Our Path & God’s Plan

INTROUDCTION:

When did you first realize you weren’t the master of the universe?

Was it your first big break up?

When you didn’t make varsity?

For younger ones, when your momma finally told you no?

When’s the last time you had a really great plan but no matter how hard you tried it wouldn’t seem to take?

Maybe it was a project for a thing at work.

Maybe it was a relationship you thought was ideal.

Maybe it was a ministry that seems to check all the boxes.

realized your plan wasn’t working? Or your plan wasn’t God’s plan?

It’s not a great feeling when our plan doesn’t pan out.

The reality is, there is constant realignment between our paths and God’s plan.

This is not a new concept for any of us here tonight. There are many Scriptures that talk it.

Proverbs 16:9 “A person’s heart plans his way, but the Lord determines his steps.”

Proverbs 19:21 “Many plans are in a person’s heart, but the Lord’s decree will prevail.”

My assigned text tonight also addresses this dynamic. Open your Bible to Acts 16.

On the heels of the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15, Paul had good news to bring to the Gentiles. “They were not required to be circumcized or become culturally Jewish. (Acts 15:28)

After reporting the news to their sending church, Paul and Barnabas revisited the churches on their first missionary journey committed to going further in spreading the Gospel. (Acts 15:36)

Due to a disagreement over John Mark, Paul and Barnabas spit up. John Mark and Barnabas go West while Paul and Silas go North. (Acts 15:40-41) MAP

Set The Table

They went up from Antioch through Syria and Cilicia strengthening each church as they went.

Eventually they get all the way up to Derbe and Lystra where they meet a young man named Timothy. (Acts 16:1)

Timothy has Gentile dad, Jewish mom and great reputation in the area. (Acts 16:2).

They enlist him into their mission, train him in the ways of a missionary and make their way into new and uncharted waters.

The apostle Paul was a skillful missionary and church planter. He was well educated, organized, strategic and hardworking.

He wasn’t going to wander aimlessly town to town. He likely would’ve identified strategic cultural hubs to maximize exposure and effectiveness.

But a good plan and God’s plan aren’t always the same thing.

That seems to be what’s going on in Acts 16:6-10.

Acts 16:6–10 CSB

6 They went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia; they had been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7 When they came to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. 8 Passing by Mysia they went down to Troas. 9 During the night Paul had a vision in which a Macedonian man was standing and pleading with him, “Cross over to Macedonia and help us!” 10 After he had seen the vision, we immediately made efforts to set out for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

The Macedonian Call

Different Bibles have different titles for this section of Scripture.

Some call it Paul’s Macedonian vision.

My Bible calls it the “Evangelization of Europe.”

Whatever the title, most scholars recognize it’s an extremely important event.

The decision by Paul to sail the Agean into Macedonia had the domino effect of bringing Christendom into Europe.

What’s so surprising is that Paul’s contribution to that history shaping reality only came after two closed doors and a season of frustration!

Before I became the Pastor at Broadview, Pastor David had tried a transition process with two other men before me. Both men looked better on paper than a know-nothing kid in seminary.

But God frustrated the first two efforts and he graciously blessed the third (and least likely).

THE REALIGNMENT PROCESS

That experience and this passage reveal a basic truth.

There’s ongoing realignment between God’s plan and our paths.

But that’s not the only truth we find in this passage.

There are also points we must REMEMBER in that realignment process.

Due to time, I’m only going going to mention a few. But I think they’re directly relevant to this seasons for the ACBA.

With the announcement of Larry’s retirement and the uncertainty of what comes next there would be temptation to worry about the future.

There might even be confusion or regret about the past. Thankfully, God has given us the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit to guide our path.

With our eyes fixed on them, we will move forward into the will of God.

And God’s path is the very BEST path any of us could walk.

But know this from Paul’s experience in Acts 16.

God’s plan can be perplexing.

God’s plan requires persistence.

God’s plan has a greater purpose.

Can Be Perplexing

We can see each of these truths in Paul’s realignment process. They’re timeless truths that apply to us today.

Our future is uncertain but our God he never changes.

Even so, the plan of God can sometimes be perplexing.

We don’t always understand why God closes certain doors and opens others.

