The Spirit Moves Us Around—Some Reflections

“And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.” Acts‬ ‭16‬:‭6‬-‭10‬ ‭ESV‬‬
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Here we see the special guidance of the Spirit in Paul’s busy life. On business for Christ walking through what we call Turkey today, how could Paul know which way to go next? Just like Christ, his movements were purposeful, yet in one way of thinking, he was just moving around here or there to preach the gospel wherever he found possibilities. Yet, behind all of those, there was a two-fold pattern for Paul. First, he was commissioned to preach the gospel to the nations and to take the gospel where it had not been. Second, he was compelled to strengthen the churches that had been started under his ministry. So returning was always compelling (and sending helpers and writing letters). He was doing both here. Macedonia was a new place; the Galatian area in middle Turkey that he had just traversed through was a place where he had planted churches already.

It should be important for us to think about the fact that the Spirit turned him away from preaching in Asia, and from Bithynia. In the first place, it is said that the Spirit “forbade” him to go there; in the second, the Spirit “did not allow them” to go there. How did the Spirit do that? Paul does not tell us the Spirit’s method.

There seems to be nothing wrong with wanting to go to Asia to preach and wanting to go into Bithynia. But the Spirit has an agenda and his timing, so you may not even be able to do those apparent good things. I once preached the gospel in a public high school, which at the time was allowed. Many were coming to us following that talk and the testimony of the student president who had just been won to Christ — several were obviously being converted. The pastor and I began walking down the hallway where others were encountered and more discussions and prayer took place. But a tap on the shoulder and a visit to the office of the principal, soon ended that. And the principal was right. Should I take that as the guidance of the Spirit? I think so.

Then there was the vision of a man from Macedonia as a matter of guidance, which was in upper Greece and a place Paul had never been with the gospel — “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” Paul concluded due to that experience that God had called them to go that direction next. Paul was a man who had been given many visions as a special apostle, prophet and teacher, confirming his calling. I would not assume from this that God will give you such a vision. It is recorded precisely because of its uniqueness. Yet, I believe God’s guidance can be just as sure and you can act just as confidentially. I am here in Kansas City today because I believe without any vacillating of confidence that God called me here. I have never doubted that I was to come from North Little Rock to work at Midwestern Baptist Seminary several years ago, and to then start a church and to carry out our CCW ministry out of this base. Whatever the Spirit’s method, we can have confidence.

Recently I received a short note from a man I encountered 50 or perhaps 51 years ago in Cripple Creek, Colorado. He said that he was sitting in a bar drinking a beer when I got up on the stage to tell people about what Jesus had done. He was impacted by that brief message. I did not preach in a bar again in that way, but was compelled that day to step in to see if the owner would allow me to talk. There were catcalls and interruptions. Because it was so long ago, I cannot remember if this man was one of the three I spoke to personally after I spoke on stage, for they were the ones who showed more intense interest. After talking with them and corresponding a few months with one of them, I believed a life change had happened in some or all of these men, and, if I remember, a mother. I’m waiting for more information from the one who wrote this kind note. But, can we not see that strange ways of God? I was so strongly moved to do what I did and God had some men there prepared to listen to my words. I do not presume to be able to put together the convergence of all the pieces nor understand my compulsion that day, but I know God has a plan and gets us where we need to be.

It’s an assuring thing to read about Paul’s travels and to see that the Spirit was guiding him from place to place, to accomplish his purpose for his life. We should have confidence that far and above whatever methods he might use is his will and purpose for our lives and, above even that, his own larger eternal design for the entire universe. Let God move us around as chess pieces. He has his ways of doing that. But we can be assured that he will win the game!