Change Your World…through Obedience
Change Your World
Change Your World…through Obedience
1. We must stay in step with the Spirit
6 Paul and his companions traveled 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. 9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” Acts 16:6-9 NIV
2. We must be willing to leave our comfort zones
After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
Acts 16:10 NIV
Changing Your World
You can change your world through obedience!
Welcome
I’ve been going through a Series of messages called Change Your World…the book of Acts…turning points in the early church…
We’ve discovered so far You can Change Your World…
…Through prayer:
…Through encouragement…
…Through the gospel…
…with courage
Last week…
You can change your world…through suffering
Today…
You can change your world…through obedience
Obedience is defined as:
“the act or practice of following instructions, complying with rules or regulations, or submitting to somebody's authority.”
First Lady Laura Bush recalls one overnight visit with her husband in the home of his parents, the former President and Mrs. Bush.
"George woke up at 6 A.M. as usual and went downstairs to get a cup of coffee," Laura says.
"And he sat down on the sofa with his parents and put his feet up.
And all of a sudden, Barbara Bush yelled, 'Put your feet down!'
"George's dad replied, 'For goodness' sake, Barbara, he's the President of the United States.'
"And Barbara said, 'I don't care. I don't want his feet on my table.'"
The president promptly did as he was told, for as Mrs.
Bush observes, "Even Presidents have to listen to their mothers."
Many of us like President Bush, no matter how old or big we got, respected our Moms and listened to them.
If that is the case, how much more should we be willing to listen and obey our Heavenly Father?
When is the last time you heard God speaking into your life?
How did you respond?
When God speaks to us we have two choices: obedience or disobedience.
When we obey Him, God will lead us and use us to accomplish His will…to change our world…
We see this over and over again in the book of Acts…especially in Acts 16….
Here we find the story of Paul during His second missionary Journey and God’s call for him to go to Europe to spread the gospel.
Paul, along with Silas and Timothy, teach us by their example….that God can change our world when we obey Him…
2 Significant Truths…
You can Change Your World…through Obedience…
1. We must stay in step with the Spirit
In Acts 16:6-9 we see this…
6 Paul and his companions traveled 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. 9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” Acts 16:6-9 NIV
Paul and Silas set out on a second missionary journey to visit the cities Paul had preached in earlier.
(Show Map…ppt)
This time they set out by land rather than sea, traveling the Roman road through Cilicia and the Cilician gates--a gorge through the Taurus Mountains--then northwest toward Derbe, Lystra, and Iconium.
The Spirit told them not to go into Asia, so they turned northward toward Bithynia.
Again the spirit said no, so they turned west through Mysia to the harbor city of Troas.
Did you notice how the Holy Spirit closed the door twice for Paul?
Paul must have wondered which geographical direction God wanted him to take in spreading the gospel.
Paul and Silas went on through Mysia to the city of Troas.
There, at last, God opened the door...Finally God spoke.
During the night, Paul had a vision in which he saw a man from Macedonia who was pleading, “Come over here and help us.”
God directs us in similar way…
Not through a vision necessarily…but He will close doors and give directions at just the right time.
We need to follow the directions…
Putting together swing set…
PPT cartoon…First pants then shoes…
GPS system/Holy Spirit
God will close doors…
6 They went to Phrygia, and then on through the region of Galatia. Their plan was to turn west into Asia province, but the Holy Spirit blocked that route.
Acts 16:6 (MSG)
7 So they went to Mysia and tried to go north to Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus wouldn’t let them go there either.
Acts 16:7 (MSG)
But the Holy Spirit blocked that route… the Spirit of Jesus wouldn’t let them go there
Have you ever had God close a door in your life?
I asked Lisa that question yesterday and she said…She could only think of the times when He slammed the door in her face!!!
In the classic movie The Sound of Music we see God closing a door in Maria’s life.
Maria had longed to be a nun since she was a young girl, yet when she became old enough discovered that it wasn't at all what she thought.