If you put yourself in the shoes of the apostle Paul, the attempt to preach the Gospel in Asia was not a bad plan at all!

Ephesus was right there on the coastline and was a central hub of culture and religious influence.

We know from the book of Revelation that eventually many churches in Asia minor were influential and important to the movement.

But, for these particular missionaries at this particular time the work in Asia was not part of their path.

You can be doing the will of God and He still shut certain doors of opportunity.

In the case of Asia the door was shut AND locked. The one who shut it was the Holy Spirit.

Luke says, “they had been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the Word in Asia.” (Acts 16:6)

That word translated “forbidden” doesn’t mean the Asia option was challenging. It means the Asia option was “off the table.”

Sometimes it’s translated “forbid or prevent.” Sometimes it’s translated “hinder or impede.” Whatever the nuance, the person who did it was the Holy Spirit!

Isn’t that interesting?

They were doing ministry in the Spirit’s power. ((Acts 1:8)

They were appointed to this work by the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:2).

They were living their life “in step” with the Spirit.

Even so, the Holy Spirit said NO. (wouldn’t you like to know how!?)

A great plan by a god man God may still prevent.

You would think any effort to fulfill the Great Commission would be blessed by God for success.

“Lo I am with you always even to the end of the age… greater works than these will you do when the Holy Spirit comes…you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you…”

All of these passages are true. But Acts 16:9-10 is also in the Bible. We need a theology that holds both truths in tension.

Jesus is ALWAYS WITH us, even to the end of the age. The gates of hell will NOT prevail against the church.

And yet, sometimes the Holy Spirit says NO. It’s not true in every case. But often times God says NO even when the plan makes strategic sense.

When that DOES happen it can be discouraging. Imagine how the apostle Paul must’ve felt.

Some of us are more hardheaded than others. We’ll push and complain and keep knocking on that locked door.

But when God says no he means no.

It doesn’t mean you’re being punished for sin. It doesn’t mean you’re not still called to ministry. It doesn’t even mean God isn’t eager to bless.

It just means he’s not blessing that path in this season. That’s okay. As you’ll see in a minute, “It’s not about you! God has his reasons.”

Requires Persistence

But notice Paul doesn’t stop. He doesn’t keep pounding on the door but neither does he give up and go home.

Paul changes his plan from going West into Asia to going North up to Mysia. Acts 16:7

Acts 16:7 CSB

7 When they came to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them.

Mysia is on the northern tip of Asia. Bithynia was a Roman province on the Southwestern Corner of the Black Sea.

This region would become VERY important in church history later on. (Nicea was in Bithynia!)

Again - Paul’s plan was strategic and wise. Paul was also uniquely equipped for the work. The strategy was sound.

But the Holy Spirit said no, again! “The Spirit of Jesus did not allow them.” We don’t know how. We don’t know why. But you better believe Paul was PERPLEXED.

But even though God’s plan was perplexing, the apostle Paul wasn’t giving up.

Because the plan of God requires PERSISTENCE.

How easy would it have been for the apostle Paul to say, “obviously things aren’t working out. It’s time for us to go home?”

That would’ve been the easy thing to do. Or maybe start second guessing himself and his decisions. I know I’ve done that!

“Maybe Barnabas was right. Maybe none of this would’ve happened if we would’ve brought John Mark along… Maybe the Lord has removed his blessing because I made the wrong decision.”

We don’t get any clue of that in the text but I know I’ve thought those same things before.

While the Lord uses hardship to develop your faith, the enemy uses hardship to destroy your faith.

The thing that makes the defining difference is whether or not you persevere.

God will give the grace you need to be persistent in the calling He’s given.

Just because the path is unclear doesn’t mean your calling changed.

Jesus was clear on the what. He wasn’t always clear on the when, where and how. But he was VERY CLEAR on the what and why.

The reason persistence is so important in the process is because the setbacks and struggle is part of God’s plan.

Obedience to the mission can often lead us into hardship. But if you keep pushing forward you’ll be ready for what’s coming.

God’s NO is often to get us positioned for GO.

Think about it. In order for God to get Paul where he wanted, he had to close multiple doors of opportunity.

If Paul would’ve quit after stop one and two, He never would’ve heard the “Macedonian cry.”

