Acts 16 - Nope

So much great content in Acts 16, but instead of trying to cover it all or bring context to the full chapter, I am going to just focus on two verses that spoke to me this morning. 

So with that, let me ask you a question, have you ever really desired to do something good, a really great act, and just nothing was coming together to allow that to happen? Maybe you wanted to bless a homeless family, and you had everything planned out and ready to go, and you head out to where you see them every day driving home, and they are gone, nowhere to be found. Maybe you felt lead to start a business or a non-profit serving a specific need in your community, but for some reason, you just can not get the right traction, the business loan won't go through or another reason you just don’t understand. You have really good intentions, a higher calling, and direction, but the doors are just not opening. This can be frustrating; I have been there many times. 

In Acts 16, we see this very thing happens to Paul and his companions. Check this out;

“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. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.” - ‭‭Acts‬ ‭16:6-7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Paul and his companions have a very high calling from God to preach the Gospel to all nations, and they are doing this, even risking their lives for the cause of Christ. But, they run into roadblocks. Really process these words from v6, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. We do not have any more understanding how the Holy Spirit kept them from preaching the word in Asia, but He did. Have you ever thought for a moment, that passion, that desire in your core that you are pursuing that just isn’t happening, or coming together could be the Holy Spirit keeping you from doing that very thing? 

Check this out, even more clarity, When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. I read this, and it seems as if they were literally at the border of Mysia, and the Spirit of Jesus stopped them. Again, we do not have the exact way this happened, but Jesus denied them entry into Mysia. Maybe, just maybe that direction you are heading, and the doors continually being closed and the undeniable force stopping the momentum you are trying to create could be Jesus himself.  One commentary I read with this text put it this way.

i. We note with interest that the Holy Spirit actually forbade Paul to do something we normally think of as good – preaching God’s Word to those who need it. Yet the Spirit of God directed this work, and Paul wasn’t the right person in the right place at the right time to begin bringing the gospel to the Roman Province of Asia Minor. There was certainly nothing wrong with Paul’s desire to preach the word in Asia; but it wasn’t God’s timing, so this was forbidden by the Holy Spirit.

ii. It is difficult to say exactly how the Holy Spirit said no; it may have been through a word of prophecy, or by an inward speaking of the Holy Spirit, or by circumstances. One way or another, Paul and his company got the message. Ephesus would come later, not now.

I love some of this insight and perspective. Paul wasn’t the right person in the right place at the right time. There was nothing wrong with Paul’s desire, but it wasn’t God’s timing. This is so important for us to understand and to plant in our hearts. Often, our desire is great, noble, and worthy, but it just isn't God’s timing. This is sometimes really hard to navigate and to understand at the moment, and that is why it is so important to continue reading the rest of chapter 16 and see what God had in store for Paul and his companions. 

How Paul responded to God’s NOPE is essential to see. 

“So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. During the night, Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 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 ‭16:8-10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

So they passed by Mysia... Luke, as he is writing this and recounting the story, we do not read any arguing, moaning, or ignoring the facts. We read Paul just received it and moved on. By just moving on, God spoke and emplaned a vision inside of Paul and gave him clarity of his mission. I find this so interesting, and I just wonder what would of happened if Paul would not of just passed by Mysia. What would of happened if Paul said, no...this is the direction, we must force it, bring his will to the table and refuse the signs and press into Mysia? As I process this, I am flooded with thoughts of times I think I did this very thing. The Holy Spirit was saying no, and I just didn’t understand or get the message. 

Sometimes God’s answer is not now. Lord, I pray you give us the wisdom, discernment, and the ability to hear and respond to your voice and direction. Lord, we desire to follow you, to respond to your calling. May we not force our will or our desire, may we be in alignment with your direction and call. Guide us today and speak to our hearts now. Amen.