“Love and Obedience” (Acts 16:9-15) - Living the Resurrection IV –

Who Does God Use?

In his book Why God Used D.L. Moody, R.A. Torrey, a close friend of Moody, tells us seven qualities in the life of Moody. The first reason why God used Moody was because he was a fully surrendered man. One day Torrey and Moody had different opinions. Moody defended his own position and said, “Torrey, if I believed that God wanted me to jump out of that window, I would jump.” If he thought God wanted him to do anything, he would do it. Evangelist Henry Varley once said to people, “It remains to be seen what God will do with a man who gives himself up wholly to Him.” Moody was there and said to himself, “Well, I will be that man!”[1] He belonged wholly, entirely, unreservedly, to God. Moody was a wholly surrendered man, and God was able to do his surprising work through him.

In our passage we meet another man whom God was able to use in a mighty way. His name was Paul. He was a visionary who planned ahead and developed strategies for preaching the gospel to the end of the earth. But much more importantly, Paul was a fully surrendered man. He had a good plan. After ministering in Phrygia and Galatia, he wanted to go southwest to the province of Asia, probably Ephesus, the important capital of Asia, but the Holy Spirit said, “No” (16:6). Then he tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus said, “No” (v. 7). And Paul obeyed. He was not just a visionary, but he was a submissive visionary. Normally, we think that a good plan is God’s plan. But we need to remember that God’s ways are far beyond anything we could imagine (cf. Isa 55:8 NLT). God always has a better plan. Though Paul had a good plan, his spirit was always teachable, submissive, receptive to God’s voice, his better plan. So God was able to use Paul without hindrance.  

How Do We Know God’s Will?

When we talk about “obedience,” the following question always comes up, “How do we know whether God is telling us?” About 2,000 years ago the Jews asked Jesus the same question, “How do we know God’s will?” Jesus’ answer to the question is this: “If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own” (John 7:17). How do we distinguish God’s will from our own desires? The answer is if we choose to obey God’s will whatever it is, we will know whether it’s from God or not. Obedient heart and submissive spirit is the key to discern God’s will. Discerning God’s will is a matter of the heart, not a matter of knowledge. Biblical knowledge is important. We need it. I am not saying it is useless. But, much more important quality is our undivided, unreserved, obedient heart. Once I read a book, titled These Are the Generations. It is a story about three generations of the Bae family who have faithfully kept their faith in North Korea, in the midst of brutal oppression and persecution. The first generation, grandparents, did have profound knowledge about the Bible. But, for the second and third generations, everything that they heard and knew was the Ten Commandments because of severe persecution. They were under constant surveillance. All the Bibles were burnt down. But, they have kept their faith. They have kept choosing God’s will. They are like people who have just one piece of the puzzle. All they know is the Ten Commandments. But that was enough for them to choose God’s will. Compared to them, we have all the pieces of the puzzle, and we know the whole picture on the puzzle-box lid. But, that doesn’t necessarily mean that we are more likely to choose God’s will than the Bae family. Sometimes we say “I don’t know what God’s will is in this situation.” But actually, in most cases, I would say more than 90%, already God’s will has been made known to us, through his revealed written word. The important thing is whether we are willing to choose and obey his will. For those who say, “God, please let me know your will first, and I will decide what to do,” it’s hard to know God’s will. For those who already have their plans and try to carry through it, it’s very hard to know God’s will. But for those who choose to do God’s will whatever it is, it’s rather easy to discern God’s will.

