Unexpected Places. Unmistakable Purpose. I Pastor Caroline Dunn
Unexpected Places. Unmistakable Purpose.
This life with Jesus can be adventurous.
He has a way of placing us in the most unexpected places.
For us... it was moving to Orlando.
Now... if I'm being honest...
When we moved here, one thing became very clear...
It's not exactly close to the beach!
Let me ask you a few questions.
How many of you are here in Orlando because of a job?
How many are here because of love?
How many grew up here?
How many are here and honestly have no idea why?
How many are here because you really didn't have another choice?
And finally...
How many of you believe you're here because God called you here?
Most of us would answer...
"I'm here because of my career."
"My family."
"An opportunity."
"The sunshine."
"The palm trees."
"The fact that there's no snow."
But what if...
What if the real reason you're here...
...is because God wants you here?
And if that's true...
Does it change the way you live your ordinary, everyday life?
So here's the question.
Why are you here?
There is probably one Bible verse I quote more than any other.
Psalm 37:23-24
"The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand."
I love that verse.
Because it reminds me...
The Lord directs my steps.
Every turn.
Every victory.
Every disappointment.
Every setback.
Every joy.
Every sorrow.
Nothing is wasted when God is directing your life.
So I have two questions for you this morning.
Number one...
Will you trust the Lord with every step of your life?
Number two...
Will you allow the Lord to do something great through your life?
ACTS 16
Let's open to Acts chapter 16.
Here's what's happening.
Paul and Silas are on a missionary journey, sharing the Good News about Jesus.
The Holy Spirit is directing their steps.
Opening some doors.
Closing others.
The Spirit even prevents them from preaching in certain places.
Then Paul receives a vision.
A man from Macedonia says: "Come over and help us."
They recognize it as God's direction.
So they travel to Macedonia.
Eventually they arrive in Philippi.
There they meet Lydia.
The Lord opens her heart.
She believes.
She and her entire household are baptized.
Lives are changing.
The Gospel is spreading.
God is moving.
Everything is going exactly as planned.
Or so it seems.
Because suddenly...
Everything changes.
Paul and Silas are simply walking to prayer.
And a slave girl begins following them.
Day after day she keeps shouting,
"These men are servants of the Most High God, and they have come to tell you how to be saved!"
Finally Paul turns around...
Commands the evil spirit to leave... In the name of Jesus.
And instantly...
She's set free.
Church...That's something worth celebrating!
But not everyone celebrates.
Her owners become furious.
Why?
Because they've just lost their source of income.
So they stir up the crowd.
Paul and Silas are beaten.
Dragged before the authorities.
Thrown into prison.
Without a trial.
Wait a minute...
I thought God was directing their steps.
Didn't Psalm 37 say...
"The Lord directs the steps of the godly?"
Yes.
It did.
And sometimes...
The path God leads you on...
Includes a prison before it includes a miracle.
ACTS 16:25
Listen to verse 25.
"Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening."
Think about that.
They had been beaten.
Humiliated.
Locked in prison.
Feet fastened in stocks.
And what are they doing?
Praying.
Singing.
Not complaining.
Not blaming God.
Not asking,
"Why me?"
They worshiped.
And don't miss the last part of the verse.
The other prisoners were listening.
Church...People are always listening.
People are always watching.
Your response during the hardest seasons of your life says more about your faith than your response during the easiest seasons.
Anyone can praise God on the mountain.
Faith is revealed...
When you worship in the valley.
Then suddenly...
An earthquake shakes the prison.
The doors fly open.
Everyone's chains fall off.
The jailer wakes up.
Sees the doors open.
Assumes everyone has escaped.
And prepares to take his own life.
Then Paul shouts,
"Stop! Don't harm yourself! We are all here!"
Imagine that.
The prison doors are open.
Freedom is right there.
But Paul stays.
Because there was something more important than his freedom.
There was a soul that needed Jesus.
The jailer falls before them and asks,
"What must I do to be saved?"
And Paul answers:
"Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household."
They share the Gospel.
The jailer believes.
His family believes.
They are baptized.
Once again...
Lives are changed.
Because...
The Lord directs the steps of the godly.
So what does this mean for us?
1. God has a purpose for your life.
You are not in Orlando by accident.
Your address isn't random.