Often in trouble and doing the wrong things…she is called into the Mother Superior’s office…
Watch what happens…
[Sound of Music clip…Ch 7 (length 4 mins 22 seconds)]
Whenever God closes a door…somewhere He opens a window…
For Maria, she bonds with the Von Trapp children and of course falls in love with their widowed father and marries him.
He closes some doors and opens others…the key is going through the open doors…and knowing where they are…
Which leads to one of the most often asked questions…
So how can you know God’s Will?
Jo M. Guerrero wrote this account of about her daughter in Christian Reader magazine.
She wrote…
My five-year-old daughter, Barbara, had disobeyed me and had been sent to her room.
After a few minutes, I went in to talk with her about what she had done.
Teary-eyed, she asked, "Why do we do wrong things, Mommy?"
"Sometimes the devil tells us to do something wrong," I replied, "and we listen to him.
We need to listen to God instead."
To which she sobbed, "But God doesn't talk loud enough!"
Jo M. Guerrero, Christian Reader (Sep/Oct 1996)
God is speaking…we just need to listen more closely…
LA Note…
We don’t know how the Holy Spirit told Paul that he and his companions should not go into Asia.
It may have been through a prophet, a vision, an inner conviction, or some other circumstance.
To know God’s will does not mean we are going to audibly hear his voice.
He leads in different ways.
When seeking God’s will,
(1) Make sure your plan is in harmony with God’s Word;
(2) Ask mature Christians for their advice;
(3) Check your own motives—are you seeking to do what you want or what you think God wants?—
and (4) Pray for God to open and close the doors as he desires.
When we know is God has spoken to us…what we do next reveals what we really believe about God….
Which version of the Bible do you prefer?
Some advocate the King James; others, the New International Version. One likes the New American Standard while another chooses the Living Bible.
The question isn't really which version of the Bible you read, but which version you prefer.
Dr. Howard Hendricks notes that many of us actually prefer the Reversed Standard Version.
When we read God's Word and recognize a call for change, we often choose to do the reverse and go against God's clear call.
You can Change Your World…through Obedience…
2. We must be willing to leave our comfort zones
After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
Acts 16:10 NIV
I like v.10…After Paul got the vision it was a done deal…the picture emerged…they were able to connect the dots…
The word concluding means “to agree or to arrive at a conclusion.”
It means to examine a matter and to put two and two together.
The pieces of the puzzle came together: a closed door to Asia Minor, another closed door to Bithynia, redirected to Troas and the vision of a man crying out from Macedonia to come and help them!
As they put these pieces together…Paul and the others knew what God wanted them to do.
Listen to the Message paraphrase describe what happened v.10
10 The dream gave Paul his map. We went to work at once getting things ready to cross over to Macedonia. All the pieces had come together. We knew now for sure that God had called us to preach the good news to the Europeans. Acts 16:10 (MSG)
They were to set sail for Macedonia and preach the gospel to the Europeans!!!
George Truett said,
To know the will of God is the greatest knowledge. To do the will of God is the greatest achievement.
Maybe Paul was thinking I’ll go anywhere but Macedonia…I’ll go south to the province of Asia Minor…I’ll go north to Bithynia….anywhere Lord but west to Macedonia…
G. Campbell Morgan quote:
“It is better to go to Troas with God, than anywhere without Him.”
Let’s put that in words we can understand….
Have you ever said I would be willing to go anywhere but…(fill in the blank)
If you are a Buckeye fan… I would be willing to go anywhere but Michigan.
“It is better to go anywhere with God, than anywhere without Him.”
"There is the risk you cannot afford to take and there is the risk you cannot afford not to take." - Peter F. Drucker
Dr. George L. Robinson taught for 41 years as a Professor of Hebrew and O.T. history as McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago.
When he was just a young man, he said, “I’LL GO WHEREVER THE LORD CALLS ME, BUT NOT TO CHICAGO.”
