On the Nature of Conversion

MAIN POINT - God converts some through the faithfulness of God-fearing parenting.

CONTEXT

Paul’s missionary team is forming. First, we saw at the end of Chapter 15, that when Paul and Barnabas separate into 2 missionary teams, Paul quickly brings Silas to his side -

Now as Paul and Silas’ mission begins, they head to Derbe & Lystra. Paul and Barnabas had already been there the previous year. The first visit didn’t go so well. Paul had been beaten and dragged outside the city to be left for dead. There was little evidence that the Gospel broken through there.

But we must never doubt God’s work through us, even when things look unimpressive or bleak. It was during that campaign that Lois, Eunice and Timothy were likely converted to Christ - Paul may have not even known it.

This is comforting to me - sometimes it take time before we see any evidence of God’s work in people’s lives.

WHAT WE KNOW OF TIMOTHY -

His mother was a believing Jewish woman and his father was a Greek. - The way the text is structured and the tense of the text suggests that Timothy’s dad was not converted, and probably had passed some time ago.

Timothy’s growth in the Gospel was largely due to the faithfulness of his mother Eunice and Grandmother, Lois.

, Paul commands Timothy to fan into flame the gift of God that was in him. Paul grounds this on the evidence of Timothy’s faith that was due to the deep faith of his mother and grandmother.

Paul and Timothy’s Relationship

If know much about Paul and his letters in the NT, you know that Timothy would play a big part in his ministry.

He is mentioned in 11 of the 13 letters he wrote.

He often stayed behind to establish the churches that formed via Paul’s missionary efforts He would train up elders and deacons before rejoining Paul.

Father/Son Relationship - - “my true child in the faith” “My beloved child” “my beloved and faithful child in the Lord”

Paul, no doubt, stood in the gap that was left open by his father’s spiritual & physical absence.

MAIN POINT - God converting work often comes through the faithfulness of God-fearing parenting.

We must never dismiss the power & influence of a parent. I have been counseling now for several years and I can tell that no one person has a greater impact (negatively or positively) on a child than his/her parents.

We see this reality lived out everywhere in the world

I say this often:

Parents who stumble and bumble through family devotions or catechisms are way more influential than the slick curriculum that is thrust upon our children in the school systems.

Parents who endure the shuffling and cerfuffling of their children in the isles during worship deserve a special crown.

Parents who love Jesus and His Church above all other priorities will immeasurably shape their kids priorities in the future.

In most cases, the only thing radical about the conversion stories of children of believing parents is the marker stains on your dress clothes and the strung out hair when you tuck them in at night.

Stay the course…my friends....stay the course.

CONTEXT - v.6-10

Paul and his missionary alliance we skowering the Greek landscape and strengthening the churches that has been planted as a result of his first missionary campaign.

Interesting things begin to happen in the middle of his 2nd Journey. Paul had intended to go north to Galatia and then slightly west into what was then called Asia.

These areas would provide at least a ground to strengthen their work. In most cases, when Paul or Barnabas would enter a city, they would go the local synagogue first. This gave them something of a toe hold.

But the Spirit had prevented them from going to these places. Rather, in a vision, God would call them to go Macedonia.

Macedonia was a cosmopolitan center and was deeper into Greek culture. As was all of the Roman Empire, this as a Spiritually dark place with pagan worship around every corner.

The Jewish influence was sparse at best.

They stood at the gate of the city of Philippi for days…”what are we doing here?”

sometimes where we start our missionary efforts is hard to discern.

Sabbath rolls around and they head out by the river to meet with the local synagogue. There were only women there praying.

It took 10 men to sanction a true synagogue.

They meet Lydia.

God-fearing woman

[Dealer of purple] - Affluent and probably very influential

Not exactly certain why God sent them to a seemingly unfruitful place to preach the Gospel, they carry on any way. They preach the Gospel to these women

God opens Lydia’s heart to respond to the Gospel and her household - probably servants and extended family, believed as well.

She took them to her home as a base of operations for the missionary efforts.

