The study of Paul’s life gives real insight into the doctrine of the freewill we have as we serve our God. In our arrogance sometimes we may think we are wise enough to determine what we should do. Take a moment to reflect on this as we look at Paul’s plan to go to Ephesus, Bithynia and Rome to preach the word.
One cannot read the book of Acts without seeing Paul’s desire to get the gospel into the great city of Ephesus. As he began his second missionary journey, he first visited the congregations he had established in Phrygia and Galatia on that first journey. He then headed toward Ephesus and the Roman province of Asia. His desire to go to this area did not happen as he planned. The door was closed and his plans changed. The Bible says, “They were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia” (Acts 16:6).
With that door closed they headed north with a new plan. Paul and Silas and Timothy decided to “…go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them” (Acts 16:7). There were souls in Europe who needed the gospel and in a vision Paul saw a man from Macedonia who was pleading with him saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us” (Acts 16:10). He immediately headed toward Macedonia and in a short time established two powerful congregations—Philippi and Thessalonica. The door into Europe was opened into both of the provinces of Greece (Macedonia and Achaia). It is interesting to note that as Paul finished his second journey, he stopped at Ephesus and when they asked him to stay, he said, “I will return again to you, God willing.” Isn’t this what James said we should say as we make plans? “Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or do that’” (Jas. 4:15).
When Paul began his third journey, he headed straight to Ephesus where he stayed for three years. Hundreds, perhaps thousands were converted and even publicly burned their pagan books. “So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed” (Acts 19:20). This same chapter says, “All who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus” (v. 10). The door was now open, but not when Paul first thought he should have gone to that great city.
Space does not permit us to look at all the details of Paul’s plan to preach in Rome. As his third journey ended, he wrote to the Romans telling them of his plan to come to Rome and then carry the gospel to Spain (Rom. 1:10, 13, 15; 15;28). Read how this story turned out in the closing chapters of Acts.
So, when troubles come into your life, take comfort that God used closed doors to open doors into greater works! Remember to always say, “If the Lord wills, I will…”
-Dan Jenkins
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