Text Message From Heaven Series

Text Message from Heaven

Text: Acts 16:6-10

Introduction

1. Illustration: Do you ever wish God would just send you a text message? You’ve hit the proverbial fork in the road and you’re not sure which road to take. Wouldn’t it be nice if God just sent you a text message and said, “Go right!”

2. Believe it or not, that is what the Holy Spirit does for us. Well, sort of. I mean he doesn’t literally send us a text message, but he does lead us and direct us if we are willing to listen.

3. The thing is, sometimes the answer is yes, sometimes the answer is no, and sometimes the answer is be patient.

4. Read Acts 16:6-10

Transition: In the Holy Spirit’s direction to us…

I. Sometimes Doors Are Closed (6-8).

A. Holy Spirit Had Prevented Them

1. Our text begins in v. 6 with, “Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time.”

a. Paul’s missionary journeys are an amazing display of planning and a keen awareness to the leading of the Holy Spirit, whether that leading was conveyed by a prophetic word, an inward prompting, or a series of circumstances.

b. In this case they went to the area of Phrygia and Galatia, which is found in modern-day Turkey.

c. They went this way because the Holy Spirit prevented them from going and preaching in the providence of Asia.

d. You heard that right, sometimes the Holy Spirit prevents us from going the wrong way!

e. This was not what we know of as the continent of Asia today, but the Roman providence of Asia.

f. For whatever reason, the Holy Spirit would not lead them in this direction at this time.

g. Again, sometimes the answer is be patient!

2. As a result, in vv. 7-8 Luke tells us, “Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed north for the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there. 8 So instead, they went on through Mysia to the seaport of Troas.”

a. Once again, the Holy Spirit directed their steps by telling them where not to go!

b. They traveled to a place called Mysia and then headed north to a providence called Bithynia, which was just northeast of Asia.

c. But again, the Holy Spirit would not let them go that way.

d. Luke uses another name for the Holy Spirit here, the Spirit of Jesus. It’s possible this direction came from a prophecy given specifically in the name of Jesus (Bruce, 307).

e. Sometimes the Holy Spirit directs to not go a specific way, and that is what is happening here.

f. The Spirit had other plans for these missionaries, and they were wise to listen.

B. The Advocate

1. Illustration: This is something that I have experienced in my own life. As you are aware, I am a musician, and I got saved at a Christian concert. So, I believed that is what God was calling me to do. The problem was that was my idea and not God’s. The more I tried to move in that direction the more the Holy Spirit prevented it from happening. Once I stopped trying to do things my way, the Holy Spirit showed me that as a Pastor I could use all my gifts, including music. Then I began preaching and found something that gave me more joy than even music.

2. The Holy Spirit, our Advocate, will lead us in the direction he wants us to go, if we are willing to follow him.

a. “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.” (John 14:16-17).

b. The word Advocate comes from the Greek word that means “one called alongside to help.” It is a rich word that refers to a wide range of spiritual roles, such as Counselor, Comforter, Helper, Advisor, Advocate, Intercessor, Ally, and Friend. (Fire Bible Study Note).

c. You’ll notice that one of those spiritual roles for the Holy Spirit is advisor. He tells where to go and where not to go.

d. Sometimes he opens doors for us, but other times he closes doors.

e. Why would he close doors? Well, maybe, it’s because God doesn’t want us there.

f. Or maybe it’s because that door is not beneficial for us.

g. We need to trust that if the Holy Spirit closes a door, it is for our best interest.