What is the Eternal Purpose of Paul and Us Going to “Macedonia?”
The Spirit’s call for Paul to “come up to Macedonia and help us” was an invitation to crossover the lines into not only unchartered territories, but into the unfamiliar. In the Biblical construction of all of Scripture, encountering a NEW culture came with opposition, struggles and apprehension. …kinda like today’s “church” and “religious” worlds.
The region of Macedonia was no different for an individual from the Tribe of Benjamin, of the Nation of Israel. Paul was a bit different though. He was learned in Koine Greek and a native Hebrew/Aramaic speaker. Adding to this benefit, he was a Spirit-filled servant of Elyon (GOD Most High).
Learning to be obedient is not a small task. I say this on behalf of Paul, but also from a personal perspective. These days, I have found that serving ADONAI and His Father, Elyon has been MOST challenging. Much of it comes in the way I write, after studying His Scriptures.
The Sacred Scriptures and my understanding of them assist me with crossing over and stepping into situations and environments that I have no clue of.
"Macedonia" represents the birthplace of the European “way,” and serves as the fundamental Scriptural model for the oneness of unity, cross-cultural connection, collaboration, and sacrificial generosity.
When we encounter the scenario of Paul’s journey (see Acts 16) into what is now known as Greece, we see the grander scale of the Spirit leading this man into “a brave new world.”
This was not a glorious vacation, it was challenging. Once more, in Acts 16, Paul was met with opposition. He ended up in jail, but the outcome was better than he knew was coming. The Spirit of GOD gave him great support in loving on people and establishing knessets (gathering places/assemblies) in a few locations— Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea.
Love and attention can go a loooooong way, when WE are stepping into the worlds of the different and doing things according to GOD’s Truth and not our own motives. If we go out on our own, there could be a level of success in those efforts, but as we can see… When the Spirit of GOD leads us, a multiplicity of lives will be changed.
Throughout the Epistles, Macedonian type harmony is defined by faith, obedience and love for GOD’s creation.
The Macedonian churches achieved a serious "unity in diversity" by intentionally blending highly divided social groups into a cohesive family. WHAT?!
When ADAONAI established the foundation of the Macedonian gathering assemblies, it undoubtedly broke societal norms by bringing together wealthy independent women (like Lydia, a seller of purple fabric), Roman citizens, and marginalized individuals (like a rescued slave girl and a Roman jailer). …and guess what, they were treated with Biblical care and led into equal fellowship.
You guessed it…still in Acts 16.
The Macedonian believers became a well spring of support for what Paul was doing because he honestly cared. They learned, through him, about the GOD of Israel and His Son Who generates a renewed life of hope, by the Word and the Holy Spirit.
A grateful Paul highlights how the Macedonian followers despite enduring extreme poverty and severe trials, they asked for the privilege of sending financial relief to the impoverished Jewish believers in Jerusalem. That made a HUGE impact in Jerusalem for building the bridge of unity between the disregarded people of Gentile Nations in Europe and the established Messianic (“Christian”) followers in Judea.
We too can make this same impact in our communities and local areas! …if we wanted to.
NOTE: We, the body of Christ, speak about unity but struggle to obey the Command to be unified.
The Harmony of being of a helpful and GOD-like mindset does bring about change.
In his letter to Philippi (chapter #2), Paul directly equates ekklesia unity with adopting the humility of Yeshua, the Messiah. He, writes that “true unity requires being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one awareness." This is only possible when believers lay down selfish ambition and embody the humility of Jesus, Who emptied Himself on the cross (“the tree”).
The hoped for oneness in Macedonian was not a flawless dreamland. It undoubtedly required active maintenance.
Did you overlook the thing that Paul did? He explicitly appeals to two prominent female leaders in the church, Euodia and Syntyche, "to agree in the Lord" (Philippians 4:2), showing that personal differences must be surrendered for gospel-centered harmony.
In northern Macedonia, the assembly of Thessalonica provided a structural blueprint for how local unity fuels global evangelism. In your own Biblical reading you will see how well this is illustrated in the Book and section of 1 Thessalonians 4:9. There you may have noticed how Paul shared that the Macedonians did not even need instructions on how to love their neighbors, because they were already "taught by GOD to love one another."
Many of you are aware of how this support environment (Fostering Healthy Communities) has been viewed by numerous countries all over the world—without click bait or word baiting. We write and submit and allow the Spirit of GOD to direct folks to it.
NOTE: The Wisdom of my GOD has made this (His) blog (and services) searchable, viewable and noticeable all over the world. It enables us to cross over the barriers, tracks and lines with not only His Word, but with topics of situational and relation awareness.
NOTE: In the range of 16 March to 16 June, 97 differing countries have been to the site (China and Brazil are the two largest—they are direct hits. Please help us to pray for the ones you see here and the others that are unlisted.
Brazil
China
India
Argentina
Vietnam
Columbia
France
Indonesia
Spain
Turkey
Chile
Mexico
Ukraine
Ecuador
Please allow this entry to remind you to love your neighbor by stepping into his or her socioeconomic world. It may be “YOU” are driving across the tracks, but it most definitely means you and I must be willing to cross the boundaries to share the Love we have come to know. We shall call Him Jesus!