WEBVTT 00:00.200 --> 00:01.700 In the name of Jesus. 00:02.500 --> 00:02.900 Amen. 00:05.100 --> 00:09.900 The apostle was on Expedition crossing some of the world's toughest 00:09.900 --> 00:10.800 terrain. 00:11.800 --> 00:18.000 He was broadening his geographical horizons but his wider objectives 00:18.000 --> 00:23.800 as an evangelist, were giving way to a dreadful, restlessness of 00:23.800 --> 00:28.200 feeling boxed in, handcuffed. 00:29.500 --> 00:31.500 Here was God's man, 00:31.500 --> 00:37.400 the sent one fulfilling a Divine call to preach the gospel of Christ 00:37.400 --> 00:39.700 crucified to the Gentiles. 00:40.900 --> 00:44.200 And now God was telling him and his companions. 00:45.400 --> 00:46.000 No. 00:47.600 --> 00:48.500 Not here. 00:50.100 --> 00:51.200 Not yet. 00:53.100 --> 00:57.900 Apparently the Holy Spirit had gone into prevention mode. 00:58.300 --> 01:03.300 No, Phrygia or Galatia, or Mysia, or Bithynia on the Divine agenda 01:03.300 --> 01:06.500 at least yet. So close 01:06.500 --> 01:13.200 and yet so far, the Apostle could have reached out and touched any or 01:13.200 --> 01:14.100 all of them. 01:16.500 --> 01:19.000 But God was saying no. 01:20.400 --> 01:26.200 No matter how well-intentioned and noble Paul's plans to advance the 01:26.200 --> 01:29.400 kingdom of God, through the preaching of the word. 01:30.800 --> 01:33.100 The places were not right. 01:34.200 --> 01:37.600 And the timing was not of God's choosing. 01:42.600 --> 01:46.900 This ought to unsettle our expectations. 01:48.400 --> 01:52.300 Doesn't God want his word preached at all times 01:52.300 --> 01:58.500 and in all places? Is not God more determined willing and able than any 01:58.500 --> 01:59.800 suffering preacher? 01:59.800 --> 02:04.100 Even the one, the caliber of his former Pharisee. 02:05.400 --> 02:09.699 Wouldn't the Lord be about, delivering a strong 02:09.699 --> 02:10.600 yes 02:11.100 --> 02:15.400 to the prayers for, at the extension of the mission and Ministry of 02:15.400 --> 02:16.500 the Gospel? 02:16.700 --> 02:21.000 Before they call, I answer while they are yet speaking 02:21.300 --> 02:24.800 I will hear, he said through his prophet. 02:27.700 --> 02:34.200 Yet the spirit of Jesus instructs, Paul not to proclaim the cross in 02:34.200 --> 02:36.600 certain parts of Asia Minor. 02:38.700 --> 02:41.800 It is a wake-up call to us. 02:42.900 --> 02:45.000 Over self-constructed 02:45.000 --> 02:47.800 assumptions about the future 02:48.900 --> 02:52.800 and our sincere intentions to shape it. 02:55.300 --> 02:59.800 What role do personal aspirations and plans play 03:00.100 --> 03:04.000 In one's Ministry, going forward? 03:05.000 --> 03:12.100 No Pastor, or any other Church worker can blithely presume absolute 03:12.100 --> 03:18.200 confidence in their own agenda and works as somehow automatically 03:18.200 --> 03:24.300 pleasing to God. Apart from the provision of his grace. 03:25.500 --> 03:28.900 A Grace, grasped by faith, imparted 03:28.900 --> 03:34.100 in baptism. Nurtured in the reception of the preached word. 03:34.500 --> 03:38.500 Sustained, and strengthened in Christ's body and blood for the 03:38.500 --> 03:43.200 forgiveness of sins. Apart from God's grace 03:44.500 --> 03:50.600 none of our under takings in this Earthly life would ever be pleasing 03:50.600 --> 03:51.300 to Him. 03:54.500 --> 04:01.300 You may be destined to preach or teach or provide mercy to the souls 04:01.300 --> 04:05.800 around you with all boldness and power, the conviction and beauty of 04:05.800 --> 04:07.600 divine truth. 04:09.800 --> 04:16.800 Yet you dear Saints are called to that venture as men and women under 04:16.800 --> 04:18.000 authority. 