STUDY THEME: PRAYER: APPROACHING THE THRONE OF GRACE.

"PRAYING ABOUT GOD’S KINGDOM." ACTS 16: 6-10, PHIL. 1: 12-14, 19-26.

ACTS 16: 6-10; PHILIPPIANS 1: 19, 20-21, 22-26.

PLEASE OPEN YOUR BIBLE TO ACTS 16.

It was a vision from the Lord that resulted in Paul’s leaving the continent of Asia and going to the continent of Europe to share the gospel in the Roman City of Philippi. Later on, Paul wrote to the Philippian church from prison and expressed an appreciation for their prayers for him.

The suggested "Biblical Truth" for the lesson is that believers who listen to and obey God can advance God’s kingdom work in the world. The suggested "Life Impact" is to help us find our places in advancing God’s kingdom.

Someone may say, "If we are to advance God’s kingdom we must be careful to include God in our plans." This statement sounds good at first, but if we consider it carefully, we will discover the emphasis lies in the wrong place. God does not want us to include Him in our plans. He wants us to fit into His plans. Just as Jabez prayed for God to enlarge his territory, so we would pray for God to use us as He pleases to advance His kingdom.

In Acts 15:36 Paul is ready to go back to Asia and visit the churches he and Barnabas had established on their first Missionary Journey. Barnabas was determined to take with them young John Mark. Mark had departed in Pamphilia on the first journey. Paul refused to take Mark on the second missionary journey. He chose Silas as his fellow worker. Barnabas took John Mark and departed for Cyprus. We never hear of Barnabas again.

Paul and Silas left the church at Antioch in Syria and went by land to Tarsus, Derbe, Lystria and Iconium. The young disciple Timothy joined Paul and Silas at Lystra. He became one of Paul’s "Sons in the faith," and a very valuable assistant. God later used Timothy as a leader in the church in Ephesus. Paul and his companions Silas and Timothy ministered throughout Phrygia (Frij-ih-uh) and Galatia. The churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in numbers daily.

Having made their way through the central part of the modern country we call Turkey, Paul, Silas and Timothy wanted to go straight west to the great city of Ephesus, but the Holy Spirit would not permit them. When Paul turned north as if to go to the pro consular of Asia in Bithynia the Holy Spirit forbid it by permitting the Apostle to be so sick, that he had to travel another way. Paul must have wondered, "Why does He drive us west when we would go north?" The Spirit leads men and women who look and watch and wait and follow. Circumstances of difficulty are opportunities for faith. It is better to go to Troas with God, than anywhere else without Him. And so they came to Troas and waited for the Spirit’s leadership.

In the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia who stood and pleaded with Paul to come to Macedonia ( in northern Greece) and help us. Three centuries earlier it ruled one of the world’s great empires, that of Alexander the Great. One aspect of that empire involved its zeal to spread the Greek culture throughout the world. While its empire no longer existed, the Greek culture they disseminated remained.

The Mediterranean world of the first century was Hellenistic. The Greek language was spoken throughout much of the known world. Greek architecture shaped most public structures. The Greek style of clothing could be seen everywhere. While the names for the gods may have assumed Latin forms or local identity, temples to the Greek pantheon stood from Britain to Persia. The ancient province responsible for the Hellenization of the world now beckoned Paul. Despite virtue of their cultural achievements, the Macedonians still needed to learn the truth about God.

The first city in Europe in which Paul, Silas, Timothy and Luke preached the gospel was Philippi. The city was a Roman colony settled by soldiers discharged after the civil war that followed the assassination of Julius Ceaesar in 44 BC. Its constitution was modeled on that of Rome. The community lacked sufficient Jewish residents for a synagogue. The first convert in Philippi was Lydia, a wealthy Jewish businesswoman, and some members of her household. The next convert was a slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination. The change in her angered her master and led to the arrest and beating of Paul and Silas. In prison that night, a third convert was won—the Roman jailer. His conversion marks the first known occasion that

a person with no previous knowledge of the one true God heard the gospel and was saved.

Paul and Silas were Roman citizens and the brutal treatment against them violated Roman law. Paul demanded an official apology, and the two local magistrates apologized. However, because they could not protect such an unpopular visitor, they request that the apostles leave Philippi.

