The Spirit Told Them – February 9, 2009

The Spirit Told Them

Acts 16:6-7

Jim Stephens

02-09-09

 

Scripture:

 

6 Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had told them not to go into the province of Asia at that time. 7 Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed for the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not let them go. (Acts 16:6-7 NLT)

 

Observation:

 

Paul was an activist.  If the Holy Spirit gave him direction through prophecy or a vision or an impression or even through the passion in his heart to communicate the Good News, he made a plan and went for it.

 

In these verses, the Holy Spirit wasn’t telling him what to do, but what not to do.  Paul was going for it, acting on his desire and his strategic plan.  That’s good.  But he was also sensitive to the direction of the Spirit not to carry out his plan and to listen for correction in his direction.

 

Application:

 

It’s not always “either-or.”  Sometimes it’s “both-and.”  For Paul it wasn’t a choice between making a strategic plan or depending on the Holy Spirit’s direction.  Paul made his plan and then submitted it to the Holy Spirit for confirmation or correction or cancellation.

 

Prayer:

 

Father, thanks for Paul’s example of passion and obedience.  Help me learn to be similarly sensitive – not to wait around for something to happen, but to act on what I know and what I’m called to do and then submit that plan to the Holy Spirit’s direction or correction.  Amen.

It Seemed Good – February 8, 2009

It Seemed Good

Acts 15:28

Jim Stephens

02-08-09

 

Scripture:

 

“For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay no greater burden on you than these few requirements…” (Acts 15:28 NLT)

 

Observation:

 

An issue arose in Antioch over whether salvation was by law-keeping or by grace.  The matter was taken to the apostles and elders of the Jerusalem church for input.  Arguments were presented, Peter spoke from his experience, Paul and Barnabas told what God was doing among the Gentiles, and Jesus’ brother James, the presiding elder, summed things up with a decision that balanced both grace and law with the weight given to grace.  This decision was recorded in a letter which was hand-carried to the Gentile believers by two elder-prophets of the Jerusalem team.

 

What a difference between how decisions were made in the wilderness under Moses’ leadership and in Jerusalem as the gospel spread to the Gentile world!  Throughout the books of Exodus and Leviticus, policy-setting was “As the Lord commanded Moses,” and “As Moses commanded.”  In the Jerusalem council, a decision was made establishing for all time that Gentile believers in Christ were not required to be circumcised and live according to Jewish law, based on what “seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us.”

 

Application:

 

I think we’ll always be wrestling with issues of grace and law and with how important decisions are made.  Sometimes we’ll have the benefit of “As the Lord commanded,” and sometimes we’ll present the arguments and tell the stories and conclude that “it seems good to the Holy Spirit and to us.”

 

Right policies, procedures, and operational decisions require clarity on what God has said, Kingdom values, clear and open communication, telling the God stories, allowing the Holy Spirit to speak into the situation, wisdom to sum up clearly, and willingness to go with what “seems good to the Holy Spirit and to us.”

 

Prayer:

 

Father, please grow us and guide us as we live out our lives in the tension between “The Lord commanded Moses,” and “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us.”  Help us to never settle for less.  Amen.

The Shortest Way – January 25, 2009

The Shortest Way

Exodus 13:17-18

Jim Stephens

01-25-09

 

Scripture:

 

17 When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them on the road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest way from Egypt to the Promised Land. God said, “If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” 18 So God led them along a route through the wilderness toward the Red Sea, and the Israelites left Egypt like a marching army. (Exodus 13:17-18 NLT)

 

Observation:

 

To the Israelis, this must have seemed like “Finally that’s over and in a few days we’ll be settling into the Promised Land!”  But God didn’t lead them on the shortest way from Egypt to Canaan.

 

God knew they needed to see another big miracle (crossing the Red Sea) and a whole series of smaller miracles (water from a rock, daily manna) so they would learn to trust him daily and not only in times of crisis.

 

God also knew that they needed to learn his ways and his laws so that they could live their lives differently from the brutal and immoral pagans whose land they would inherit.

 

Application:

 

Like the Israelis on the way out of Egypt, I’m inclined to think that if God will do the “heavy lifting” and break things loose, I can figure it out from there.  The shortest way is not always the best way and it’s important to experience God’s daily provision and direction power as well as his crisis intervention power.  It’s also important to give God time to do his work in me as well as expecting him to do something for me.

 

Prayer:

 

Father, Thanks for the eternal lesson of Passover redemption by the blood of the lamb.  Thanks for the daily lessons of provision and direction.  Please forgive me for all the times I’m thinking, “Thanks, but I can take it from here!”  Lead me by the route you know is best for me, whether it’s the shortest way to what I want or whether it leads to what I really need.  I choose to follow your chosen path.  Amen.