Wednesday, October 22, 2008

NOT EVERYONE?

Acts 16:6-10
6 They passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia; 7 and after they came to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them; 8 and passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. 9 A vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing and appealing to him, and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." 10 When he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. NASU
** “Forbidden to speak the word in Asia?” “The Spirit of Jesus did not permit them to preach in Bithynia?” Many times we think that it is God’s will for us to preach the gospel but what if it’s not? I know that Jesus said “go into all the world and preach the gospel” and yet here He warns Paul and the others NOT to preach to a certain group of people. Maybe God was protecting them and knew that if they went to those areas, they would loose their lives and that was not God’s will for them? What about all the disciples who lost their life being martyred? What is more honorable, to end your life early or to live longer to preach to more for the gospel? I notice Paul throughout his journey, making decisions not to go to certain cities to be tried but appealing to Rome. Maybe he saw the decisions of others that were being killed and maybe he remembered when he was stoned to death because he spoke too much or to the wrong people? I truly don’t know the answer to these questions, but it makes me think that maybe the reason many Christians die is not because it’s God’s will but because they didn’t listen to Him or heed His warnings and walked into the trap of the enemy? I guess I’m learning to listen to Him more clearly and hear what I’m suppose to do and where I’m suppose to go.

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