Lesson by Pastor John Skaggs

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church

P. O. Box 1173

Claypool, Arizona 85532

520-425-8345

Date: 11-26-00

Sermon Number: 027

Text: Acts 16:4-15

Topics Addressed in this Lesson

(Finding the will of God, Irresistible Grace)

In the fifteenth chapter of the book of Acts we find one of the most important events in church history taking place. I speak of the Jerusalem Counsel. That meeting of the Apostles and elders of the early church may be said to have preserved the integrity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for all time. Salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone but a group of Jews, called Judaizers, had infiltrated local churches teaching that Jesus was not enough for salvation. The believing sinner must trust in Him AND be circumcised according to the law of Moses, otherwise, he or she could not be saved.

If this deviation from truth was allowed to establish itself Christianity would collapse. So, Paul and Barnabas along with the rest of the Apostles and Elders met to discuss and come to a consensus on what to do about the problem. The council stood their ground in defense of salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone. Circumcision, or law-keeping, have nothing to do with salvation. By this decree the gospel was preserved.

The counsel went on to give some instruction to Gentile Christians as to how they ought to conduct themselves in the presence of their "law sensitive" brothers and sisters, the believing Jews. They were to abstain from eating meet sacrificed to idols, from drinking blood, and from fornication. Living inside these parameters would allow believing Gentiles to maintain peaceful fellowship with the saved Jews.

When the meeting was over, and the decrees formulated, Paul and Barnabas returned to the Antioch church with the good news. (Acts 15:30-36 NASB) "So, when they were sent away, they went down to Antioch; and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. {31} And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement. {32} And Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged and strengthened the brethren with a lengthy message. {33} And after they had spent time there, they were sent away from the brethren in peace to those who had sent them out. {34} But it seemed good to Silas to remain there. {35} But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching, with many others also, the word of the Lord. {36} And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us return and visit the brethren in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are."

On the first missionary journey Paul and Barnabas established a number of churches appointing Elders in each one. Now they thought it good to revisit these churches to see how they were getting along. The verses that follow record a dispute between Paul and Barnabas concerning who would go with them on this new mission. Briefly, Barnabas wanted to include John Mark, who had previously deserted them, Paul didn’t what to chance it. The dispute resulted in their parting company, thereby, forming two missionary teams. Barnabas took Mark and sailed away to Cyprus. Paul chose Silas, stopped off in Lystra to add a young man named Timothy, and then began revisiting the churches. Our new material begins in chapter sixteen and verse four.

To be strengthened in the faith is to gain a better grip on the truth and its application to ones life. It is to grow in grace and knowledge. It is to understand, in a better way, the truth about ourselves, and God. It is to rest more and more in the finished work of Christ for the salvation of one’s soul. How would the message sent from the Counsel strengthen the saints? Perhaps we should ask how had the inclusion and requirement of works weakened the saints? The inclusion of works in the Gospel, so far as it is preached to the unsaved, makes it powerless to save. For works have no place in the salvation of the sinners. Likewise, when one has already been saved and has imposed upon them legal requirements in order to stay saved there are devastating results. The peace and joy that is supposed to accompany salvation is stolen from the Christian who accepts legalistic teaching as truth. "Keep the law and stay saved, " they say. "Keep the law and be happy." The problem is, even Christians cannot keep the law of God perfectly. So, if they believe that law keeping must be added to the work of Christ for salvation they can only conclude that they will not live, they will not stay saved, and they will never be happy. Such a person will be weary and heavy-laden all his or her days. This is the dark cloud that was hanging over the churches that had been infiltrated by the Judaizers.

All along the way Paul found people confused, frightened, and dismayed, at the possibility that Christ was not enough. But, he and the others declared, with joy, that law keeping had nothing to do with salvation. Continue trusting in Christ alone. Continue refusing to place your hope in anything that you do. Refuse to be dismayed by the things you cannot accomplish, the laws you fail to keep. Do not despair, hope in Christ, and in Him alone. This was Paul’s message. It was good news, which served to encourage and strengthen these early brothers and sisters. For the moment the Judaizers had been dealt with.

