THE SPIRIT LEADS

Acts 16:1-10 Then he came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek. 2 He was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted to have him go on with him. And he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region, for they all knew that his father was Greek. 4 And as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to keep, which were determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.
6 Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in [a]Asia. 7 After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the [b]Spirit did not permit them. 8 So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.

Beloved, we read in Acts 16:1 that Paul came to Derbe and Lystra. That was radically courageous thing to do. Lystra was where Paul had been stoned , dragged out of the city and thrown on the garbage heap as dead. One would not be inclined to go back to Lystra , but here, where Paul had suffered so terribly and while he was still grieving over the falling out with Barnabas, God graciously brought into Paul's life this young man, Timothy, who would become like a faithful son to Paul. Timothy's mother, Eunice and grandmother, Lois were Jewish women who had become believers in Jesus Christ

2Timothy 1: 5 " when I call to remembrance the [a]genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also"

Although Timothy's father was an unbelieving Greek, these women had taught Timothy the scriptures from his childhood. On Paul's first visit to Lystra, these women and the young Timothy had gotten saved. By Paul's second visit, Timothy who would have been in his late teens or early twenties, had established a good reputation among the believers in Lystra and Iconium. Just as witnessing the stoning of Stephen had made an indelible impression on him, so watching Paul get stoned had made a profound impression on young Timothy. As a result, he had resolved to follow Jesus Christ, no matter what the cost. Beloved, Paul however saw Timothy's commitment and invited him to join the missionary team. This was the start of a lifelong and life changing friendship. Dear in Christ, not only Timothy but also Luke soon joined the team. As Luke stays in Philippi to Shepherd the new Church there, the beloved physician, a Gentile, became a faithful worker with Paul.

People of God, these new relationships did not happen by chance. The Lord knows that we need fellow Christians of a kindred spirit to encourage us and work with us as Priest and friends in cause of Christ. We need older believers like Barnabas had been to Paul. We need contemporaries like Timothy that we can bring along in the faith.

May the sovereign Spirit lead you to the right people to be not only your friends, but also your co -workers in your cause of Christ. May you get in tune with Christ and seek to follow His leading for how He wants you to labor for His Kingdom.

Amen. Be blessed.