THE FIRST

THREE CHRISTIANS

IN EUROPE

 

ACTS 16

 

Introduction:  Paul and his group did some kind of traveling before they arrived at Philippi.  Get you a map of the journeys of Paul and notice the traveling.  By the way, it was not by “Greyhound” or “Trailways.” Look at the distance, From Antioch in Pisadia to Troas, it was 800 to 900 miles.  This was interrupted by the Holy Spirit telling them in 16:6 not to preach in Asia. They continued to travel and the Holy Spirit again suffred them not to preach in Bithynia.

Question: Why did the Holy Spirit NOT tell them where NOT to go way back in Antioch in Pisadia?  What an apparent waste of good time for these important servants of God.  Finally, when they had traveled over 800 miles, they came to Troas and it was here that they had a vision.  Let me just list these three little events.

1. 16:6...”forbidden of the Holy Ghost”  [we would have immediately deducted that there was “sin in the camp.”] .

2. 16:7...”Spirit suffered them not”  

3. 16:9....”vision appeared to Paul in the night” 

It might encourage all of us to know that:

a. Livingston was going to China and God led him to Africa.

b. Carey was going to south Seas and god sent him to India. 

c. Judson was goin to India and then he was driven to Burma. 

 

Remember, all of this has to do with reaching 3 people. 

1. I find it terribly interesting that the Holy Spirit never told them WHERE to do until they reached Troas.  Ofcourse, they were right on the edge of the ocean, for they could not move without walking into the water.  

2. They did not associate a NO by the Holy Spirit as a sign that they were out of fellowship or out of the will of God. They did not huddle down together and begin to point the finger at each other.  I remember in past years where one of the most notable television preacher got up and told the audience specifically as to the place where the new luxury hotel was to be built.  Can you imagine with your wildest imagination the Holy Spirit caring about where a luxury hotel was to be built?  I have noticed that modern day television preachers have far more “spiritual insight than the Apostle Paul.”  

 

THE OBEDIENCE OF THE SERVANT OF GOD   Acts 16:10-11

1. Obedience:

a. Everything turned on the “obedience” of the Apostle Paul, not his insightful knowledge of how to organize a local church or some method, but merely on the simple, well worn word called OBEDIENCE.  

b. In any work of God there is always the OBEDIENCE of some servant of God, not some board or elder board.  Now, these elders and deacons should be helpers, but again, it is always the obedience of some man.  

c. I might mention also that obedience is not always easy and flowing and gentle and dove-tailing as we often heard.  I wish you would read Acts 16:11-12. Listen folks, it was over 150 miles from Troas to Neapolis and then another lengthy walk from Neapolis to Philippi.  I learn in this trip from Troas to Philippsi that SWEAT AND OBEDIENCE are not INCOMPATIBLE.  They are friends.   

 

2, Obedience and The will of God.  

a. God never leads without providing a BOAT.  Note v. 11.  Hey, boats were not just sitting around waiting for you, but in this case, the boat was provided.  WHEN THE DOOR OPENS YOU WILL FIND THE WAY OR THE BOAT.  I might mention that it took 2 days rather than the 5 days that it took later on. 

b. Note that being in the will of God and obeying the voice of God meant they had to walk the 10 miles from Neapolis to Philippi and when they got to Philippi, the local Howard Johnson motel was full.  If you think this is bad, then also remember that when they arrived in Philippi after this vision and long walk and no place to stay.....that the Bible tells us they were there “certain days.” [16:12] What urgency on the part of God.  I forgot also to mention that there was no local synagogue in the city, so their first city wide evangelistic meeting in Philippi was held down by the “river side” with a few men and women.....because Jewish law required that you could not have a synagogue without 10 males.  Now, to top it all off, the Word of God says they“spoke unto some women” who came for the tent revival. [v.13]

1. Lesson: I mention all of this for the benefit of those of you who think that the word Holy Spirit means drums, large horns, noise, cymbals and excitement.  You could not get anything more dull than what we have just mentioned and yet this whole story is filled with nothing but OBEDIENCE and the WILL OF GOD.  PAUL HAD NO SMALL GROUP SYNDROME.  I have personally known men who would not come to a town because they could not guarantee a certain attendance.

