Acts 15:36-16:40 | "Power in Process"

Public Reading of Scripture

Acts 16:6–10 ESV

6 And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7 And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. 8 So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

Pray

Introduction to Theme

God sends, God empowers, God directs and guides.

But what do you do when you believe that, but you don’t feel that?

What do you do when God’s guidance is unrecognizable? When you aren’t clear on where to go next? Or how to do what you believe God has called you to do?

God does not always guide us in ways we would prefer.

If it were up to us, we would have God speak to us in visions of angels with clear instructions, to know the outcome and how to get there.

But God sometimes guides through a process.

A process can be frustrating — a process doesn’t provide answers before their time. A process will force us to trust God in the midst of the unknown.

God guides Paul through a process to the places where he needs to be but it is not an easy process.

Introduction to Text

After God had led the church to resolve an important theological question about salvation in a way that brought joy and peace to the church - in a way that didn’t put any greater burdens on Gentiles who wanted to follow Jesus — Paul himself becomes entangled in what the Bible calls a “sharp disagreement” with Barnabas.

This intense argument is not over a difference in doctrine, but a difference in partnerships.

Paul wanted to visit the churches in every city where he and Barnabas had proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they were (15:36).

Barnabas wanted to take John called Mark with them. But Paul said “No” because John had left them in their earlier travels and had not gone with them to the work (15:38).

In Acts 15 the church as a whole has to work through disagreement, and now on an individual level Paul and Barnabas must do the same.

Their disagreement becomes so severe that they separate. They part ways.

Barnabas takes John called Mark with him to Cyprus, and Paul takes Silas with him through Syria and Cilicia.

On a human level, there is nothing good about this disagreement and separation. But God redeemed it, by creating two missionary teams instead of just one (Keener). It is yet another reminder that God is in control of all things and can redeem what seems unredeemable and can bring something good out of something bad.

As Paul and Silas travel, they come to Derbe and Lystra where they meet a disciple named Timothy.

Timothy has a Jewish mother, but a Greek father. He is well spoken of by the brothers there and Paul wants Timothy to accompany him.

In Timothy, Paul finds someone to invest in, and to train up in ministry.

After all the debate about whether or not circumcision is required of Gentiles, and it was decided that it is not — Paul circumcises Timothy — not because it is a requirement for salvation, but for the sake of his ability to minister among the Jews, who knew Timothy’s father was a Greek.

Paul prevents what would have been a barrier for Timothy’s ministry. But that was no easy undertaking for Timothy. It was a painful part of a process to prepare him for what lies ahead.

This group visits the churches and finds them being strengthened and growing in numbers daily. Another reminder of God’s approval and blessing the churches.

I. Acts 16:6

Then Paul, Silas and Timothy want to go on to Asia — To continue carrying the gospel of Jesus Christ to places it has not yet been. To witness for Jesus to those who do not know him!

Paul thinks strategically.

If he travels to important cities with a diversity of people — intersections of government, travel and trade — then the message of Jesus can be planted in a place where the gospel can naturally be exposed to a greater number of peoples and cultures and lands. That city will become a launching point for gospel advancement.

Asia has a capital that is such a strategic city, and Paul wants to preach the word there. The capital of Asia is a port city called Ephesus (NIVAC, 433).

Perhaps they might go and plant a church there? And minister to the Ephesians? And tell them:

Ephesians 2:8–9 ESV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

That was Paul’s intention. That was Paul’s plan. That was Paul’s timeline. That is what Paul wanted to do, and it was within the scope of God’s purpose for him. It was a plan that agreed with God’s calling on his life.

Jesus set Paul apart to be an ambassador for His name to the Gentiles. A “chosen instrument” of Christ for this very purpose! (Acts 9:15). And Ephesus is one of those important Gentile cities! Ephesus needs to know Jesus!

But Paul and his company encounter resistance.

It’s not a resistance of persecution. It’s not threats on their lives. It’s not armies or mobs.

Instead, the one standing in their way, preventing them from doing what God had called them to do, was none other than God Himself!

Acts 16:6 ESV

6 And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia.

Notice carefully that the Holy Spirit did not prevent them from going to Asia, but in a more puzzling way, the Holy Spirit forbids them specifically from speaking the word in Asia.

