Sooo, let us look at Acts 16 and start with verse 6 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia.
What? wait!!! Now Paul, Silas and Timothy had just finished traveling from town to town, preaching and strengthening the churches. They come to the region of Phyrgia and Galatia and the Holy Spirit STOPS THEM FROM PREACHING! Huh? Why?
Well, they travel on and 7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.
Again?!? The Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to enter? They had been strengthening churches and now another rejection to preach by the HOLY SPIRIT? What??
8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas.
Okay, so they are moving on and searching for where God is wanting you to go. Why have we traveled this far and now unable to preach? What is going on?
This all must have been confusing to the missionaries. Then, Paul has a vision. 9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”
In this vision, a man, a Macedonian, is standing and asking for help. Is this God's vision sent by the Holy Spirit?
Well, as the saying goes: if it looks like a duck, if it waddles like a duck, if it quacks like a duck, then it is a duck.
This, now, is the revelation from God that they must go to Macedonia. But why pass the other places. Only God knows.
10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
We have to listen to the Spirit and know what we are being told. God's no means no, and his Yes mean Yes!
Here is a map of this journey:
Thank you for reading today. Love you all.
In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny
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