“The Spirit of Jesus would not allow them.” (Acts 16:7) Paul set out for Mysia and Bithynia to carry out Christ’s Great Commission. Then the Spirit stopped him! That is amazing. The initial progress of the gospel depended on Paul and his helpers, but the Holy Spirit stopped them in their tracks! How did they feel? Redundant? God had left Paul and his team with nothing to do! There they were, on board of a ship, forced into inactivity, with no signs of what God might want. We know God was with them … although they were away from the action. That is a situation worth noting. The Lord stood by them when they were not actively engaged in his work – just as much as when they were. We need to remember that everything we do should be regarded as “for the Lord.” Paul traveled where and when he wanted. He has set off for Mysia and Bithynia as he thought fit, with no specific word from God, but God worked with him everywhere. Only on rare occasions did he have a specific sign from God to go, stay, or leave. God leaves us to plan but never leaves us. He can – and sometimes will – step in with a specific revelation of his purpose but He is with us, watching over us, at all times. The gospel is far too important – as are our own personal lives, too – for God to leave us totally without His oversight. Mark 16:20 tells us that the first evangelists went when and where they thought fit, but the Lord always went with them. God is always two steps ahead. Paul had been “kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia” (Acts 16:6) and Paul lived under guard for a couple of years in Caesarea, where he seems to have done nothing, not even writing a letter. We know Paul was destined to make a bigger impact on the world. Paul eventually left ship at Troas, but that was not what God had in mind for them. The apostolic team had no urge to preach there. Why would soon be apparent. Across the Aegean Sea, two hundred miles from the eastern Troas, lay Thrace (Greece) and Macedonia, gateways to the whole continent of Europe. The future, progress and civilization were westward, not eastward, where Paul’s plans lay. One night at Troas Paul had a vision. He saw a man saying; “Come over to Macedonia and help us” (Acts 16:9). This small apostolic group had no idea of their own immense importance. The future of Europe and the world lay in their hands. Paul did not know it but God did, and in that historic hour the seed of world change germinated. Now, Paul did not jump up at once saying, “The Lord told me!” He and his colleagues “concluded” (Greek sumbibazo – put things together) that Lord wanted them to switch from the east and move westward into Macedonia – a major change of plan. Paul saw it as an opportunity – not a divine command; Paul’s God was not a “boss-God” but a fellow-worker. God was moving and Paul moved with him. God bless you. REINHARD BONNKE
Posted on: Tue, 09 Sep 2014 05:58:29 +0000
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