DAY FOUR – Coming Out Of The Wilderness!
“Paul and his companions travelled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” Acts 16:6-9
1000 Miles of “No!”
In Acts 16 we find, during Paul’s 2nd missionary journey, that the Holy Spirit had “prevented (Paul and his friends) from ministering” and “forbid them from entering” certain regions for around 1000 miles of mission travel.
After their first busy and fruitful missions’ journey, that must have felt like a restrictive pause in their ministries; a time of divine limitation and constraint.
But by verse 9, after the wilderness-time of restriction, suddenly visions from heaven erupt again, entire new doorways of opportunity open, and the Gospel explodes into Europe for the first time!
The pause led to acceleration and increase in God’s purposes.
I believe that we too, are coming out of a wilderness pit-stop time of pauses, restraint, purifying and adjustment, and we need to realise they were all designed to INCREASE us, not decrease or discourage us.
Time For The POWER of the Spirit
“Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil … Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.” Luke 4:1, 13
Luke 4:14 tells us that Jesus came out of his 40-day wilderness pause “in the power of the Spirit”. At this point his ministry went from the personal outpouring of the Spirit in His own life, to the full authority for healings, miracles and the spread of the Gospel!
The wilderness increases you and marks the changes of the season. It did for Jesus, the Apostle Paul and it will be same for you and I.
So, are you ready for the wilderness pause to have released INCREASE POWER & PURPOSE in and through your life? C’mon, let’s get ready to adventure!
EXTRA – I’ve been sharing this video in services and with friends lately. I think it speaks powerfully about how to get through this stormy, wilderness time – enjoy!
MEDITATE ON THESE SCRIPTURES
“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” Proverbs 16:9
“Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil … Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.” Luke 4:1, 13
“Paul and his companions travelled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” Acts 16:6-9