by Timothy Howe
We have seen in Acts 16 that God prevented Paul from continuing the ministry he was already successfully doing in order to give Him a new vision to which Paul responded in obedience. The unfolding of the rest of the story is remarkable.
Paul took the Gospel to a new place
Paul was the first person recorded to take the gospel to Europe. He was definitely the first person to take the gospel to Macedonia. God calls many people to different expectations, but what a satisfying joy in the Lord it is to be on the cutting edge of the advance of the gospel. Paul had already done his "part." He could have spent his life training the believers that he had seen come to know the Lord in Asia Minor, but he opted to see what else God had in store for him.
Paul met unexpected results
I find it interesting that the vision Paul received in Troas was of a man requesting him to come to Macedonia, yet his first convert a woman. His next significant work in Philippi was of the healing of the demon-possessed girl. We don't see a man converted until the jailer asks "What must I do to be saved?" in Acts 16:30. Paul found a balance between explicitly following God and being prepared for the unexpected opportunities God laid before them. There are constantly times in our lives when God may be working and if we are not spiritually ready for them, we might miss the greatest opportunities for ministry.
Paul created close friendships
Paul later writes with much affection in his letter to the Philippians. He calls them partners in the gospel, and tells him that he longs to be with them. Paul found that in obeying God, he was not only accomplishing an objective, but he was also establishing lifelong friendships. God rewards our obedience in beautiful ways throughout and after ministry beyond the fruit that ministry produces.
Paul established a powerful legacy
The ministry that Paul began in Macedonia flourished. Paul's letter to the Philippians is much more positive than his other letters because he has less to correct in them. He even references them as a positive example to the Corinthians (2 Cor. 8). In a broader sense, Paul's work in Macedonia went beyond Philippi to a church that daily searched the scriptures (Berea) and another church that he would later boast about (Thessalonica).
Paul's work had eternal significance
There are people in heaven because of Paul's obedience. God accomplished amazing things because Paul was willing and able, and because he responded. Paul gave up being a Pharisee, being important, having a life of comfort, etc., because he decided to pour himself into things that matter for eternity.
To whom are you taking the gospel?
Are you are at a personal state in which you are spiritually attuned to the ministry opportunities, even unexpected ones, that God has prepared for you right now?
Are you establishing close godly friendships?
What is the spiritual legacy that you will leave?
What are you doing that will have eternal significance?
What will God accomplish through you?
by Timothy Howe
In Acts 16, we see where God prevented Paul from going down the path he was headed and gave him a new vision. Now we see Paul's response.
Paul
responded to the Lord’s vision
When God
gave Paul a clear vision, Paul did not ignore it. He responded. He acted.
He was willing to respond.
Paul knew the truth that one cannot use the two words "No" and "Lord" in the same sentence. Since his life was already surrendered to God, there was no issue for him to struggle with, "Should I go to Macedonia or should I stay here?" When the Lord spoke, he was willing and eager to say, "Yes."
He was able to respond.
We have already seen that Paul had put his life in a position that he could move at the impulse of God. Paul had left behind any hindrances that could have encumbered him. He was sitting in Troas so that he could cross over right into Macedonia the moment that word came from God. He made himself well prepared even though he was previously unaware of the exactitude of God's call because he had continuously sought God's will in his life up to this point.
Paul responded to the Lord's vision immediately
Once Paul knew what the Lord expected of him, he responded immediately. He did not dither and worry about when the right moment might be to respond. He did so right away. Upon receiving the vision, he informed his team of their new directive and they set out. There was no delaying in order to set affairs straight. Since he was willing and able, he went.
Paul responded to the Lord's vision correctly
The vision Paul received explicitly told him what to do. He was to take the gospel to Macedonia. Paul did not veer from this call. He went directly to Macedonia where the Lord had already orchestrated events so that Paul could meet Lydia and eventually start a church.
Paul responded to the Lord's vision completely
Paul's response was "all in." He followed it completely, not adding to our taking away from God's call. He avoided the pitfalls of distractions along the way. The text indicates that at least Luke joined the team at this point suggesting that Paul retooled his team for the task God had given him. Paul accomplished the goal God set for him. Going to Macedonia, Paul preached the gospel to the God-fearer, to the crowd upset about the healing of the servant girl, to the jailer and presumably to the magistrates.
Are you both willing and able to respond to the Lord's vision for you? Will you do so immediately, correctly and completely. Doing so, may cause personal suffering - remember Paul was beaten and went to jail in Macedonia - but it can bring tremendous glory to God.
by Timothy Howe
Which way?
Sometimes it is so hard to figure out just what God is doing. What are we supposed to do? Yesterday we saw how Paul was prevented from going to a certain place to start a new work.
Paul focused on what God was doing
Clearly, Paul got the message when the Spirit of Jesus prevented him from going to Bythnia. As a result, he stayed the course until he arrived at the end of Asia. He literally got to the point where he could not go forward. Then he waited for God to show him what was next. Paul had confidence that God would give him knew direction. He was not going to have to figure this out on his own.
Paul was at a place where he could hear God
Acts 16:9 speaks of the vision Paul received from God. There was no confusion. He was supposed to go to Macedonia. This is in stark contrast to simply being "prevented" from going into Bythnia. The lack of precision in the earlier episode is followed up by a very specific request to go to a specific location. Paul's willingness to listen to God earlier led him to a place of being able to hear clearly when God next spoke. He was able to recognize God's voice because he was constantly in communion with Him. He says so repeatedly in his letters.
God had a new plan for Paul
The reason that God had prevented Paul's previous strategy from going forward was not because God wanted to punish Paul or cause Him stress. God had a plan to reach Macedonia with the gospel. God knows just what is needed where. He has a plan for each of our lives. No one is here by accident.We all have a purpose. Sometimes the path that we are on is not serving the perfect purpose God has constructed for us. If that is the case, He may ask us to adjust that path to suit His plans.
God's plan was clear to Paul
Paul had no doubt what God wanted for Him to so. Since he was at a place where he could clearly hear from God, he recognized the message that God gave him. God was asking him to do something new. He wanted him to take the gospel to Europe. Any discouragement Paul may have felt earlier had to now be replaced with the exhilaration that God was about to do something radically new through him.
How would you answer the following questions?
Am I focused on what God is doing in my life?
Am I at a place where I can hear from Him?
Can I recognize His plan for my life?
What is God's plan for my life?
Pray through these questions. Take life off "autopilot," find a convenient time and place, hear from God and assess what He is asking you to do.
Paul created close friendships 