In many cases discerning God’s will is a process and combination of factors. God speaks through the Bible. God speaks through prayer. God speaks through circumstances. God speaks through the church. God speaks through many different ways. In our passage Paul was hindered by the Spirit two times. He was not allowed to go either left or right. So he obeyed and kept moving forward – Mysia and Troas. Then during the night he had a vision that a man of Macedonia was begging, “Come and help us!” With an obedient heart Paul interpreted this “help” as preaching the gospel there. As soon as he discerned God’s will, immediately he obeyed and went over to Macedonia to preach the gospel. In verse 10 Luke uses the verb symbibazo, translated “concluding” (NIV) and “convinced” (NRSV). This word literally means to “bring together” or “put together in one’s mind.”[2] From this, we learn important principles how to discern God’s will and be led by divine guidance. With an obedient heart we need to put together all the factors – the Bible, prayer, circumstances, preaching, conversation, inner voice, and so on. When we sense that God has spoken, we must respond immediately just as Paul did (v. 10).

Love and Obedience

In John 14:15 Jesus said, “If you love me, you will obey what I command.” Our obedience to God demonstrates our love for him. This morning I want to share a story of Rees Howells, a man of radical obedience. He was an intercessor and missionary in Africa. One time his wife, Elizabeth, and Mr. Howells were planning to go to mission trip to Africa. They thought money would be sure to come the day before they were to leave for London; but the last post came and no money, and their train was leaving before the post next morning. They had to walk to the station without the money! At the station the Spirit spoke to Howells and said, “If you had money, what would you do?” Howells answered, “Take my place in the queue at the booking office.” The Spirit said, “Well, are you not preaching that my promises are equal to current coin? You had better take your place in the queue.” So he obeyed. There were about a dozen people before him. There they were passing by the booking office one by one. The devil kept telling him, “Now you have only a few people in front of you, and when your turn comes, you will have to walk through. You have preached much about Moses with the Red Sea in front and the Egyptians behind, but now you are the one who is shut in.” “Yes, shut in,” Howells answered, “but like Moses, I’ll be gloriously led out!” When there were only two before him, suddenly a man stepped out of the crowd and said, “I’m sorry, Mr. Howells. I can’t wait any longer, but I must open my shop.” He said goodbye and put thirty shillings in his hand! It was most glorious, and only a foretaste of what the Lord would do in Africa. After Howells had the tickets, the people who came with him to the train began to give gifts to Howells, but the Lord had held them back until he had been tested. When Mr. and Mrs. Howells arrived in London, one of his mission supporters, Mr. Head, asked them to breakfast the next morning. He then told them that he had £50 for them, but he didn’t post it. Mr. Howells said, “Thank God, you didn’t. I wouldn’t have been without the test in the queue for anything.”[3] Howells always listened to his Shepherd. Through his obedience he spread God’s love to everyone wherever he went.

Obedience Begets Obedience

Historian Arnold Toynbee said that the ship that took the Apostle Paul changed the civilization of Europe. One person, Paul, obeyed. He went over to Macedonia. In Philippi, he met one person, Lydia. Through her God opened the door of salvation to everyone in Europe. Have you heard name, Edward Kimball? He was a Sunday school teacher. One Saturday he went to the shoe store to visit one of his students. In the stock room that student received Christ. That young man was D.L. Moody. Under Moody, another man’s heart was touched for God, Wilbur Chapman. Chapman became the evangelist who preached to thousands. One of Chapman’s meetings, Billy Sunday was converted. Through Billy Sunday another young man came to Christ. His name was Mordecai Ham. One day when he led a worship service in a rural area, a shy, lanky young man listened to the word and gave his heart to Jesus. That young man was Billy Graham. Life begets life. Obedience begets obedience. God’s kingdom is constantly expanded through those who obey the voice of God. Our God is the God who speaks. God speaks today. There is no question about that. The question is: are we ready to listen? Are we willing to choose God’s will? May the Lord give us humble, teachable, obedient hearts, that we may be used for his kingdom without hindrance. Amen.

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[1] R.A. Torrey, Why God Used D.L. Moody, (Moody Press, 1973), 13-15.

[2] John Stott, The Message of Acts, (InterVarsity Press: Downers Grove, IL, 1990), 261.

[3] Norman Grubb, Rees Howells Intercessor (Lutterworth Press: Fort Washington, PA, 1952), Kindle 2309-2313.