Jan 25, 2015
Acts 16:9-24
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Let me begin this morning by asking you a simple question… Do you want your life to count for the Kingdom of God? I mean do you really want your life - the life created by God - redeemed by the blood of Jesus - and empowered by the Holy Spirit to matter in a real and profound way? Do you want to be a man or woman that so lives based upon your Christian conviction you inevitably leave behind a legacy of such a profound standing, the world you pass on retains the influence you brought to bear?
If this is the case, please understand Church History will attest to the great price a life lived in such a manner will be required to satisfy. Few saints have ever fulfilled such a desire without incurring significant personal costs for the sake of the race set before them.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, as a direct result of their views on the nature of baptism (mainly the rejection of infant baptism), a group within Christianity known as the Anabaptists were heavily persecuted by both Protestant and Catholic churches alike.
As a known Anabaptist Dirk Willems of Holland was arrested and set to be tried. Knowing his unlikely fate would be a brutal execution, Dirk was able to break out of prison. Running for his life and with the authorities in hot pursuit, a frozen pond was the only thing that stood between Dirk and his freedom.
After making his way across this pond in great peril to himself, he realized that his pursuer had fallen through the ice into the freezing water. While a lesser man would have refused to turn back, Dirk waded into the hypothermic water in order to drag his pursuer to safety.
In spite of his compassion Dirk was returned to the prison, interrogated, and tortured in an effort to make him renounce his faith. Though the punishment for being an Anabaptist was burning at the stake, those who recanted were granted the more compassionate form of beheading. In Lutheran and Zwinglian states Anabaptists were simply drowned.
Because Dirk refused to recant his beliefs he was found guilty of having been re-baptized, of holding secret meetings in his home, and of allowing baptism to occur there. On May 16, 1569 the authorities brought Dirk into the public square to be burned to death.
What occurred next is horrifying… As the flames began to engulf the timbers that surrounded Dirk the wind blew the flames away from his person. Instead of his execution being swift, the fire simmered beneath him making an already barbaric form of death long and excruciating.
Time and again the audience that had gathered not only heard the painful screams of his torture, but witnessed his continued worship of God. Finally one of the authorities unable to bear his suffering any longer ordered an underling to end his torment with a quick death.
While Dirk Willems is but one example of a man who paid the ultimate price for Christ… And while what might be required for the American, 21st-century Christian may not be as severe as in times past, never forget the reality of history illustrates the high cost this fallen world demands of a man or woman who wants to leave behind a meaningful Christian legacy.
As Paul continues his travels in Acts 16 we will see yet another example of what it takes (and what we can expect) when we seek to have our lives count for the Kingdom by standing for Jesus and the unchanging truth of His Word!
Context: Whereas Paul began this second missionary journey with a clear course of action (the desire to revisit the churches he’d previously planted), as he now seeks to move from the region of Galatia into new, uncharted territories we find him at a loss where to go.
As we saw last Sunday any attempt Paul made to head East into Asia was rebuffed by the Holy Spirit which is why he decides to head West landing in the port city of Troas.
Acts 16:9, “And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”
As Paul is waiting for his directives from the Lord at some point “in the night” he receives “a vision of a man of Macedonia (Greece) pleading with him to come and help.” And it’s in this moment everything gained clarity for the Apostle Paul… The Spirit had resisted him going into Asia because He wanted the Gospel message to move into the heart of the Roman Empire. Christianity is about to take a significant leap into Europe.
Acts 16:10-12, “Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them. Therefore, sailing from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day came to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is the foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a colony. And we were staying in that city for some days.”
Convinced he’s now received his marching orders from the Lord, Paul waists no time getting after it! “Immediately we sought to go…” From Troas Paul, Silas, Timothy, and Luke sail to Samothrace. Did you notice the addition of this personal pronoun “we” interjected into the narrative. It would appear our author has now joined the fray.
Question: Why did Luke join Paul in Troas?
While his own writings provide few autobiographical details, early church fathers taught that Luke was a Gentile who was an integral part of the church located in Syrian Antioch. Since this was also Paul’s home church and the base of his missionary journeys it would explain the relational connection… But why would he join Paul half way into the trip?
As we’ve mentioned in other places in our travels through Acts, aside from being a gifted author and historian, Luke was a doctor. In Colossians 4:14, Paul describes him as “the beloved physician.” Though its only conjecture it may be that what prohibited Paul from traveling into Asia was some type of chronic medical issue. Some have speculated that Paul went to Troas in order to summon Luke to his aid (it was the closest port city in the region).
Regardless… From Troas this crew of four sail to the island of Samothrace (which was a quick lay over) before heading onward to Neapolis. From Neapolis we’re told they proceed a few miles inland to the city of Philippi (capital city of the region of Macedonia).
