notice verse 2 “Paul Found…”
Paul did not sit quietly and say, “God bring me the people…although God did…Paul took the initiative and sought out some encouragement…
You need a friend, go become one…sitting around complaining Elijah that you are alone and that no one cares…you are lonely and hurting and scared about being in a new place…why not jump in with both feet!!!
Christianity is about relationships…You do need to belong…you do need people…you do need a friend, a partner…God is bringing them to you. They are already near you…They my be on there way to you….Look around you…
Conclusion:
Pavel is a specific person. Turnu-Severin is a Strategic Place. God is our secure promise and you East Pickens could be the special people God could be calling to surround this sister church.
