1. What Makes Ministry Tick? (Part 2) Paul’s Second Missionary Journey Acts 16

2. What Makes Ministry Tick? The Message: Grace (v.4-5) The Message: Grace (v.4-5) The simple, clear, refreshing message of the Bible (Acts 15:11) The simple, clear, refreshing message of the Bible (Acts 15:11) Then they went from town to town, instructing the believers to follow the decisions made by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem. – Acts 16:4 “We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus” Acts 15:11 (NLT)

3. What Makes Ministry Tick? The Message: Grace (v.4-5) The Message: Grace (v.4-5) The simple, clear, refreshing message of the Bible (Acts 15:11) The simple, clear, refreshing message of the Bible (Acts 15:11) What impact it has on a fellowship (v.5) What impact it has on a fellowship (v.5) Encouraging, exciting and so motivating! Encouraging, exciting and so motivating! GROWTH! GROWTH! So the churches were strengthened in their faith and grew larger every day. Acts 16:4-5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; …knowledge; …self-control; …perseverance; …godliness; …brotherly kindness; …love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective … But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. 2 Peter 1:5-9 (NIV)

4. What Makes Ministry Tick? The Message: Grace (v.4-5) The Message: Grace (v.4-5) The simple, clear, refreshing message of the Bible (Acts 15:11) The simple, clear, refreshing message of the Bible (Acts 15:11) What impact it has on a fellowship (v.5) What impact it has on a fellowship (v.5) Encouraging, exciting and so motivating! Encouraging, exciting and so motivating! GROWTH! GROWTH! So the churches were strengthened in their faith and grew larger every day. Acts 16:4-5

5. What Makes Ministry Tick? The Message: Grace (v.4-5) The Message: Grace (v.4-5) Leadership: the Holy Spirit (v.6-10) Leadership: the Holy Spirit (v.6-10) Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time. Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed north for the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there. So instead, they went on through Mysia to the seaport of Troas. That night Paul had a vision: A man from Macedonia in northern Greece was standing there, pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” So we decided to leave for Macedonia at once, having concluded that God was calling us to preach the Good News there.. Acts 16:6-10 (NLT) Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time. Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed north for the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there. So instead, they went on through Mysia to the seaport of Troas. That night Paul had a vision: A man from Macedonia in northern Greece was standing there, pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” So we decided to leave for Macedonia at once, having concluded that God was calling us to preach the Good News there.. Acts 16:6-10 (NLT)

6. What Makes Ministry Tick? The Message: Grace (v.4-5) The Message: Grace (v.4-5) Leadership: the Holy Spirit (v.6-10) Leadership: the Holy Spirit (v.6-10) Can bring surprises! Can bring surprises! He is in Authority He is in Authority “the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them” “the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them” “the Holy Spirit had prevented them…” “the Holy Spirit had prevented them…” “…That night Paul had a vision: A man from Macedonia…” “…That night Paul had a vision: A man from Macedonia…”

7. What Makes Ministry Tick? The Message: Grace (v.4-5) The Message: Grace (v.4-5) Leadership: the Holy Spirit (v.6-10) Leadership: the Holy Spirit (v.6-10) Can bring surprises! Can bring surprises! He is in Authority He is in Authority We boarded a boat at Troas and sailed straight across to the island of Samothrace, and the next day we landed at Neapolis. From there we reached Philippi, a major city of that district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. And we stayed there several days. Acts 16:11-12 (NLT)

8. What Makes Ministry Tick? The Message: Grace (v.4-5) The Message: Grace (v.4-5) Leadership: the Holy Spirit (v.6-10) Leadership: the Holy Spirit (v.6-10) Can bring surprises! Can bring surprises! He is in Authority He is in Authority A Cooperative Combination A Cooperative Combination “As she listened to us, the Lord opened her heart, and she accepted what Paul was saying” On the Sabbath we went a little way outside the city to a riverbank, where we thought people would be meeting for prayer, and we sat down to speak with some women who had gathered there. One of them was Lydia from Thyatira, a merchant of expensive purple cloth, who worshiped God. As she listened to us, the Lord opened her heart, and she accepted what Paul was saying. She was baptized along with other members of her household, and she asked us to be her guests. “If you agree that I am a true believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my home.” And she urged us until we agreed. (16:13- 15) For we are a fragrance of Christ… And who is adequate for these things? 2 Cor. 2:15-16