Originally founded in 356 BC by Philip of Macedon the city of Philippi would later become a retirement community for Roman military veterans. As a result of its strong Roman presence the city was officially dubbed a “colony of Rome” and money flowed into the city for renovations. As such Philippi was placed under the municipal law of Rome and was directly governed by two military officers appointed by the Roman senate.
Acts 16:13-14, “And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there. Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul.”
Since “on the Sabbath” Paul and the crew don’t visit a local synagogue as was their custom, but instead go “out of the city to the riverside where prayer was customarily made” we can conclude a minimal Jewish community existed in Philippi. As a matter of fact, we’re given the indication the only representation was a group of “women who met there.”
As Paul shared the Gospel with this group of ladies Luke tells us “a certain woman named Lydia heard us” whom “the Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul.” While most assume Lydia was Jewish I’m more inclined to believe she was a Gentile proselyte for two simple reasons: (1) The passage doesn’t say she was Jewish and her name was of Greek origin, and (2) Luke tells us “she was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira” (which was famous for its dyeing and more specifically indigo trade).
In ancient Rome only freeborn women were eligible to be citizens. Though they were not allowed to vote or hold political office, women from powerful families did possess a measure of economic freedom. It is likely Lydia was a Roman citizen from a wealthy family of Thyatira who sold fabric to the Roman nobility living in Philippi.
We’re told she not only “worshipped God” but upon hearing the “things spoke by Paul… The Lord opened her heart” to the message of the Gospel and she was saved.
Two observations concerning this interesting detail…
First, it is possible for a person to worship God without having a real relationship with God, but impossible for a person to know God and not be compelled to worship Him.
In confronting the Pharisees Jesus said in Mark 7:6-7, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: 'This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”
Please understand, a spiritual life based primarily on the activity of worshipping God can be a dangerous and misleading reality. You see anyone can worship God and even enjoy the emotional and spiritual experience of the act itself without actually knowing the God they’re worshipping because all humanity was created with the natural compulsion to worship the Creator even when many refuse this inclination. The problem is that this experience, while real, is only superficial, base, and non-substantive.
And yet, when a person enters into a relationship with God through His Son Jesus worship moves beyond this basic compulsion with the experience deepening as their relationship with God and therefore knowledge of God increases. Knowing God spawns a substantive expression and a deeper, more meaningful worship experience.
This is why the teaching of God’s Word should be the emphasis of the church and not the particular experience of worship alone. When the church focuses chiefly on a persons experience through the activity of worship it blurs the line between that base expression as a spiritual being and the one yielded by a genuine relationship with God. For many the experience of worshipping God may be the closest to God they’ll ever come.
However, when the church emphasizes the teaching of God’s Word the worship experience deepens because it’s based in something real… A growing relationship with the Living God. Never forget… The experience of worshipping God becomes all the more radicle when it’s coupled with a vibrant relationship with God through His Word!
Secondly, while it’s our job is to share the Gospel it’s God’s job to save the soul. The passage is clear that as Paul shared the Gospel something tangible occurred in Lydia’s life for one reason and one reason alone… “The Lord opened her heart.”
Now there are those who seek to use a verse like this to make the case for what we’d call “Reformed Theology” or more commonly referred to as “Calvinism;” and yet, I’d challenge this stance as it would seem, in context, Luke used this phrase to describe the result of what took place in the life of Lydia and not the reason.
I don’t think it’s unreasonable to conclude that as Lydia listened to what Paul had to share her heart was first stirred to faith (Romans 10:17, “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God”) and then in response to her saving faith in Jesus “the Lord opened her heart to heed the thing spoke of by Paul.”
Consistent to what Jesus said in John 6:44 that “no one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him” there is no doubt the Holy Spirit was using the message of Paul to draw Lydia to Jesus; that said, I think it’s hermeneutically flawed to make the case “the Lord opened her heart” independent of her belief and faith in Jesus.
Yes, salvation is impossible apart from this miraculous work of God, but provide me an instance where God works in such a way independent of the individuals involvement? The passage implies… Paul spoke - Lydia believed - and God supernaturally worked!
And this has profound (and in many ways freeing) implications… While it’s your job to share the Gospel with those you come in contact with, you cannot shove the Gospel down someone’s throat. It’s impossible! You have the responsibility to speak and God has the responsibility to work, but it is the responsibility of the individual to believe!
Acts 16:15-18, “And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” So she persuaded us. Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour.”
Paul, Silas, Timothy, and Luke end up using Lydia’s home as their base of operations while in Philippi. Whether they “went to prayer” every Sabbath or this common meeting spot became a public place for evangelism we’re not sure… What we do know is that “for many days” these men are hounded by “a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination” who was continually crying out that “these men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.”
