Acts 16:6-10

6 They passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia;

7 and after they came to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them;

8 and passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.

9 A vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing and appealing to him, and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”

10 When he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

Notice in vv.6-7 Paul was fully intending to take the gospel to Asia and Bithynia, but the Holy Spirit stopped them from going to either of those places at that time.

Now, did Asia and Bithynia not need the gospel??

Of course they did!!

This is a clear example of the fact that sometimes God gives us a green light to go and sometimes He gives us a red light to stop.

If we are not continually looking to the Word of God for His guidance for our overall lives, we will miss it when He has specific instructions for us.

You see, as we look to God’s Word daily as “the light” to guide our path in life, we will also find it to be “the lamp” to show us our next step.

Be very careful to not try and force your own desires to go here or there in your life. Had Paul not been listening carefully and walking closely, he would have gone to a place that was not God’s will for him at that time.

Now, we find in (vv.9-10) that the Lord directed Paul and Silas to Macedonia.

So God gave them a red light for Asia and Bithynia and the He gave them a green light to go to Macedonia.

God is to be in charge of when and where we go.

It also must be in His timing and not our own.

One last thing, what do you think happens when we listen closely and obey God carefully??

Some would say that we would have an easy road ahead. Sometimes that is true for a bit, BUT sometimes it might lead us through a storm like the disciples in (Mark 4:35-41) or, as in Paul’s case here,

It led to being beaten, chained and thrown in jail!!

Wow! So listening carefully and following closely was a total waste? That’s what we think sometimes, but if we read the rest of Acts 16 we will see God open prison doors and use Paul and Silas to lead the jailer and his family to Christ and salvation for their souls!!

Though listening carefully and following closely to the Lord might seem a bit confusing at times, we must simply obey God and leave all the consequences to Him. It will not always be smooth and easy, but it is there we will get to witness God’s power and life!