Acts 16:11-15 

¹¹ From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day we went on to Neapolis. ¹² From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days. ¹³ On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. ¹⁴ One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. ¹⁵ When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.

Mango

Filipinos love to eat green mangoes dipped in a “bagoong” [shrimp paste].

Mango planters should be creative to guard mangoes from salivating thieves.

Mangoes normally bear much fruit; they easily fall down even with slight touch. So, even with no expertise, anyone who has enough strength to throw a stick or stone may hit or expect mango fruits to fall down. Just throw a stick, hit a branch, and expect some mango fruits to fall.

Interestingly, that principle of throwing and hoping to hit something is frequently employed in evangelism–just share the gospel to anyone and hope for good results. Did the Lord command us to go and share the gospel to anyone we meet?

Paul and his mission team tried to preach in Asia but the Holy Spirit prevented them until Paul saw a vision and they decided to go to Macedonia.

We should spend time in prayer seeking the Holy Spirit’s guidance and help, for us to discern those [people] whom God has opened their hearts. God has opened the hearts of those He has chosen to believe in Jesus. Therefore, we are to pray and seek God’s leading even if it means traveling.

Those who enjoy traveling, it might be that God granted you love of traveling to lead you to those whom He has opened their hearts to believe in Christ.

1.  Travel

¹¹ From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day we went on to Neapolis. ¹² From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days.

Paul and his team sailed to the island of Samothrace then to Neapolis but Dr. Luke, the author of the book of Acts did not write anything about those places. He mentioned Samothrace and Neapolis to trace where they transited or passed through on their way to the city of Philippi. When they reached Philippi, their ministry activities were recorded again.

Philippi was established by King Philip II, the father of Alexander the Great. Philippi was reorganized as a retirement city for veteran imperial guards including government official retirees of the Roman Empire. We can imagine that Philippi have many influential people, the retirees. It’s no wonder why some women have their prayer meeting outside the city.

Religious activities not sanctioned by the government attracted oppression. Christianity was not the official religion in Philippi; Christians were persecuted.

Paul and his team traveled from Asia until they reached Philippi just to witness. Paul was called to missions; he traveled a lot and never stayed long in one church. The love of traveling, adaptability, enthusiasm to new environment, and love for culture and people are necessary factors for missionary ministry.

Jonah

The Lord called Jonah to be a missionary to Nineveh. Instead of obeying the Lord, Jonah turned to the opposite direction.

God sent a furious storm and Jonah was swallowed by a huge fish as result. Eventually, after Jonah prayed, God commanded the fish to vomit Jonah. Jonah went onto to Nineveh and preached against their wickedness.

Are you experiencing some kind of stormy life? Do you feel like you are trap inside a stinky belly of fish?

You might be running away from the Lord’s call to be missionary.

God might have been calling you, not necessarily be in missions but in a particular ministry. Even if you decide to turn your back against God’s call, God’s call will always prevail; you’re just making your life difficult like Jonah.

Your calling is God’s preferred means for you to earn your treasures in heaven. All disciples are called to witness of what Christ has done in our life, to share and talk about how He changed our life.

2.  Talk

¹³ On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. ¹⁴ One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. ¹⁵ When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.

We cannot know if a person is ready to accept the gospel if we don’t talk to them. There are many ways to start a conversation; like, if you’re in a new environment and you’re lost, even if you’re shy or timid, you’d try your best to ask for direction. But if you know where you’re going and know what to do, most probably you won’t ask for help about direction.

But why is it that when it’s about our concern for others, it is hard to talk?

Paul didn’t go to those who were not believers; he talked to prayerful women. Prayerfulness signifies some kind of spirituality or seriousness about God.

People join worship services even without knowledge or understanding why they are worshipping God; humans are social beings.

Paul talked to those prayerful women but it was not important for Dr. Luke to record how Paul started his conversation with the prayerful women.

There is no specific or biblical method on how to start a conversation.

The Lord Jesus says in Matthew 13:11…¹¹…do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

Witness

In a court of law, the witness is asked what he personally saw, heard, or observed. Many witnesses were examined during the hearing of a case against a white Police Officer who shot a black teenager. Many of the witnesses talked about things they did not see or hear personally; some of them were not actually in the place of incident.

The Lord Jesus commanded in Acts 1:8…⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses…

Christ did not say that we are to argue; the command is to witness, to talk about personal experience, observation, or encounter; not personal view, opinion, notion.

To be an effective witness for Christ is talk about what He has done in our life. To share the lesson we heard or learned from sermons or for books that we read is not witnessing, it’s teaching.

We testify about our personal encounter or experience; teaching doctrines or beliefs are meant for believers. unbelievers have no use of doctrines or beliefs. Only believers who have the Holy Spirit want to hear and learn about God.

Avoid useless debate about doctrines with non-believers; it creates animosity.

For non-believers, just talk about your life changes since you trusted in Christ and that’s sufficient information for them.

Keep praying that God would lead you to the person whose heart He has opened.

Find your consistency in Christ to keep on praying. While praying you are earning your treasures in heaven. God has already set the right timing; while waiting for the opportunity to share your faith, God also is preparing you for anything you would need when you meet the person He has prepared for you.

God has already prepared the person for us to share the gospel with.

Our relationship with Christ measures effectiveness in witnessing.

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