But he did hear that cry because he didn’t stop trusting. He heard it on the coastline in the city of Troas.

Acts 16:8–9 CSB

8 Passing by Mysia they went down to Troas. 9 During the night Paul had a vision in which a Macedonian man was standing and pleading with him, “Cross over to Macedonia and help us!”

If Paul would’ve given up on this missionary journey, he never would’ve heard that man in that vision.

Only those who persevere have eyes to see God’s plan.

It’s hard to hear from God when you’re living in disobedience. The uncertainty of Paul’s path didn’t undo God’s calling on his life.

In order to hear from God, you walk in the light he’s given. Light begets more light, darkness begets more darkness.

Just because a path is blocked doesn’t mean your calling is.

To hear the voice of God we must be busy in God’s mission. (Paul was active in the Work and that’s what gave him ears to hear)

Paul wasn’t sulking in Lystra mad because his plan weren’t working. Neither was he passively waiting for some big miracle.

God had already given him the direction he should go. Paul was committed to walk in the light he had even has he remained sensitive to the Spirit’s leading.

He already had the great commission and Acts 1:8 and Acts 13. Paul was walking in the light he had.

Scripture gives us the WHAT God’s Spirit will show us the WHERE, WHEN, HOW.

Paul’s Macedonian call came in the form of a vision. What followed the vision was consensus among the team.

The word translated “concluded” in verse 10 means to arrive at a consensus together. They had heard from the Lord corporately.

But the only way they would’ve been in a position to do that is if they persevered in the mission.

Having been convinced, they obeyed the Spirit’s leading and set sail from Troas all the way to Macedonia.

Always Has a Purpose

Which leads us to the last big principle about God’s path and our plans.

When God redirects our path God ALWAYS has a purpose.

Unfortunately, in the moment, God’s purpose can be hard to see.

But Paul chose to walk by faith and not by sight in the moment.

Paul knew that God is ALWAYS good and sovereignly works ALL THING together for good.

The conviction that the plan of God always has a purpose is what enables you to persevere when things become perplexing.

As somebody once said, “I may not understand God’s hand but I never doubt his HEART.”

The purposes of God are always good, for your good and for HIS glory. Don’t ever forget it!

With Larry’s retirement there are many open questions about the future. There are many things we can’t know for sure.

But the things we DO know for sure outweigh what we don’t yet or cannot know.

We DO know that Jesus is leading the churches of the ACBA.

We DO know that the gates of hell will not prevail against the church.

We DO know that Jesus is with us as we advance the great commission.

We DO know that churches tend to develop Gospel networks/partnerships.

WE DO know that Pastors needs encouragement and good training.

While the ministry of the ACBA may look different than what came before, the PURPOSE of God will always be the same.

Place, People, Picture

In the realignment process, remember God’s Plan has a greater purpose. Whether we have eyes to see it depends how we respond.

What purpose might that be? In the case of Paul’s experience we can see at least a few.

God’s purpose in the realignment is often to…

bring us to the right place.

equip us with the right people.

show us the bigger picture.

Larry said my sermon should be about 15 minutes so I’m not sure I have time to develop these the way I’d like but I at least want to show you a few of these in the text.

Right Place

First, God’s purpose in realignment is often to send us to the right place.

In every season of realignment, where I thought I was going and where I ended up were always different.

I don’t mean a different mindset (although that’s true as well.) I mean a different place all together. A different social/geographical situation.

I would’ve never naturally gotten to that place, I was only in that place because of God’s realignment process.

God often uses the realignment process to get you standing where you need to stand so you can see what you need to see and hear what you need to hear.

The Apostle Paul did not have “Troas” on his bingo card. This was the home of the ancient city of Troy and the Great Epics of Homer.

But if he didn’t get to Troy he would’ve never had the vision or been able to connect the dots as to what God wanted to do next.

The Apostle Paul would’ve never chosen Macedonia as his first stop for taking the Gospel to the uttermost.

It was the poorer region of Greece. It had smaller towns. People were less influential and even if the Gospel DID spread the cultural impact would be minimized.

But God could see what the apostle Paul could NOT. His ministry in Macedonia would have exponential downstream affects.

You can read church history to see what happens or you can even read other evidences in the New Testament.

