May 1, 2011
Good Work Wk 1: Patience
Posted by Michael
Learn
Acts 16:11-15 & 40
11 From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day we went on to Neapolis. 12 From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days.13 On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. 14 One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. 15 When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us. 40 After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house, where they met with the brothers and sisters and encouraged them. Then they left.
Philippians 1:12-19
12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14 And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear. 15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16 The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.
Main Idea:
If you asked Paul what his ideal method of spreading the Gospel would have been, He probably wouldn’t have said to be thrown in jail. Yet, that is what happened to him. We all have times where we feel stuck in life. It may be career wise, relationally, financially, etc. Paul was physically stuck in jail, but he didn’t let that stop him from being faithful. On the contrary, he used his circumstances to advance the Gospel. Every four hours, a new prison guard was chained to Paul. We can be certain that Paul was telling those guards all about Jesus! God used Paul’s efforts in jail to spread His message all over Rome. We may not like our circumstances. We may wish we can serve God according to a plan we have, not the one He has given us. But if we continue to be faithful, as Paul was, God will use us in ways we’d never thought possible.
Know What: No matter how good your plan is, it is not the thing to put your hope in. Your hope must be in Jesus.
So What: God can use you for His glory right now regardless of your circumstances.
Now What: Don’t quit. Keep being faithful and remember that God can bring good things from bad.
Discuss…
1. When Paul took his first trip to Philippi, he invested time and energy into Lydia, which may not have seemed like a good investment. But she went on to plant and support many churches. Who are some people you feel called to invest in even though the chances of a return seem slim? What can you do to invest in them?
2. Paul’s dream was to preach the gospel in Spain, but as he was headed there God turned him around and sent him to Philippi. Do you have a big dream that you’d like to achieve for God? Has God sent you to any “Phillipi’s” instead? What are they? Do you trust God to use you where He has put you, even if it’s not where you want to be?
3. Think back to a time in your life to where you had to show patience, but eventually had a prayer answered. What did God teach you during that season of waiting?
4. Do you feel “stuck” in any area of life right now? Is there anything you have praying about for a while, but so far it hasn’t been answered in the way you would like? How can you be faithful to God while you wait? Do you see how God may be using you to advance the Gospel, even though you are stuck in a place you don’t want to be in?
5. Have you ever uttered a version of this phrase: “If only God would give me this (or change this circumstance), I’d be able to fully devote myself to Him”? Why do you think your circumstances have to change in order to do something great for Him? How can you begin to let go of your plan and put your trust in His?
Next Steps…
If you trust Jesus and have never been baptized, your next right step may be to do so on May 15th. Being baptized doesn’t change circumstances, but it is an outward expression of an inward commitment to follow Christ no matter what. Consider how you can be faithful to Jesus even when circumstances aren’t what you would like them to be.
