GOSPEL INVASION

“During the night a vision appeared to Paul: A Macedonian man was standing and pleading with him, ‘Cross over to Macedonia and help us!’  After he had seen the vision, we immediately made efforts to set out for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to evangelize them.” (Acts 16:9-10 HCSB)

Operation Overlord: that was the code name for the Allied invasion of Normandy in World War II.  It was a bloody battle, as the forces of freedom landed and faced the full fury of Hitler’s entrenched defenses.  But Europe would never be liberated and the Nazi scourge eliminated without taking the fight to the foe. The end result, costly as it was, would be the establishing of a beachhead and though the war was far from over, eventual victory over Germany was inevitable. 

The tide had turned.  That tide off the coast of Normandy would swell with the corpses of brave soldiers and would be stained red with their blood—but the waves of Allied juggernaut would now sweep over the shores of Europe and the German military would be drowned in destruction.

It would be difficult to overstate the significance of the Gospel invasion that is recorded in the sixteenth chapter of Acts.  We are still warring against the spiritual wickedness in our world today, seeking to liberate the souls of men from the bondage of sin, but with the confidence that “Operation Christ the Lord” will be finally and fully successful. 

The Gospel was taken to Europe.  The heathen lands were invaded.  A Bible beachhead was established.

As we reflect on this momentous missionary moment, we begin in Acts 15 with THE COUNCIL.

“When they arrived at Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, the apostles, and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them.  But some of the believers from the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, ‘It is necessary to circumcise them and to command them to keep the law of Moses!’ 

Then the apostles and the elders assembled to consider this matter.” (Acts 15:4-6)

Such an invasion as Operation Overlord required a sound strategy.  A council of war would need to be assembled. The Allies would have to determine their objective, assemble their forces, gather their material, coordinate their attack and do as much as possible to retain the element of surprise.  There were many challenges to overcome, and until a battle plan was decided upon, they could not go forward with the assault.

Concerning the invasion of Europe with the Gospel, Acts 15 is the council of war.  The fledgling church would assemble her generals to decide what to do next in taking the battle to the enemy.

The discussion was heated—and there were two strong opinions.  Gentiles had already been saved and brought into the church.  Paul and Barnabas were steadfast in their conviction that for the Gospel to continue its advance demanded maintaining its purity and simplicity, “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” (Acts 16:31a)  But, there was opposition from the establishment.  “Some men came down from Judea and began to teach the brothers: ‘Unless you are circumcised according to the custom prescribed by Moses, you cannot be saved!’” (Acts 15:1-2)

So the first church council was convened to consider this point of contention.  After the debate, the church decision came down on the side of grace.  Thank God!  Had they decided otherwise, the Christian movement would have been reduced to just a sect of Judaism.  Its advance would be stopped in its tracks, and eventually its momentum would recede and fade.  Jerusalem was not the end of the Great Commission.  It was to be the launching pad.  What was decided in that assembly in the City of David would either be a barrier or a bridge to the Gospel.

Paul and Barnabas held their ground.  Peter presented the facts.  James brought them to consensus.  Their conclusion was that salvation was in Christ alone, by grace alone, through faith alone.  That would be the core message. 

They did address Jewish sensibilities—that liberty must always be tempered with charity in order to preserve unity.  Gentiles must not flaunt their freedom in Christ in a manner to offend their Jewish brethren.  But neither would legalism be permitted to override liberty.  The Gospel was and is and forever shall be about grace.

The preparations had been made for a new phase of the war for the world, and now it was time for the beachhead to be established, so from considering the council, we now turn to THE CONFLICT in chapter sixteen.  The Gospel invasion of Europe is launched.

“During the night a vision appeared to Paul: A Macedonian man was standing and pleading with him, ‘Cross over to Macedonia and help us!’  After he had seen the vision, we immediately made efforts to set out for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to evangelize them.” (Acts 16:9-10)

It was a watershed event.  Until this, the message of salvation in Christ had been preached in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria.  It had even reached beyond into surrounding territories and into Asia Minor (modern Lebanon, and Turkey).  Africa had been touched as well through the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch.  But, even the message to him had been shared on Asian soil.  The final phase of the Great Commission—the ends of the earth had yet to be realized.  The Prince of Darkness still held a tyrannical grip on those pagan people.  That would all change.

In Acts 16, we find General Paul gathering his troops.  He picks a young protégé named Timothy—a promising Gospel warrior to accompany him.  The result of this collaborative effort was that new churches were established and existing churches encouraged (Acts 16:1-4).

Paul continued to probe for opportunities, but found a roadblock to his restless spirit.  The Spirit of the Lord closed the door—but only so He might open another.  The Apostles’ sleep was interrupted by the vision of a man from the Greek region of Macedonia pleading with him for help.  Men were dying without hope—slipping out into eternity unprepared to meet God.  Did not Jesus die for all humanity? 

Help was on the way!   “After he had seen the vision, we immediately made efforts to set out for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to evangelize them.” (16:10)  Read that carefully, and note the “we” expression.  Dr. Luke, writer of the Book of Acts, has now joined them.  Another Gentile recruit is brought in to reinforce the team.  The invasion is on!

The city of Philippi would be where the beachhead would be established.  On the Sabbath, the missionaries attended a women’s prayer meeting.  A business woman named Lydia, a Gentile who had become a follower of Yahweh, had her heart pried open by the preaching of the Gospel and eternal life was inserted!  She becomes the first European convert and the first church will be planted in her house.

The Devil was not happy.

No advance of the Gospel happens without conflict.  The enemy will see to that.  A fierce counterattack was set in motion by the powers of Hell.  Paul and Silas are imprisoned—their backs beaten into bloody shreds of skin, their feet fastened securely in stocks.  Satan must have thought, “Well, that’s the end of that!”

He was wrong!

Instead of giving up, the missionaries tune up!  They don’t sob—they sing!  Instead of whining about their state, they start worshipping their Savior!  I would suppose that shook the Infernal Region up; I know it shook Philippi—and an earthquake set Paul and Silas free.

What does it take for us to surrender?  Do we truly believe the Gospel—so much so that we won’t retreat in the face of opposition?  Is our faith resolute so that we will pay the price—even our own blood—to proclaim, “Jesus saves!”?

These men did.  Look at what happened next in response to their jailer’s question:

“‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’

So they said, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved — you and your household.’  Then they spoke the message of the Lord to him along with everyone in his house.   He took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds.  Right away he and all his family were baptized.  He brought them into his house, set a meal before them, and rejoiced because he had believed God with his entire household.” (16:30-34)

The courage of the commanders rallied the army.  “After leaving the jail, they came to Lydia’s house where they saw and encouraged the brothers, and departed.” (16:40)  The beachhead was established.  The world would never be the same. 

Victory will be ours.  Yet, there are still battles to fight.  There are still souls needing to be liberated.  Satan is continuing to do all he can to stop the assault on his domain.  Every inch of territory is contested; every advance resisted.  Suffering and sacrifice will be required.  Wars are not won without bloodshed and the church advances in the crimson footprints of the martyrs. 

“His truth is marching on!”