READ: Acts 16 (Focus vs. 16-24)
MEMORY VERSE
“Paul became so annoyed that he [said], “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of
her!”” Acts 16:18
BACKGROUND
Manuel was late for church and stuck at a red light. As he waited impatiently, his daughter noticed a stranded driver trying to fix a tire. “Daddy, you’re good at changing tires,” she said. “You should help her.”
Manuel was now going to be very late, but he knew this was a divine appointment. He stopped to help, even inviting the other driver to church.
Paul and Silas faced an interruption in Acts 16. They’d encountered a slave girl with an evil spirit who kept shouting (v. 17). For several days, Paul ignored her. Finally he became too annoyed and said to the demon, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her” (v. 18).
Paul had made a conscious choice to serve others even when it was inconvenient. When he freed the girl, it only became more complicated. Her owners lost the means to make money from her, so “they seized Paul and Silas dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities” (v. 19).
Then they were beaten and thrown into prison without a trial (vv. 22-24).
Serving Christ comes at a cost. Jesus told His disciples they were to take up their cross and follow Him (Matthew 10:38).
This is the way of Jesus: We’ll be interrupted and sometimes suffer, like our Savior. He invites us to accept those unexpected interruptions. How will you respond when they come?
Matt Lucas
INSIGHT
The interruption Paul and Silas encountered in Philippi (Acts 16:16-24) was the result of another, more dramatic one.
Earlier in Acts 16, these first-century missionaries were making their way across Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey) but were hindered from speaking the gospel along the way by the Holy Spirit (vv. 6-7).
This seems to set the stage for what would happen when they reached Troas on Asia Minor’s western coast.
There, Paul received what is known as the Macedonian Vision (vv. 9-10), in which a man from Macedonia pleaded for Paul and company to come and help them in ancient northern Greece.
Paul’s response to this interruption led to the establishment of the first church in Europe and set the stage for the interruption in today’s text.
Bill Crowder
APPLICATION
How do you react to interruptions? How might you permit God to work through you as you deal with them?
PR’s (Pastor Richard) RE-EMPHASIS (From Today’s Post)
“…We’ll be interrupted and sometimes suffer, like our Savior. He invites us to accept those unexpected interruptions.”
PR’s TAKE
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
PRAYER
“Dear Father, please open my eyes today to opportunities to serve others.”
TODAY’S HYMN/WORSHIP/PRAISE/GOSPEL SONG*
“I WILL FOLLOW” – Taasha Cobbs Leonard
I’ll go I’ll follow where You lead
Your hand I’ll trust completely
You can lead me, where You lead I’ll go (yes) ooh
I’ll go I’ll follow where You’ve been
Your hand I’ll trust completely
You can lead me, where You lead I’ll go
Somebody make this vow, say I’ll go
(I’ll go I’ll follow where You’ve been) yeah
Your hand I’ll trust completely, You can lead me
(You can lead me) where You lead
Where You lead I’ll go
This is my father, you’ll all sing
I’ll go…
Your hand I’ll trust completely, You can lead me…
I’ll go
I’ll go I’ll follow
Where you’ve been (ohh)
Your hand I’ll trust completely
God you can lead me
Lead…where You lead I’ll go
I’ll go
I’ll follow…
I’m willing to follow You can lead me…
You never failed me Lord and You won’t stop now
I have decided to follow Jesus (woo-oh)
Oh, ohh, somebody tell him
I have decided to follow Jesus (woo)
God we trust you ohh
I have decided to follow Jesus
‘Cause your love won’t lead me astray no
I have decided (hey) to follow Jesus (hey, woo)
Aye-e ’cause the cross won’t lead me astray, oh God
Cause your hand won’t lead me astray…
God I trust you, I trust you with my life
‘Cause the blood won’t lead me astray
You lead…
I will follow
