15th Jun 26 | 21:18
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Follow God’s ways
📖 Acts 16:07-6
Acts 16 - Series 02/Episode 05 - Wed, 10th June 2026 - Follow God's ways - Acts 16:06-10 - THE MACEDONIAN CALL - Genesis 50:20
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Acts 16:7 After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them.
I am sharing here the link for the travel map of the second missionary journey.
https://www.conformingtojesus.com/images/webpages/apostle_paul_second_missionary_journey_map1.jpg
They travelled the region of Phrygia and Galatia. This was close to Asia, but the Holy Spirit forbade them from preaching the word in Asia. They then travelled to Mysia, and the Spirit did not permit them to preach the Gospel in Bithynia.
Asia was to the South, and Bithynia was to the North. The Lord did not permit them to go in either of these two directions, but they passed Mysia and came to Troas. Acts 16:8 So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.
When God closes a familiar direction and natural path, He is not restricting us- He is repositioning us for a new assignment that we had not yet imagined.
When we look back on our lives, we can remember some experiences that were very disheartening at that time, but when we look at our lives in retrospect, we see that the discomfort turned out to be a blessing from God for His kingdom. We benefited richly.
The story of Joseph in prison is a classic example. Joseph was thrown into the dungeons on a false accusation. Imagine the emotions that Joseph would have experienced at that time. He could have complained and felt terribly let down by God. There seemed to be no way out of prison for Joseph. Potiphar, the only person whom he knew who could help him and had a high opinion of him, was now against him.
Yet, it was in prison that he met the two officers of Pharaoh and had a very simple conversation with them. Genesis 40:6-7 And Joseph came in to them in the morning and looked at them, and saw that they were sad. (7) So he asked Pharaoh's officers who were with him in the custody of his lord's house, saying, "Why do you look so sad today?"
That seemingly ordinary conversation led to all that the Lord accomplished through Joseph, and the entire history of the Hebrews was rewritten. Genesis 50:20 But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. What looked like a bad phase in Joseph's life turned out to be the most significant from God's eternal purpose.
God prevented Paul and the team from sharing the Gospel in Asia and Bithynia, but instead took them to Macedonia. The fast growth of the church in Macedonia and their generosity were to be a model to all the churches in Asia and Judea.
I Thessalonians 1:5-8 For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake. (6) And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, (7) so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. (8) For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything.
Generosity model
II Corinthians 8:1-5 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: (2) that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. (3) For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, (4) imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. (5) And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.
Probably the Lord wanted Paul and the team to experience the explosive growth of the Gospel in Macedonia so that it would be the base from which he could share the Gospel boldly and with great conviction in Asia and other places. The church in Asia had much to offer to the body of Christ over history, but the ministry to the churches in Asia came out of the exposure of Paul and the team in Macedonia. God's ways are truly past finding out.
Paul and the team planned their way, but the Lord directed their path. Proverbs 16:9 A man's heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps. How crucial it is for us to wait on the Lord at all times and seek to know His counsel. Psalm 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way.
We must learn to wait on the Lord. Psalm 27:14 Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!
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