6 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. 7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. 9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us.’
10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. (NIV UK)
Luke said, “Paul, you’ve told us that you had a dream last night and you want us to go to Macedonia just on the basis of that one dream? One dream, and you believe that God has called us to preach the gospel to the Europeans. I have my reservations about this discernment process. After all, we felt that the Holy Spirit had kept us from preaching the word in the province of Asia but you know that it was actually due to Titus having eaten a dodgy kebab. What if you have got it wrong and the Holy Spirit prevents us from preaching the word in Macedonia? We all know what happened to Jonah when he undertook a sea voyage against the Lord’s will!”
Timothy had practical objections, having just joined the team at Lystra: he didn’t have his passport with him. Silas wondered whether it would be a good idea as he had heard that they were throwing Christians in prison as troublemakers and he didn’t want a criminal record (what if he later needed a DBS check?). Tychichus wasn’t sure that they had finished preaching the word on this side of the Aegean Sea: there were plenty of cities Paul hadn’t visited and he wasn’t persona non grata in all of them. Yet.
Imagine Paul listening to all of the objections. What would he have said? Perhaps he would have reminded them that as it was all part of the Roman Empire Timothy wouldn’t need his passport. Maybe he would have pointed out that being imprisoned for the gospel was biblical and was what Jesus had predicted. Would he have pointed out that the new believers he had left behind could preach the word in the unreached cities?
If it would have been today, perhaps Paul would have suggested that they take a vote to discern God’s will.
(This could have seemed unspiritual as they usually drew lots or played ‘rock, parchment, scissors’).
Whatever really happened, having listened, prayed and discerned together they packed and headed off to
Europe.
In previous months we have considered the Places that we are and the Opportunities that we have and this month we are going to consider the importance of Inspiration. These are the first three of five areas that our mission strategy is focusing on.
We all need inspiration. What stories can you share of things that are going well or that have really encouraged you? Please email them in to us via Nick Lear.
We would love for you to take some time to read the inspirational story of 57 West who set out to work with young adults in Southend-on-Sea but who now work with rough sleepers and those not in education, employment or training. How can their flexibility and willingness to be open to change inspire us?
Please do let us know any thoughts that you have had or any ways that you are engaging creatively with your community. Part of our Mission strategy involves us being a conduit to share your stories rather than us centrally suggesting ideas for what could be done.
Next time we will consider our Need for God. When it comes to Mission, it is easy to engage with our own bright ideas rather than to seek God and to trust in and rely on him as he leads us.
