Morning Moments

On January 1, 2011 God willing we will begin a devotional study of Paul's letter to the Philippians entitled, HAVE A GREAT DAY! As a brief introduction to that letter I would like for us to look at the background in Acts 16.

This was Paul's second missionary journey which probably lasted 3 years or more. The journey had begun with the splitting up of Paul and Barnabus over John Mark in Chapter 15. Then Paul proceeded to Syria, Cilicia, Lystra and Derbe (16:1-5) where Timothy joins them, and then on to Troas where Paul receives a vision we know as The Macedonian Call. When God orders a man's steps, He also orders his stops, so rather than proceeding on to Bithynia in Asia Minor, the Lord sent them to a Roman colony in Macedonia called Philippi where there were some hearts He had prepared for them.

Consider the account briefly:

Paul had wanted to reach Asia Minor but God had led him to Philippi because He had a woman from Asia Minor in Philippi whose heart God had prepared for Paul's message. How amazing is that? Her name was Lydia and God opened her heart to Paul's message which she received and was saved, along with her family. She then opened her house to Paul and his company.

There was a young girl (damsel) who followed Paul continuously crying out that "these are men of the Most His God who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation." The text indicates that Paul was greatly annoyed (18). He was not annoyed with the girl but with the spirit within the girl for he discerned that the girl was demonized. She was considered a "diviner, a seer" but in truth was in truth demon possessed, so Paul commanded the spirit to leave her and it did. So, we now have a Saved Saleslady and a Delivered Damsel. Her deliverance stirred up those who had profited by her "abilities" and they in turn created problems for Paul to the extent that he was thrown in prison.

He and Silas were praying and singing praises in prison at midnight and God sent an earthquake. Long story short, everyone could have escaped and the jailor executed for letting them get away, but that didn't happen. They all stayed in prison and the jailor got justified. He and his family were became believers and were baptized.

So there you have the nucleus of the Church in Philippi - a Saved Saleslady, a Delivered Damsel, and a Justified Jailor.

BLESSINGS!