The Challenges Of The Call! Acts 16:1-15

Acts 16:1-5 1 Then he came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek. 2 He was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted to have him go on with him. And he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region, for they all knew that his father was Greek. 4 And as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to keep, which were determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.

Acts 16: Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. 7 After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit[a] did not permit them. 8 So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.

Acts 16: Therefore, sailing from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day came to Neapolis, 12 and from there to Philippi, which is the foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a colony. And we were staying in that city for some days. 13 And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there. 14 Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. 15 And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” So she persuaded us.

DECISIONS based on God’s WILL and PURPOSE The very first challenge is …  Holy Spirit Led Decision! – vs 1-3 Jesus Christ was led into the wilderness in Matthew 4:1, “Then Jesus Christ was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” Is temptation a pleasant thing? No! But it was led by the Spirit of God! Paul didn’t allow Titus who was also a Greek to have been circumcised at Jerusalem in Galatians 2:3 which says, “Yet not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.”

What does this CIRCUMCISION stand for in our lives? They are the very PAINS/SHAME/DISAPPOINTMENTS we are subjected to because of the ADVANCEMENT of the GOSPEL!  What is the NEED for this? 1.Avoid contention and opposition – Acts 15:1, Acts 15: “And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient,” - 2 Timothy 2:24. 2.Promote peace and unity “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” - Romans 12:18. “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard,….” - Psalm 133:1-3.

DECISIONS based on God’s WILL and PURPOSE  Submission to The Holy Spirit – vs 6-8 In Matthew 25:23, “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’”  Obedience to The Holy Spirit – vs 9-10 Acts 2:16-18, “But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:…” Hebrews 1:1-2 “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son,…” What are some of the words of His son?  In Acts 1:4-8, “And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem,…. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

What are the BASIC COMPOSITIONS or ELEMENTS found in the VISION, DREAMS and PROPHECY of the Living Lord? A.They are to communicate God’s plan; - Acts 10:3 B.They are to communicate dangers to His plan; and – Acts 10:10-15 C.They are to communicate His guidance to His plan. – Acts 10:19-20 Today, we hear visions, dreams and prophecy that doesn’t communicate God’s plan but people plan in becoming materialistic and greedy. Where are they coming from? Beware of false visions/dreams and prophecy that comes to divide God’s plan for mankind.

In Conclusion Beloved, our intellectual knowledge and understanding is not powerful nor greater than the DECISIONS of God’s Holy Spirit. And for us to “GROW TOGETHER” and fulfill God’s will, we will NEED: Holy Spirit Led Decisions Submit to DECISIONS of the Holy Spirit Obey DECISIONS of the Holy Spirit