Whenever I study this passage, I remember the story of how David Livingstone was called to be a missionary to Africa. As a young medical student he at first believed he was called to be a missionary in China, but that field was hindered by the opium war. Livingstone’s direction was changed when he heard Robert Moffat speak of the needs in Africa. This veteran missionary to South Africa told Livingstone of what he saw when he looked to the north in the morning sun. He saw the smoke of a thousand villages where no missionary had ever been. Livingstone could not escape that vision of need. Therefore he went to Africa to bring God’s light to that dark continent.

Some years have passed since we saw Paul in jail in Philippi. He completed the second missionary journey and later on made a third journey to visit the churches in Galatia, Phrygia, Macedonia and Achaia. He preached nearly three years in Ephesus. Upon his return to Jerusalem he was arrested and spent two years in the prison in Caesarea. Having heard of a plot of the Jews in Jerusalem to kill him Paul appealed to Caesar in Rome. From the prison in Rome Paul wrote the four prison letters. We want to look at the one addressed to the church at Philippi.

PLEASE TURN TO PHILIPPIANS 1.

This is the reason for the addition of the word "rather" or "really" when he mentioned "the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel."

Paul mentioned two good results of his imprisonment in Rome. Vs. 13 describes the first of these. The whole palace guard was aware Paul was in chains for Christ. Paul took advantage of every circumstance to advance the gospel and enlarge God’s kingdom. He also rejoiced that because of his imprisonment other believers were willing to speak the Word of God more courageously and fearlessly. Believers today should rejoice with and encourage others who courageously and fearlessly speak God’s word. When we speak out, God uses our boldness to encourage others. When others speak out, it should encourage us. Paul wanted the Philippian Christians to know that whatever happened to him had turned out to advance the kingdom of God.

We ought not to reserve our witness for the most favorable circumstances. We must recognize and seize the opportunity in each set of circumstances. Some of the most powerful witnesses are those made when people are sick, dying, persecuted, or imprisoned. Non-Christians notice the way we respond to trouble. If we allow our troubles to overwhelm us, our actions say something we do not want to say. On the other hand, a faithful witness in hard times is positive in its effect for Christ

PLEASE LOOK WITH ME AT VS. 19.

"For I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance."

In Vs. 15 Paul was not concerned about the motives of those who proclaimed Christ. He was certain that some proclaimed Christ "out of envy and rivalry." Most of all Paul, in Vs. 18, rejoiced that regardless of motives. "Christ is preached." Through all the preaching, God was drawing attention to the gospel! What an attitude for Paul to have! Are you willing to share Christ, regardless of who receives the glory when God does the work?

Paul descried two important means of support as he faced imprisonment. First, God would honor the Philippians’ prayers on Paul’s behalf and work His will. Second, the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ would strengthen Paul and guide the circumstances, resulting in his deliverance. Paul did not know for sure whether he would face release or death. But he knew that whatever happened would advance God’s kingdom.

Are you willing to ask God to do whatever He wills in your life to advance His kingdom? God will answer your prayers and the prayers of others as he strengthens you and guides your circumstances. His Spirit will enable you to accomplish whatever He puts before you. The power to accomplish God’s purpose is at your disposal. The only question—are you willing to accept it.

Paul did not want to fail the Lord or be ashamed in any way. He wanted his testimony to ring as loudly as it could for the Lord! In fact, he desired sufficient courage to honor and glorify the Lord Jesus, whether by life or by death. The expression to live is Christ expresses the conviction that one’s relationship with Christ is all-consuming. The night before Jesus went to the cross, He affirmed in John 17: 3 that eternal life lay in knowing God. Paul went on to say, that at the end of life, to die is gain. Paul’s motto may be well written in Vs. 21 "for me to live is Christ and to die is gain."

During Paul’s life, Jesus Christ was his all-consuming passion. Paul also knew that when he died, a life beyond his wildest dreams would begin. Can you sense Paul’s excitement and conviction in his words? For the Christian, things ultimately just keep getting better and better! When I went to a funeral as a boy it was a time of great mourning. As I go more often now I find the family rejoicing and celebrating the life of the Christian deceased. I believe this is the proper manner in which the dead should be honored, if they died knowing Christ as their Savior.

Paul speculated on the possibility that he would go on living in the body. He did not know for sure which way his trial might go. Perhaps Rome would release him, and that would lead to fruitful labor as Paul continued preaching the gospel and advancing God’s kingdom. In other words, Paul knew that if Rome released him, he would go right on proclaiming the message of Christ. The meaning of Paul’s question, "Yet what shall I choose?" remains a bit unclear, because ultimately the choice lay in God’s hands. Perhaps he meant he was undecided as to exactly how to pray or as to what exactly in his heart he wanted to do. In the end, Paul probably asked he Lord to glorify Himself, regardless of what that might mean for Paul. Today, as then, Christians find their ultimate fulfillment in utter surrender to God’s purpose.