George Robinson did eventually go to Chicago and apparently, had a very successful career in teaching the Word of God.
Was it God’s will for him to go there?
We assume so.
There came a time in Robinson’s life when he finally surrendered to the Lord and was willing to let Him lead.
And that’s when God blessed Him in a great way!
In order to experience God’s blessing and will for our lives we must join God in what He is doing…
We must be willing to obey promptly and completely
Notice that (Paul and his team) obeyed God promptly and completely...
After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia,
Why?
He had concluded (put two and two together) that God wanted them to go!!!
concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
What does God want you to do?
We often excuse our disobedience because we don’t see the entire picture.
We need to start with what we know to be God’s Will for us…
Often we try to offer God partial obedience.
We want to pick and choose the commands we obey.
We make a list of the commands that we are comfortable with…and ignore the ones that are difficult, expensive or unpopular.
Maybe you’re willing to attend church…but won’t tithe.
Maybe you’re comfortable reading the Bible…but won’t forgive the person who hurt you.
Maybe you’re willing to love people…but not the ones who are different than you!
Partial obedience is disobedience!
I love the story about the teenage son who turned sixteen.
The boy approached his father and said, “Dad, I’m sixteen now. When I get my license, can I drive the family car?”
The dad looked at him and said, “Son, driving the car takes maturity, and first, you must prove you are responsible enough.”
“And one way to do that is to bring up your grades. They are not acceptable.”
“Second, you must read the Bible every day.”
“And finally, I want you to get your haircut; it looks outrageous.”
The son began the task of fulfilling his father’s requirements, knowing that the last might be impossible.
When his grades came out he came to his dad with a big smile.
“Look, Dad, all A’s and B’s on my report card. Now can I drive the family car?”
“Very good,Son. You are one-third of the way there, but have you been reading your Bible?” the father replied.
“Yes, dad, everyday,” said the son.
“Very good,Son. You are two-thirds of the way there. Now when are you going to get that haircut?”
The son, thinking he could outsmart his dad, responded, “Well, I don’t see why I should have to get my hair cut to drive the car. Jesus had long hair, didn’t he?”
The father looked at his boy and said, “That’s right, son, and Jesus walked everywhere he went!”
When it comes to obedience 2 out of 3 is not good enough!!
Whatever the Father wants us to do…we need to do it...without reservations or excuses.
Sometimes we want an explanation or reason for everything God wants us to do…But God doesn’t owe that to us.
Instant obedience will teach more about God than a lifetime of Bible discussions.
In fact, you will never understand some commands until you obey them first.
Howard Hendricks has correctly discovered, "There is no such thing as a correspondence course for swimming."
If you want to swim you must get in the pool. Obedience requires "getting wet."
Obedience unlocks understanding.
There is a German Proverb which says “Begin to weave and God will provide the thread.”
Would you be willing to say to God right now:
“I will obey you wholeheartedly.”
God used Paul and Silas and Timothy incredibly…to reach Europe…and to impact our lives!!
Why?
Because Paul was willing to give God his future…no holding back!
What about you?
What is God is calling you to do?
Where is He calling you to go?
As someone once said: "God’s will will never lead you where His grace cannot keep you"!
The best place in this earth to be is squarely in the will of God.
Have you ever given somebody a blank signed check?
Have you ever given one to your wife or husband?
Have you ever given one to your children or a close friend?
Only if you trusted them!
What about God would you be willing to give Him a blank check?
Concl:
One of the great Christian leaders of the 20th century was Bill Bright, the founder of the Campus Crusade for Christ (who passed away recently).
Through Crusade staff around the world, the Four Spiritual Laws tract, and the Jesus film (seen by over 4 billion people), more than 150 million people have to come to Christ and will spend eternity in heaven.
Bill Bright was once asked, “Why did God use and bless your life so much?”
