Not What You Expected

[0:00] Good morning folks. I'm sorry I can't be with you but I hope you're well and I hope you have a good time gathered together in the Lord. This morning we're in Acts chapter 16 and so have you have that open up. I'm going to read from verse 6 to the end of the chapter.

[0:17] This is Acts chapter 16 from verse 6 and it is now Paul and Silas and now Timothy.

[0:32] And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. And when they had come up to Mysia they attempted to go into Bithynia.

[0:44] But the spirit of Jesus did not allow them. So passing by Mysia they went down to Troas and a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia was standing there urging him and saying come over to Macedonia and help us.

[1:02] And when Paul had seen the vision immediately we sought to go into Macedonia concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. So setting sail from Troas we made a direct voyage to Samothrace and the following day to Neapolis and from there to Philippi.

[1:24] Which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days. And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside where we supposed there was a place of prayer.

[1:40] We sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. One who had heard us was a woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira. A seller of purple goods who was a worshipper of God.

[1:52] The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. And after she was baptized in her household as well she urged us saying If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord come to my house and stay.

[2:10] And she prevailed upon us. As we were going to the place of prayer we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination. And brought her owners much gain by fortune telling.

[2:25] She followed Paul and us crying out These men are servants of the most high God who proclaim to you the way of salvation. And this she kept doing for many days.

[2:36] Paul having become greatly annoyed turned and said to the spirit I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And it came out that very hour.

[2:49] But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone They seized Paul and Silas Dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. When they had brought them to the magistrates they said These men are Jews And they are disturbing our city.

[3:06] They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice. The crowd joined in in attacking them. And the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods.

[3:23] And when they had inflicted many blows upon them they threw them into prison Ordering the jailer to keep them safely. Having received this order he put them in the inner prison To fasten their feet in the stocks.

[3:36] About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God And the prisoners were listening to them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake so that the foundations of the prison were shaken.

[3:52] And immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's bonds were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were opened he drew his sword and was about to kill himself.

[4:04] Supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice. Do not harm yourself for we are all here. And the jailer called for the lights.

[4:15] And rushed in and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said sirs what must I do to be saved.

[4:28] And they said believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved. You and your household. And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.

[4:39] And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds. And he was baptized at once. He and all his family. Then he brought them up into his house.

[4:52] And set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household. That he had believed in God. But when it was day.

[5:02] The magistrates sent the police saying. Let those men go. And the jailer reported these words to Paul saying. The magistrates have sent to let you go.

[5:14] Therefore come out now and go in peace. But Paul said to them. They have beaten us publicly. Uncondemned. Men who are Roman citizens. And have thrown us into prison.

[5:26] And do they now throw us out secretly? No. Let them come themselves. And take us out. The police reported these words to the magistrates.

[5:38] And they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens. So they came. And apologized to them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city. So they went out of the prison.

[5:51] And visited Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers. They encouraged them. And departed. This is the word of the Lord.

[6:02] And may the Lord bless his reading of it. One of the things that I love to do in autumn.

[6:18] Is to collect these little things. Conkers. I know you can't see that very well. Conkers. Horse chestnuts. And I know many areas around nearby.

[6:30] That have horse chestnut trees. And there's always an opportunity. Some of them are huge. And produce hundreds every year. So there's always an opportunity to collect them. Now I know they're not nearly the smallest seed.

[6:44] But one of the things I particularly love about conkers. Is that you get to hold this little round thing. And look at what it can become. In these massive trees. Some of them are huge.

[6:55] Some of these conker trees. And produce hundreds of conkers. And they come from just a little thing like this. You see. Jesus used a similar example.

[7:06] Of the mustard seed. He said the kingdom of God. Was like that little seed. Growing into a massive tree. In Matthew 13 31. He says this.

[7:17] The kingdom of heaven. Is like a grain of mustard seed. That a man took. And sowed in his field. It's the smallest of all seeds. But when it is grown.