Neapolis (where they land when they get off the ship) was the launch point for the Via Egnatia (the east-west Roman artery that stitched Macedonia to the rest of the Roman Empire. Paul was embedding the Gospel into the imperial infrastructure of the Roman Empire.

While the house church model was probably smaller than what Paul had in mind it ended up proving very fruitful and more long-lasting than the larger things he saw built further south.

Even today Macedonia is known as the “Gateway to Europe.” Up until that point in history the Gospel had been limited to Asia. Church historians credit the expansion of Christianity in the West to the Apostle Paul and his response to this vision.

Right People

Just because the place you’re standing isn’t where you thought you’d stand doesn’t mean the place is wrong or it’s not part of God’s place.

But that’s not the only purpose of God in our realignments.

Sometimes God’s purpose is to surround us with the right people.

You even get a hint of this in our passage tonight. Notice the contrast of verses 6-7 with verse 10.

Acts 16:6–8 CSB

6 They went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia; they had been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7 When they came to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. 8 Passing by Mysia they went down to Troas.

But once they get to Troas something changes. The pronouns in the text change from they to WE.

Acts 16:10–12 CSB

10 After he had seen the vision, we immediately made efforts to set out for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. 11 From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, the next day to Neapolis, 12 and from there to Philippi, a Roman colony and a leading city of the district of Macedonia. We stayed in that city for several days.

The change up in pronouns is not because Luke had fluid pronouns. It’s because Luke didn’t join the mission until Troas.

(His hometown was Antioch Syria but it was likely at that time he was staying in Philippi and caught a ride back from Troas with the apostle Paul)

I don’t know if you know this but Luke ended up being a pretty big deal for the spread of Christianity and evangelization of the world.

Those two paths didn’t cross until TWO closed doors and a process of redirection.

And it’s not just Luke. Once they get to Philippi Paul meets Lydia and she becomes a financial lifeline for his ministry.

The churches that get planted in Philippi, Berea and Thessalonica were incredibly influential on EVERY CHURCH that came after.

The Thessalonian church sends out missionaries throughout the region of Greece.

The Bereans become a pattern for Bible-saturated discernment. (Read like a Berean)

The Philippian Jailer’s midnight conversion births a new house church and populist uprising for the Lord Jesus.

Not only that, Paul would eventually write other letters while staying in those regions.

He would POINT to their Christ-like example to inspire generosity and faith in other churches. (2 Corinthians 8-9)

We could go on and on with specific examples but the point is that God uses the realignment process to surround us with the right people.

And he’s still doing that today. God knows what we need way better than we do. God know WHO we need way better than we do.

God can’t force us to freely choose the right place or freely choose the right people. That’s why he takes us through a realignment process.

The process is God’s way of getting us to stand where we need to stand and be surrounded by the people God wants.

The Bigger Picture

The last thing God will do through a season of realignment is help you see the bigger picture of God’s kingdom in this world.

We saw in verse 6 Paul wasn’t allowed to go into Asia.

We saw in verse 7 that Paul wasn’t able to enter Bithynia.

One of the reasons Paul didn’t allow Paul into Asia and Bithynia is because he had other plans for another “big name apostle.”

You know him as Peter. Listen to how he opens his letter to the elect exiles living in those regions.

In 1 Peter 1:1–2

1 Peter 1:1–2 CSB

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ: To those chosen, living as exiles dispersed abroad in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosen 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient and to be sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ. May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

God was sending the Apostle Paul Westward while he commissioned Peter to do ministry in these other regions.

Back then, they didn’t have cell phones to text each other and come up with a battle plan.

They had to trust that God was moving the chess pieces as he saw fit and their job was to be a pawn in the hand of the chess master.

They were working separately but they were in complete harmony through the leadership of the Holy Spirit.

That doesn’t even include the kind of Gospel partnerships that come from the Macedonian Mission.

The point is, Paul could not have seen that or probably felt that on the front in. But we can choose to believe God’s purpose by faith.

When we read what we read in Acts 16:6-9 it’s a reminder that God’s purpose is also at work today.

So thought we have many things we can’t know about the future - we know God is good and he’s working things together for good.

He will use this next year and this season of realignment to

Send us to the right place.

Surround us with the right people.

And show us some of his bigger picture.