How frustrating!

To literally have their plans frustrated! To be kept — by God — from doing what they were set apart and sent out to do — by God!

If you look closely at the text, you’ll notice that “having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit” implies that they tried to go to Asia.

But it became clear that the Holy Spirit would not have them to go there.

There is no indication of how the Holy Spirit prevented them from speaking the word in Asia.

Already, Acts has recorded the Spirit as speaking but here it doesn’t say the Spirit spoke. There is no clear message of instruction. No details are given!

And this adds to the frustration as readers because we want to know that when God guides us, it will be with clear directions. We want to know that God won’t waste our time and efforts in ministry — that God will save us from wasted energies.

But it may very well be, that God prevented them from speaking the word in Asia by frustrating their plans and attempts to go to Asia in the first place!

It could be that every time they turned to travel there, God made them sick, or an emergency arose, and they simply could not go.

After all, what would it take to stop the apostle Paul from proclaiming the gospel?

He wasn’t swayed by threats or persecution or certain opposition. Surely he knew the kind of resistance that awaited him — why else would he have been so adamant with Barnabas that Mark not go with them because Mark already had a history of quitting.

Mark quit before Iconium where an attempt was made to stone Paul and Barnabas. Mark quit before Lystra where Paul was stoned and left for dead.

Is God contradicting Himself in all of this?

Didn’t Jesus say “you will be my witnesses …to the end of the earth?” (Acts 1:8) Doesn’t that mean that all the earth is fair game for gospel proclamation?

If so, then what is the Holy Spirit of God doing by preventing them from speaking the word in Asia?

God is the One who removes barriers to gospel advancement, not One who stands in the way of it!

When the disciples prevented children from coming to Jesus, Jesus said “Do not hinder them” (Mt 19:14).

When the disciples saw someone casting out demons in Jesus’ name and tried to stop him from doing it because he was not following with them, Jesus said “Do not stop him” (Mk 9:39).

When someone takes your cloak, Jesus said do not withhold your tunic either (Lk 6:29).

But here is the Holy Spirit preventing, hindering, even forbidding them from speaking the word in Asia.

So verse 6 says they “went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia.”

That word “went through” or “travelled through” implies “extensive and thorough movement throughout an area— ‘to journey all through.’” (LN).

They are exhausting what options they have left. Their plan has been upended.

In a way, they are wondering aimlessly, but yet making the most of what opportunities are before them.

II.Acts 16:7-8

Acts 16:7 ESV

7 And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them.

With their first plan and attempt into Asia — God stopped them.

Now, with their second plan and attempt to go into Bithynia — God stopped them again!

This time, the Holy Spirit is called “the Spirit of Jesus” so that we as hearers know that this preventing work is the work of the same Jesus who called Paul to this work!

What are you doing, Lord?

This has to be frustrating for Paul and his friends.

The word “did not allow them” is a different word from the word “forbidden” in verse 6.

This word is a word in verse 7 is a word of permission.

It may be that Paul enquired of the Lord whether or not they could minister in Bithynia but they were denied.

There is a conflict between what they are attempting to do, and intending to do, and what Jesus is allowing them to do, and permitting them to do.

He would expect resistance form others, but not from the One who called Him!?

If you’ve ever been frustrated in your Christian walk, because what you expected doesn’t materialize, or your Christian journey doesn’t look like someone else’s, this Scripture can give you comfort.

Frustrations in your plans do not represent God’s absence.

God is as present in His preventing as he is in his enabling.

Jesus said “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Mt 28:20).

God may reveal to us His plans by leading us through a process that we will not understand.

A process by which our own good intentions are at odds with the guidance of the Spirit.

The Spirit of Jesus is not leading Paul by the hand and directing him to the preplanned waypoints on his journey.

Instead the Spirit of Jesus is letting Paul wander, and when Paul attempts to go to a place that the Lord doesn’t want him to go, the Lord prevents him from going there, without giving directions on where to go next.

The Lord is guiding by eliminating options and removing choices so that there is only one way left to go!

They can’t go Southwest into Asia, they can’t go North into Bithynia, they’ve already travelled through all the Eastern regions — the only way to go now is directly West.