The Greek word “girl” indicates she was nothing more than a “young damsel.” In addition we’re also told she was a slave to men “who brought much profit by fortune-telling” and a slave to Satan as she was “possessed with a spirit of divination.”
Note: Though demons are created beings unable to see the future as they’re restricted within the time continuum, because they are spiritual beings demons are able to move freely within the space continuum. This means what appears to be “fortune-telling” is actually accurate prognostication since demons have the benefit of greater insight.
Beyond this… While she may have had the right message (they were “servants of the Most High God” in Philippi to “proclaim the way of salvation”), it’s clear she was the wrong messenger. She was not the PR firm Paul was looking for! This phrase “cried out” is the Greek word “krazô” meaning “to croak” and was used to describe “the cry of a raven.” To make matters worse Luke tells us she followed them around town “for many days.”
How long this occurred we don’t know, but things reached such a boiling point that we’re told “Paul, greatly annoyed” commanded the spirit to come out of her! The language indicates Paul resisted dealing with the situation until he could literally no longer take it anymore!
Why would God have Paul wait as long as he did to work in this young girls life? Though I fully believe God had a plan to liberate this girl, in His foreknowledge, He also knew what the reaction would be in Philippi. Without the ability to tell the future she would no longer be of any value to her masters which would in turn bring some heat upon Paul and the crew. I’m convinced Paul waited because he had to prioritize ministry. A work needed to occur in Philippi (the formation of this new church) before he kicked the hornets nest.
I have found that there are times Satan will intentionally present us with a ministry opportunity for the specific purpose of deterring us from the greater work God has called us to. As anyone who’s served the Lord can attest… There really are annoying people that walk into a church “possessed” with so many issues that we can allow that one person to dominate our time in such a way that the greater work gets ignored.
And yet, on the flip-side, I have also found that there are times when that one person who so absolutely annoys you is the very person God wants you to minister too… Call it a divine annoyance! So how can you tell the difference… Let the Holy Spirit lead and guide you!
Acts 16:19-21, “But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities. And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, “These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city; and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe.”
“When her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone…” Could you find a better example for how the world views the people trapped in its snares? These men cared more about what they could get out this poor girl than they did for her overall wellbeing. Who cared if she was possessed and tormented as long as it benefited them… Brought them profit!
Not only had Jesus liberated her from the clutches of the Devil, but He freed her from being a slave of man by making her a child of God! I hope you realize we all serve somebody. No one can escape this reality. So ask yourself… Who would you rather serve?
It’s important we keep in mind that what’s taking place in this passage marked a significant moment that would change the world forever. If not for Paul faithfully bringing the Gospel into Europe the case can be made Western Civilization would look radically different.
While Paul’s life and ministry in Philippi was revolutionary, it came at a cost… First, “they seized them and drag them into the marketplace to the authorities…” Then they accuse them of “exceedingly troubling our city” by “teaching customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans to receive or observe.” A violent opposition coupled with an unfounded allegation!
Acts 16:22-24, “Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.”
Why was Paul in Philippi? God sent him there! Why was he preaching the Gospel? God told him to! Aside from the fact what was started in Philippi would revolutionize the world, at this point all Paul’s done is ministered to a group of women down by the river and cast a demon out of a slave girl… And still what does Paul get in return… He’s “beaten with rods” before being “thrown into inner prison” with his feet “fastened in the stocks!”
So you want your life to matter… You want your life to impact the Kingdom of God… To be used by God in a real and tangible way… Are you sure? Cause it might very well cost you everything. A.W. Tozer wrote, “To be right with God has often meant to be in trouble with men.” The world looks none to kindly upon a man or women really living for Christ!
Next Sunday we’ll discuss what our reaction should be when opposition rears its ugly head, but this morning I want to remind you of the cost associated with following Jesus. If God is working through your life in such a way that it is a threat to the clutches of darkness, the enemy “greatly troubled” by what’s taking place will not remain passive. He will not allow your advance to proceed unimpeded. Counter offensives will ensue.
In 2 Timothy 3:12 Paul wrote, “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” Even Jesus was forthcoming when He said in John 15:20… “A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.”
This morning may you count the cost, but when you do always consider two things… (1) Everybody serves somebody, and (2) 2 Corinthians 4:17, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory!”
In his classical work “The Cost of Discipleship” Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote that “when Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” And yet, what’s so freeing about this reality is that what’s the worst that can happen when you’re already a dead man walking?
I want to close this morning by sharing a sobering observation famed preacher Charles Spurgeon made… He said, “Never did the church so much prosper and so truly thrive as when she was baptized in the blood. The ship of the church never sails so gloriously along as when the bloody spray of her martyrs falls on her deck. We must suffer and we must die, if we are ever to conquer this world for Christ.”
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