A reflection on Walking in the Spirit from Acts 16:6-10
Paul, Timothy, and Silas had begun their second missionary journey with the intent of visiting the churches that they had started on the first missionary journey. A division over John Mark had sent Mark and Barnabas in another direction with the same intent, while Paul and his traveling companions went to their intended destination.
Apparently, they also wanted to take an opportunity to start new fellowships as they went. This is where their walk with the Holy Spirit really gets interesting. This passage makes it clear that they were being led by the Holy Spirit, who was granting both prohibitions and permissions to them. For example, Paul desired to go and preach the gospel in Asia, but the Holy Spirit prevented them from doing so. Likewise, Paul intended to go to Bithynia, but were also prevented form doing so.
One may deduce that the will of man is very much present in ministry, and is even a critical part of following God. At least three observations are helpful.
First, the Lord had called these men to this journey, so the Lord established the initial missions activity. Paul was clear from God that he was to go on this missionary journey, but the Lord was directing his steps along the way. Nonetheless, God was present and active in both the general and in the specific.
Second, Paul and Timothy were actively discerning the will of the Lord, and were “pushing at doors” to see which ones the Lord would open to them. It would have been a mistake to simply sit and do nothing. Paul’s seeking of the Lord was an active search of the will of the Spirit. Though the Bible does not disclose how the Holy Spirit precluded them from following the will of man, albeit it that some obstacle must certainly have entered in, the Spirit nonetheless was active in both the “yes” and “no” process.
Third, Paul was sensitive to the leadership of the Holy Spirit. In Paul’s case, the Holy Spirit spoke to them in a vision by night. Immediately after that, Paul and his companions sought to go and preach the gospel in Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had indeed called them to go there!
We can deduce that in our own walk with Christ, the Holy Spirit will lead us as well. First, the Lord will lead us by way of a general calling. Then, the Holy Spirit will lead us in our active search to specifically fulfill that calling with both prohibitions and permissions. Finally, the Holy Spirit will affirm the proper direction through leadership and revelation.