9. What Makes Ministry Tick? The Message: Grace (v.4-5) The Message: Grace (v.4-5) Leadership: the Holy Spirit (v.6-10) Leadership: the Holy Spirit (v.6-10) Struggle with Spiritual Deceit (v.16-18) Struggle with Spiritual Deceit (v.16-18) Endorsing Jesus Christ…? Endorsing Jesus Christ…? Spiritual Fraud Exists (2 Cor. 11:3; Deut.18) Spiritual Fraud Exists (2 Cor. 11:3; Deut.18) One day as we were going down to the place of prayer, we met a demon-possessed slave girl. She was a fortune-teller who earned a lot of money for her masters. She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, and they have come to tell you how to be saved.” – Acts 16:16-17 (NLT) “ Predicted” assassination of JFK. “ Predicted” assassination of JFK. Ronald Reagan would become president. Ronald Reagan would become president.  The Soviets would land the first man on the moon  George Bush (Sr.) re-elected in 1992.  World-War III Begins in 1958  Global peace begin in year 2000. “a devout Catholic…attributed her ability to God”

10. What Makes Ministry Tick? The Message: Grace (v.4-5) The Message: Grace (v.4-5) Leadership: the Holy Spirit (v.6-10) Leadership: the Holy Spirit (v.6-10) Struggle with Spiritual Deceit (v.16-18) Struggle with Spiritual Deceit (v.16-18) Undermining the System (v.19-24) Undermining the System (v.19-24) Unimpressed by the folly of ‘Empire’! Unimpressed by the folly of ‘Empire’! Her masters’ hopes of wealth were now shattered, so they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities at the marketplace. “The whole city is in an uproar because of these Jews!” they shouted to the city officials. “They are teaching customs that are illegal for us Romans to practice.” See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world…Colossians 2:8 (NASB95)

11. What Makes Ministry Tick? The Message: Grace (v.4-5) The Message: Grace (v.4-5) Leadership: the Holy Spirit (v.6-10) Leadership: the Holy Spirit (v.6-10) Struggle with Spiritual Deceit (v.16-18) Struggle with Spiritual Deceit (v.16-18) Undermining the System (v.19-22) Undermining the System (v.19-22) Unimpressed by the folly of ‘Empire’! Unimpressed by the folly of ‘Empire’! Means Persecution Means Persecution A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks.

12. What Makes Ministry Tick? The Message: Grace (v.4-5) The Message: Grace (v.4-5) Leadership: the Holy Spirit (v.6-10) Leadership: the Holy Spirit (v.6-10) Struggle with Spiritual Deceit (v.16-18) Struggle with Spiritual Deceit (v.16-18) Undermining the System (v.19-22) Undermining the System (v.19-22) Confidence in God’s leadership (v25) Confidence in God’s leadership (v25) Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Acts 16:25 (NLT)

13. What Makes Ministry Tick? The Message: Grace (v.4-5) The Message: Grace (v.4-5) Leadership: the Holy Spirit (v.6-10) Leadership: the Holy Spirit (v.6-10) Struggle with Spiritual Deceit (v.16-18) Struggle with Spiritual Deceit (v.16-18) Undermining the System (v.19-22) Undermining the System (v.19-22) Confidence in God’s leadership (v25-26) Confidence in God’s leadership (v25-26) Because He is involved! Because He is involved! Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! Acts 16:26 (NLT)

14. What Makes Ministry Tick? The Message: Grace (v.4-5) The Message: Grace (v.4-5) Leadership: the Holy Spirit (v.6-10) Leadership: the Holy Spirit (v.6-10) Struggle with Spiritual Deceit (v.16-18) Struggle with Spiritual Deceit (v.16-18) Undermining the System (v.19-22) Undermining the System (v.19-22) Confidence in God’s leadership (v25-26) Confidence in God’s leadership (v25-26) Fruitfulness! (v.27ff) Fruitfulness! (v.27ff) The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. But Paul shouted to him, “Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!” The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Acts 16:28-30 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.” Acts 16:31 (NLT) And they shared the word of the Lord with him and with all who lived in his household. Even at that hour of the night, the jailer cared for them and washed their wounds. Then he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized. He brought them into his house and set a meal before them, and he and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God. Acts 16:32-34 (NLT)

15. What Makes Ministry Tick? The Message: Grace (v.4-5) The Message: Grace (v.4-5) Leadership: the Holy Spirit (v.6-10) Leadership: the Holy Spirit (v.6-10) Struggle with Spiritual Deceit (v.16-18) Struggle with Spiritual Deceit (v.16-18) Undermining the System (v.19-22) Undermining the System (v.19-22) Confidence in God’s leadership (v25-26) Confidence in God’s leadership (v25-26) Fruitfulness! (v.27ff) Fruitfulness! (v.27ff) Power, Authority, Victory! (v.35ff) Power, Authority, Victory! (v.35ff) The next morning the city officials sent the police to tell the jailer, “Let those men go!” So the jailer told Paul, “The city officials have said you and Silas are free to leave. Go in peace.” But Paul replied, “They have publicly beaten us without a trial and put us in prison— and we are Roman citizens. So now they want us to leave secretly? Certainly not! Let them come themselves to release us!” Acts 16:35-37 (NLT) When the police reported this, the city officials were alarmed to learn that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. So they came to the jail and apologized to them. Then they brought them out and begged them to leave the city. Acts 16:38-39 (NLT)