“Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to” (Acts 16:6-7).
Paul was headed west across Asia Minor, which is now the nation of Turkey. He was making his plans as he went. First, he wanted to go south toward Ephesus and the Holy Spirit stopped him. He would eventually be part of a great revival in Ephesus but this wasn’t the right time.
Having been prevented from going to Ephesus he planned to go north toward Bithynia but the Holy Spirit prevented that as well. Consequently, he came to the water’s edge at Troas and received the vision that sent him to Philippi and his European ministry.
What a lesson in knowing God’s will! When the doors of ministry he sought were closed to him God provided the direction that took him to Europe. Thank God! That move brought the good news about Jesus to those of us with European ancestry.
God didn’t forget about Ephesus, though. In Acts 19 Paul went there and saw a two-and-a-half-year ministry that saturated that part of the world. Our timing is not always God’s timing but God knows what He’s doing. Often our journey is like Paul’s. God guides us one step at a time.
