Today’s Devotion
Topic: Be Rather Led.
Text: Acts 16: 6- 10
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.
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. Amen
The mandate and mantle of Paul was revealed to Ananias the Prophet. He was God’s “chosen instrument to proclaim the Lord’s name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. He was also going to suffer many things for the sake of the gospel (Acts 9: 15- 16).”
One will assume that once the above are true, then Paul didn’t need to wait on the Lord for further instructions and guidance. He should be able to go “anywhere” and do “anything” so long as it evolves around preaching to the gentiles and suffering for sake of Christ.
BUT BELOVED, THAT IS NOT HOW THE HOLY SPIRIT WORKS! He knows the beginning from the end and is constantly willing to order our steps if we will let Him.
Paul wanted to go to one gentile town (Bithynia) to preach but the Holy Spirit says NO! Go “somewhere else” (Macedonia) for the people there are more prepared to receive the message you have”. Wow! Apparently its not about what we feel like doing but what His will is at every given time.
You see, even after receiving prophecies and mandates from God, it’s always expedient to still remain in constant fellowship with the Spirit of God in order to know the ‘hows’ of the prophecies. It is in doing so that the WILL OF GOD is fulfilled. Otherwise we may be doing things on our own, thinking the Lord is with us because He already commissioned us for that task.
You see, Mary, after receiving the prophecy that she would be the mother of our Saviour Jesus Christ, further went on to ask the angel of God, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.” It was then that she told how everything was going to happen. (Luke 1:34-35). She didn’t want her personal assumptions to lead her. She wanted to be further instructed by God. We can all learn from her and desire the leadings of the Lord in everything that concerns our lives.
Kindly meditate on the above and begin to pray now! Submit everything to the Lord and ask that He leads you through life and ministry. Only He knows how to get you where He’s promised. You dare not trust your own. See you at church.
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