[7:28] It is larger than all the garden plants. And it becomes a tree. So that the birds of the air. Come and make nests in its branches. As we've been going through Acts.

[7:40] We've been thinking about king and kingdom. The Acts is a story. About Jesus advancing his kingdom. From Jerusalem. To Judea and Samaria. To the ends of the earth.

[7:52] You may have noticed that geographically. The kingdom of Jesus has been advancing. Outwards from Jerusalem. And infiltrating the Roman Empire. In Acts chapter 16.

[8:04] We see something happens. That takes it to the next level. Which we'll look at in a moment. What happens is. Not what you were expecting. Having just picked up an apprentice.

[8:17] They head out towards Asia. Modern day Turkey. Perhaps they're aiming for Ephesus. Imagine being Timothy. At this point. Getting to go.

[8:29] Along with people. Like an apostle. And a prophet. Now there's this. This habit among Christians nowadays. That I can. I think can be quite unhelpful. And that's the habit of thinking.

[8:41] That you can find out God's plan. For your life. The habit of seeking God's plan. For your life. As though you can discern a map. That will outline. Every detail of your entire Christian life.

[8:56] Might I be so bold to say. That it's just not going to happen. I'm not saying that it doesn't exist. I'm simply saying that. God generally does not.

[9:07] And will not disclose. Every detail. And direction of your life. You see the temptation. For some Christians. Is that unless we know. What God's plan for our life is.

[9:19] We think we might miss it. Well here is a better perspective. God's plan for you. Does not require your knowledge of it. For it to happen.

[9:31] Rather. It requires your trust. And obedience. Day by day. You do not need to know God's plan for you. You just need to trust.

[9:42] And obey the God. Who has a plan for you. So imagine being Timothy. As far as starting out ministry goes. He is with two people. Who have about as much chance.

[9:53] As anyone on earth. To know God's plan. But no sooner do they set off. Than they are forbidden to speak the word. Of the Lord in Asia. And it wasn't like Paul's plan was bad.

[10:04] It was a great plan. An apostle. A prophet. An apprentice. Taking the gospel into Asia. For the first time. It's about as good a plan as you can get. And you have to think. If an apostle.

[10:15] And a prophet. With the best wisdom. And intention. Aren't able. To always discern. The will of God. Right at the beginning. Then perhaps we shouldn't be discouraged.

[10:25] When things don't quite work out. The way we expected. Maybe it was clear to Paul at the time. How that happened. But those details. Aren't relevant to the bigger picture.

[10:36] Luke has shown us. What matters is not why. But who. Not how. But who. You can have the best plans. The best team. The best intentions.

[10:47] But every so often. We're reminded. That we just don't see. The bigger picture. God does not disclose. Everything about his plan to us. His thoughts are not our thoughts.

[10:59] His ways are not our ways. The truth is. God's plans are always bigger. Than we expect. Yet they often start in ways.

[11:10] That are much smaller. Than we expect. It's like the parable of the kingdom. Being like a seed. God. And because his ways are not our ways.

[11:21] The why questions. Are the most difficult. Because we simply don't know. The mind of God. We don't have his wisdom. Or knowledge. Or patience. Perhaps we want quick results.

[11:32] We want to just dig a great big hole. And plant a massive horse chestnut tree. Boom. Look at that. Let's put a conference on. And get a whopping big number. All at once.

[11:43] Go big or go home. But Jesus talks about his own kingdom. Like that of a little seed. That's planted underground. And slowly grows over time. To something massive.

[11:55] See. Perhaps Jesus is more concerned. About strong foundations. About the condition of the soil. And about the depth of the roots. More than we are.

[12:07] We often want to bring. A fully matured tree in. But Jesus wants. To plant a seed. And water it. As the verse in Zechariah 4.10 implies.

[12:20] In the work of God. The day of small things. Is not to be despised. So they're forbidden. They can't go into Asia. They implement plan B. B for Bithynia.

[12:32] But again. The spirit of Jesus. Didn't allow them. We don't know why or how. But we know the who. And although we don't always know the why. We can at least conclude. That this way must be better.

