Spirit Empowered Series

The Christian life is a Holy Spirit empowered series, sacrifice service, and surrender.

Imagine you’re on a sailboat in the open sea, with a destination in mind—your perfect plan for the journey. You’ve charted the course, packed the supplies, and set sail. But suddenly, the wind shifts. The currents pull you in a different direction. Instead of fighting it, you adjust the sails, trusting the wind to guide you to a better destination. In the Christian life, the Holy Spirit is that wind—empowering us, redirecting us, and calling us to sacrifice, serve, and surrender in ways we might not expect. In Acts 16:1-15, we see Timothy, Paul, and Lydia each adjust their sails to the Spirit’s leading, discovering God’s greater plan. Today, we’ll explore how the Holy Spirit empowers us to live a life of sacrifice, service, and surrender for His glory.

Holy Spirit Empowered Sacrifice is necessary for personal sanctification and the edification of the Church.

Timothy-

Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible Timothy, Timotheus (Person)

Timothy, Timotheus (Person). Paul’s convert and companion, whose name means “one who honors God.” His name is often spelled Timotheus in the KJV.

Timothy first appears in

People talk of the sacrifice I have made in spending so much of my life in Africa. Can that be called a sacrifice which is simply paid back as a small part of a great debt owing to our God, which we can never repay? It is emphatically no sacrifice. Say rather it is a privilege.

David Livingstone (Missionary and Explorer)

a. The sacrifice is not necessary for the Spirit but the Spirit enables sacrifice for the building of the church. 

: In Acts 16:1-3, Paul circumcises Timothy, not because it was necessary for salvation, but to remove barriers to ministry among the Jews. The Holy Spirit empowered this act of sacrifice to strengthen the church (v. 5).Explanation

: Sacrifices like giving up personal preferences or comfort for the sake of others’ faith are Spirit-led and kingdom-focused.Application

b. Sacrifice is often unappreciated but remains necessary.

: Timothy’s circumcision was likely painful and culturally humbling, yet it served a greater purpose. The churches were strengthened (v. 5), even if Timothy’s act went unnoticed by many.Explanation

: Don’t seek applause for your sacrifices; trust that God sees and uses them.Application

c. Sacrifice prevents others from discrediting your witness in Christ.

: Timothy’s circumcision ensured his ministry wasn’t undermined by cultural objections, preserving his credibility (v. 3).Explanation

: Sometimes, we sacrifice personal rights (e.g., time, resources) to maintain a clear testimony for Christ.Application

d. Sacrifice may feel costly, but it yields eternal rewards.

The sacrifice that you make here and now may often seem like it’s not worth your time, talent, or treasure.

: Matthew 19:29 – “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields because of my name will receive a hundred times more and will inherit eternal life.”Scripture

: Timothy’s sacrifice seemed costly, but it aligned with God’s eternal purposes.Explanation

: Trust that your sacrifices for God’s kingdom (time, talent, treasure) are never wasted.Application

e. We are responsible for offering sacrifice, not for the outcome.

: Paul and Timothy obeyed the Spirit’s leading, and God brought growth (v. 5). The results were God’s responsibility.Explanation

: Focus on faithful obedience, not on controlling the results of your sacrifices.Application

All along the Christian course, there must be set up altars to God on which you sacrifice yourself, or you will never advance a step.

Alexander Maclaren (Preacher and Expositor)

God will be our compensation for every sacrifice we have made.

Frederick Brotherton Meyer

v

2. Holy Spirit-Empowered Service (Acts 16:6-10)

Holy Spirit Empowered Service doesn’t always lead us where we want to go, but where God determines we need to be.

a. The Spirit redirects our plans for God’s purposes.

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 16

9 A person’s heart plans his way,

but the LORD determines his steps.

: In Acts 16:6-8, the Holy Spirit prevents Paul and his team from entering Asia and Bithynia, redirecting them to Troas. The vision of the Macedonian man (v. 9) reveals God’s intended destination.Explanation

: Be open to the Spirit’s guidance, even when it disrupts your plans or preferences.Application

b. Service requires trust in God’s timing and direction.

: Paul didn’t resist the Spirit’s redirection but trusted and obeyed, leading to the gospel’s spread in Macedonia (v. 10).Explanation

: When God closes doors, trust He’s opening better ones for His glory.Application

c. Faithful service impacts lives beyond what we expect.

: Paul’s obedience in following the Spirit’s call led to the conversion of Lydia and the planting of the Philippian church (vv. 11-15).Explanation

: Your service, even in unexpected places, can have a ripple effect for God’s kingdom.Application

Illustration: Like a GPS rerouting us around obstacles, the Holy Spirit guides us to the people and places where God’s work will flourish, even if it’s not our planned destination.

3. Holy Spirit-Empowered Surrender (Acts 16:11-15)

Surrender is a continuous necessity for the Christian life, allowing the Spirit to work through us.

a. Surrender opens our hearts to God’s work.

: Lydia’s heart was opened by the Lord to respond to Paul’s message (v. 14). Her surrender to the gospel led to her household’s salvation and hospitality (v. 15).Explanation

: Daily surrender to the Spirit makes us receptive to God’s transforming work.Application

b. Surrender involves submitting our resources and lives to God.

: Lydia’s response wasn’t just belief but action—she opened her home to Paul and his team (v. 15), demonstrating full surrender of her resources for God’s work.Explanation

: Surrender your time, home, and resources to be used for God’s purposes.Application

c. Surrender leads to a life of worship and service.

: Lydia, a “worshiper of God” (v. 14), fully surrendered to Christ, resulting in a life of active faith and generosity.Explanation

: Continuous surrender fuels a lifestyle of worship, service, and impact for the gospel.Application

Illustration: Surrender is like a sailor adjusting sails to catch the wind—the Holy Spirit moves us when we yield to His direction.

Conclusion

: Acts 16:1-15 shows that the Christian life is a Spirit-empowered journey of sacrifice (Timothy), service (Paul’s redirection), and surrender (Lydia). Each step requires yielding to the Holy Spirit, trusting God’s plan over our own.

: Examine your life—where is the Spirit calling you to sacrifice, serve, or surrender? Take one step this week to obey His leading, trusting God for the outcome.Call to Action

: Galatians 5:25 – “If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.”