Paul and his companions now turn to new territory, where they encounter resistance not from man, but from God. {6} "And they passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been FORBIDDEN BY THE HOLY SPIRIT to speak the word in Asia; {7} and when they had come to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the SPIRIT OF JESUS DID NOT PERMIT THEM; {8} and passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. {9} And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a certain man of Macedonia was standing and appealing to him, and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." {10} And when he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them."

Here is a text of great practical value to Christians in every age. For it reveals to us the Sovereignty of God in directing our lives. God had called these men to the great work of evangelism. No doubt they counseled together, prayed for guidance, and then determined that they would preach the Gospel in Asia. After all, there were thousands, even millions in that region who did not know Christ. But the text tells us they were "forbidden by the Holy Spirit" to speak there. So, they said, "We will go and preach the Gospel in Bithynia. But the "Spirit of Jesus did not permit them." Then word came to Paul by way of a vision revealing what God wanted them to do, they would go to Macedonia. Please notice that Paul and the others did not pitch a fit when their first plan was frustrated, neither did they despair when their second plan was overthrown by God. They just waited and prayed and tried to get on with their work until God made it clear what they were to do. These men recognized the guidance of God when they saw it. The question is, do we?

Brother James Boice, recently deceased, wrote, "This is a good example of negative guidance. The guidance we get in our lives is often like it. We speak of this as "closed doors." Generally we do not like closed doors. We find closed doors frustrating. We pray, "God, what do your want me to do?" But when we look in what we think is a rather promising direction, God closes the door. We ask again, "God what do you want me to do?" We look in another direction, and God closes that door too. Then we get depressed. We think God is not answering us and that He doesn’t care what we do. Sometimes if this goes on long enough, one might even get angry at God.

We need to understand that "closed doors," though they are a type of negative guidance, are nevertheless true guidance. If we can learn anything from the apostle Paul here, we learn that negative guidance merely keeps us from where we are not called in order that in God’s good time we might come to where God is calling us and will provide a blessing.

When God closes doors, it is not because He has nothing for us to do. . . It is to keep us from getting into a work to which we are not called in order that we might be saved for a work to which we are called." (End Quote)

Mr. Boice is right on the mark. God is actively involved in our lives leading and guiding us with divine accuracy. He graciously frustrates our plans for our good and the fulfillment of His will. The Christian who does not understand this will be constantly frustrated and convinced that "things just aren’t working out for the best." This person needs to pause and consider the words of James 4:13-16.

"Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow, we shall go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit." {14} Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. {15} Instead, you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and also do this or that." {16} But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil."

Why is the unqualified declaration of our plans described as arrogant and evil? Why is it sinful to say to someone, "I will be there at 9 am," without adding, "Lord willing?" Because such speaking fails to acknowledge that God may have plans for your day that you are not aware of. Such declarations of intent expose your unwillingness to submit to God’s plan should it be revealed. To make unqualified promises and plans reveals one’s reluctance to acknowledge the Sovereignty of God in his life. There is no excuse for this when it comes to the Christian for the scriptures plainly show that at the end of the day God’s will has been done and not ours. Consider these instructive texts. (Proverbs 16:9 NASB) "The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps." In other words, it is right that we think, plan, and move forward to implement those plans but it is wrong not to acknowledge that God may have different ideas for our day. He will direct our paths in spite of our plans.

Proverbs 19:21 "Many are the plans in a man’s heart, But the counsel of the LORD, it will stand." What God intends to do will be done and, very often, that will be contrary to what we had planned.

