Calling Timothy
Acts 16:1-5; 12/3/2023; BCBC/IOUC; Rev. Paul Wang
Introduction
The pace of the Holy Spirit’s leading was tight. After the Jerusalem conference and some arguments among co-workers, the apostles embarked on their missionary journey again. In fact, this was Paul’s second missionary journey. This time, Paul and Barnabas parted ways. Barnabas went to Cyprus, and Paul traveled north toward his hometown of Tarsus. Let’s look at the first point:
Back to Lystra
Paul had visited Lystra on his first missionary journey. That was because they were persecuted in Iconium, and Gentiles and Jews alike swarmed them, trying to insult them and stone them. First, go in another direction. The last time Barnabas led the team, they took the water route, crossed the sea to Cyprus, and then went up to Asia. This time, Paul was leading Silas, and he might also want to pass by his hometown of Tarsus, and maybe go home for a visit. Of course, the Bible does not record that Paul went home to visit his relatives. Perhaps he was more concerned about the people he met on his first missionary trip. Paul and Silas walked along the International Highway in the Asiatic Mountains toward Pisidian Antioch. In this way, they would inevitably pass through Derbe and Lystra, which they had visited before. Lystra’s commerce was not developed, but it was the political, military, and cultural center of Lycaonia Province at that time.
Second, return to a dangerous place. The methodology of the Bible is different from that of the world. The guidance of the Holy Spirit is to know clearly that there are tigers in the mountains and to walk in the direction of the tigers. They had been persecuted in Lystra not long ago, and now they are visiting again. Wasn’t Paul afraid of danger? The important thing is that the Holy Spirit leads them forward. If it is not appropriate to move forward, the Holy Spirit will surely remind them. Since there is peace in prayer, then of course we can move forward. Just because the Holy Spirit says that you can move forward does not necessarily mean that everything will go smoothly. You should have a normal mind when encountering hardships. Christ’s heart is to save all people, and those who belong to Him should live for this. No matter the danger, no matter the evil, the key is to see if we can save some people! After praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, the Lord said, “Get up, let’s go!”
Finally, visit a disciple. The Bible says: “where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer but whose father was a Greek. (Acts 16:1b)” I believe that this was the purpose of Paul and Silas’ trip, and it was the goal set by God for them, which was to find disciples of the Lord. Obviously, judging from the biblical records, this was not the first meeting between Paul and Timothy. I guess Timothy was led to faith by Paul during Paul’s first missionary trip. Two years later, Paul embarked on a missionary journey again and reunited with Timothy. At this time, the standard for determining Jewish identity was whether the mother was Jewish. Therefore, Timothy was a standard Jew. Let’s look at the second point:
Get to know Timothy
Timothy was the leader of the early church. His name in Greek means one who fears or glorifies God. Judging from Timothy’s subsequent spiritual life, Timothy lived up to his name and became an important vessel of God. First, a person with spiritual heritage. Paul even wrote two books for Timothy, namely 1 and 2 Timothy, which shows that Timothy played a pivotal role in the New Testament church and missionary journeys! Paul said: “I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. (2 Timothy 1”5)” Through this family, God has created at least two generations of people who are both God’s chosen people and disciples of Christ. This is amazing! God put Timothy into this family, and he received two generations of mothers teaching him the Old Testament. God even wrote him into the New Testament, becoming a person with spiritual heritage.
Secondly, a person with good testimonies. Of course, a person must be responsible to God for his spiritual life. No one can rest on the laurels of their parents, not even their grandparents. No matter how many generations of a Christian you are, it cannot replace the growth of your own spiritual life. We don’t hear Timothy boasting about how many generations of Christians he was in the Bible. It is from the mouth of Paul, the author of the Bible, that he had a spiritual mother, Eunice, and a maternal grandmother, Lois. The precious thing about Timothy is: “The believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. (Acts 16:2)” We all know that it is not difficult to win praise from one person, but what is difficult is that all the brothers and sisters in the church praise you, right?
Finally, a person with all kinds of etiquette and righteousness. Paul was naturally overjoyed to meet such an outstanding young man. Paul had a fatherly love for Timothy, treating him as his own son and caring for him very much. The Bible says: “Paul wanted to take him along on the journey” for a mission to cultivate him on the road. This is not a matter of Paul’s personal will, but a matter of the Kingdom of God. Then he must discuss, pray, and make decisions with the church leaders. Because Timothy’s father was Greek, he was not circumcised according to Jewish customs since he was a child. After discussing with the church leaders, Paul decided to circumcise Timothy. This question can be asked, discussed, and answered in Sunday School. I won’t go into details here. Let’s look at the third point:
Strengthen the churches
Calling Timothy is the mission of the church, and it is also the gain of Paul and Silas from this trip. However, strengthening the churches was, after all, the mission entrusted to Paul and his party by the Jerusalem church. First, locate Galatia. So far, wherever Paul and Silas have been, they have been within the provinces of Syria, Cappadocia, and Galatia, which is the central region of today’s Turkey. These cities that were reached on both missionary trips, such as Derbe, Iconium, Lystra, and Pisidian Antioch, were the positions of the short-term mission team. This area also became the base for the early church to leave the local area, plant churches in Antioch, and embark on the missionary road. The Bible says that Paul and his party passed through various cities to establish a base for calling disciples there. From this we can also see that calling disciples and building to strengthen the church are two-faceted and interdependent missions.
Secondly, the church sets the rules. Once a church is established, the first thing is to set rules and give them to the disciples to follow. A church without rules is nothing more than scattered sand, like a country club. From the Garden of Eden to Mount Sinai, God actually showed us the process of how He set rules for the first ancestors of mankind and the chosen spiritual ancestors. The Jerusalem conference was actually a meeting that set rules. In particular, Gentiles who believe in Jesus Christ should adhere to the most basic bottom line among the many complicated Jewish laws. The purpose of Paul’s trip was also to help the churches learn to abide by the rules set by the church.
Finally, strengthen the churches. Obeying the rules and having faith are mutually reinforcing, and one cannot exist without the other. The sequence recorded in the Bible is that when the brothers and sisters in the church are learning to abide by the rules set by the church, “So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers. (Acts 16:5)” Usually, when we interpret our faith, we will focus more on the doctrine of justification by faith. This is not wrong in itself, it is also the truth! However, if we ignore church rules, we may end up paying attention to one thing and not the other. What Paul opposed in Romans was legalism, but he never opposed the law itself. Jesus also said that heaven and earth will pass away, but not one stroke of the law will pass away.
Conclusion
Well, dear brothers and sisters, thank God for allowing us to see the Lord’s intention in calling disciples and strengthening the church through Paul and his party’s brief stay in Galatia. This has guiding significance for how the church today can live out the Lord’s Great Commission. Ask God for guidance and mercy, so that everyone in Your church and Your people can be prepared to give an account to the Lord! We know that You are near, Lord, and You are standing at the door! Lord, here I am!
Let us pray ……
Acts 16:1-5
1 Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer but whose father was a Greek.
2 The believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him.
3 Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
4 As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey.
5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.
