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Word from Scotland
by Sandy Shaw
We are in Acts 16:11. Now these men of God, led by the Holy Spirit, have crossed over into Europe and are in the central city of that region, Philippi. The gospel of Jesus Christ has never been proclaimed there before. What are they to do? Where is the best place to begin ministering? Where are the most interested and likely people?
There was no synagogue! The situation is real virgin territory. You needed ten Jewish men to have a synagogue and there were not even ten men who believed in God in the whole city. But there were some women meeting on the Sabbath day, down at the riverside - for prayer.
Paul went down and spoke to those who at least knew something about God, and a lady called Lydia listened. She was a business woman. She sold a very expensive purple cloth, coloured by a dye obtained from shellfish, and wool dyed with this was regarded as the finest and the best - a luxury item.
She listened attentively to Paul - "The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message." She comes to faith in Jesus Christ, and is baptised. Verse 15.
Paul and Silas are invited to spend a few days in the comfortable home of a local business woman. God is so good. Is it going to be like this from now on throughout the whole of Europe? Is this what Europe has to offer Paul and his colleagues?
Some 10 verses later, Paul and Silas are in a filthy Philippian jail, for their faith in Jesus. We need to keep the balance. Never assume that all is now going to be well!
Paul begins with those attending this meeting for prayer - with those who are genuinely interested - involved in some way with the things of God - and perhaps seeking more - wanting to go further - deeper - to flow in the moving of the Holy Spirit.
We see here the mighty powerful ministry of women in these verses - the mother and grandmother of Timothy - the hospitality of Lydia - but it was the men who went on the mission. It was the men whom God thrust out into the world - to face the hazards and dangers and challenges - and minister in the power of God.
Each was open to hear from God - committed - dedicated - praying - obedient - through vision - through preaching and testimony - and however the Holy Spirit decided to intervene and invade the lives of these individuals.
Be open to God speaking to you through any (or all) of these channels and serve Him faithfully and lovingly and graciously.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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