If I Knew Then What I Know Now - Part 2 “IIK-TWIKN”

Acts 15:36-16:40

1. A rough start doesn’t negate a successful mission. Acts 15:36-41

Eccl 11:4 If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done.

 Paul and Barnabas had a powerful but complicated history.

Acts 9:26 - Acts 11:22 – Acts 13:2 - Acts 14:19 – Acts 15:2 – Gal 2:11 – 1 Peter 5:13 - Col 4:10

VS 39 Their disagreement was so sharp that Paul and Barnabas separated.

2. Never let “your plan” replace God's bigger picture. Acts 16:1-15

 Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be broken.

VS 2 Timothy was well thought of by the believers so Paul wanted him to join them.

VS 6 The Holy Spirit prevented them from preaching in the provinces of Asia.

VS 7 Then again the spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go to Bithynia.

VS 8 So instead, we went on through Mysia to the seaport of Troas.

VS 9 That night Paul had a vision: We concluded God was calling us to Macedonia.

VS 13 We went to the river, where we thought people would be meeting for prayer.

VS 14 Lydia, a merchant of expensive cloth, listened to us and the Lord opened her heart.

3. A negative distraction can be a God opportunity. Acts 16:16-40

VS 18 This went on day after day until Paul got exasperated…

VS 22 A mob formed, Paul and Silas were severely beaten, and thrown into prison.

VS 25 About midnight they were singing praises to God, the other prisoners were listening.

VS 26 Suddenly, there was an earthquake, prison doors flew open, chains of prisoners fell off

VS 30 "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" - Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved

4. God’s plans were greater than Paul could have conceived.

 From Philippi we have the book of Philippians.

 From Thessaloniki we have the two books of Thessalonians.

 From Corinth we have the two books of Corinthians.

 From Ephesus we have the book of Ephesians.