Paul confessed to being torn between the two options of martyrdom or life. He recognized that to depart and be with Christ would be better by far. Anything in this life paled by comparison to the joy of standing in Christ’s presence! On the other hand, the Lord might deem it more necessary for the Philippian believers that Paul remain in the body. God’s earthly plan for Paul might not yet be complete. Paul’s goal was to serve the churches, and consequently he placed the needs of others above his own personal desires. We need to do the same as we seek to advance God’s kingdom.

Most of these verses deal with Paul’s consideration of the two options of life or death. First, he said, "I am in a strait betwixt two" or "I am torn between the two." Personally, he preferred to go to be with the Lord, but he left this issue in God’s hands. If God wanted him to continue to live in the flesh, Paul knew this would be "fruitful labor." At the time Paul wrote this letter, God seemed to be telling him that he still had work to do. Paul told the Philippians that to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. By continuing to live and serve, he could contribute to their progress and joy and faith.

Paul’s imprisonment had resulted in advancement of the gospel. The gospel had even spread to the elite Roman guards. He felt that his release and continued service would result in progress of the spiritual lives in the Philippians and others. Paul told the Philippians that the end result of his continuing to live would be that your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again. Paul preferred death but welcomed continued life.

Paul’s words I know that I will remain suggest that even though he was not absolutely sure what the outcome of his trial would bring he was more or less confident Rome would release him. If so, he would go on working for the Philippians’ progress and joy in the faith. In Phil. 1:6 he had expressed confidence that the Lord would continue the good work He had begun in the Philippians. Through Paul’s release, God could continue that work. Paul further anticipates that his release would bring a reunion with the Philippians and the joy in Christ Jesus the Philippians experienced would overflow as they saw Paul again and heard his testimony. Indeed, Joy is one of the major themes of the Book of Philippians.

Conclusions:

A.V. DAUGHERTY SS03-09

HOLYLAND TOUR WITH 39 PEOPLE, SEPT. 15 thru 29, 1977

Sponsors: Pastor Dr. Larry Adams, Executive Director Dr. Joe L. Ingram and J.T. Roberts of the Baptist Building.

We left Oklahoma City on Sept. 17 and proceeded from New York to Rome, Italy where we spent the 16^th and 17^th. On the 18^th we flew to Cairo, Egypt to spent Sept. 18 & 19. On the 20^th we flew to Athens, Greece to spend the 20^th and 21^st. Sept. 22 we arrived in Tel Aviv and stayed all night in Joppa. The 23^rd we went to Tiberias where we spent the night. On the 24,25,26,27,28 we enjoyed the tour of Jerusalem and surrounding area. On the 29^th of September we flew back to New York and on to Oklahoma City.

In Rome we were guided through the Vatican Square, St. Peter’s Cathedral, the Vatican Museum and the works of Michalangelo in the Sistine Chapel. I thoroughly enjoyed these; but the two things that I especially enjoyed were avoided by most tour groups. I was thrilled to walk through the catacombs where the Christians spent those terrible days of the persecution. The other was the dungeon where the Apostle Paul spent those last days of his life.

On an obscure side street a few kilometers from the Vatican, there is a small building thought to house the prison cell where Paul spent his final days. We climbed down some steep steps into this cramped hole beneath the ground and spent about a half-hour in the dark cell. It was cold, damp and musty. A small grate in the ceiling let in a little daylight. As I sat on that cold stone floor, I imagined what it must have been like for Paul in those last days. What a way to spend ones final weeks. As I read Paul's second letter to Timothy I am reminded that it is comprised of Dungeon talk. Paul is shackled and deserted. Yet there is no trace of self-pity, blame or bitterness. He expresses no regrets. Every sentence throbs with the pulse beat of a human heart. He asks Timothy to come quickly, bring John Mark and the coat that he left at Troas; but above all, the parchments. I shall never forget the visit to that place. It may not even be the right dungeon but it certainly is like the one in which Paul waited. What a magnificent life he lived. What a tremendous gift he left to us in his writings in the New Testament. What a wonderful example of total commitment and magnificent obsession he left to us. A.V. Daugherty