Breaking Through the Barriers: Gaining New Ground

• Acts 16:11-15
• God has designed the Gospel to break though every and any barrier
  • In Christ all barriers between people are broken
  • bridgehead is landing behind enemy lines and making a defensible foothold
    • we are to break through our barrier preventing us from living for glory of Christ
    • as a church, we may have barriers too…

Gaining new ground begins with…

1. Being mindful of the path God is taking you (v11-12)
   • historical ability of letter and remind us we’re all on a path and God is directing
     • remember that Paul was being led to Troas
       • “direct voyage” means the wind was on their back
         • it took them 2 days to get there
         • In Acts 20 we see it took them 5 days for return voyage
   • Philippi had huge history and culture; was a metropolis, leading city
   • fuel our future confidence in God and remind us that He always knows exactly what He’s doing
   • reflect…
     • how did you get where you are now?
       • do you remember your time estranged or as an enemy of God?
     • remember that God will use your sinful past for His glory too
2. Be strategic in the place God is calling you (v13)
   • why slowing down? planning, praying, preparing
   • firm belief doesn’t negate the hard work, praying and planning
   • 3 requirements for being strategic:
     1. Strategic thinking
        • “we supposed…”; thoughtfulness, care, intentionality
          • “if no synagogue, go to a river…”
        • be thoughtful; go where people will hear us
        • having people placed in our lives vs going to where people are
     2. Strategic timing
        • “on the Sabbath day…”
        • forced Gospel conversation vs organic integration
          • we require proactive planning and strategy
     3. Strategic teaching
        • “sitting and speaking…”
        • Paul’s tactic was to open the Word, explain the Gospel, show promises directing to Christ
          • they were tailored messages but always had the Gospel
        • intentional and requires us to do the some studying of background of those we are trying to reach
3. Be faithful to the people God is bringing you (v14)
   • Paul never sought the influential
     • all Jewish men taught to pray to thank God they were not a Gentile or a woman
       • women have HUGE role in the Gospel and ministry!
   • Remember that it’s the least likely who would have the most impact for Kingdom
     • 1 Cor 1:26-29
     • Remember: Salvation isn’t the work of your own doing but rather, the work of Almighty God
   • God knew exactly what he was doing when He chose to save you
   • Lydia: a God fearer, but Gentile
     • already softened to the Gospel
     • God was faithful in opening her heart
4. Be intentional with provision that God has given you (v15)
   • Lydia’s respond to the saving work
     • evidence of change: desires of your heart has changed for the things of the Lord
       1. Publicly professed Christ
          • baptism as new covenant sign
          • OT: ethnic birth
          • NT: new spiritual birth
            • external action/response of an internal change
       2. Eagerly share Christ
          • household conversions seen more and more at that time (Cornelius, Lydia…)
          • you don’t need to know/have all the theology and answers BUT you need to be able to share/explain how God has worked in us
       3. Passionately display Christ
          • hospitality is how we express the Gospel
          • Rom 12; contribute to the needs of others
          • Heb 13:2
          • 1 Pet 4:9
   • as God opened Lydia’s heart, she opened her home and hands
   • Lydia became one of the main supporters of the Philippian church