MAIN POINT - God converting work come through seemingly unimpressive or seemingly unfruitful missionary assignments.

It would appear on the outside that what Paul, Timothy and Silas had gotten themselves into was a dead end.

All this way for just 1 Convert? Really God?

William Carey, considered the father of modern missions, was a Particular Baptist [Reformed] who formed the Baptist Missionary Society. It took years for him to convince his Baptist brethren of the importance of missionary work across the globe.

He would be the first Baptist missionary to go to India. The results were not that impressive at first. This didn’t help considering there were many detractors of Carey.

It would take several years before he would see the first Indian convert.

So the answer to the question, “you want us to go all that way? The Answer is yes

Commentary upon the Acts of the Apostles Chapter 16

When they enter the chief city, they find none there with whom they may take any pains; therefore they are enforced to go into the field, that they may speak in an obscure corner and wilderness. Yea, even there they cannot have one man which will hearken to their doctrine; they can only have one woman to be a disciple of Christ, and that one which was an alien. Who would not have said that this journey was taken in hand foolishly which fell out so unhappily? But the Lord doth thus bring to pass his works under a base and weak kind, that his power may shine more clearly at length; and it was most meet that the beginnings of the kingdom of Christ should be so ordered, that they might taste [savour] of the humility of the cross

Commentary upon the Acts of the Apostles Chapter 16

When they enter the chief city, they find none there with whom they may take any pains; therefore they are enforced to go into the field, that they may speak in an obscure corner and wilderness. Yea, even there they cannot have one man which will hearken to their doctrine; they can only have one woman to be a disciple of Christ, and that one which was an alien. Who would not have said that this journey was taken in hand foolishly which fell out so unhappily? But the Lord doth thus bring to pass his works under a base and weak kind, that his power may shine more clearly at length; and it was most meet that the beginnings of the kingdom of Christ should be so ordered, that they might taste [savour] of the humility of the cross

Commentary upon the Acts of the Apostles Chapter 16

When they enter the chief city, they find none there with whom they may take any pains; therefore they are enforced to go into the field, that they may speak in an obscure corner and wilderness. Yea, even there they cannot have one man which will hearken to their doctrine; they can only have one woman to be a disciple of Christ, and that one which was an alien. Who would not have said that this journey was taken in hand foolishly which fell out so unhappily? But the Lord doth thus bring to pass his works under a base and weak kind, that his power may shine more clearly at length; and it was most meet that the beginnings of the kingdom of Christ should be so ordered, that they might taste [savour] of the humility of the cross

But lest we become short sighted, let’s consider this:

But

The modest beginning of this Philippian Church would prove to be one of the most loyal to Paul all the way up until his execution.

Targeting large population centers, such as Nashville and Rutherford County does not guarantee success in terms of conversions.

BUT we must be like the Apostles, faithful in our calling, even if it appears to be unattractive at first glance.

It was the faithful exposition of the Scriptures that brought Lydia to faith…no smoke screens or light shows.

CONTEXT

As the story continues and the Gospel takes deeper root in the Philippian metro area, no doubt people were hearing about this new found group who were praying each Sabbath. This faith was a strong departure from the pantheon of religious activity that was practiced in Macedonia.

A Slave Girl under the control of a spirit who told fortunes and she made money for he slave owners.

These kinds of stories tend to offend our modern sensibilities. In our highly “rational” worldview of today, we tend to discount stories like this.

In our highly “rational” worldview of today, we tend to discount stories like this.

But should we?

Were these tales from ignorance? people who simply didn’t know better and operated and interpreted the world from ignorance?

No! If so, then why is pretty the entire framework of our western thinking built on philosphers that predate this encounter…guys like Socrates, Aristotle, Plato?

Or what about Jesus? This story is very similar to encounters recorded in the Gospels where Jesus is harrassed by men with demonic spirits? If you discount Jesus, then you have to discount everything. You can’t piece mill together your preferred Savior. You take him at his Word revealed in the authority of the Scriptures or you don’t take him at all!

