Inspiring Messages- Acts 16:1-10
Paul readily responds to an invitation to preach the Gospel in a new area. I believe that he trusts that if the Holy Spirit does not want him there he will raise obstacles to Paul’s intentions and lead him elsewhere. I call this the “open door policy.” If the doors open and remain open then that is a sign that God wants you to pass through them; conversely, if a door shuts then it could be a sign that this is not the path for you. We have to be careful to test whether the door is locked and not just shut for a period of time or else we could miss the opportunity at hand.
Acts 16:1-10
1 Paul reached also Derbe and Lystra where there was a disciple named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. 2 The brothers in Lystra and Iconium spoke highly of him, 3 and Paul wanted him to come along with him. On account of the Jews of that region, Paul had him circumcised, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 As they traveled from city to city, they handed on to the people for observance the decisions reached by the apostles and presbyters in Jerusalem. 5 Day after day the churches grew stronger in faith and increased in number. 6 They traveled through the Phrygian and Galatian territory because they had been prevented by the Holy Spirit from preaching the message in the province of Asia. 7 When they came to Mysia, they tried to go on into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them, 8 so they crossed through Mysia and came down to Troas. 9 During the night Paul had a vision. A Macedonian stood before him and implored him with these words, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 When he had seen the vision, we sought passage to Macedonia at once, concluding that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them.
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