[12:43] For whatever reason. Jesus will have good reason. It will work out better this way. So they're forced to go into Troas. They're funneled. They just know that at this point.

[12:56] It's no longer their plan. The plan of God is always bigger. Than our plans. You may have heard this before. But it's easier to steer a ship. When it's moving.

[13:07] Than when it's still. You see Jesus is the captain of this ship. And the ship is his church. His kingdom. And he's the one directing it.

[13:17] And moving it. And it's far easier to steer. When it is moving. But I wonder. I wonder how many of us. Would turn back at this point. You see it's really easy. To be discouraged.

[13:28] To have that initial confidence. And zeal. Slowly fade away. And be replaced by fears. And doubts. Was I ever supposed to be doing this. In the first place. You see it's only when Paul had a vision.

[13:42] That they had any sense. Of where they were to go from there. The vision he sees. The man of Macedonia. Urging him to come over. We don't know who the man represents. If anyone.

[13:52] But I think it's quite interesting. When they do get there. Their encounter is not with a man. But with a woman. Named Lydia. And Jesus. If he had not pushed them.

[14:03] To Troas. We might not even have the book of Acts. Because it's likely there. That they meet Luke. Because in verse 10. It switches from they to we. You see.

[14:15] This is. Where I think the example. Of the conquerors. Helps us. Seeing the kingdom. Like a seed. That is growing. And growing. They end up in Philippi.

[14:27] It's Jesus' plan. Not theirs. They tried to go to Asia. And Bithynia. But when they get to Philippi. It seems like the day. Of small beginnings. Now I think there may be.

[14:40] Two things here. That would help us. To think about this. Number one. While Asia and Bithynia. Had many Gentiles. Philippi was far more Roman.

[14:52] And far less Jewish or Greek. Than these other places. Paul and Silas. Were both. Roman citizens. So perhaps Jesus called them.

[15:03] For a place. Like this. Places like Bithynia. Bithynia. Would be evangelized. By others. For instance. Peter in his letter. Writes to Bithynia. So perhaps Jesus.

[15:14] Has taken them. Away from other places. Where he will use other people. And he's putting them. Into places. Where he specifically. Wants to use. Them. You see.

[15:24] You might end up. In a different place. Than you expected. But trust. That even when you don't know. Why you're there. Jesus has a purpose. And plan. Number two.

[15:36] While Asia. Or even Bithynia. Would have been a good mission ground. It was neither the time. Nor the place. Paul eventually. Does go to Asia. He goes to Ephesus.

[15:47] Later on. And Peter to Bithynia. But not at this point. It was not the time. Or the place. Jesus may have still been. Working the ground. In those places.

[15:58] But he also wanted to do. Something bigger. Somewhere else. In Philippi. When we say. Where he does send them. It really doesn't seem like. He's doing something.

[16:08] Bigger and better. But like the parable. Of the kingdom. Like a seed. You need to see. The implications. Of what happens. In Philippi. You see.

[16:18] Luke writes. That Philippi. Was a Roman colony. That may not mean. Much to us. But back then. Although other places. In Greece. Were part of the Roman Empire. Philippi.

[16:29] Was like a microcosm. Of Rome. The dominant population. In culture. Was Roman. Not Greek. This. This wasn't just a province. This was a colony. So what we see happen.

[16:42] In Acts 16. Is supposed to give us. A picture of. Jesus advancing. His kingdom. Over the Roman Empire. Getting closer. To Rome. The gospel.

[16:52] Isn't just pushing. On Greek populations. And Greek culture. But at this point. Is pushing. Into proper. Roman. Territory. And so the cry. For help. This cry.

[17:04] And the vision. That Paul's seen. Was a cry. Against the darkness. Of Rome. Was a cry. Against the power. Of Satan. Over the world. And we begin. To see that. In this Roman colony. Called Philippi.

[17:15] When we see. The kingdom of Jesus. Advance. And infiltrate. This Roman colony. We must also. Remember. That his kingdom. Is not of this world. And he's not like. The rulers. Of this world. You see.