2. Lesson For Men:  Like it or not, the Gospel in Europe began with a WOMAN.  She was the first convert in Europe.  I think you should realize what God thinks about women as to being “second class citizens.”  God will begin to reach Europe through a saved, born again WOMAN.  [wow]

 

THE CONVERSION OF LYDIA.  Acts 16:14-15   [there were steps]

1. First, the SOWER OF THE GOSPEL  16:13

a. “began speaking to the women”  v. 13   The sower here is “low keyed” for it says “he sat down and spoke unto the women which resorted thither.”  This is a conversational communication of The Gospel.  

2. Second, the PUTTING OUT OF THE SEED v. 13

3. Third, THE GROUND ON WHICH IT FELL v. 14

a. Actually, the little phrase “heard us” should read, “was listening.”  The ground then is Lydia who is listening to what is being said.   I also would mention that “heard us” is in perfect tense....which means she allowed the words to come to her ears. 

4. Fourth, THE GERMINATION OF THE SEED  v. 14

a. “Lord opened her heart” v. 14  [this is what I understand the “first time”this phrase is mentioned in Acts....”opened her heart.”  Paul MAKES NO CONVERTS....for the “Lord opened her heart.  The power rests in the MESSAGE, not the MESSENGER.  We really have forgotten this in evangelical circles.  It is the Word of God which is “quick and powerful” and not me or you.  

b. Let Paul speak on this matter for those who are overly concerned about their elocution, presentation, approach to the platform etc.  I Cor 2:3-5 says:  “And I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  and I was with you in weakness and in fear and ibn much trembling.  And my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power....that your faith should not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.”     [Paul SPEAKS the Word, the woman LISTENS and GOD opens THE HEART].

c. The three little words that mark the conversion of Lydia.

1. “heard us”   [that is your responsibility....and it means she was listening to Paul....she allowed the words to come into her ears. 

2. “heart opened”  [As she listened, the Lord opened her heart.  I might mention here that there is “no such thing” as you opening your hear to the Lord.  Luke 24:44.

3. “she attended”  [this means that she paid attention...she was heeding what what she heard. Question: How do you get from “hearing” to “heeding?”  You get there through the Sov.. act of God whereby He opens your heart. It really is simple.  Paul was TALKING the Word, Lydia was LISTENING and God OPENS her heart and then Lydia HEEDED the Word. 

a. Paul then was doing his part, for it says, “we sat down and began speaking”  v. 13

b. Lydia was doing her part, for “she was listening”

c. God was doing His part, for “He opened her heart” v. 14

d. Conclusion  16:15

1, In the book of Acts, the first act of obedience following salvation is BAPTISM and NOT the Lord’s Table.  The evidence of this is Cornelious, Lydia, the Phil. Jailer.  Acts 10:47-48, Acts 16:30 and Acts 16:15

2. “besought us”  v. 15  [this is a very strong word meaning to use some form of force to accomplish something.  Note how natural....when Lydia got saved, she wanted the apostles to stay in her home.  Paul never mentioned it, which is in itself somewhat different from my approach.  I would have talked about the big rooms, the kitchen and how nice it was....hoping to be invited to stay.  I most likely would have mentioned that since she was wealthy, this would be good atmosphere as to preaching the Word.  People “would come to a home where there is wealth, success.”  Paul never mentioned anything, but the woman really put pressure on them to stay.  I always did like to be around other believers when I came to Christ.  They are MY PEOPLE.   

 

THE CONVERSION OF THE PYTHONESS  Acts 16:16-18 

1. Her Characteristics Acts 16:16

a. I want to make it quite clear in the light of evangelical thinking today, that this girl was NOT INSANE.  She was not fraudulent.  She was DEMON POSSESSED.  You will notice that the Apostle Paul never treated her condition as something “mental” or “emotional” or as something “in her genes or past that had gone wrong.”  Today, we would be medicating her brains with pills.

2. Her Knowledge of the Truth 16:17

a. she referred to Paul as “bond servants of the Most High God...who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation.”  Every word she spoke was TRUE.  If you would like to know more about what demons know, then turn to Mark 1:24, 3:11, 5:7 and Luke 4:34.  

1. There is a subtle side of this:  Since she was saying nearly all truth or if she had been saying 7 out of 10 true things...we today would not condemn them.  We learn from this pythoness woman that GOD NEVER WANTS PUBLICITY FROM THE UNSAVED....EVEN IF IT IS RIGHT. It is NOT true that “truth wins, whoever utters it.”  If you want to know what Paul thought about unsaved, wicked people telling the truth, then note the little word, “Paul being grieved or sore troubled.”  Paul was troubled because she was telling the truth, but she was lost.

