[A Going straight of the Holy Spirit]
Acts 16:11-15
Being united in the cry of a soul in Macedonia, the apostle Paul and we tried to leave Troas in Asia and God made them go straight this time. Then lets think about the ways and the directions of going straight of the Holy Spirit through todays text.
First, God allows fair winds.
The fastest way from Troas to Macedonia was to leave from the Aegean Sea by boat. Since the ship was purely wind-based sailboat at that time, wind played the most important role, and everything was on the line, whether it was a headwind or a tailwind. However, this voyage took only two days due to the southeastern fair wind, which was a miracle in terms of the route. So Luke recorded it as A going straight. But we dont like rejections and only like to have a fair wind in our lives. So without hesitation, I want to go straight for the wonderful port of money, success, pleasure, and health. But there is no eternal life. Therefore, from the point of view of salvation, a headwind that is rejected by God is just the fair wind rather than the wind that leads directly to such a port of happiness is rather. After all, its fair wind only when you put on the sail of mission. Therefore, the Lord, who is worried about this wind, tells us three places to pass.
Troas is Troy city which is famous for its Trojan horse. Because of Helena, the queen of Sparta, a married woman who was hit by the eyes with the bachelor Prince Troy, Sparta king with the Greek Allies invaded Troy and fought a war. So Troas is a place where we have to go straight and pass by. Then they went straight toSamothrace, which is the main point of transportation and it is also the place of 12 temples of the great Greek gods. This place also stays overnight for a while and leaves as well. And only after two days they leave for Neapolis. Neapolis is where the Roman road, Egnatia ,which means all roads lead to Rome, begins but they passed by too. It is so sad for the city that Paul passed by all these beautiful ports. So I have to meditate on whether I made Apostle Paul pass by me because Im beautiful. They didnt forget that the destination that God has chosen is just Macedonia. So the first castle of Macedonia was Philippi, so he didnt stop direct travel until he arrived at Philippi. In order to go straight in the wind, these passing by places must be identified, and many refusals of the Holy Spirit must be experienced. A good-looking justification cannot precede Gods Words, nor should eagerness and efforts surpass obedience. In addition, when we are obedient with Gods Words, we can go straight of the Holy Spirit and at this point,we, the faith community, are too important. Because all of these things cant leave without us.
Second, we have to stay there for few days for the mission youve appointed.
Luke introduces Philippi as a colony of Rome, the center of the world at that time. And Paul came to Philippi, the most loyal representative of Rome, and he came to think he should go to Rome and evangelize there. There was no record of preaching the gospel here, but recorded Paul just stayed for several days. Wherever they go, they didnt feel like a foreign country, but when they entered Philippi, they felt that it had a completely different culture, so you must understand here first to preach the Gospel to Philippi and Rome. We can hear Jesus because he came into our lives and lived with us laughing, crying, and suffering. Other cultures need a few days rests.To understand other culture, we need a few days stay and it is called Diatribo. It means that you are sitting on the place of your mission, rub it until its glossy. Wherever you are, if the position is entrusted by the Lord, keeping it well and staying there without leaving are the secret way of going straight to save time.
Third, when you pray, God opens the heart of one person who can hear the Word.
Paul would have wanted to pray more than anything else. After several days of study, there are not many Jews in Philipbo, so there is no synagogue. Paul would have wanted to pray more than anything else. After several days of study, there are not many Jews in Philipbo, so there is no synagogue. In places where it is impossible to establish a synagogue, Jews had to wash their hands and hold ceremonies, so they would always gather by the river. Just when some women were sitting there, and Paul finally opened his mouth and preached the gospel for the first time.
Through the process of understanding the culture of the person and staying for several days, they were able to preach the gospel so that they could be heard through their eye levels, language, culture, and human ears. We have to think about salvation all the time, and always study it. Our medicinal ingredients of experience shine at this moment, and only those who have experienced tears can open their hearts. Ludia kept hearing and hearing the message from Paul. But though Paul is talking so comfortably and easily, some women cant understand it. Judging from this, faith is a gift from God. After all, Rydia becomes the endpoint of the going straight of the Holy Spirit.But lets think about how did Paul get to meet this woman. She came out to worship on the Sabbath in a daily routine. When she heard the Words, she opened her heart and followed Pauls words. So Lydia is an unexpected person never thought of.
Fourth, God allows a partner in faith.
When you get to hear the Word, you open your heart, and when you open your heart, your house opens. When she opened her heart, Ludia and everyone in the house were baptized and saved. As the whole family believed Jesus, Lydia forced Paul to stay at her house. The reason is that Lydia became a believer in the Lord with Paul, so she will be a fellow worker who participates in the mission of preaching the gospel to save one person. As such, the going straight of the Holy Spirit proceeds to a spirit who is tired listens to the Word and opens her heart and its house to be set up a companion of the Word. Whats surprising is that we met Lydia in Europe, who lived in Asia, whom the Apostle Paul wanted to go so badly. If you are obedient to refuse and carry the cross for salvation, you will meet everyone you need to meet like this. If we open the house and greet the saints, like Rahab, our house opens the road of Canaan, opens the door of Europe, becomes the church where the kingdom of God begins, becomes the Philippi church, and everyone in this family is baptized and entered into the joy of salvation, God says. I believe that if I work hard for other peoples children, not my children, I will meet the faces I want to see. God will allowyou to have afair wind at the meetings and relationships, following the fair wind at the sea.
