The Spirit of Providence

The Spirit of Providence

Acts 16:1-10

I grew up as a huge Bruce Springsteen fan. I have seen him in concert several times and he puts on a fantastic live show. One of my favorite parts of his live shows is when he introduces the band. It would be in the middle of “Tenth Avenue Freeze Out” and he always would save his best friend Clarence Clemons for last, singing, “when the change was made up town and the Big Man joined the band.” Clarence would then rock a saxophone solo. Springsteen gives a lot of the credit to the success of the E Street Band to Clarence as a towering fairy tale figure, a dreadlocked giant, with great hands and a deep smooth, sweet voice who captivated audiences. Springsteen said at Clemons funeral, “Together, we told an older, richer story about the possibilities of friendship that transcended those I’d written in my songs and in my music.” I always appreciated their friendship and partnership on stage. The friendship of Clarence Clemons and Bruce Springsteen told an older, richer story of the possibilities of friendship. 

If that is true for a band making music, how much more is it true friends and partners in the gospel? The friendship of the Apostle Paul and his young protege, Timothy, told an older, richer story of the possibilities of friendship rooted in the love of Christ and a passion to fulfill the Great Commission. God orchestrates friendship and partnership in the gospel for his good pleasure. The Spirit of God institutes divine providence in our lives and ministries to help fulfill his purposes in our lives. As Bruce Springsteen was changed in meeting Clarence Clemons, Paul’s life would never be the same after meeting Timothy. 

As we walk through our text today, I want you to see God’s providence in Paul’s life and I want you to appreciate God’s providence in your own life. 

The Spirit Gives Gospel Partners (16:1-2)

Paul was commissioned from Antioch with Silas to see how the brothers were doing when he met on his first ministry journey with Barnabas. Barnabas and Paul have just had a sharp disagreement about Mark causing them to split company. Although Paul was commended to the grace of the Lord with Silas to strengthen the churches, he probably was also discouraged and hurt doing it without Barnabas. And God in his kindness, brought him Timothy. Acts 16:1–3a,

[1] Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. [2] He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. [3] Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him.

Paul met Timothy and wanted him to come and be with him. Paul recognized Timothy’s character as he was well–spoken of by the brothers. He would later write in Philippians 2:20–22, that,

[20] [For] I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. [21] For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. [22] But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel.

Timothy was a son to Paul. We do not know much of Timothy’s father except that he was a Greek and probably a non-Christian. We don’t have any letters from Timothy to Paul, but Paul’s letters to Timothy reveal a deep fatherly love. We can assume Paul never had biological children as they are never mentioned or referenced in any of his letters, but he had a spiritual son in Timothy. 

Paul gives Timothy an invitation, “I want you to come with me.” This is the foundation of all discipleship relationships. “Come with me.” This is the invitation of the Lord Jesus Christ said to the rich young ruler, “Come, follow me.” Mark 8:34

[34] And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

Friends, if you have never answered that invitation, please know Jesus is inviting you to follow him. He wanted to save you from your sins. He wants to give you a new family. He wants you to be with him. It is a glorious invitation. Friend, turn from your sins and trust in Christ. Believe the gospel of grace that God sent Jesus to die on the cross for your sins and was raised to give you eternal life. Repent, believe, and accept his invitation to follow him. 

God gives his people the relationships we need even if we don’t have the ones we want. Paul and Timothy will model how the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ creates a new family. A new family founded on the mission of taking the gospel to the world. The Spirit of God gives us partners in the gospel. As I was writing this message, the Lord brought me to tears as I was reminded of all the brothers and sisters the Lord has brought into my life as partners in the gospel of Jesus Christ. If I had time, I would love to share story after story of God’s grace in my life in how people became partners in the gospel and family to soul. Who has the Lord brought into your life for the sake of the gospel? Give God thanks for them. And if you can’t think of anyone, ask God to give you partners in the gospel, like God did for Paul in Timothy.

The Spirit Gives Gospel Plans (16:3-5)

Paul wanted Timothy to come with him, not only because of Timothy’s character, but because of his usefulness to the mission. Paul believed Timothy had value in the gospel so he made him get circumcised. Acts 16:3–5,

[3] Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. [4] As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. [5] So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily. 

After reading Acts 15 when Paul makes a huge deal showing how Gentiles do not need to be circumcised, why would Paul then have Timothy circumcised?

There are several possible reasons. Paul wanted Timothy to carry on his Jewish heritage of his mother. In that day if a child was born of a Jewish mother, then they were Jewish. Paul believed people did not need to leave their heritage and traditions for the gospel. Gentiles didn’t have to follow Jewish customs and Jews didn’t have to follow Gentiles customs, but they could both keep the non-sinful aspects of their culture. We know Paul didn’t change his mind, because the text says they went throughout the towns and cities sharing the decision of the Jerusalem council. Paul believed it was strategic for the gospel for Timothy to be circumcised. Luke gives us the clue in verse 3, “for they all knew that his father was a Greek.” Paul wanted to remove any obstacle that may hinder the Jews from hearing from Paul and Timothy. 

Paul was strategic in sharing the gospel. He wanted to do all he could so others may hear and believe in Christ. He did not want the main conversation to be why was Timothy not circumcised, but rather on the person and work of Jesus Christ. In missions, we cannot let secondary matters become more important than the gospel. Secondary matters are important, but gospel is of first importance. Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, he was buried, and he was raised in accordance with the Scriptures. Paul’s aim was the salvation of sinners by believing in the gospel. He writes in1 Corinthians 9:19–23,

[19] For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. [20] To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. [21] To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. [22] To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. [23] I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.

Paul had Timothy circumcision so he would not become an offense to the gospel but by that means he might save some. 