Your workplace isn't random.
Your neighborhood isn't random.
God has you here for something bigger than a paycheck.
He's placed you here to help people find Jesus.
2. Prayer and worship should always be your first response.
Notice...
Prayer wasn't Paul's last resort.
It was his first response.
When life gets hard...
Run to God.
Ask Him,
"Lord...Help me see this from Your perspective."
Can you still see God in the middle of your circumstances?
Or do you only see reasons to complain?
3. Never lose sight of lost people.
Paul could have walked out.
He had every opportunity.
Instead...
He stayed.
Why?
Because one man's eternity mattered more than his own comfort.
You don't have to go overseas to be a missionary.
Your mission field may be...
The office next door.
Your classroom.
Your neighborhood.
Your family dinner table.
Who has God placed in your life?
4. Who you are in the “jail cell” with matters.
Paul wasn't alone.
Silas was beside him.
I've often wondered...
Who started singing first?
Was it Paul?
Was it Silas?
We don't know.
But one thing we do know...
One started.
The other joined in.
That's why we need people beside us who remind us to worship when life gets hard.
This is why small groups are so important.
CLOSING
Your journey may not look the way you imagined.
There may be unexpected detours.
Unexpected pain.
Unexpected “prisons”.
But hear me today...
God wastes nothing.
He will use every step...
Every trial...
Every victory...
Every hardship...
To bring glory to His name.
Because...
The Lord directs the steps of the godly.
ALTAR CALL
Maybe today...
You're asking the same question the jailer asked.
"What must I do to be saved?"
The answer hasn't changed.
Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Trust Him.
Follow Him.
He will change your life.
SALVATION PRAYER
Or maybe...
You're a believer.
But somewhere along the way...
You've stopped singing.
Life has become heavy.
The prison feels too dark.
Can I encourage you today?
Change your tune.
Start worshiping again.
Start praying again.
Not because your circumstances have changed...
But because God hasn't changed.
Acts 16 ends with changed lives.
A businesswoman.
A former slave girl.
A prison guard.
Entire families.
The same God who transformed their lives...
Is still transforming lives today.
Including yours.
So trust Him.
Take the next step.
Because...
The Lord directs the steps of the godly.
This life with Jesus can be adventurous.
He has a way of placing us in the most unexpected places.
For us... it was moving to Orlando.
Now... if I'm being honest...
When we moved here, one thing became very clear...
It's not exactly close to the beach!
Let me ask you a few questions.
How many of you are here in Orlando because of a job?
How many are here because of love?
How many grew up here?
How many are here and honestly have no idea why?
How many are here because you really didn't have another choice?
And finally...
How many of you believe you're here because God called you here?
Most of us would answer...
"I'm here because of my career."
"My family."
"An opportunity."
"The sunshine."
"The palm trees."
"The fact that there's no snow."
But what if...
What if the real reason you're here...
...is because God wants you here?
And if that's true...
Does it change the way you live your ordinary, everyday life?
So here's the question.
Why are you here?
There is probably one Bible verse I quote more than any other.
Psalm 37:23-24
"The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand."
I love that verse.
Because it reminds me...
The Lord directs my steps.
Every turn.
Every victory.
Every disappointment.
Every setback.
Every joy.
Every sorrow.
Nothing is wasted when God is directing your life.
So I have two questions for you this morning.
Number one...
Will you trust the Lord with every step of your life?
Number two...
Will you allow the Lord to do something great through your life?
ACTS 16
Let's open to Acts chapter 16.
Here's what's happening.
Paul and Silas are on a missionary journey, sharing the Good News about Jesus.
The Holy Spirit is directing their steps.
Opening some doors.
Closing others.
The Spirit even prevents them from preaching in certain places.
Then Paul receives a vision.
A man from Macedonia says: "Come over and help us."
They recognize it as God's direction.
So they travel to Macedonia.
Eventually they arrive in Philippi.
There they meet Lydia.
The Lord opens her heart.
She believes.
She and her entire household are baptized.
Lives are changing.
The Gospel is spreading.
God is moving.
Everything is going exactly as planned.
Or so it seems.
Because suddenly...
Everything changes.
Paul and Silas are simply walking to prayer.
And a slave girl begins following them.
