Pushing the Spirit, part 2

Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Look with me, for instance, at Acts 16:6-8 “Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia (froo-gee’-ah) and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the Word in the province of Asia. 7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, (bee-thoo-nee'-ah) but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas.”     

There are some significant phrases here. In verse 6, it says, “… having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word.” Then in verse 8, it says, “… the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.” Here is the question we must ask ourselves, are we to go about the work of God, forging on ahead with all our talents and gifts stretched to the limit, or… do we wait upon the Lord, until the Spirit of God speaks to us? Are we to push the Spirit to the point where God needs to finally step in, in a dramatic way and say, “No, don’t do that?” 

Typically, when I determine that God is directing me in a particular way my tendency is to forge ahead. I can lack patience. Using myself in comparison to Paul is quite weak, however I can relate to Paul forging ahead to the point where finally the Holy Spirit had to step in and say, “Don’t push me.” I believe people push the Spirit all the time. We attempt to “make things happen” instead of letting them happen. I’ve seen this many times. I watched a mom give a prophetic word in church once when her wayward daughter happened to be in church. Her word was how God did not want kids who grew up in the church to wander from the faith and so forth… it was clearly her flesh trying to get a message to her daughter – in a "thus sayeth the Lord" kind of manner. 

Jerusalem

\There is even greater evidence that Paul struggled with God’s timing, and God’s Will, from time to time. Though Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles, he obviously had his own ambitions to preach to the Jerusalem Jews also. The idea of preaching to those he knew best, seemed to be ever in his thoughts, “If only I could just get to those Jerusalem Jews.” He knew them. He had grown up with many of them and had trained with them. He was a leader among the younger set. When they burned with hatred against the Christians – Paul burned a little bit hotter. They knew him. If only he could have a chance to preach to them: he felt that maybe the tide could turn. In fact he determined to go to Jerusalem against the Will of God. 

Look with me as we read about that in Acts 21:10-14 “After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, ‘The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’’ 12 When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, ‘Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the Name of the Lord Jesus.’ 14 When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, ‘The Lord’s will be done.’”

So, Paul goes there, against the warning of the prophet and when he gets there, things are fine for a few days. But, after about a week, Paul was taken into custody. The crowd is so aroused by his preaching that they try to kill him. Eventually Paul does get a chance to give his testimony. In his testimony he is telling them about his synagogue experience shortly after his conversion. Acts 22:17-21 “When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance 18 and saw the Lord speaking. ‘Quick!’ He said to me. ‘Leave Jerusalem immediately, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’” 

So, God basically told Paul to leave Jerusalem alone, but Paul attempts to argue with God. “19 ‘Lord,’ I replied, ‘these men know that I went from one synagogue to another to imprison and beat those who believe in you. 20 And when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’” This is a subordinate arguing with his Commanding Officer after the orders have been issued.

Continued tomorrow