Do you live strategically for the gospel? Do you live each day in such a way so that others may know Christ? Are you willing to lay down your personal rights so that others may come to know Christ? You may have the freedom to drink, but are you willing to lay it down so others may know Christ? You may have the freedom to fill your social media feed with political posts, but are you willing to lay it down so others may know Christ? You may have the freedom to do all sorts of things, but are you willing to lay it down so others may know Christ? I am not advocating for one thing or the other, but I am advocating for you to consider what the Lord wants you to do strategically so that others may know Christ. 

Paul did not ask Timothy to do something pleasant, but Timothy did not want to hinder the gospel advance in any way. And it seemed God showed them favor for, “the churches were strengthened in the faith and they increased in numbers daily.” The main aim for the church must be the glory of God, but adding people to the church glorifies God. Every person who is added to the church is one more sinner who is saved from hell into the kingdom of the Beloved Son where there is redemption and the forgiveness of sins. Let us pray for the Spirit of God to give us plans to reach the lost in our city for the glory of Jesus Christ.

The Spirit Guides to Gospel Places (16:6-10)

We have our own plans to reach the nations, but God is the one who directs our steps. Paul had a plan to go to Asia, but God had a different plan. Acts 16:6–8,

[6] And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. [7] And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. [8] So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. 

There are several details Luke does not provide for us. Paul, Silas and Timothy were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. We do not know why or how they were forbidden. It may have been government restrictions or unique circumstances that hindered them from entering into Asia. In verse 7, Luke writes, “the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them.” This may have been the same reasons in verse 6 or it may have been a divine vision. The Spirit of Jesus is a reference to the Holy Spirit which is only used here and in Philippians 1:19. 

Luke does not give us many details on how the Holy Spirit is directing them not to go to Asia, but he is very clear how the Holy Spirit is directly Paul exactly where he wants him to go. Acts 16:9–10,

[9] And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” [10] And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. 

There are several unique theories on this vision. Some scholars say the Macedonian man was Luke, but there is no direct reference to Luke’s connection to Macedonia. Others want to say it was Alexander the Great who had a vision to marry the east and the west. Either way it was clear from the vision they were called to go to Macedonia. And it wasn’t only clear to Paul, but to his companions. Notice the end of verse 10, “concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.” Paul had a vision but he shared the vision with his team and they concluded they were called to go to Macedonia. 

Paul did not let his private, personal vision without confirming it with others. Listen to how John Stott concludes Paul and his companions decided on what the Holy Spirit was leading them to do. Stott writes,

These circumstances were the basis for their discussion, as they asked themselves and each other what these things indicated. They then put two and two together, the negative (the block to Asia and Bithynia) and the positive (the appeal to Macedonia), and concluded that through these various experiences God was calling them to go over to Macedonia to ‘help’, that is, to preach the gospel there. From this we may learn that usually God’s guidance is not negative only but also positive (some doors close, others open); not circumstantial only, but also rational (thinking about our situation); not personal only, but also corporate (a sharing of the data with others, so that we can mull over them together and reach a common mind.

We discover God’s direction by analyzing both the positive and negative circumstances, by rational thinking through our situation and by processing the data together to reach a common conclusion. The Holy Spirit is always leading and directing his people. We have to use our minds and one another to help process the data to determine his will. 

How do we as a church determine what to do? We look at the circumstances of a situation. We pray. We sense an internal leading of the Holy Spirit. We share those impressions with others. We pray. We analyze the situation again. We share those feelings with others. We pray. And then we conclude how we believe the Lord is leading and then we obey and follow the Lord. We want to avoid paralysis by analysis. We want to avoid immediately claiming “God is telling me” trumps the wise counsel of trusted friends and gospel partners. We want to avoid second guessing every decision that is made. 

There are several decisions the church is facing where we need wisdom and the Holy Spirit’s guidance. One of the opportunities we have in our member’s meeting today is to think through the opportunities the Lord is giving our church together and chart a course forward. We make plans but the Lord directs our steps. He did it with Paul and Timothy and the Lord will do it with us. 

Beloved, we all will face difficult decisions with our future. Sometimes the Lord makes decisions for us with a sudden change in circumstances. Other times the Lord reveals decisions in time through months of prayer and counsel. How does the Lord want to use our bilingual congregation for his glory? How does the Lord want to use our physical location for our city? How does the Lord want us to steward all the growth that is coming to our area? How does the Lord want us to leverage our influence and relationship for his glory? We must pray, think, discuss and act. 

Friend, I believe you are gathered today to hear this message. I believe every time I stand to address this congregation there will be some here who specifically and directly need this message. You are not here by accident. If you are not a follower of Jesus, the Lord has brought you here to invite you to come and follow him. He has used your relationships to invite you. He has used your jobs to bring you to this area. He is working in your life to reveal himself to you. God has always been working to reveal himself to the world. We see Paul living out his conviction of divine Providence in Acts 16:1-10, and we see him share his conviction of divine providence in God’s plan to save the world through Jesus Christ. Galatians 4:4–5,

[4] But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, [5] to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 

At the proper time, God sent Jesus to save sinners so they might become children of God. I believe some of you are here this morning because God wants to save you. You are not here by accident or happenstance but because God loves you and wants to save you. He is inviting you to come and follow him. He is offering you life. Accept his invitation. Turn to Him in faith. 

Beloved, God is always inviting us to a deeper relationship with him. He wants us to know him. He wants us to live for him. He wants to use us to save others. He wants to be known. He wants you to know he will lead you and guide you. Pray, think, discuss, and act. Paul and his companions concluded God was calling them to preach the gospel in Macedonia. What is God calling you to do? Whatever the Spirit of God is calling you to do, obey and for he wants you to help others hear and believe in Lord Jesus Christ by sharing the gospel with them.