An Open Door - Part Five

Most of us would love to have the clear guidance that Paul received in Acts 16:9-10, don't you agree?

But let's look carefully at what happened after Paul and his friends left for Macedonia. Acts 16:11-15 tells us that they arrived in Philippi and presented the gospel to some women who had gathered to pray. One of them, Lydia, responded to the gospel and was baptized. Cool! What a sign that they were "right on" in following God! Look at the blessing!

Some time later, they were going to the place of prayer and they encountered a demon-possessed slave girl so they cast the demon out of her. This made her owners so mad that they took Paul and his friend Silas to court. The authorities severely flogged Paul and Silas (Acts 16:16-23). We tend to read too fast. Here's what Wikipedia says about flogging:

Typically, the one to be punished was stripped naked and bound to a low pillar so that he could bend over it, or chained to an upright pillar so as to be stretched out. Two lictors (some reports indicate scourgings with four or six lictors) alternated blows from the bare shoulders down the body to the soles of the feet. There was no limit to the number of blows inflicted - this was left to the lictors to decide, though they were normally not supposed to kill the victim.

After being flogged, Paul and Silas were taken to a dark and dank cell in the recesses of the Philippian prison. Their feet were locked in stocks as further punishment and to prevent their escape (Acts 16:24). Not cool. Had they somehow missed God?

We know the story, the Lord causes an earthquake which somehow opened every prison door and caused the chains (and stocks?) of every prisoner to fall off. This leads to jailer and his family to get gloriously saved and the missionaries are escorted out of the city (Acts 16:25-40). Cool.

From there, they went to Thessalonica. They led a large number of people to Christ. So many, in fact, that the religious leaders started a riot and turned the city upside down looking for Paul and Silas. After their hosts were hauled before the authorities, Paul and Silas waited for the cover of night before sneaking out of town (Acts 17:1-10). Cool? Not cool?

Imagine this scenario: You've picked up a brochure for a missions trip. Here is the advertisement: "Some people will get saved, but you will be severely flogged, thrown in jail and hunted by an angry mob. Still suffering from the effects of the flogging, you will be forced to run for your life in the middle of the night."

Ask yourself this question: Would you even consider such a trip?

The disciples, who had left everything to follow Christ (Mark 1:14-20) embarked on just such a trip. In fact, they would eventually all be killed for their faith in Jesus. Read Acts 20:23-24 then let me challenge you to truly "leave your nets" and follow him. He wants to radically change the priorities of our life. Is being with Him and bringing others into the Kingdom truly our greatest concern? Or is it our "nets"...our security, comfort and ease?