Move On

Acts 16:6-10 

6 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. 9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”10 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.

Congratulation!

“Congratulations! You won a trip to Bahamas. To accept prize, press one!”

Hoax! Scam! Fraud! Swindlers send e-mails, make telephone calls, or use modern gadgets to deceive unsuspecting victims.

These rampant cheatings or scams have influenced apprehension to doubt anything including the goodness and promises of God.

How then should we determine if God is the One leading us to be in the best place? How do we know when God is telling us to consider another job or ministry?

How did Paul decide when it’s time to move onto the next ministry opportunity?

1.   Restriction

6 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia.

When Paul and his companions visited the churches they planted previously, they tried to do the same things they have been doing previously in their first missionary journey but at this time the result was different – not favorable.

The Bible says that the Holy Spirit kept them from preaching the word.

How did the author know that it was the Holy Spirit who prevented them? And why did the Holy Spirit restrict Paul and his companions to preach the word when it seems right for them to preach?

When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas.

Paul did not persist on preaching the word in Phrygia and Galatia, they moved on and went to another place. The author did not mention if they prayed about it; it could be possible but the point here is that the Holy Spirit would not allow them to enter Bithynia.

Have you ever experienced when you know for sure that the Holy Spirit is preventing you to do something or to enter a place? Can you recall an incident when the Holy Spirit restricts you to go somewhere else or to venture in one thing?

Paul has been successful or fruitful in his previous missionary efforts, so Paul tried to the same things again hoping it will have similar result. It’s common to do the same things ministry; we usually do things that have been very productive before. But does God really want us to use the same strategy?

We use the same strategy, because we assume that we can have similar results. When we are very familiar with what we are doing, we tend to do it our way and less dependent upon the Holy Spirit. We forget that we are in a spiritual warfare. If the enemy knows or is exposed to our strategy, will the enemy just stay put, relax, and does nothing to stop us?

If we keep doing things we consider right or things that we are expert with, is there any chance that we are not depending upon the Lord?

In Hebrews 11:6… 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

How does faith and pleasing God be more actualized or realized in our life?

Paul might have thought it right to preach the word anywhere. He tried to preach in Phrygia and Galatia but the Holy Spirit restrict them, why? Paul did not even try to settle down and pray, instead they moved on.

How do we know when the Holy Spirit restricts us, when to move on?

Isaac

Isaac’s life story may not be popular, but let’s consider his faith in God.

In Genesis 26:16-25, 16 Then Abimelek said to Isaac, “Move away from us; you have become too powerful for us.”

17 So Isaac moved away from there and encamped in the Valley of Gerar, where he settled. 18 Isaac reopened the wells that had been dug in the time of his father Abraham, which the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham died, and he gave them the same names his father had given them.

19 Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and discovered a well of fresh water there. 20 But the herders of Gerar quarreled with those of Isaac and said, “The water is ours!” So he named the well Esek, because they disputed with him. 21 Then they dug another well, but they quarreled over that one also; so he named it Sitnah. 22 He moved on from there and dug another well, and no one quarreled over it. He named it Rehoboth, saying, “Now the Lord has given us room and we will flourish in the land.”

23 From there he went up to Beersheba. 24 That night the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bless you and will increase the number of your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham.”

25 Isaac built an altar there and called on the name of the Lord. There he pitched his tent, and there his servants dug a well.

How do you normally decide when to move on? What’s your deciding factor?

Isaac never complained about the inconvenience brought by the Philistines. He just moved on until he found the right place; he built an altar and worship God.

Inconvenience or situations seemingly not favorable to us are God’s means to help us move onto the place or redirect us to the situation He has designed for us.

2.  Redirection

9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”10 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.

Paul might have been praying and asking God why his ministry at that point was not producing some kind of success just like his first missionary journey.

It was not clear if Paul had a dream since it was not also mentioned; Paul might have that vision came across his mind; his missionary team concluded that it’s God’s way of leading them to Macedonia.

How did Paul and his team so sure that God was leading them to Macedonia?

Paul heard that man spoke in his vision urging them to go to Macedonia to help them, but how sure were they that it was God’s way of speaking to them?

Can we, these days, conclude that God still speak to us in a vision? How does God help disciples have confidence that it’s Him speaking?

Adjuster

What would you do if your vehicle is damaged beyond repair?

If you’re involved in a collision in which your car is severely damaged, you must immediately report the accident to proper authorities. After the accident, an insurance claims adjuster will inspect your vehicle. He determines whether it can be repaired or labelled as “total loss”.

A vehicle is considered to be a total loss (or a write-off) when the cost of repairs is greater than the current value of the vehicle. The insurance claims adjuster has been given the authority to declare whether a vehicle involved in a collision can be repaired or a write off.

Not just in the ministry, it is also applicable in practical situation of our Christian life. The Holy Spirit tells us when God decides the need to move on. If the Lord has decided that we need to move on, He restricts us or redirects us.

When thing does not favor us, pray for enlightenment that you may be able to discern where God is leading you particularly.

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