Acts 16:8 ESV

8 So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas.

This word “passing by” is a different word than what is used in verse 6 when the text says they “went through” Phyrgia and Galatia.

Now they are not traveling extensively through, or being thorough, now they are passing by.

Just as livestock is herded into a specific direction, they are being maneuvered not by the positive guidance of God, but the negative guidance of God.

Not the guidance that says “go here…” but the guidance that says “you can’t go here.”

But all of that change once in Troas — we’ve learned how God positions His people to be where they need to be at the right time. And so it is, once in Troas —

III. Acts 16:9

Acts 16:9 ESV

9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”

This vision is so important because it is the first positive direction or leading they have received so far.

Paul is likely frustrated as a leader at this point, even embarrassed (Keener, Acts). He’s separated from Barnabas, has a new team, and appears to be wondering aimlessly.

And now finally some direction is given leading them further West into Macedonia but they still do not have the clear leading they would like.

IV. Acts 16:10

Acts 16:10 ESV

10 And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

Notice that word “concluding.”

It’s a word that means “to bring together, to unite, to combine” (LN).

For them, this guidance of the Spirit was a process not a plan. They did not know what to do until they could put pieces together.

We were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to into Asia, the Spirit of Jesus did not allow us to go into Bithynia, here we are in Troas and Paul sees a vision — it must be that this is where the Lord wants us to go! But you can hear a bit of uncertainty still because they are working the process. They are putting the pieces together.

This text is profitable for us when we are in seasons of wandering not having a clear direction from God!

God is guiding even when we don’t feel like He is!

God is guiding even when it is not with clear words, or open doors, or definite visions.

God guides even in silence, even with the closing of doors, even with uncertain visions.

God guides even through disappointments (G.Campbell Morgan, Acts, 375).

If we believe that the only way God guides us is through that which is light, and unmistakable, when our emotions are high, when direction is clear, then we may never be guided by God who may guide us when things are dark, when mistakes are made, when we are depressed and direction is all but clear.

People say “God spoke to me — it wasn’t with an audible voice but I know it was Him.” But if that’s all you look for, you may miss His guidance! God doesn’t always guide that way!

God is calling us all to have a confidence in Him, that He is with us, that He is guiding us — always. Our confidence is not in the way He guides us, but our confidence is in Him, who guides us.

The difficulties of our walk with God, the walls that we run into, are opportunities for faith and trust (GCM).

As one person said, “It is better to go to Troas with God, than anywhere else without Him.” (G.Campbell Morgan, Acts, 377).

Conclusion

What Paul, Silas, and Timothy could not see in their wanderings, was what God had already worked in Macedonia and prepared a work for them in a city there called Philippi.

In Philippi they would find a woman named Lydia — and God opened Lydia’s heart to pay attention to what they had to say.

What Paul, Silas, and Timothy could not see in their wanderings, was that they would be beaten and thrown into prison, where they would worship and sing hymns in the night — where they would be freed by an earthquake and prevent the jailer from ending his own life out of fear —

so that in response to his question: “Sirs, what must I do to be saved” they might say “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” And that jailer and his household believed in God.

What Paul, Silas, and Timothy could not see in their wanderings, was that they would later speak the word in Asia, and in Ephesus. And what would happen in Ephesus would require Paul to have a maturity and experience in ministry that he did not yet have.

God was preparing Paul through a process. The Holy’s Spirit’s forbidding was not a “No forever” but a “No for now.”

It was not an eternal prohibition. He was not prevented forever, but prevented for the moment. Not yet. Not in this time. Not in this journey.

God is teaching us to trust Him. To believe that God goes before us, and prepares hearts for the work that is to come.

God is teaching us again to wait before we go. To follow where He first leads.

Salvation came to many because Paul trusted God’s process.

The same is true of our salvation.

It is a process.

When we believe in Jesus — his death for sin, burial and resurrection to life — we are changed, we are born again, we have new life.

But then begins a process by which God continues to transform us to make us like Jesus.

It is a slow process — at times a painful process. It is a process that will in time find fulfillment when Jesus comes again and we are forever with Him.

Don’t despise the process of God.

Don’t despise his guidance when it doesn’t come in the form you hoped for.

God sends, God empowers, God directs and guides.

Even when you don’t feel that, believe that — and trust God in the process.