May 23, 2019
“God is on the Move” (Acts 16:6-15)
I imagine the Apostle Paul to be someone like the energizer bunny: I don’t think his batteries ever ran out. He was a tireless messenger for the Lord. He traveled (mostly walking) thousands of miles. He went for days without sleep. He literally preached all night long. He was on fire for God’s mission. But there is one thing that could stop him: the Holy Spirit.
In Acts 16 the Spirit stops him from delivering the Good News to Asia and Bithynia. Why would the Spirit do such a thing? Doesn’t God want the Good News to be spread to all the world?
Sure! God wants the Good News spread to all the world…that is why God re-directed Paul. Paul had a plan but God interrupted Paul’s plan and substituted God’s plan. Has that ever happened to you?
I call it a “Holy Interruption”, when God substitutes God’s plan for the “excellent plan” that I have put together. And yes, it happens to me often.
What do we do when we face a Holy Interruption? The same thing Paul did: go with it. What not to do: sulk, moan, grieve, pout, or refuse to budge. Following God does not always mean that I get to do what I want to do. More often than not, it means that I get to do something that is far better than what I had hoped to do.
There are some things we need to remember about Holy Interruptions:
1) We need to keep listening to God (we will miss the detour signs if we block out God’s voice).
2) God’s plan is always more exciting than mine (most people like safe ideas & look at Paul…the Good News now went to Europe).
3) This process builds trust in God…and that is important.
Holy Interruptions are like riding the roller coaster: hang on and enjoy the ride!!!!
Thanks be to God!
Pastor Mike
“God is on the Move” (Acts 16:6-15)
I imagine the Apostle Paul to be someone like the energizer bunny: I don’t think his batteries ever ran out. He was a tireless messenger for the Lord. He traveled (mostly walking) thousands of miles. He went for days without sleep. He literally preached all night long. He was on fire for God’s mission. But there is one thing that could stop him: the Holy Spirit.
In Acts 16 the Spirit stops him from delivering the Good News to Asia and Bithynia. Why would the Spirit do such a thing? Doesn’t God want the Good News to be spread to all the world?
Sure! God wants the Good News spread to all the world…that is why God re-directed Paul. Paul had a plan but God interrupted Paul’s plan and substituted God’s plan. Has that ever happened to you?
I call it a “Holy Interruption”, when God substitutes God’s plan for the “excellent plan” that I have put together. And yes, it happens to me often.
What do we do when we face a Holy Interruption? The same thing Paul did: go with it. What not to do: sulk, moan, grieve, pout, or refuse to budge. Following God does not always mean that I get to do what I want to do. More often than not, it means that I get to do something that is far better than what I had hoped to do.
There are some things we need to remember about Holy Interruptions:
1) We need to keep listening to God (we will miss the detour signs if we block out God’s voice).
2) God’s plan is always more exciting than mine (most people like safe ideas & look at Paul…the Good News now went to Europe).
3) This process builds trust in God…and that is important.
Holy Interruptions are like riding the roller coaster: hang on and enjoy the ride!!!!
Thanks be to God!
Pastor Mike