In Acts 16 beginning with verse 7 we read;
When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 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. NIV
This is fascinating to me. "The Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to" move on to where they planned to go in their journey to preach the gospel. The passage doesn't tell us how God closed the door or what specifically He did to impress upon Paul that he was not to go into Mysia. What might have been the range of emotions Paul went through after hearing this from the Spirit? Wow! He had to be disappointed big time.
After all, he was on a roll. Read the previous passage beginning with verse 4 -
As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.
Paul, Timothy and the others on the missions team had just experienced an incredible outpouring of the Spirit and seen people strengthened in their faith, plus many became followers of The Way. Then mysteriously, he is told in some way, don't go there, not to Mysia.
Warren Wiersbe says in his commentary on these passages - "However, it is comforting to know that even apostles were not always clear as to God’s will for their ministries! God planned for the message to get there another time." (Acts 18:19–19:41; see 1 Peter 1:1).
I couldn't agree more, that it is comforting to know that the apostles didn't have things dialed in with the Spirit. They were men just like me. Monique and I are seeking to hear the Spirit's voice and follow Jesus wherever he may be leading us and our family. Please join us in prayer.
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