Paying Attention—Responding “At Once”

I recently came across an interesting passage in Acts 16. For context, Paul, Silas, and Luke (the “we” in Acts) had been traveling together exhorting and encouraging the churches, and Timothy joins them in Lystra. As they continued to travel, they were prevented by “the Spirit of Jesus” (v. 7) from entering Bithynia and, instead, headed for Troas. Then, we read this: During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”  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 16:9-10).

 How often are we open to and listening for God to speak? How open are we to God speaking in what we might consider “unusual” ways? So much of the Christmas story we read during Advent contains visits from angels, dreams, visions, a star, signs, wonders—all God speaking.

 And, if someone has a vision they say is from God, how much do we trust them and that vision? Clearly, Silas, Timothy, and Luke trusted Paul’s commitment to Christ and the activity of the Holy Spirit in his life. “We got ready at once”—they responded without hesitation and prepared for a different journey than they originally planned. I’m guessing they had the habit of praying together, seeking God’s face, listening for His voice, and trusting the Spirit’s leading and one another over time.

 The group sailed from Troas and traveled to Philippi—“the leading city of that district of Macedonia” (v. 12) where they stayed a few days. Since they assumed the vision was God’s call to preach the gospel in that region, they sought out the local place of prayer. As it turned out, they found a group of women that included Lydia. We hear that Lydia was a businesswoman (a cloth merchant), a God-worshiper, and sensitive to the Lord’s leading—as she responded to Paul’s message. She and all her household are then baptized, and she became host to Paul and his companions.

 Was Paul, Silas, Timothy, and Luke’s visit a result of a prayer offered by faithful Lydia? Perhaps. The answer to our prayer/s might be God’s rerouting of someone to come to our aid.

 Lest we think that following visions and being faithful are without hardship, further along in the same chapter, Paul and Silas cast an evil spirit out of a slave girl, are accused of inciting a riot, are severely beaten and tossed into a “carefully guarded” jail (v. 23), into the “inner cell” and fastened in stocks (v. 24). Not exactly anyone’s desired reward for faithfulness.

 Their response? Prayer. Worship.

God’s response? An earthquake to shake the prison’s foundations. Prison doors opened. Chains loosened.

And, surprisingly, Paul and Silas stay put. They reassure the jailer instead of escaping.

The jailer’s response? “…what must I do to be saved?” and he and his entire household are baptized.

 After Paul and Silas are released from prison, they return to Lydia’s to encourage the house church meeting there and then left Phillipi for Thessalonica.

If Paul had ignored the vision sent from God…if Silas, Timothy, and Luke had not recognized that vision as the Spirit’s direction for them—the church in Philippi might not have been established, strengthened, and encouraged. Lydia and the jailer and their households might not have come to saving faith in Jesus.

 These four men saturated their lives with prayer, expectant that God would speak to and lead them—preparing them for hardship and opposition (both of which they encountered), spent time in worship—seeking God’s face and desiring to following His agenda (not their own). As a result, they were all willing to enter the unknown “at once”—for the sake of the gospel and reliant on a Lord who they knew was walking closely with them.

Reflect:

·       Who makes up your close circle—your Paul, Silas, Timothy, Luke?

·       Set aside some moments today to listen for God’s leading. He may not speak to you in some clear way in the moment, but practicing listening is not wasted time—it is still time with your Heavenly Father.

·       Ask the Lord to help you be willing to respond to His Holy Spirit’s leading “at once”.

Shirley Giles Davis, author of the God. Gifts. You. Your Unique Calling and Design workbook, Your Unique Design Class Guide, Your Unique Design Facilitator Guide, and Gifts-Calling-Purpose blog, is a consultant, coach, facilitator who has worked with faith-based organizations, nonprofit agencies, and leaders in a diversity of fields for over 30 years. She has also been EquipConnectServe Director at her 1,200 member church since 1999.  Contact Shirley.

Photo © Shirley Giles Davis, All Rights Reserved.