[17:26] Jesus. Is about. Saving people. And freeing people. When he captures you. He captures you. To free you. And give you life. Not to enslave you.

[17:37] So the conquest. Of Jesus. Doesn't. Create victims. Slaves. And collateral damage. He conquers. A place. Not merely. For his own gain. Or fame.

[17:48] But to save the people. This is what we see. Happen. In Philippi. He isn't just. Going to overrun Rome. He's going to free. Its people.

[17:59] People like Lydia. People like the demon. Possessed slave girl. And like an ex-army. Roman prison guard. Who doesn't realize. That he is the one. Actually imprisoned.

[18:11] So Paul and Silas. Timothy and Luke. Have been in Philippi. A few days. We don't know where they stayed. Probably a lodge. But Luke writes. That they have sailed. From Troas.

[18:22] As they went through. A couple of places. From the port. And then in Philippi. They remained a few days. You know. We might like to think. That as soon as they arrived. They dropped their. They dropped their bags.

[18:33] And started out. Street preaching. But that isn't how it happened. Nor should you ever feel. The pressure to do that. Yourself. After a few days.

[18:43] They would have known. That there was no synagogues there. So when it was the Jewish Sabbath. They went outside. To the river. Supposing there was a place of prayer. The closest thing to a synagogue.

[18:56] And they were right. They found a group of women. Who they spoke to. One of the women was Lydia. A successful business woman. From Thyatira. She was also a God fearer.

[19:07] And she wasn't Jewish. But she was like Cornelius. In that she sought the Jewish God. She was religious. This was like Paul's version. Of when Jesus directed Peter.

[19:18] To Cornelius. Paul is directed to Lydia. Just as the Lord had prepared Cornelius. The Lord prepares Lydia.

[19:29] To receive the word also. He opens her heart. To pay attention. To what was said by Paul. And so just like Peter. Paul still has to proclaim the gospel.

[19:41] But the Lord was already at work. Preparing the heart. To receive it. Like Cornelius. She was baptized also. Along with her whole household. And similarly.

[19:51] Offered generous hospitality. Isn't this encouraging? When Paul sets out. He didn't expect. To be in Europe. In Philippi. In a Roman colony.

[20:02] He didn't expect. To be by a. A riverside. Talking to a group of women. A small prayer meeting. With a successful business woman. Who would receive the gospel. In a.

[20:12] Hugely public way. You see. If you're a Christian. If you're wondering. What God would have you do. You don't need to know. God's plan. For you.

[20:23] For God to use you. You don't always need to know. Where you're going. You just need to know. What to do. When you get there. And by there. I don't mean. Your final destination. You will know.

[20:35] When an opportunity. Presents itself. And you should trust. That God has brought you to it. There will be a lot of things. That you don't know. A lot of things. You don't need to know.

[20:46] But if you know. The good news. That saved you. Then you can share. Some of that. With others. Think of the conquer. It's not about knowing. Whether. This thing.

[20:58] Will be a tree or not. Or what size. The tree will be. It's knowing. That the seed itself. Contains the power. And potential. To become a tree.

[21:08] In the first place. That's what the gospel is like. And that is what the kingdom. Is doing. And if you don't know. Jesus as your king. Lydia's story.

[21:20] Tells us. That no. No amount of success. No amount of wealth. And no amount of religion. Will get you there. She's got all. That most people. In this life. Want. She has success.

[21:31] She's got wealth. She has a big house. She has. She's her own boss. She has influence. She's even found religion. She's probably charitable. She even seeks.

[21:41] The true God. Says that she's a worshipper. Of God. So close. Yet so far. Not close enough. None of that stuff. Can save her.

[21:53] None of that stuff. Can save any of us. You can be rich. Successful. You can even go to church. But as 1 John 5.

[22:03] 12 says. If you do not have the son of God. Then you do not have life. So if you're a Christian. You have the message of life.