Day after day she keeps shouting,
"These men are servants of the Most High God, and they have come to tell you how to be saved!"
Finally Paul turns around...
Commands the evil spirit to leave... In the name of Jesus.
And instantly...
She's set free.
Church...That's something worth celebrating!
But not everyone celebrates.
Her owners become furious.
Why?
Because they've just lost their source of income.
So they stir up the crowd.
Paul and Silas are beaten.
Dragged before the authorities.
Thrown into prison.
Without a trial.
Wait a minute...
I thought God was directing their steps.
Didn't Psalm 37 say...
"The Lord directs the steps of the godly?"
Yes.
It did.
And sometimes...
The path God leads you on...
Includes a prison before it includes a miracle.
ACTS 16:25
Listen to verse 25.
"Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening."
Think about that.
They had been beaten.
Humiliated.
Locked in prison.
Feet fastened in stocks.
And what are they doing?
Praying.
Singing.
Not complaining.
Not blaming God.
Not asking,
"Why me?"
They worshiped.
And don't miss the last part of the verse.
The other prisoners were listening.
Church...People are always listening.
People are always watching.
Your response during the hardest seasons of your life says more about your faith than your response during the easiest seasons.
Anyone can praise God on the mountain.
Faith is revealed...
When you worship in the valley.
Then suddenly...
An earthquake shakes the prison.
The doors fly open.
Everyone's chains fall off.
The jailer wakes up.
Sees the doors open.
Assumes everyone has escaped.
And prepares to take his own life.
Then Paul shouts,
"Stop! Don't harm yourself! We are all here!"
Imagine that.
The prison doors are open.
Freedom is right there.
But Paul stays.
Because there was something more important than his freedom.
There was a soul that needed Jesus.
The jailer falls before them and asks,
"What must I do to be saved?"
And Paul answers:
"Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household."
They share the Gospel.
The jailer believes.
His family believes.
They are baptized.
Once again...
Lives are changed.
Because...
The Lord directs the steps of the godly.
So what does this mean for us?
1. God has a purpose for your life.
You are not in Orlando by accident.
Your address isn't random.
Your workplace isn't random.
Your neighborhood isn't random.
God has you here for something bigger than a paycheck.
He's placed you here to help people find Jesus.
2. Prayer and worship should always be your first response.
Notice...
Prayer wasn't Paul's last resort.
It was his first response.
When life gets hard...
Run to God.
Ask Him,
"Lord...Help me see this from Your perspective."
Can you still see God in the middle of your circumstances?
Or do you only see reasons to complain?
3. Never lose sight of lost people.
Paul could have walked out.
He had every opportunity.
Instead...
He stayed.
Why?
Because one man's eternity mattered more than his own comfort.
You don't have to go overseas to be a missionary.
Your mission field may be...
The office next door.
Your classroom.
Your neighborhood.
Your family dinner table.
Who has God placed in your life?
4. Who you are in the “jail cell” with matters.
Paul wasn't alone.
Silas was beside him.
I've often wondered...
Who started singing first?
Was it Paul?
Was it Silas?
We don't know.
But one thing we do know...
One started.
The other joined in.
That's why we need people beside us who remind us to worship when life gets hard.
This is why small groups are so important.
CLOSING
Your journey may not look the way you imagined.
There may be unexpected detours.
Unexpected pain.
Unexpected “prisons”.
But hear me today...
God wastes nothing.
He will use every step...
Every trial...
Every victory...
Every hardship...
To bring glory to His name.
Because...
The Lord directs the steps of the godly.
ALTAR CALL
Maybe today...
You're asking the same question the jailer asked.
"What must I do to be saved?"
The answer hasn't changed.
Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Trust Him.
Follow Him.
He will change your life.
SALVATION PRAYER
Or maybe...
You're a believer.
But somewhere along the way...
You've stopped singing.
Life has become heavy.
The prison feels too dark.
Can I encourage you today?
Change your tune.
Start worshiping again.
Start praying again.
Not because your circumstances have changed...
But because God hasn't changed.
Acts 16 ends with changed lives.
A businesswoman.
A former slave girl.
A prison guard.
Entire families.
The same God who transformed their lives...
Is still transforming lives today.
Including yours.
So trust Him.
Take the next step.
Because...
The Lord directs the steps of the godly.