Are we as rational as we think we are? Maybe we are not as evolved as we think? Look around us? We discount plain science just to boilster our own worldview or we boilster incomplete science to do the same. BE CAREFUL!

3 Things stand out

She has a “spirit” - Spirit of Pythona which was the god of this region. It was believed that there a special connect between Apollos and snakes because he defeated a massive Python! The spirit of Pythona was said to inhabit varying people in the region. Here, that spirit was in this slave girl and apparently under the control of a money grubbing slave owners.

She tells fortunes - Part of her abilities was to see the future. She made money for herself and her masters with this divination. We have probably driven past a “palm reader” establishment at one point or another. The roots of this practice extend from this.

She is “owned” by someone who takes advantage of her divination - She is doubly oppressed! As powerful as she is, she controlled and used for the financial gain of some owners.

Paul grows tired of her mockery and he shows her indeed how Great His God actually is…far superior than the puny god who is possessed by.

In the Name of Jesus, she is freed from her spiritually oppressed state and becomes the 2nd member of the Philippian Church. Her owners had no claim over her life any longer

MAIN POINT - God converts some found in deep demonic darkness and oppression.

The regenerating power of the Spirit that saves people is not thwarted by the darkness of our world. He can reach in and save anyone at any time!

This is good reminder to us! That our world is a bleak place.

I was shocked out of my own lethargy the past couple weeks.

The wickedness demonstrated by our world and our government. We have a message that we must declare into all parts of our world and government. When a governor in NY basically taunts the masses and demands an abortion bill that is one of the most progressive to date, that essentially justifies the killing of a child with no reasonable scientific reasoning…we are well past being a RATIONAL Society!

The enemy means business! We must mean business too.

there is a reason the darkness of the world bites when we speak the truth! Sin is profitable!

Sticking with the Abortion Industry, we are talking about a billion dollar industry. We will get kick back yall!

We must NOT allow the darkness we face to put us on our heals.

WE ARE NOT TALKING MERE POLITICS…BUT THE TRUTH OF GOD!

Jesus said that the gates of hell will stand against his church!

We are not armed with water guns folks, we are Word of God and the Spirit of God!

CONTEXT

The conversion of the Slave girl and the end of financial oppression saw Paul and Silas being put into prison!

But this imprisonment will be yet another example of God’s converting power!

We notice that Paul and his team begin to have a bit of a worship service! Praying all night!

They are right where God wanted them!

This Jailor was a slave of a different ilk. He was likely someone who worked in a system that required him to do things that were unconscienible

He was a slave to fear! He lived in fear of messing up! Perhaps not being about to provide for his family!

God intervenes into this man’s slavery to fear!

A violent earthquake shook the jail so much that it provided an opportunity for Paul and Silas to escape

When the Jailor awoke and realized the jail was compromised, he lost all hope…He would be better off dead he must of thought than to lose his job and his ability to provide for his family.

Perhaps some of us have felt similar desperation!

MAIN POINT - God converts some found in hopeless life circumstances.

Some of us in here…most of us in here…live in the tyranny of the “now!”

It’s the fear of “getting by”. That is our world today!

The

The Gospel is the Good News that now is not all there is! God is good and he will not let us people lack the things they need.

There is wisdom in financial planning/retirement planning

BUT NOT WHEN OUR ENTIRE HOPE IS PUT IN THAT!

The Gospel is the Good News that shines the light on our idolatry to things, comfort, security! God is a sure escape from that idolatry!

FOR THOSE WHO DON’T BELIEVE

Hear the Good News of the Gospel!

Repent of any thing that steers you away from dependence on the One True God and His marvelous & matchless Grace!

This is common thread that runs through all these conversion stories!

FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BELIEVED

Preach the Gospel in all things

There is no one anywhere that has converted that did so without the Gospel being told to them in some way!

2. Trust God’s movement through our life and stay the course.

On the Nature of Conversion

Timothy’s Conversion [16:1-5]

Lydia’s Conversion [16:6-15]

The Slave Girl’s Conversion [v.16-24]

The Jailer’s Conversion [v.25-34]

CONCLUSION: What must you do to be saved?