[22:14] You don't need to know everything about God's plan. To hold that message out to other people. Trust and obey. Trust that God is preparing hearts.

[22:24] To hear the message. And obey the command. To speak the message. It is not the one. Who holds the conquer. Who is responsible.

[22:35] To make it into a tree. You just need to plant it. So the Lord opened Lydia's heart. To receive. To pay attention to Paul's words. Jesus prepared the ground.

[22:47] For Paul to plant the seed. And let's also note. For a minute. That the fact that she was by the river. In the first place. The fact that she was a worshipper of God.

[22:58] In the first place. Indicates. That Jesus has already been at work in her. Before Paul set foot in Philippi. The same case as Cornelius. You're never the first on the scene.

[23:10] Jesus is way ahead of us. His spirit goes before us. Before we tell anyone about him. So when Lydia hears the gospel. She believes.

[23:21] She's baptised with her whole household. And insisted on hospitality. Cancel your reservations. At the lodge. Come and stay in my mansion.

[23:34] And that's what happens. Then the next person that Paul encounters. Is this slave girl. Who has a spirit of divination. Spirit of python. On the way to the place of prayer.

[23:46] This girl was known. For her fortune telling. And so she follows Paul. Crying out. That they were servants of the most high. Who proclaim the way of salvation. She keeps doing this for many days.

[24:00] And Paul was worn out by it. What do you make of this? What do you make of this? Happening. Would you be tempted to think. That this is advantageous.

[24:11] To their mission. Having someone else. Crying out. That. Both. That you serve. God. And proclaim the way of salvation. And this just.

[24:21] This isn't just anyone. It's the city fortune teller. Doing this. What do you make? You see it's interesting. Because. Paul doesn't address it straight away.

[24:34] It's after many. Many days. Goes. Many days go by. Before Paul addresses it. And eventually. He addresses the spirit.

[24:44] That possesses this girl. And he commands it. To come out of the girl. In the name of Jesus Christ. And it does. It comes out that very hour. We aren't told anything more about her. Other than her owners.

[24:56] Reacted to her deliverance. In a negative way. You see it's not enough. To them. For her to be possessed. By humans. Her owners.

[25:09] Prefer her to be oppressed. By demons. Because it gives them a way. To exploit her for money. But now she can no longer. Perform for her masters. They're only interested.

[25:22] In what she can do for them. Whereas Jesus. Is interested. In what he can do for you. You see. Humans will always use other humans. For their own gain. And the devil is no stranger.

[25:33] To using the truth. To try and discredit the truth. Father of lies. Paul certainly doesn't want to be in partnership. With the devil.

[25:44] He doesn't want to be associated with this. In his evangelism. It wouldn't be doing the gospel. Any good to be associated with this. Fortune teller. But also.

[25:54] He's likely grieved. At this girl being used. And impressed like this. And also the people. And the city. Being deluded by this. You see.

[26:05] No amounts of fortune telling. Was going to save the city. And no one else. Had any interest. In helping this girl. But Jesus brought Paul there.

[26:17] To offer the city. And this girl. Something better. Something more reliable. Something more powerful. A real deliverance. Exorcisms aside.

[26:28] We must trust. That the name of Jesus. Is not. Like any other name. Jesus is the son of God. And the king of heaven. His name is above. Every other name.

[26:39] His name. Every knee will bow to. Whether. Whether it's the knee of an angel. The knee of a demon. The knee of a slave owner. The knee of Caesar himself. Jesus name is above.

[26:51] Every other name. And he is mighty to save. We must trust. That his name delivers. Where nothing else can. We don't know what became of this girl.

[27:03] Other than that she was truly delivered. From this spiritual oppression. And as far as her owners. Human owners went. The cat was out of the bag.

[27:15] She was publicly delivered. In the name of Jesus Christ. Whatever others did with that. I'm sure she remembered that name. And there was now a group in town.

[27:26] Who gathered in that name. She was publicly set free. From her spiritual oppressor. And Paul and Silas. Were then bound. By her human.

