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October 03, 2000 "Now when they had gone through Phyrgia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit did not permit them." Acts 16:6,7 NKJPaul and Silas were out preaching the Word, doing what God had called them to do. But the Lord stopped them from preaching in Asia or in Bithynia. He had a specific place He wanted them to go and revealed that to Paul in a vision. "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 NKJSo they went to Macedonia where Lydia, the seller of purple got saved, and her family. The girl who was possessed with a spirit of divination that followed them around got delivered from that demon. Then Paul and Silas got arrested and thrown into prison. They knew God had called them to go into Macedonia and God was moving and doing some things in that place but it wasn’t without trouble. Read what Paul says about it in his letter to the Corinthians: "For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears." 2 Corinthians 7:5God had showed them in a spectacular way that He wanted them to go into Macedonia, but yet it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Paul says, ‘without were fightings, within were fears.’ We will expect a certain amount of trouble on the outside--persecutions, people disagreeing with us, financial battles etc... But when we have fears inside we sometimes don’t deal with that as well. Paul had fears inside. Those fears are not of God for God hasn’t given us a spirit of fear. With fear comes torment, (2 Timothy 1:7, 1 John 4:18). But he had to deal with those fears and get rid of them and still go on and do what God called him to do.Just because fear comes against us doesn’t mean God hasn’t called us to do something. The devil will try and use whatever he can to get you off track from what God wants you to do. Or it may be just our own reasoning and intellect that make us ask ourselves, "What makes me think I can do this?" The truth is, if God told you to do it then He’s equipped you and enabled you to do it. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you, (Phil. 4:13).Don’t give up the vision that God has given you. Don’t let fear hold you back. Do like Paul and Silas did in prison and at midnight, at the darkest time, pray and sing praises to God, (Acts 16:25-26). Determine to go forward and fulfill the vision that God gave you.God Bless you and have a great day! |
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