May 1 2016 “Night Vision”

May 1 2016 “Night Vision”   Psalm 67, *Acts 16.9-15 Pastor Jacqueline Hines

Last week we looked at a portion of scripture where the apostle Peter had a vision during the daytime that convinced him to welcome God’s people who were not of his same Jewish descent. This week, we come face to face with Apostle Paul’s story of a vision as well. We can appreciate that God speaks to us through the written word, through the preached word, through the prophetic word, through dreams as well as through visions as we see today.

Acts chapter 16 tells us that “During the night, Paul had a vision….” [slide # 1 during the night….] In his vision, he saw a man. The man was standing, and while he was standing he was pleading, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” [slide # 2 “Come over……”]

Immediately, Paul was convinced that God was speaking to him through this vision and directing him to go preach and teach the gospel to those in Macedonia, the northern province of Greece. Some of you have traveled to Greece, by the grace of God, and seen the ancient ruins and the relics of the Roman Empire. You may have walked where the apostle Paul has walked and heard the echoes of worshipful refrains of 2000 years ago.

I have come to learn that all kinds of people hear from God. You do not have to be Christian to receive God’s direction through dreams and visions. People of all nations and persuasions have heard what they perceive or believe is the voice of God. The king of Babylon wanted nothing to do with God, but seeing the handwriting on the wall made him take notice.

Whenever I have had opportunities to ask groups of people about their spiritual experiences, I always find them speaking of at least one deep and mystical moment that speaks louder than another.

There are also those situations where persons are lured by a substantial voice that has nothing to do with our God. On Eastern College’s campus it was common to hear young people discussing hearing God’s voice calling them into the ministry or the mission field. Being a Christian school, students are very alert to hearing the call. It is a culture that is nurtured for males as well as females. That was a good. At the same time, every now and then you would hear someone confess that they grew to understand that they were not really sent into the ministry, they just went.

 It was also apparent on campus that certain students, eager to be married would allow their emotions to run away with them. So much so that the prettiest girl on campus was put on notice by several gentleman who heard God speaking to them that she would be his wife.  With time and little tender love, they came to their senses, and so it is for each of us. Hearing God’s voice is a process involving our whole self and with time and tenderness, we grow to discern God’s voice above doubt or confusion.

Paul was convinced that God was speaking to him through a vision during the night. The fact that Paul had his vision at night reminds us that night is a time when we are more ready to relax rest and perhaps in more of a position to hear the voice of God. Paul’s vision happening at night also somehow reflects the darkness of the political and religious events that can occur in every human age.

In our United States military we hear of the use of night vision glasses and goggles. God uses dreams and visions to help us see in the dark; night vision is a part of God’s battle plan for Christians. [ slide # 3 green background – night vision glasses]

Scripture tell us that Paul immediately got on a boat in Troas [ slide # 4 Map Troas Macedonia] where he was when he saw the vision. Troas was such a nice seaport area that Julius Caesar was rumored to have considered it for his capital instead of Constantinople or Rome. Paul sailed from Troas to Samothrace, a protective island that shielded boats from strong winds. Samothrace was also a place where the wealthiest Greeks worshipped. [slide # 5 Nike goddess]Archeologists were not surprised to find a statue of Nike the Greek goddess of victory in Samothrace. [slide # 6 Nike sign]

From Samothrace Paul sailed to Neapolis, a seaport town – another good rest stop -  about 10 miles from Paul’s final destination, Philippi. Philippi was a city in the Roman Province of Macedonia. [slide # 7 Map Macedonia]  One does wonder of all the places in the province of Macedonia where he believed he was called to go, why Paul decided to go to Philippi, except that it was described in verse 12 as a major city, under the rule of the Roman Empire. Paul was a Roman citizen with all the rights of the ruling party. He stayed in Philippi several days and we know that he established a church in Philippi because we see his letters to them in the book of Philippians. Being a citizen may have made it much easier, as does being a citizen in any country.

Philippi was the first church Paul established in Europe. Like many American churches it may even have been called “First Church” or perhaps it was so esteemed that it had a road named after it. In 2 Corinthians, Paul lifts up the church in Philippi as a super model of organized and generous giving. The members of the Philippian church were examples of a united people who went all the way and even had a heart to go an extra mile. God started the ball rolling for the Philippian church with a vision given to Paul.

On the Sabbath Paul went to the river to pray. [slide # 8 river] There he met a woman whose name was Lydia. [slide # 9 Lydia in purple] She ran her own business, selling purple cloth to royalty and such. She had connections in the community. If she were a member of Bethel, we would count on her to sell at least 30 hoagies for the preschool.  

Verse 14 tells us that Lydia was a worshipper of God. Her ear was perched, so the Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to what Paul was saying. [slide # 10 Lydia talking]

Then Lydia invited Paul and those with him to her home. When worshippers gather together God does amazing, amazing things with us.

Whether we gather in the sanctuary, in our homes, by the river side, [slide # 11 folks gathered by riverside] on the phone, through texting, snapchatting, Instagram, twitter, Facebooking, emailing, or whether we gather with each other in solitary or corporate prayer, we can be assured that just like a river rolls to and fro, God is speaking in dreams and visions that help us ever to flow with love and to flow in excellence even in the darkest night. [slide # 12 moonlit river] May it be so today. Amen.