He said, “When I was a young man, I made a contract with God. I literally wrote it out and signed my name at the bottom.”
“It said, ‘From this day forward, I am a slave of Jesus Christ.’”
Have you ever signed a contract like that with God?
Or are you still arguing and struggling with God over his right to do with your life as He pleases?
Now is the time to sign on the dotted line…to surrender your future to Jesus Christ!
When you do, God will use you to change your world!!!
What is God’s will for your life?
· Relationship with Christ
· Relationship with other believers
· Readiness to trust and obey whatever God has for your life!!
Point to Ponder: Begin to weave and God will provide the thread.
Verse to Remember: “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Heb 11:6 niv
Question to Consider: Since God knows what is best, in what areas of my life do I need to trust Him most?
(from Surrendering Your Life for God’s Pleasure:Surrendering Your Future 2/2005)
ILLUSTRATION
Blow Dryer Slows Speeding Cars Send to printer
Topics: Assumptions; Cause and effect; Conduct; Conscience; Consequences; Conviction; Disobedience; Guilt; Haste; Human condition; Human nature; Impatience; Law; Lawlessness; Nature of human beings; Obedience; Self-control; Sin; Sin, conviction of; Sinful nature
Filters: Humor; Stories
References: John 15:22-24, John 16:8, Romans 2:12-15, Romans 3:20, James 2:9-10
Tone: Neutral/Mixed
Dale Rooks, a school crossing guard in Florida, tried everything to get cars to slow down through the school zone. But nothing worked…until he took a blow dryer and wrapped it in electrical tape, making it look like a radar gun.
Dale just points the thing at cars, and it's incredible how quickly they hit the brakes.
"It's almost comical," Dale says. "It's amazing how well it works."
The Connection newsletter, ChristianityToday.com (9-8-04); submitted by Jennifer M. Scott, Carol Stream, Illinois
Seeing Yourself in a Sermon Printer view
Average User Rating: Not yet rated
Topics: Bible, Conviction, Disobedience, Preaching, Scripture, Sermon, Sin, avoidance of, Sin, conviction of
Filters: Christian Culture, Humor, Stories
References: Isaiah 66:2, Acts 7:51, Ephesians 6:19-20, Hebrews 4:12
Tone: Warn
Following the Sunday morning service, the pastor stood at the back of the church, shaking hands with the worshipers as they left. As one man shook hands, he looked intently at the pastor and said, "Powerful sermons, Pastor. Thoughtful, well researched. I can always see myself in them…and I want you to knock it off."
From a cartoon by Lee Johnson, The Best Cartoons from Leadership Journal, Volume 1 (Broadman &
Wizard of Oz…
Watch scene where Dorothy is confused and doesn’t know which way to go…
Dorothy needed to follow the directions she had been given…follow the yellow brick road…
We need to follow what we have been told….
Use crab illustration…breaking of comfort zones…911
Karate Kid video…wax on wax off
Maria is a failure as a nun. The Mother Superior sends her off in answer to a letter from a retired naval captain for a governess for his seven children. She goes to their house and finds that she is the latest in a long line of governesses run off by the children. She teaches the children to sing and that becomes their bonding force, of course leading her to fall in love with their father and marries him. As this is happening Austria votes to be assumed by Germany on the eve of World war II.
Maria had longed to be a nun since she was a young girl, yet when she became old enough discovered that it wasn't at all what she thought. Often in trouble and doing the wrong things, Maria is sent to the house of a retired naval captain, named Captain Von Trapp, to care for his children. Von Trapp was widowed several years before and was left to care for seven 'rowdy' children. The children have run off countless governesses. Maria soon learns that all these children need is a little love to change their attitudes. Maria teaches the children to sing, and through her, music is brought back into the hearts and home of the Von Trapp family. Unknowingly, Maria and Captain Von Trapp are falling helplessly in love, except there are two problems, the Captain is engaged, and Maria is a postulant! Written by Katy Richardson