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.
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.
