March 20, 2022

WHEN OUR PLANS ARE DISRUPTED

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In Sent to bear fruit that will last, The Year of the Lord's Goodness and Abundance
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WHEN OUR PLANS ARE DISRUPTED
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ACTS 16:6-10
Background

  • Paul was beginning his second missionary journey. On the 1st journey he was with Barnabas but coming back from Jerusalem Paul told Barnabas that they needed to go back and visit each city they had previously visited to encourage new believers. Barnabas wanted to take John Mark along but Paul disagreed strongly because John Mark had deserted them at Pamphylia. So they separated. Paul chose Silas and he left from Antioch on this second journey. Paul’s journeys began at Antioch (Acts.15:36-41)
  • The first cities they visited were Derbe and Lystra.At Lystra they were joined by a young disciple –Timothy whose mother was a Jew and his father was Greek.
  • To travel with Timothy, Paul had to circumcise him as per the demands of the Jews especially for the missionary work ahead-noting that the first church was mainly majority Jews.
  • Also we must remember that during his 1st journey Paul had been stoned by fellow Jews at Lystra and presumed dead after some Jews who followed them from Antioch won the people to their side (Acts14:19-21). All the same he went back.

Acts 16:6-10

  • From Lystra Paul and his companions traveled to Phrygia and Galatia in the province of Galatia neighboring the provinces of Bithynia to the north and Asia to the west.
  • The Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching in the province of Asia at that time
  • They headed north so as to preach in Bithynia but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there. Instead they went to the seaport of Troas
  • At Troas Paul had a vision from God sending him to Macedonia in Greece. Immediately they boarded a boat headed to Macedonia.
  • Macedonia is the farthest west that Paul visited during his missionary journeys
  • Some of the major cities in Macedonia included Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea
  • Paul would plant here the first church in Europe
  • It is here in the province of Macedonia that he healed a demon-possessed slave girl with a spirit of divination that earned a lot money for her masters as a fortune teller. This resulted in him and Silas being jailed in prison. At midnight the angel of the Lord released them from prison.

Proverbs 19:21

“Many are the plans in a person’s heart but it is the LORD’S/God’s purpose that prevails”

What to consider

1. Paul had planned to visit Asia and Bithynia to bring the gospel and encourage new believers, which humanly speaking was still God’s work, but the Spirit of God could not allow him
2. This was disturbing. Why was Jesus disrupting plans that were in line with God’s given missionary work?
3. The answer came in a dream-Macedonia needed Jesus much more.
4. It is sensible to make Plans-Benjamin Franklin said “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail”
5. God may disrupt our plans with his own. Our challenge is to listen and obey.
6. Know we can trust God and if we submit to his will, we shall find ourselves fitting in his plans and his purpose
7. Know that God may alter plans of individuals, groups including churches and families
8. When we make our plans we should also make plans to listen to God first.

 

My own testimony

Upon retirement, what happened next.

Applications

  • Moses and Aaron had plans to reach the promised land which they saw from far. Instead it was Joshua the assistant God chose to lead the remnants to the promised land. God told Joshua how he would succeed-by depending on his written word and seeking him always (Joshua 1:5-9)
  •  God told Joshua to be obedient. He repeated that Joshua must remain strong and courageous. God tells us the same today
  • Just as Moses you are not a failure when you don’t achieve your objectives and goals. All God requires of us is obedience to his Word, promises and being aware that he is present with us at all times. Let us be keen listeners to his voice.
  • Will you submit your plans to God today? Will you begin listening to his plans? God may have diverted for the time being.
  • But what is your relationship with Jesus? You cannot plan with someone you have no relationship with.
  • If you have a relationship with Jesus, how is your walk with him?
  • Does this story about Paul remind you of what you need to do? Does it remind you that our plans may not have been rejected by God but their time is yet to come?
  • our plans may not end as we anticipated. Will you still rely on God or you will give up?
  • So what plans do you have and you would like God to take over? He knows better.
  • To achieve some of your plans it may be achieved after shedding some tears just as it happened for Paul in Macedonia-he ended up in jail and yet God had directed him to go there. You must not give up.