The word “disappointment” is comprised of 2 parts. First, there is the pre-fix “dis-” which means: reversal, negation or lack, removal or separation. The second part is the word “appointment” which means: an agreement to meet, engagement. So we see the word coming to life. It is a reversal of an appointment. It is a lack of appointment, or a removal of an appointment. Webster says the word means: to fail to fulfill the expectations or wishes of. So, as you can see, we've all experienced disappointment: having hopes and dreams shattered! And if you're there now, this message is your's!
I am reminded of an occurrence in the life of the greatest Christian preacher that ever lived – the Apostle Paul!
Let’s read Acts 16:7, 8 very carefully:
Ac 16:7 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.
8 And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas.
This verse is simply stating that Paul’s heart was set on going to Bithynia. If you are familiar with his life and the circumstances of this experience, you know this was his dream. Bithynia was the richest province in all of Asia, but somehow circumstances prevented him going there. Instead, he ended up in Troas, a place he despised, had no interest in, and in which he could see no future.
This has happened to a lot of people. We set our minds and hearts on some Bithynia, and then we end up in Troas.
You must understand that God had a perfect plan for Bithynia, Troas, Paul and we can’t leave out Peter. Because, later, Peter would go to Bithynia and bring a great revival. As a matter of fact, the epistle of 1st Peter was addressed to Christians at Bithynia.
2Co 2:12 Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,
It wasn’t God’s will for Paul to go to Bythinia because he had a greater work and another door open for him in Troas.
He visited Troas at least 3 times. On his second missionary journey to Troas, he saw the vision of a "man of Macedonia," who appeared to him, saying, "Come over, and help us." It was because of this vision in Troas we have the 16th chapter of Acts, which consists of Paul and Silas, the jailer, the earthquake, and its subsequent revival.
At his third recorded visit he tarried only a week; at the close of which he miraculously raised Eutychus from the dead!
Consider the following stories: In Boston, outside of the Old Trinity Church, stands a statue of one of the greatest preachers that ever lived, the Rev. Phillip Brooks. Phillip Brooks always desired to be a school teacher – that was his Bithynia. Though he wanted it bad and tried hard to achieve it, he failed at it miserably. His Bithynia was denied him, but in his Troas he found immortality.
The Citadel, one of the most famous books ever written was wrote by a man named A. J. Cronin. A. J. Cronin was a medical doctor who grew so sick that he had to give up his profession. He ended up in a little town, despondent, defeated, and unhappy. He began to write, but he decided his writing was so poor that he took it and threw it in the garbage can. Later, he reluctantly retrieved the pages he had written and eventually they were published. His Bithynia was the practice of medicine, but had he stayed there, we would never have heard of him. His Troas was writing.
Perhaps some of you have heard of the famous writer Sir Walter Scott. His dream was to be a poet. That was his Bithynia. But if he had succeeded there, we would never have had such novels as Waverly, Ivan Hoe, Kenilworth, Old Mortality, and Rob Roy. Being disappointed as a poet, he was forced to write prose in which he became world renown.
Likewise, Paul’s Troas, his disappointment, brought about the establishment of the Christian faith in Europe. Had he gone to Bithynia, it is very possible we would never have heard of him or his faith.
Finally, I am reminded of the preacher whose church bought him and his wife tickets to go on a luxury cruise. Just a few days before they were scheduled to leave, his wife became deathly sick. At first, he grieved over his wife's sickness, but soon saw the providence of God in it ... he had missed the maiden voyage of the Titanic!
So, if you've been denied your Bythinia, rejoice, your destiny lies in Troas! You can’t wait for Bithynia! You must move on to Troas! There’s a miracle waiting there for you
David Lamb
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