2.  Here is the Principle:  GOD WILL HAVE NO TESTIMONY OF TRUTH WHICH IS NOT SPOKEN BY THOSE WHO ARE TRUE.  We are to refuse the patronage of lost people when it attempts to even tell the truth about our Lord and Savior.

3. Her Salvation.     Acts 16:18

a. It should be noted that when the demons came out of the girl, her FORTUNE TELLING ABILITY LEFT HER.  When that ability left her, then the material gain also left her.  

b. I love Acts 16:19.....because it gives us a clear picture of the girl following the removal of demons from her, “and when her masters SAW that their hope of profit was GONE.’ I like the fact that the change in the girl was EVIDENT to all.  Listen, the unsaved world can see the change. If this is not a testimony of the New Birth, then I am out to sea.  This girl was transformed, changed.  Even the masters noticed the change.  

4. We must stop here and note the TWO METHODS of the Devil.  [ There really are only TWO methods or approaches of the devil].

a. The first is INFILTRATION.  It is the attempt of the devil at ALLIANCE with the forces of Jesus.  Infiltration did not work here, but I must say that usually infiltration works.This is called an attack from WITHIN.  This is what I would call “false friendship.”

b. The second method is PERSECUTION.  This is the direct and brutal hostility. What the devil did to Paul and Silas was brutal, but it did not work.  Persecution usually makes the church stronger.  Persecution is attack from WITHOUT.  

 

THE EARTHQUAKE AND THE JAILER  Acts 16:27-34

1. First, there was a Song in the Night  Acts 16:25  “prayed and sang praises to God”

a. Background for this Praying: They had been stripped naked, beat with rods by men who were called “lictors.”  Placed naked into the inner prison, their legs were spread and shackles placed them in spread position. “fastened their feet in the stocks.” [v.24]

b. The Actual Praise and Prayer: 16:23  Praise and prayers are NOT normal prison sounds.  One writer said, “the legs feel nothing in the stocks when the heart is in heaven.” 

c. How? First, they understood that praising of God DOES NOT depend on circumstances.  It does with me personally, for most of my praise is directly or indirectly connected to my stuff or things or events or good situations. Now that I have cancer of the bones, I have had to learn to genuinely praise Him when the PSA report is horrible.  Remember this about Paul.  He rejoiced in the truth that the SOVEREIGN GOD CONTROLS EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE OF LIFE. . Now folks, this really is Roman 8:28....”the fact that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God.  I personally think that Paul may have added I Peter 5:10 to the event where Peter says, “after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ will Himself PERFECT, CONFIRM, STRENGTHEN and ESTABLISH you.”   

1. The Great lesson:  HOW CHRISTIANS LIVE IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THEIR CONCEPT OF GOD.  [They did not base their theology on their circumstances....but evaluated their circumstances in the light of what they knew to be true about God].

 

2. Second, The Salvation of the Jailer  16:27-34

a. Background: The earthquake occurred, the doors of the jail were opened and then none of the prisoners sought to escape. Question: Have you ever heard of a earthquake that leaves a large building standing, but opens the doors and makes the chains fall off the legs and hands of the prisoners?  

b. The Question:  16:30....”sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

 

1, This is typical with unsaved people....they think they can DO something to get to heaven.  This is because we do not understand our REAL condition.The word “do” is in present tense which indicates an ongoing and habitual action.  What the jailer is saying is this:  “what must I KEEP on doing...what habit of life must I form to be saved?”

c. The Answer:  16:3l...”believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved....”

d. To believe in the Lord Jesus Christ means two things.

1. It means first to believe HE IS WHO HE CLAIMED TO BE.  John 20:31

2. It means secondly to BELIEVE IN WHAT HE DID.  I Cor 15:3-4

e. Definition of BIBLICAL FAITH.  16:31.  It is intelligent believing; It is never blind; It is never “I don’t understand but I believe it.”

1. You cannot have Biblical faith without CONTENT.

2. The total value of the faith resides in the OBJECT.  The f aith never saves, but the object saves you.  

3. The total value of that faith depends on the VALIDITY  of the content. If the content is not true, then the faith is NOT valid.  

4. the content also CREATES faith.  Rom. 10:17 says, “faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.”  [see how the contents helps to creates the faith]. 

5. faith is the ONLY act that is explicitly non-meritous.  Rom. 4:5