In the sixteenth chapter of Acts, Paul was on what many refer to as his second missionary journey. He and his companion Silas had traveled to Derbe and Lystra, where they were joined by Timothy. They then departed through Phrygia and Galatia. Luke says that while they were passing through this area they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word. When they came to Mysia, they wanted to turn to the northeast and take the gospel into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not allow them to go there either. While in the Mysian city of Troas, in a vision at night, Paul received the Macedonian Call.

"So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, 'Come over to Macedonia and help us.' Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them" (Acts 16:8-10).

Determining that they had been called by God, they went to preach to the Macedonians. Paul was very successful on this journey. Several important and noteworthy churches were established; including churches in Philippi, Thessalonica, Corinth, and Ephesus.

All Christians have a responsibility to help spread the gospel. We may never be called upon to go into foreign lands, but that does not mean we should not be doing what we can where we are. After all, "into all the world" starts just outside our front door. There are opportunities for evangelism all around us. If we are looking for them, we can find them. There are some good lessons that we need to learn from this passage that will help us in our efforts to spread the gospel today.

1. Where we want to go is not always where we are needed. The reason Paul was not allowed to preach the gospel in Asia or Bithynia was because he was needed in Macedonia. We all have our own comfort areas, and as a rule we do not like to get out of these areas. It is easy for us to have tunnel vision and focus only on certain kinds of people. However, if we are going to respond to the Macedonian Call, we must be open to different kinds of opportunities. Sometimes the best prospects for the gospel are not so obvious, and they are not always found where we are used to looking. Paul made it his aim to go to those who had not heard (Rom. 15:20-21). Jesus talked to those that society had deemed unworthy of association (Matt. 9:9-13; John 4:7-9). We must be willing to do the same.

2. The lost are in need of our help. Someone might say, "We can't respond to the Macedonian Call today." This is not true, for the Macedonian Call was a call for help. Sin is destroying the lives and souls of people all around us today. They are burdened, bound, and blinded by sin. They need the truth, they need hope, and they need strength. Whether they realize it or not, and whether they want it or not, they need our help.

Consider the problems that we face as a nation today. Ungodliness and immorality are practiced and promoted on all fronts, drug and alcohol abuse continues to destroy lives, children are abused, innocent blood is shed, and people continue to live in hate and suspicion of those who are different than themselves. We wring our hands as a nation and wonder how we are going to solve all these problems.

Now, consider what Macedonia was like. We learn from Acts 16-19 that the people in this area were given over to idols. Their worship included sexual immorality and drunkenness. Humanism and philosophy abounded in Athens. Witchcraft and sorcery was the popular practice in Ephesus, which included calling upon demons and the use of mind-altering drugs. Everywhere one went there was racial tension and prejudice.

Paul did not pass these people by. He preached the gospel to them. Not everyone responded to his message, but some people did. As they did, one by one the hearts and minds of people began to change. The same thing can and must happen today.

3. We need to respond immediately. After receiving the call, Paul and his companions responded immediately and sought to go. If we realize what is at stake, we will respond immediately when opportunities arise. We will call upon those who visit our assemblies, we will follow up on leads, and we will be attuned to the openness of our associates, friends, and neighbors. Procrastination is dangerous. A heart that is open today may be closed again tomorrow.

Those who serve God faithfully obey Him immediately (Gen. 22:3; John 9:4; James 4:17). As soldiers of Jesus Christ, part of our armor is having our feet shod "with the preparation of the gospel of peace" (Eph. 6:15). We must always be ready with an answer when the cry for help is heard.

4. We are qualified to respond. Sometimes Christians are hesitant to act, doubting their ability, wondering if they are qualified. When Paul and his party concluded that the Lord had called them to preach to the Macedonians, they did not consider whether or not they were qualified. They went, and so must we.

Some do not feel confident with their knowledge of the Scriptures. Might I suggest that there is more to personal work than having a knowledge of the Scriptures? Personal work is also about finding people who are looking for the truth and building relationships of trust. If someone you know is looking for the truth, you are the most qualified person to approach them because you are the person that they trust. The only way to gain experience in personal work is in doing personal work.

The Macedonian Call is an event that we can read about in the Bible, but it is based upon principles that are present in our lives today. Let us ever be open to the possibility of taking the gospel to anyone who is interested, realizing that those who are lost are in need of what we have to share.