Part of theology is to understand and discern the ways of God. We can discover what God intends for Christ-centered living by looking at how He’s interacted with and directed His people throughout Biblical history.
To whom God has called you
To whom God has called you to minister
With whom God has called you to minister
Acts 16:1-10
Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily. 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, 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.” And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
To whom God has called you
God calls you to himself in Christ as an individual. (This is most important and is provided for as we turn away from our sins and put our trust in Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross and provision for new life through his resurrection from the dead). He calls you to his purposes as a part of his people.
V. 1 - Timothy joins Paul, Silas, Luke and their missionary companions.
Find your people, find your purpose.
It is here that you are discipled and grow.
Who you are doing things with is just as important as what you are doing for the Lord.
This is true in marriage and all areas of life
I Corinthians 15:33
Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”
“Find your people, find your purpose.”
-Jim Laffoon
To whom God has called you to minister
2. God gives you a place and a people to whom you minister.
“Come over to Macedonia and help us.”
This includes your workplace, your friendship group, your neighborhood, your school, a city or a nation.
“Our greatest fear should not be of failure but of succeeding at things in life that don't really matter.” - Francis Chan, Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God
Godly counsel helps protect us from this.
God steers moving ships. Paul was set apart for his missionary work in Acts 13. This was not in question. The rest of his ministry became his efforts to fulfill that call through prayerful planning and evangelistic efforts with the people with whom God had joined him. The dream from God to reach the Macedonians (which inevitably resulted in the churches in Phillipi, Thessalonica, Berea, etc.) would come as they were on the move to fulfill that Acts 13 call. The Acts 13 call would become the Macedonian call.
With whom God has called you to minister
3. God gives you plans and purpose in the counsel of your people with whom he’s called you to minister.
Find your people, define your plans.
How Will I Know?
The Ways of God are building and interconnected. He is a wise master builder and calls us to be as well.
You don’t need to be a maverick.
God has not left it to you to have the entirety of His Kingdom plans on your own. It keeps you from being isolated, running solo and keeps you connected to the people/leadership with whom he wants you to advance His Kingdom.
Proverbs 15:22
Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.
Proverbs 20:18
Plans are established by counsel; by wise guidance wage war.
Proverbs 24:3-7
By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches. A wise man is full of strength, and a man of knowledge enhances his might, for by wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory. Wisdom is too high for a fool; in the gate he does not open his mouth.
There is room for you. If you don't see something represented at the church, come forward and help create it. We are the body and all the parts need to function. If you don't see something, it may be because we haven't heard from you yet.
Second City Church - The Macedonian Call - Rollan Fisher 2018