(Read Acts 16:4-8)
This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing.” Paul and Silas went from town to town, in the area of Derbe and Lystra, preaching the Gospel of salvation by Grace. The Bible says, “The churches were strengthened in their faith and grew larger every day.” They were not waiting for the weekend services to share the Gospel. Newly converted believers were sharing their conversion experience with the lost, people were being saved every day, and the church grew in both numbers and strength. You can sense the passion, zeal and fervor these people had. They had come in contact with a truth that promised eternal life, and the news was too good to keep to themselves. I pray our churches today catch this type of fire.
Paul and Silas then had a desire to minister in Asia. However, the Bible says, “The Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time.” So the team traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia. When they were done there, Paul and Silas came to the borders of Mysia and they headed north for the province of Bithynia, but once again, the Bible says, “The Holy Spirit did not allow them to go there.” So instead, they went on through Mysia to the seaport of Troas.
Twice in today’s passage we see how the Holy Spirit restrained Paul and Silas from preaching the Gospel in a certain area. It’s obvious that the two men were being led of God, by His internal dwelling in the person of the Holy Spirit. Notice how Paul and Silas did not initiate the contact with God when the Holy Spirit restrained the men from going to Asia or Bithynia. Paul and Silas were simply going about their daily routine, seeking to please God, seeking to be led of Him, when the Holy Spirit saw they were heading somewhere He did not want them to go. So, for reasons that only God knew, God led Paul and Silas another way and He did it by His Spirit. Guess what? He will do the same for you.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. You have the Grace to hear from God. Just like God Graces you to do everything else, He has given you the Grace to be able to hear from Him. Jesus was led of God daily. He only did those things He saw the Father do and said those things He heard the Father say (see John 5:19,20; 6:38; 8:28; 12:49,50; 14:10). In John 14:10 Jesus said, “The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me.” Two verses later He said, “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.” And in John 10:27 Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” Jesus was led of the Father daily, by the Holy Spirit, and He taught that we were supposed to do the same. We saw how Paul and Silas were being led of the Holy Spirit and that same Holy Spirit — who was in Jesus and in Paul and Silas — is IN YOU! You have the ability (you have been Graced) to hear from heaven. Have you been tapping into this power? Without hearing from the Father you will have a hard time fulfilling His Kingdom plans and purposes for your life.
2. The inner witness. While I know people who have heard an audible voice from God, and others who have had visitations from angels or even Jesus Himself, I have never had such encounters (yet). When God leads me, by His Spirit, most of the time it is through an “inner witness.” This is more like an inner-knowing; a thought I know did not come from me, and a leading from within that guides me in the way of righteousness. I believe this is what Paul and Silas heard. Not and external or audible voice, but rather an inner witness that led them in the way they should go.
3. The Holy Spirit will lead you in whatever you have the Grace to do. Paul and Silas were out on a missionary journey, so the Holy Spirit led them concerning where to go and what to say when they got there. But don’t think the Holy Spirit’s involvement is limited to church-related activity. I am a network engineer in the Army and a preacher by calling, but I have heard from God concerning a meeting related to communications, just like I have heard from God concerning what to preach. Whatever God expects you to do, He equips you to do. So yes, the Holy Spirit is just as apt to lead you concerning what to say in a business deal as He is when you are witnessing to someone about Jesus. Why? Because God is concerned about every aspect of your life. He wants to lead you to maximize the purpose and potential He put down inside of you. And since only a small portion of the population is called to preach, that means the Holy Spirit is just as capable and willing to lead a nurse, mechanic, cab driver, politician, or waitress, as He is to lead a Pastor or minister. So whatever you are facing this morning, ask the Holy Spirit to lead you concerning it. He can give you divine insight (by revelation) that will amaze those who are considered experts in your field (by education).
4. You won’t hear someone you don’t know personally. Just like you have to develop a relationship with someone in order to be able to recognize their natural voice, you will need to develop a relationship with God in order to hear and recognize the inner witness (voice) of the Holy Spirit. If you never spend time with Him, you never turn off the TV and radio, you never put away your mobile device, you never slow down long enough to tune out the world so you can tune Him in, it will take you a very long time before you get to the point where you discern His voice. I recently had a conversation with a couple of young believers who were frustrated with the notion that a Christian can actually hear from God. They told me they had never heard God, but they also acknowledged the fact that they have only ever given God a chance to speak to them a few times, and then only for a few minutes. Believers today can spend 2 hours watching a move, 3 hours watching a game, or 4 hours at a BBQ, but they can’t spend more than 5 minutes in quiet time with God. The bottom-line is: if you don’t spend time with God you won’t get to know Him and You won’t be able to hear Him when He is talking to you.
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for reminding me that I can and should hear from You daily. Jesus was filled with Your Spirit and He heard from You every day. He made it clear that He was not here on His own mission. He was committed to only doing what You led Him to do and to only saying what You led Him to say. Jesus also said that I would do what He did. Well, I can’t do what He did if I don’t hear from You. Like Jesus, I am filled with Your Spirit. And like Jesus, I am committed to fulfilling Your will in the earth. So Father, like Jesus, I need to hear from You. The Holy Spirit led Jesus, He led Paul and Silas, and He will also lead me. I am Your sheep, I hear Your voice, and the voice of a stranger I will not follow. I make time to decouple and detach myself from this world long enough to slow down and hear from You. Hearing from You is vital to my success and by faith I declare that I hear from You daily. You lead me in the way I should go. You give me the words to say. You open doors for me that no man can close and You then bless me to say whatever I need to say once I get in the door. You expect me to make a mark in this world and You have equipped me with Your Spirit, and blessed me by Your Grace, in order to make a mark that can never be erased. So as I enter this day, I declare that every meeting, conversation and activity I engage in today is blessed. You lead me concerning my schedule and also concerning how to do what I need to do. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
