“And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. And when they had gone up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the spirit of Jesus did not allow them. So passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas.”
– Acts 16:6–8
So here in Acts 16:6–8, we have this incredible glimpse into the leadership of God’s spirit. And where Paul and Silas and Timothy are going on this now second missionary journey, the spirit actually keeps them from going in this direction, doesn’t allow them to go in that direction. What happens after this, is Paul has a vision in the night of a man from Macedonia saying, “Come over here and help us.” And so Paul concludes, “That’s where God’s leading us.”
O Lord, direct our steps today for the spread of Your gospel.
And so here’s the beauty in your life, in my life. The spirit of Jesus will lead us to different people, to different places, in different ways, different times, for the spread of the gospel. So you have opportunities to share the gospel that I don’t have. I have opportunities to share the gospel that you don’t have. And this is true for all of us. For instance, we live in distinct places. We have distinct spheres of influence. Including those even in the same church, we are working in different places. We have different relationships.
Acts 16:6–8 Is An Example Of The Holy Spirit Leading
And God calls some of us to move from where we are to go to other places in the world, like we’ve talked about with missionaries going where the gospel has not yet gone. In all of this, what is most important is that we are each walking in step with the spirit of God, that we are day by day saying, “Lead me today. Guide me today to the people, to the conversations, to the places. Direct my steps for the spread of the gospel today”.
Are you praying that today? Let’s pray that together right now. Either, if it’s the end of your day, pray on that for tomorrow, or we’re just going to assume that this is the beginning maybe of your day, or in the middle of your day. So God, we pray that your spirit would lead each of us, as I’m about to go in this direction today, as others are about to go in that direction, to different people, we’re going to interact with different people.
God, we pray that you would keep us in step with your spirit, that you would help us to be sensitive, open to looking for opportunities to share the gospel, opportunities to encourage brothers and sisters in Christ, opportunities to show good works that will bring glory to you in heaven. God, use us, as we scatter in so many different ways today, for the glory of your name, for the spread of your gospel.
Prayer To Be Guided By The Spirit
God, we pray that you would lead and guide and direct us by your word and your spirit, that this dynamic relationship with you would be a reality in our lives on a daily basis, that we would see ourselves caught up in this journey, every single one of us, led by your spirit, going wherever you lead us, realizing nothing happens by accident, that you are orchestrating and arranging. So God, help us, help us to live with sensitivity to your spirit, with boldness with the gospel, and to do today all that you’ve called us to do, to go where you call us to go, to say what you call us to say. And in all of this, to bring your name glory in a myriad of different ways in all of our lives today.
Oh, what joy to be on this journey in step with your spirit, oh God. Help us to live in this today. For your glory and for our joy, we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
David Platt serves as a pastor in metro Washington, D.C. He is the founder of Radical.
David received his Ph.D. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and is the author of Don’t Hold Back, Radical, Follow Me, Counter Culture, Something Needs to Change, Before You Vote, as well as the multiple volumes of the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary series.
Along with his wife and children, he lives in the Washington, D.C. metro area.