Proverbs 20:24 "Man’s steps are ordained by the LORD, How then can man understand his way?" How can we who do not know the mind of God make unqualified promises and plans as to what we will and will not do? How can we do such things when the scriptures tells us that God has ordained all our steps and has not chosen to reveal them to us? Further, and in light of these truths, why do we get upset when our plans do not work out? Is it because we do not believe that God is ruling and reigning over our lives? Or is it because we don’t want Him ruling and reigning over our lives? Humans are so self determined they can’t stand being told what to do. They want no one and nothing governing their lives. The Christian, however, ought to be past this since he has a new heart and will. His meat and drink ought to be the doing of the will of God. He ought to be delighted and thankful when God intervenes to change his plans. For his desire it to conform to and be in the will of God.

As Christians we must understand that God loves us so much that He will keep us on the straight and narrow. He will direct out paths and graciously frustrate our plans when it would not be good for us to proceed in that direction. He is God almighty, "Declaring the end from the beginning And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ‘My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure." Isaiah 46:10

The truths revealed in these texts tell us why it is the utmost evil to make unqualified declarations about what you are going to do or not do. It is arrogant to proceed as if God had no say in the affairs of men. The Christian ought to rejoice as he reads these scriptures. For they tell us that we are not alone. We are not left to our own devices and wisdom. Rather, God has ordained all our steps. He will keep us from all things contrary to His will. He will and does work all things together for our good and His glory. He did it for Paul and His companions and He is doing it for us today.

Therefore, when our plans fail to work out we must practice being thankful saying, "Thank you Lord for keeping me from that mistake." "Thank you for directing my steps." "Thank you for leading and guiding me though life." "Thank you for frustrating my plans." "Help me make better decisions and give me wisdom."

We must follow the example of Paul and His companions who kept pressing forward as they sought the will of God. God’s will was not behind door number one, or two, but it was behind door number three. Paul and his team did not stop trying to evangelize because their first efforts were frustrated. Rather, they kept on trying until the will of God was made clear. They moved this way then that until they were granted the freedom to proceed. It is not wrong to think and plan, in fact, it is necessary that we do so, but we must always be ready for God to intervene and say, "This is not what I want for you right now, you will go this way instead." These texts ought to help us look at roadblocks, delays, interruptions, and detours, in a different way than before. We should now understand that these things are gifts from God. They are His hand working in our lives keeping us on track, His track, which is where we want to be.

Paul and the others now made their way to {11} "Therefore putting out to sea from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and on the day following to Neapolis; {12} and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia, a Roman colony; and we were staying in this city for some days. {13} And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to a riverside, where we were supposing that there would be a place of prayer; and we sat down and began speaking to the women who had assembled. {14} And a certain woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; AND THE LORD OPENED HER HEART TO RESPOND to the things spoken by Paul. {15} And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay." And she prevailed upon us."

Here we find the answer to the question, "Why did God insist that these men go to Philippi in Macedonia? He did so because He intended to save a woman named Lydia. She had been chosen in Christ from the foundation of the world for salvation and it was time for her to trust in Christ. And since the Gospel is the power of God for the salvation of sinners Paul and his companions must go with this life giving message to her. They preached the word, and Lydia was saved. But there is more said than that. We are, in fact, taken through the salvation process by the wording of the verse. First she listened to the Gospel. Second God opened her heart. Third she responded or believed the Gospel, trusting in Christ for forgiveness and salvation. Then, it appears, God saved her family in the same way.

By Paul’s preaching of the Gospel, God called Lydia to Himself. But, as we learn elsewhere, the woman could not have understood the Gospel message without divine intervention. (1 Corinthians 2:14 NASB) "But a natural man (a person born only once, not yet born again) does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot (does not have the ability to) understand them, because they are spiritually appraised." A person born only once to their mother does not have the Spirit of God within them, therefore, they cannot understand spiritual things, the Gospel. Something more must be done to and for Lydia than just preaching the Gospel, and it was. God intervened in her heart. He gave her the Holy Spirit who made her able to understand and believe the gospel. God caused her to be born again.

