At times I read Acts looking for a trend, or a thread running all the way to the button. In Acts 16 I found  it. Read this:

1 – Paul and Barnabas disagreed about taking Mark for the missionary trip. So Barnabas took Mark and Paul took Timothy. Sometimes, God thrives in disagreement. This one worked to perfection. Paul, Timothy, Silas and Luke are moving north passing through the region of  Phrygia and Galatia and God gives direction. Paul was kept by the Holy Spirit from entering  the area. Again around Mysia, they wanted to head east and the Holy Spirit said ”No” a second time. Up to now, nothing but change of direction.

2 – But in Troas, God sent a message through a vision of someone from Macedonia asking them to come and help them. This change of direction led them to Lydia and the conversion of her household. Notice, from choosing Timothy, a household is saved. When Paul and Silas met the little girl who brought much money to her owners, the spirit is reprimanded and the girl is set free from a spirit.

3 -You have to look for a move of God here: a disagreement leads to a vision. The vision leads to the salvation of a household, leading now to Roman authorities and many others.  You see, the owners of the little girl brought Paul and Silas to the Roman authorities and accused them of disturbing the peace. They were stripped and beaten severely. After this, they were put in jail.

4 – To the naked eye, this story is getting worse by the minute. However, notice this: Paul and Silas began to sing and other prisoners were listening. Good, right? Yes, very good. A captive audience to hear the songs they sang.

5 – Now, God shows up. An earthquake shook the whole jail. At once, all the prison doors were opened. The jailer tried to use his sword on himself, fearing that all the prisoners had left the jail, but Paul says, “Don’t harm yourself. We are all here.”

6 – Paul assumes authority here and has the support of all prisoners. The jailer responds, ” Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”  Then they (Paul and Silas) spoke the word of the Lord to them, and all the others in the place. After many receiving salvation by confessing Jesus Christ as Lord, the jailer takes Paul and Silas to have their wounds washed and cared for.  The jailer’s family is baptized.

A disagreement, a change of direction, a vision, an afternoon by the river witnessing to Lydia and her household, being put in jail and the salvation of hundreds at the Macedonia County Jail.  Do you see movement here? Do you see commitment here? Notice, that God is the one who sent them there and the fruits were abundant.

Now, when you are half-way committed and allow others, even family, to stand between you and your call, try to please others, run for bishop, become a pleaser of men, nothing happens in your life and ministry.  The disagreement between Paul and Silas was not a pleasant thing. But look what happened!  The story moves from a disagreement to hundreds being saved at a jail.

I am 100% committed. Are you committed?

Rick Bonfim