Walking in God's Will
Acts 16:1-12
Ephesians 2:10, (NLT)
For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Jeremiah 29:11, (NIV)
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Ephesians 5:17, (NIV)
Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
(foolish: aphron means: mindless, stupid, ignorant, egotistical, rash, morally unbelieving)
1. God makes His will known through relationship with others
Acts 16:1-3, (NIV)
He came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was a Jewess and a believer, but whose father was a Greek. The brothers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
Acts 16:1,
He came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was a Jewess and a believer, but whose father was a Greek.
2 Timothy 1:5, (NIV)
I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.
Paul's journey:
Acts 16:3, (NIV)
Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
1 Timothy 4:14, (NIV)
Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.
2 Timothy 1:6, (NIV)
For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
Acts 16:4-5, (NIV)
As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.
2. God makes His will known through the restraint of the Holy Spirit
Acts 16:6, (NIV)
Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia.
Acts 16:7, (NIV)
When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.
3. God makes His will known through revelatory visions
Acts 16:8-9, (NIV)
So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us."
Job 33:13-18, (NIV)
Why do you complain to him that he answers none of man's words? For God does speak — now one way, now another — though man may not perceive it. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men as they slumber in their beds, he may speak in their ears and terrify them with warnings, to turn man from wrongdoing and keep him from pride, to preserve his soul from the pit, his life from perishing by the sword.
God speaks to us through visions and dreams
1. You remember it in the morning
2. It seems important to you (or your spouse)
3. The Lord shows you the meaning
Acts 16:10, (NIV)
After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
Acts 16:11-12,
From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day on to Neapolis. From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days.