04:19.300 --> 04:26.300 To carry out such work in all humility and obedience in a posture of 04:26.300 --> 04:31.900 constant, self-examination, repentance and prayer. 04:34.100 --> 04:39.400 When it is your will O Lord to the glory of your name, into the 04:39.400 --> 04:42.100 furthering of your kingdom, I will do it. 04:43.400 --> 04:47.200 And not because it seems only good to me. 04:48.700 --> 04:56.800 Help me to cast aside my ambitions and arrogance, open my ears and 04:56.800 --> 04:59.700 heart to your direction. 05:05.100 --> 05:10.500 A man suddenly appeared to the Apostle in a miraculous vision. 05:12.500 --> 05:19.300 Come and help us at this place at this time. 05:21.500 --> 05:27.700 A vivid dream direct, and spectacular revelation, and Paul, and his 05:27.900 --> 05:33.000 companions plans were changed in an instant. 05:34.100 --> 05:40.300 They were to proclaim Jesus as Lord in the colony of Philippi not in 05:40.400 --> 05:43.200 established synagogue of that City. 05:44.500 --> 05:50.900 But rather to a mostly unnamed group of women assembled on a muddy 05:50.900 --> 05:52.000 river bank. 05:56.800 --> 05:59.800 Outside of Acts chapter 16 06:01.000 --> 06:07.100 the New Testament makes no mention of Lydia whom we commemorate on 06:07.100 --> 06:13.000 this day, along with other exemplary New Testament, women of the faith. 06:14.700 --> 06:22.200 Lydia's conversion sets down a humble, unassuming pattern that is to 06:22.200 --> 06:29.000 be repeated time and time again throughout the generations until 06:29.000 --> 06:31.800 Christ comes again in glory. 06:33.800 --> 06:41.000 She comes to believe In Christ, not by the applied exercise of her 06:41.000 --> 06:41.700 will 06:42.800 --> 06:48.000 but by being on the receiving end of the transformative, power of the 06:48.000 --> 06:50.100 word that saves, 06:52.100 --> 06:55.300 The Formula of Concord, says it this way. 06:57.000 --> 07:03.100 With this word the Holy Spirit is present and open opens hearts 07:03.900 --> 07:09.200 so that people like Lydia pay attention to it and are converted only 07:09.200 --> 07:11.800 through the Holy Spirit's grace and power. 07:12.000 --> 07:17.300 Who alone does the work of converting a person for as Christ says, 07:17.900 --> 07:21.700 apart from me, you can do nothing. 07:26.600 --> 07:35.100 By all appearances, Philippi, Lydia and the women had not been on 07:35.100 --> 07:37.300 Paul's radar screen. 07:39.700 --> 07:41.900 Yet a mere decade later 07:43.200 --> 07:48.500 the Apostle would be giving all thanks to God for them in writing, 07:49.600 --> 07:51.400 Expressing a joyful 07:51.400 --> 07:56.500 confidence that he who began a good work in them, would bring it to 07:56.500 --> 08:00.800 completion on the day of the Lord Jesus Christ. 08:02.800 --> 08:08.800 God's plan unfolds in unexpected and delightful ways. 08:10.600 --> 08:13.500 And at various times and places 08:15.000 --> 08:21.800 each of us receives a disruptive Macedonian call of sorts. Through the 08:21.800 --> 08:27.100 work of the Holy Spirit in much quieter methods. 08:28.300 --> 08:34.299 And yet, all of these made manifest and alive in the word of God 08:34.400 --> 08:36.299 that makes things happen. 08:38.900 --> 08:43.200 You and I labor when we should be listening. 08:44.700 --> 08:46.000 We doubt. 08:47.300 --> 08:53.300 He knows. We sweat and fret over the outcome of our works. 08:54.700 --> 08:59.900 He has shed the blood of his Son, that all of us would live 09:00.000 --> 09:06.400 in joyful and certain hope of the resurrection of the body and life 09:06.600 --> 09:07.700 everlasting. 09:08.800 --> 09:13.800 In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. 09:14.500 --> 09:15.100 Amen.