And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. (Acts 16:6-10 ESV)
This text is perplexing indeed for those of us who take the Great Commission seriously. Paul was forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the Gospel in Asia at this time! This same Holy Spirit who sends us and confirms the Gospel with salvation and power is here forbidding his preachers to preach!
Obviously, the Holy Spirit knows something the apostles do not, but this is still quite amazing. What I take away from this text is the necessity of being attuned to the guidance of the Holy Spirit minute by minute. We must be very careful that our theology and Biblical presuppositions do not get in the way of our reliance upon the Holy Spirit in taking the Gospel to the nations.
The command is "GO", but as we are going let us remember to listen to that indwelling voice and obey Him. He knows the receptivity of the listeners and the best timing for the good news. Listen carefully.
PART 2
In my previous note I concentrated upon the forbidding voice of the Holy Spirit in verse 6. Here I just want to point out the obvious truth that when the Holy Spirit closes one door, He opens another. God had a people ripe and ready to reap in Macedonia. Once the apostles obeyed the "NO" of the Holy Spirit, they received the "GO" of the Holy Spirit.
However, let us never forget that even fulfilled visions and open doors can lead to hardship and suffering for the sake of the Gospel. Paul and Silas go to Philippi to a woman's prayer meeting and eventually end up beaten and in prison! All of these things lead to a jailer and his family coming to faith in Christ and a thriving new church being planted in Philippi. Who would have known? He closes doors and opens doors!
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