[27:38] Oppressors. Just as her deliverance was public. So was the ensuing injustice. Public. And this matters later on. Paul and Silas were accused.

[27:51] They were attacked by the owners. And crowds. Beaten with rods. Thrown in jail by the magistrates. Accused of being Jews. And imposing Jewish customs. That are unlawful for Romans.

[28:03] But little did they know. That Paul and Silas. Were Roman citizens as well. What we don't expect to see next. Paul and Silas.

[28:15] Praying and singing hymns. In prison. And what we don't expect. Is to see. That the other prisoners. Are listening to them. Paul is going to.

[28:26] Address the injustice later on. He's going to address it. But what he isn't doing. As he isn't dwelling on his circumstance. You can read in his letter.

[28:40] That he sends to Philippi. Later on. How he processes situations like this. How Paul talks about being in prison for Jesus. How Jesus uses that.

[28:53] How Paul views it as advancing the gospel. Philippians 1. How it reaches the guards. Verse 13. How it emboldens the brothers. Verse 14.

[29:03] How Jesus suffered. Chapter 2. How to do all things without grumbling. Verse 14. Of chapter 2. How he's glad to be poured out.

[29:14] As a sacrificial offering. Of their faith. Verse 17. How he's glad. To share in the sufferings of Christ. Chapter 3. Verse 10. How he chooses to forget what lies behind.

[29:26] Strains forward to what lies ahead. Verse 13. How he knows what it is to be content. In every circumstance. Chapter 4. Verse 11. And how he knows. That he can do all things.

[29:38] All these things. Through Christ. Who gives him the strength to do it. Verse 13. So Paul and Silas. Are not dwelling on it. They are praying.

[29:49] And singing. In prison. Their fellow inmates are listening. And evidently. Heaven is listening too. Suddenly. There's an earthquake. That shakes the prison.

[30:00] And bursts every door. And breaks every shackle. You see. The phrase comes to mind. No stone. Is left unturned. The deliverance.

[30:11] That Jesus brings. Is complete. Every chain is broken. Not a single shackle. Remains. So the jailer wakes up.

[30:22] And when he learns what happens. He thinks they've escaped. And he readies himself. To follow on his own sword. This is clearly a man. Who cares. About duty.

[30:33] And honour. And loyalty. And clearly he knows. The cost of those things. Paul perhaps. He hears the. The commotion going on. And he calls out. For the jailer.

[30:44] Not to harm himself. No one's escaped. What an extraordinary thing. Don't you think. Not only that Paul and Silas. Wouldn't escape. But the other prisoners. Wouldn't escape either.

[30:55] Now imagine it has something to do. With the fact that they listened. When Paul and Silas. Were praying and singing. And then they associated that. With this. Extraordinary. Earthquake.

[31:06] And it's funny. And it's funny. Because it seems like. It seems like. Inside this prison. Is a more respectable place. Than outside at the marketplace. And the magistrates.

[31:17] The jailer. The jailer. Then rushes in. And falls. Before Silas. And Paul. And he asks them. One of the most important questions.

[31:27] You can ask. What must I do. To be saved. Believe in the Lord Jesus. And you will be saved. His response.

[31:39] Is like Lydia. Belief. Baptism. Generous. Service. In hospitality. The jailer. As Tim Keller. Puts it.

[31:49] Had neither. The success of Lydia. Nor the mess. Of the slave girl. He was likely. An ex-Roman soldier. Given the job. For his service.

[32:00] Held a desirable status. And citizenship. Yet none of that. Could save him. Not even dying. Out of duty. Dying out of honor.

[32:11] And loyalty. Would save him. So Paul stops him. And tells him. The only way. To be saved. You see. Again. Even the most honorable.

[32:21] People in life. Even people. With acts of valor. With their sacrifice. And loyalty. To country. Even with their commitment. To duty. It's not enough.

[32:32] To gain them a place. In the kingdom of God. Only through the king. Of the kingdom. God's own son. Who died. For us all. Only through him.

