0416 THE MYSTERIOUS WILL OF GOD

THE MYSTERIOUS WILL OF GOD

There are several amazing stories in this chapter, and they all underscore the mysterious ways of the leading of God’s Spirit. 

Wouldn’t you like to know unmistakably what the will of God is for you? To know without a doubt that God sent you here, told you to say that, led you to do this? Not that it is easy–remember how we must go through hardship to follow Jesus–but it can be certain, even if it is unconventional.

Paul and Silas begin a second missionary journey. They start by revisiting a couple of cities they had been to before. The churches were strengthened in their faith and grew in numbers day by day. Must be God’s will. Then they moved on, but were not sure which way to go. Being experienced in the ways of God, they did not wait to know all–or any–of the details, other than to head north. They traveled for several days, not knowing where they were called to go; only knowing where they were NOT called to go, which was the province of Asia. Sometimes the will of God is not given as a green light (go here, do this) but rather as a red light (don’t go here, don’t do this). Somehow the Holy Spirit “prevented” them from preaching in Asia. So they kept moving, just not toward Asia. I’m guessing that Paul had it in his heart that Asia was, objectively-speaking, the next logical place for them to go with the gospel. But though his heart might have been set on it, the door was shut, at least for Paul, to be the one to go. 

So they kept moving. And now they came to another red light. Don’t go north anymore. So, they were not to go east or north. And they had come from the south. West seems to be all that’s left, so they head that direction, and go all the way to the coast, where there is nowhere left to go. Had the Spirit led them to this place? Seems awkward, especially after all the signs and wonders he had been doing through them to this point. But when the flow is not there, you don’t try to push it. And you wait for clarity.

And sure enough, that very night Paul has a dream. A Macedonian man pleads with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” So here is the amazing part: After that dream, “we” decided to leave for Macedonia at once, having concluded that God was calling them to preach the Good News there. Several things about this: 1. Paul has a short dream. That is enough to know it’s the call of God. Wow. 2. The others with Paul all conclude that God is also calling them to go with Paul to Macedonia, based on a dream that only one of their party had. No confirmation. No fleeces set out. Just a quick decision for the whole group to go. 3. Suddenly and subtly, Luke shifts from talking about “they” to saying “us.” He has joined the group, even though he never mentions his own name here.

Sure enough, they board a vessel and set sail by faith, knowing only one word: Macedonia. They go and stay for a bit in the town of Philippi, and while there they decide to go to the river, where they might find a prayer meeting going on among women. Sure enough, there they are. Which begs the question, was this the miraculous leading of God based on some prophecy? Or was this simply strategy for finding people, who just might be spiritual enough to have an interest and respond. And, sure enough, whether by leading or by logic, they find a woman who responds to their message right away, and she and her household are all baptized. God is good!

Then it gets confusing. They are doing their routine, when they get spotted by a girl who has a spirit of divination. In other words, she sees things in the spiritual realm through the influence of demons inside her. She calls out truth, but it is truth that was revealed by demons. It “irritates” Paul, until finally he casts out the demon. The girl is free at last! That seems a bit odd to do deliverance out of irritation. That doesn’t seem to be a mark of the Spirit of Jesus. But the result seems to show that this was God’s leading, right? And yet, it’s the very thing that gets Paul and Silas stripped, beaten and thrown into prison. Hold on! Are we still on the same page with the Holy Spirit here? God’s leading isn’t confirmed by blessing this time. What’s going on now?

Paul and Silas are undaunted by this turn of fortune. There, in spite of pain and open wounds, they pray and sing psalms until midnight. (Good thing they memorized those psalms, isn’t it? Hard to open your Bible when you are in stocks and chains.) And the other prisoners are listening. Their worship in the midst of trouble earns them an earthquake! And the doors fly open, and their chains fall off of all the prisoners! But no one escapes, because they are captivated by the worship of these two innocent men in bad circumstances. The jailer get converted because of all of them remaining. And he and his entire household are baptized that very night (remember, it’s after midnight by now).

Bottom line application from all this: How do you know you are in the right place, following the leading of the Holy Spirit? It is not because your path is smooth. It is not just because of conversions. It is not because you found it in your Bible. But there is something secret, something mysterious and mystical, and Paul and Silas seem unwaveringly willing to follow Jesus wherever he leads. Amazing! 

Red lights. Green light dreams. Increasing numbers. Healing and deliverance. Beating and arrest. It’s all God’s will. Just keep going, or you will analyze yourself to death.

May you sense the Lord’s pleasure and leading today, and may you say yes to it. Amen.