This is the way of salvation. It is all of grace, entirely a work of God, but it does not occur apart from means. The means are the preaching of the Gospel and the believing of the sinner. However, the preaching of Gospel cannot save unless and until God intervenes. For the sinner is dead in sins. He or, in this case, she, is blind, deaf, has a heart of stone, is an enemy of God, cannot do anything good, will not seek God, and is enslaved to sin, self, and Satan. Lydia had been blinded by the God of this world. Therefore, God must do something radical and powerful and that is exactly what He did. "He opened her heart to respond to the Gospel message." In short He caused her to be born again. He raised her from the dead, removed the heart of stone, set her free from slavery to the devil, gave her the ability to understand the message spoken by the apostle and then granted her the gifts of repentance and faith.

That both faith and repentance are gifts from God is made clear in the following two texts. (Philippians 1:29 NASB) "For to you it has been GRANTED for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,"

(Acts 11:18 NASB) "And when they heard this, they quieted down, and glorified God, saying, "Well then, God has GRANTED to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life." Both, faith and repentance, are given to sinners by God, when He calls them to faith in His Son, otherwise, they would never be saved.

What can account for Lydia’s response to the Gospel? The answer is found in Psalms 110:3. "Thy people will volunteer freely in the day of Thy power; (Lydia came to Christ without reluctance because of the exercise of Divine power in her heart.) In holy array, from the womb of the dawn, Thy youth are to Thee as the dew." This last phrase speaks of the millions that God intends to save. He will, in time, make them willing and they will be as numerous as the dew-drops that fall to earth each day.

Isaiah 50:5 "The Lord GOD has opened My ear; And I was not disobedient, Nor did I turn back." Lydia was a sinner, an unbeliever, an enemy of God before hearing the Gospel. But when He had opened her heart, her ears, there was no turning back, she must go to Christ, and she did. But her going to Christ and believing in Him was the result of God opening her heart not its cause. That is, she did not believe to bring about the work of God in her heart. Rather she believed because He had already done a work in her. Two texts from John’s gospel spell it out for us.

John 6:44 "No one CAN come to Me (This word, "can," speaks of ability. The sinner, left to himself, cannot go to God by faith in Christ.), unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day." The next text tells us what this "drawing consists of." John 6:45 "It is written in the prophets, ‘AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT OF GOD.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me." This, beloved, is what took place when God opened Lydia’s heart. He taught her the truth. He made her able to understand her sin, the judgment due her, and the salvation to be found only in Christ. Then, having been brought to her senses, she responded to this teaching, this truth, the words of life that we call the Gospel, she trusted in Christ. She volunteered, she freely believed in Jesus, AFTER, God intervened with the power necessary to raise her soul from the dead. She ran to Jesus for salvation, she could do nothing else. For "It is written in the prophets, ‘AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT OF GOD.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me." This is what is meant by the statement "God opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul."

It is the prerogative of God to reveal His truth to some and withhold it from others. Our text shows that He does exactly that and for good reason. The truth must be taken to the elect in every nation in God’s good time. Further study reveals that the places that Paul was forbidden to preach did, after a time, have the truth brought to them, but only in God’s time. First, there was one lady, a tiny speck on God’s green earth, who must be brought into the kingdom, her name was Lydia, and God opened her heart to respond to Christ. May He be pleased to do so for many more in our time.

Let us rejoice in two glorious truths brought to our attention by this passage in Acts sixteen. The first is that God is actively involved in each of our lives leading, guiding, and keeping us. Every frustration of our plans must be seen as God’s gracious intervention to keep us in the pathway of His will and blessing. Second let us never despair when we think of our lost loved ones and how unmovable they are. For here we are taught that when God chooses to save a sinner He opens their heart to His truth, He gives them the Holy Spirit who in turn gives them the gifts of repentance and faith toward Jesus Christ. His people, His lost sheep, will all be made willing when He comes to them in power. Therefore, do not be weary in well-doing, keep casting the bread of life before the lost, for in good time, God will save His people from their sin.