[32:43] And by his name. Can we be saved. And enter in. Believe. In the Lord. Jesus. And you will be saved. Finally.

[32:54] The magistrates. Attempt to release. Paul and Silas. They attempt to do it. Silently. Quietly. Not because they know. They're Roman citizens yet. But because they don't have.

[33:05] A legitimate case. Against them. They know it was. Unjust. Their attempts to release them quietly. Itself. Is an injustice. They don't want to take.

[33:17] Responsibility. They don't want to admit their fault. And although. Although we like to. Like to point to the government.

[33:27] And many times. The way the justice system. The justice system. Fails today. How often. And easy. Is it for any of us. To want to avoid.

[33:39] Admitting fault. It's just. It's not the way. Of the kingdom of Jesus. It's the way. Of the world. To deny fault. And even. Our little.

[33:49] Acts of denial. Are themselves. An injustice. In the eyes of God. So Paul and Silas. Refuse.

[34:00] To leave. Without the magistrates. Taking responsibility. The initial injustice. Was public. So they weren't about to. Let this go privately. The police told the magistrates.

[34:13] And when they learned. That they were Roman citizens. They were afraid. And they personally. Came and apologised. And let them free. And asked them to leave the city. After visiting Lydia.

[34:25] And encouraging the brothers. They did leave. You see. Jesus. Directed Paul. And Silas. Both. Who had Roman citizenship.

[34:36] Something that neither. The other apostles had. They direct. Jesus directed them. Away from Asia. And Bithynia. And directed them. To go to this Roman colony.

[34:47] In Europe. To be instrumental. In a number of. High profile conversions. And to also. End up. Unjustly. Suffering. At the hands of Romans.

[34:58] Who thought they were only Jews. Romans. And not just any Romans. But the magistrates. And the result of this. I think. The fear and respect.

[35:09] That came out of learning. Who they are. Meant that this new church. In Philippi. Was left in a very good standing. A good standing. With people of influence.

[35:20] People of business. People of service. Like the prison guard. And the magistrates. Who feared them. They were left in good standing.

[35:31] See Jesus. Plans are always far bigger. Than we expect. Yet they often start. In ways. That look much smaller. Than we expect. If like Lydia.

[35:44] You have given your ear. To listen to this. And have heard the good news. Of Jesus. The question is. Will you believe. If you believe. You will be saved. Or if Paul.

[35:55] If like Paul. You have someone. Who gives you their ear. To listen to you. Will you tell them. The good news. If like the jailer.

[36:09] You want to know. The way to be saved. What you must do. When you hear it. Will you do it. When you hear what to do. It's like the rich. Young. Young ruler.

[36:20] He asked the same question. But he didn't do. The thing. It's one thing. To ask the question. What must I do. To be saved. It's another thing. To then do it.

[36:31] When you hear. Believe. In Jesus. And you will be saved. And if like Paul. And Silas. Someone asks you. That question. Will you tell them.

[36:43] To put. Their trust in Jesus. You see. We don't need to know. Every part of God's plan. We just need to. We just need to. Trust. And obey.

[36:54] Day by day. Let me pray. Heavenly Father. You are. Not us.

[37:07] Your ways are not our ways. Your thoughts are not our thoughts. You are awesome. And the God of all creation. Lord Jesus. Is in control.

[37:17] And this is his kingdom. He is building it. He goes before us. And. You do things. In ways. In which we. Cannot comprehend. Lord.

[37:30] We thank you. That you are at work. And we thank you. That you have. Been doing this. All the way. To reach us. That we might hear the message. And that we might be saved. We pray.

[37:40] That you might help us. To get away. From trying to figure out. Every little detail. Trying to figure out. What your plan for our life is. To know every detail.

[37:51] But help us. To trust. And obey. Day by day. And see the amazing. Kingdom. And work of Jesus.

[38:02] Happening before our eyes. Like a seed grown into a great tree. Lord. We bless you. In Jesus name. Amen.

[38:14] Well folks. Bless you all. Grace and peace to you all. In Jesus name. Amen.