Get Guardian on GoogleBy Emeritus Prof. Mercy Olumide
Thus, the Spirit of God inspired both the thoughts and language of Scripture. Not a single writer uttered a false word or phrase. God’s word was protected from error and falsehood by the Holy Spirit.
• God also speaks to us through the gentle impress of the Spirit–the inner voice
Read Acts 16:6-10
How did God guide Paul?
“Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. 7After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. 8So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.” (Acts 16:6-10)
16:6 We don’t know how the Holy Spirit told Paul that he and his companions should not go into Asia. It may have been through a prophet, a vision, an inner conviction, or some other circumstance. To know God’s will does not mean we must hear his voice. He leads in different ways. When seeking God’s will, (1) make sure your plan is in harmony with God’s word; (2) ask mature Christians for their advice; (3) check your own motives–are you seeking to do what you want or you think God wants?–and (4) pray for God to open and close the doors as he desires.
16:7-9 The Holy Spirit had closed the door twice for Paul, so Paul must have wondered which geographical direction to take in spreading the gospel. Then, in a vision (16:9), Paul was given definite direction, and he and his companions obediently traveled into Macedonia. The Holy Spirit guides us to the right places, but he also guides us away from the wrong places. As we seek God’s will, it is important to know what God wants us to do and where he wants us to go, but it is equally important to know where God does not want us to go, but it is equally important to know what God does not want us to do and where he does not want us to go.
16:6 “forbidden by the Holy Spirit.” Every initiative in evangelism and missionary activity, especially in the missionary journeys recorded in Acts, is the result of the leading of the Holy Spirit (1:8; 2:14-41;4:8-12,31;8:26-29,39-40; 10:19-20; 13:2; 16:6-10; 20:22).
The guidance may have taken the form of a prophetic revelation, inward prompting, external circumstances or visions (vv.6-9). Under the impulse of the Spirit believers moved forward to take the gospel to the unsaved.
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