Thoughts From Acts 16 - Part 2

  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. 7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. 9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 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.  Acts 16:6-10

        How does God lead us? The first trip the church was in a season of fasting and prayer and the Holy Spirit seemed to tell certain people to send Paul and Barnabas out on their first mission. This time, Paul felt the need to go check on his first church plants and then to branch out and hit other areas with the gospel. I feel this is more the model for today. We have God's word telling us to go and we should be saying," Yes"! The question is "go where?" How do we know?

      First off, as a disciple of Christ we should already be on a mission. Acts 1:8 tells us whether I'm in Jerusalem (my hometown), Judea (my home state), Samaria (any blue state -ha), or to the ends of the Earth (out of my country), I'm to be a missionary. So, if I'm actively sharing the gospel BOTH in word and deed at home, I should not feel guilty about not packing up and leaving because I am currently fulfilling the great commission.

       That being said, if as I'm walking in step with Christ and aware of the Holy Spirit's still small voice, I hear a call for help to leave and share the gospel elsewhere, I have to look into it. I should ask my wife to pray about it and see if she is hearing the same call especially if it is more than short term. I should ask would my gifts be beneficial to the team going or already there. I should ask who can carry on my ministry here when I go. If you have no ministry at home, you should not only ask why not, but maybe you need a jumpstart with a short-term mission and carry it back home.

      Anyway, Paul had gone to the "uttermost parts of the Earth" and praying "Lord lead me." I don't know how God blocked the doors to lead him. I'm reminded of kid's bowling parties where they fill in the gutters with bumpers to direct the ball to the pins. That's how God was directing him. Today it might be unable to get a visa, not having the proper vaccines, or others. We were recently set to do 3 medical clinics in a state in Argentina and at the last minute the local government wouldn't allow us to practice medicine there. That led us to another state where we did clinics and near 300 were saved.

     One of the team members to Argentina got sick prior to the flight and couldn't go and she questions - "Did I really hear from the Lord to go?" I think yes, He just closed the door but was glorified by your obedience. That does leave her with $1500 of credit to fly that she has to use this year and is non-refundable or transferable. That makes her also question, "Did I not hear right?" Maybe there is a trip this year she is better suited for? I don't know. We'll see what happens.