Review of Acts 16

by Pastor Temilolu Oluwasijuwomi

Vs 1- 2 Then he came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek. 2 He was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium.

Timothy was committed to God’s work and had good reports from men despite the difference in his parents’ tribe. What shall be said about you?

Vs 6 Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia.

We must always heed God’s instructions and be sensitive enough to know where the Lord wants us to be per time.

Vs 25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.

In any situation we find ourselves rather than murmur give thanks to God.

It is another day to feast on God’s word

We do not lead ourselves God leads us in all our decisions today

Our light shine before men and we draw men to Christ in Jesus Holy name

Amen!                                                                    

ADDITONAL INTRO:

If you know what it meant to be a gentile in the midst of the Jews in those days, you will give Paul thumbs up for the war in Acts 15:2,5-7 and the wisdom of Paul in Acts 16:3

Everyone should read 1Cor 9:20

Peep on Paul here… Gal 5:6

His vex on those who agreed that circumcision is needed here Gal 5:12 (read this verse in different versions) But then , on a selected basis to infiltrate the gentile, Titus had to make this sacrifice too…Gal 2:3

It was simply war and wisdom

War on behalf of the whole gentile church

Wisdom in making his selected inner circle go through it…so the Jews can even listen to what he was saying!

Some denominations today will never listen to the Gospel from a lady not wearing skirts. Their heart is that hardened by religion.

Circumcision was the in-thing for the Jews.  That was how they prove you agreed to submit to all the Law of Moses.

Here is the basic for the Jews

If Abraham could do it as an adult…99yrs old…Gen 17:25

Who are you? Now we see clearly Paul’s mind.

Since they have made circumcision their Gospel, they should castrate themselves once and for all to prove their doggedness to their religion.

It indeed disgusted Paul

REVIEW

I divided Today’s review into 4 parts that I felt strongly about. I believe the second part I planned to discuss has been properly dealt with during the course of the day and so “THE CIRCUMCISION OF TIMOTHY, FOR THE SAKE OF THE JEWISH BELIEVERS” would be skipped.

Acts 16

Parts:

1: Paul and Timothy

2. Timothy’s circumcision for the sake of the Jews.

3. The Macedonian call.

4. The simplicity of the Gospel and the joy that follows

TIMOTHY

His father was Greek father and his mother was a Jewess (Acts 16:1); His home was at Lystra and his grandmother was Lois (2 Timothy 1:5); He grew up a godly home (2 Timothy 3:15). When young Timothy was about 15 years old, Paul and Barnabas visited Lystra on their first missionary journey (Acts 14:6-7), it was probably at this time that Timothy was converted.

When Paul re-visited Lystra six years later “The brothers……spoke well of him” (Acts 16:2). During Paul’s second visit he invited Timothy to join forces with him (Acts 16:3), and subsequently these two were together at Corinth, Athens, Antioch, Philippi and Rome. When Paul wrote this epistle to the Philippians he was probably about 65 years of age and Timothy was about 35.

Paul and Timothy’s passion to go all out TO WIN SOULS at any cost necessary

From chapter 15 that we read earlier, the issue of circumcision had be laid to rest. Hence there couldn’t have been a need for Timothy to undergo such painful ritual. But, sometimes, soul winning may mean you have to let go of some comfort even if scriptures do not forbid it. To think that Timothy cared less about a needless ritual if by any chance it could lead to the salvation of an unbelieving Jew is highly commendable. Like pastor Damilola said earlier, some people will never listen to a lady who is dressed in trouser to preach regardless of how anointed she is, or a man with dreadlocks or tattoos. Timothy went as far as having himself circumcised just to win souls. What passion!!! This is a huge challenge to us in our day. No wonder Paul said that

1 Cor 9:

20  … to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; 21 to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; 22 to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men that I might BY ALL MEANS save some. 23 Now this I do for the gospel’s sake…

Timothy didn’t have to be circumcised. However, Paul understood better being a Jew that a Greek like Timothy does not stand a chance at evangelizing the Jews let alone ministering in their synagogue if he wasn’t circumcised. It was Paul and Timothy’s passion for souls that actually made them subject him to such bloody act.

TIMOTHY’S GODLY HERITAGE

2Ti 3:15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. In my home, the moment my one year old son hears “let us pray” in the morning, the next thing that comes out of his mouth besides his charming smile is “nawa nawa” attempting to sing Tim Godfrey’s popular worship song “Nara Nara E”…

Children can participate in spiritual exercises. Never exclude them by saying they are still children.

As parents or potential parents raising our children God’s way is critical to their health and well-being. The formative years of children is the best time to instill godliness in them. Don’t wait for them to grow older before you train them in the way of the Lord. Lead them to Christ first before cartoons. Let them lead prayers and read the Bible to them even if they don’t understand what you are reading at the time.

However, we can’t give what we don’t have,

2Tim. 1:5 when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice , and I am persuaded is in you also

Much is not known about Timothy’s father, but this much is known. He had little or no influence over him spiritually. Rather his mother and grandmother passed down genuine faith to him, so much that he became an asset to one of the greatest apostle that walk the earth, Paul. Like we discussed on Sunday, see how amplified puts the faith Paul was referring to:

I am calling up memories of your sincere and unqualified faith (the leaning of your entire personality on God in Christ in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness)…”

Let us train our children to depend on God fully from childhood. Let them learn to look up to God and not you even when they have needs that you can conveniently meet. They learn to pray about their needs and experience God’s supernatural supplies.

The best legacy is a godly heritage. Never exclude them by saying they are still children

The devil doesn’t exclude tormenting children with sickness, stubbornness and oppression on the basis of ‘they are still children’…but some parents exclude children from sound spirituality simply because they are still kids…

Don’t have such a story!