Acts 16: 6- Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. NKJV
We have come to the 16th chapter of Acts. The Holy Spirit has been busy since we began in chapter 1. The disciples have been filled and refilled with the Spirit of God. They have been persecuted, we have seen miracles, and the church is filling with believers.
Now we see Paul, Silas, and Timothy working together in the ministry. As a matter of fact, verse 5 tells us that:
So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.
Acts 16:5 NKJV
They were having great success! People were being strengthened in the Lord and their faith was growing as a result. But not only was their faith growing, but daily they saw an increase in the number of people who became believers. I mean, they were on a spiritual roll, having a spiritual high. So they decided that they would go to Asia to preach the gospel.
They were looking forward to having as great of a time in Asia. They knew they would have hardships, and disappointments, if their track record held out, but God was with them. As they prepared to go, God told them not to go to Asia to preach.
Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia.
Acts 16:5 NKJV
They were preaching and teaching the gospel, then the Holy Spirit speaks to Paul and his team and tells them they are forbidden to preach in Asia. Can you imagine Paul’s disappointment at the time? Can you imagine Paul’s confusion as to where they were supposed to go? They understood the Holy Spirit’s leading enough to know where not to go, but since He didn’t tell them where to go, they went to Mysia.
After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them.
Acts 16:7 NKJV
Nope! Not in Mysia. They tried Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them to preach there either. Have you ever tried to do something for God and it just didn’t work? Maybe you thought it would be a good idea to do a prison ministry, but God didn’t approve. Or maybe you thought it would be really neat if you could start preaching at the half way house on Saturdays, but God wasn’t in it!
That’s where Paul, Silas, and Timothy find themselves. At a loss at to what God wants them to do. So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. By now, I’m sure they were battling a little frustration over what to do and where to go.
But it was while they were in Troas that God spoke to them. Finally, a word from God!
And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”
Acts 16:9 NKJV
In a vision of the night, maybe a dream, Paul saw a man. This man was in Macedonia and he was pleading with Paul to come to Macedonia. They needed help in Macedonia to spread the gospel and Paul, Silas, and Timothy needed a place to minister. Through this vision, or dream, the Holy Spirit spoke to Paul and told him that his next ministry opportunity was in Macedonia.
Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.
Acts 16:10 NJKV
So Paul obeyed. He, Silas and Timothy decided that the Holy Spirit was saying yes to Macedonia and they sought a way to make it happen.
Therefore, sailing from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day came to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is the foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a colony.
Acts 16:11-12 NKJV
Traveling from Samothrace they headed to a colony of Macedonia, Philippi! This is it! This is where God has put His stamp of approval on, so this is the fertile ground that they need to plant in. So they checked out the place. They hung around and talked with some people and got a little familiar with what was going on. Then they heard about a prayer meeting that was taking place.
And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there.
Acts 16:13 NKJV
Paul and his team went to the prayer meeting that Sabbath. They met some women there and spoke with them. While they were speaking, God moved on one of the women’s heart and caused her to hear the gospel message proclaimed.
Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul.
Acts 16:14 NKJV
Lydia. The Bible tells us that she heard Paul and his guys speaking the wonderful truths about Jesus. She obviously was a wealthy woman because she sold purple. She was from the city of Thyatira, but sold her purple in Philippi. But the most interesting tidbit about her is that she worshipped God, which was supposed to be taboo because the people of the guilds were more likely to worship other gods.
And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” So she persuaded us.
Acts 16:15 NKJV
Lydia’s heart was obviously opened to hear God’s word because she and her household got saved. But not only did they get saved, she offered the men a place to stay and they accepted.
This was the beginning of a church in Philippi. It was also the beginning of a church in Thyatira. All because Paul, Silas, and Timothy decided to obey God when He said, “Don’t preach here.” Life is so much simpler when we obey God. It is the beginning and the end of fulfilling God’s will for our life. Even in tough places, and Paul experienced those also, it is better to be in the will of God for your life than out of the will of God. If God says, “Don’t preach”, then we shouldn’t preach. If God says, “Don’t go”, then we are not to go! Whatever God says is the place that we want to be. Smack dab in His will! Wonderful Jesus!
Wonderful Jesus! 