September 1, 2024

Acts 16:6-15

Rev. Kristen J. Kleiman

The movie “Mamma Mia”, based on the music of Abba, begins with a young woman named Sophie singing, “I Have a Dream” as she sails off to make her dream come true. Sophie’s dream, at the beginning of the movie, is to marry the man she loves and to finally discover who her father is. As is the case with so many dreams, over the course of the movie, Sophie’s dream changes.

The Apostle Paul knew something about dreams or rather visions. It was in a vision while traveling to Damascus that Paul met the Risen Christ for the first time. From that moment on, Paul turned to God over and over again for wisdom and direction. In this passage from Acts of the Apostles, we hear how Paul and his ministry companions trusted God to guide their every move. And we hear of a clear vision Paul received:

there stood a man of Macedonia pleading with [Paul] and saying, “Come over to [Greece] and help us.” ¹⁰ When he had seen the vision, we immediately tried to cross over to Macedonia, being convinced that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them. (Acts 16:9-10)

Even though it was a long and challenging journey, Paul and his ministry companions set sail from Troas (in modern day Turkey) to the port of Neapolis (in modern day Greece) and then traveled overland to Philippi. They persevered because they were convinced this was God’s plan. And that conviction, that trust in God, gave them the courage to keep moving forward to find the men who really needed to hear God’s word.

And yet, it was not a group of men that Paul and his ministry partners found when they arrived in the bustling, gold rush city of Philippi. It was their way upon arriving in a new city to start sharing the word at the synagogue.

Even though tens of thousands of people lived in Philippi, there were not enough Jewish men to form a synagogue in Philippi so Paul and his partners went to a place of prayer, outside the city, they had heard about. They went to find a man or group of men to proclaim the good news too – and instead, they found Lydia.

This was problematic for a few reasons. First, Lydia was not a man. Second, Lydia was not from Macedonia. She was from Thyatira in modern day Turkey, the same area where they had just come. The same area where they discerned the Holy Spirit did not want them to go or speak the Word.

Problematic. Did they stay faithful and true to the vision Paul had from God and move on from that place of prayer, move on from Philippi, to find the group of Greek men they were sure they were being called to help?

Maybe. Sometimes, we are called to persevere, to be patient, to wait for what God is promising. Sometimes, we are called to resist the perfectly good detours, the incredibly important side roads, and hold fast to our path from God.

And then other times, God is telling us to not be so literal, or God is even saying be open to the fact that we might not have understood the message fully the first time.

How to know the difference though? How to know when we should not take this fork in the road because it would lead us away from God’s call and how to know when we should explore a new path God has opened?

The word for this question is “discernment”. How do we discern God’s will? How do we discern God’s calling? How do we figure out zig or zag or stay the course?

I have some tools for discernment I have gathered over the years. This is one I teach the children in my life. They sigh at me; however it works. Close your eyes. Place one hand on your heart and the other on your stomach and breathe. Which choice feels right? Not sure yet? Take some more deep breaths.

While that is a helpful tool, it’s not always the right tool for the situation or the person so here are a few others.

Write your question, your dream, your plan, your great idea on a piece of paper and then ask God to guide you. Ask God for a week, for a month, for a year. Read this piece of paper often and ask God – is this great idea of mine actually a great idea? Is this the right way to go or do I need to adjust and adapt – or even let it go completely?

I’m also a great fan of lying on the floor for 10 minutes of God time. If you are wondering how God is going to get you off the floor after 10 minutes, than maybe try it in a chair, laying in bed or on the couch, any place where you feel safe and can really focus on God for 10 minutes. Add a breath prayer “Jesus Christ, you are the light of the world; fill my mind with your peace and my heart with your love.” Or “I turn my life over to You, Lord. I am yours.” Or “Guide me, God” or even just “Help”.

I read of a woman who used to go into her walk in closet and sit on the floor and imagine herself sinking deep into God’s presence. She got so good at it that she didn’t need the solitude of the closet anymore. In the middle of a business meeting, when she was being asked to make a snap decision, she could close her eyes, take a deep breath, sink into God and discern God’s guidance.

When confronted with a different ministry situation than he had been expecting, did the Apostle Paul place his hands on his heart and his stomach and take a deep breath? Did he pause and sink into God? Did he sit on the ground until he had another vision?

Or did Paul simply move forward in the way that seemed best and trust that God would work through him?

Scripture doesn’t tell us whether Paul was certain or uncertain as to his next steps. It doesn’t matter, though, because Paul listened to the larger calling for his life- which was to passionately share the good news of Jesus Christ.

And because he did, Lydia’s heart was opened by God. Lydia grew in her relationship with God. Lydia asked to be baptized – she and her whole household and Lydia’s profession dealing in purple cloth gives us the clue that Lydia was rather wealthy and so her household must have been quite large.

A lot of people’s lives were changed for the better that day because Paul listened to God, because Paul kept listening to God, because Paul trusted God – even when the way was uncertain and unclear.

One of those lives changed was Paul’s – because Lydia not only offered Paul and his ministry partners hospitality while they were in Philippi, she likely became his patron, financially supporting his continued ministry.

We simply never know what will happen when we listen to God, when we take intentional time to be God, when we are open to God and God’s Holy Spirit. Sometimes, we will know our direction with complete certainty; sometimes, we will be a little unsure. Always we trust that when we ask God to guide us, God will indeed guide us.

So convinced or uncertain, we take the next step forward – always in faith.