WHEN GOD BLOCKS THE WAY

Have you tried something new or had an idea of how you might serve in ministry but when you tried to get started, the way forward was blocked? I read Acts 16 today and it says that Paul and Silas were blocked from ministry. They tried another place and the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. This got me to thinking, what was the blockage? Paul had already endured opposition, persecution, death threats and even stoning on this missionary journey. So it does not make sense that the blockage was persecution. Maybe a bridge was out, the roads were closed, or the buses were not running. Verse 6-7 say that Jesus and Holy Spirit kept them from going where they thought should. But how did Paul get these messages? It seems like he and Silas had a plan, tried to make it work, but something got in the way. Considering Paul’s boldness in both past and future opportunities from this point, the issue was certainly not that Paul was afraid to preach the gospel in the face of opposition. But something kept Paul and Silas from their intended plan and they instinctively saw God at work in it. 1 John 4:1 says “do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God”. 1 Thessalonians 5:21 says to "Test everything; hold fast to what is good”. Both of these verses give us insight into discerning how to proceed in life and in ministry. We must critically evaluate the opportunities we have and the plans we make, holding them up to the light of Scripture. We must ask ourselves, and God, if the situation aligns with God’s character and his Word. And when the opportunity or ministry really seems to align but still we cannot make progress. Maybe God is telling us to try another way. Paul seems to have made a fairly quick decision to change routes and head for Troas. There, he had a clear calling of what he should do next. My observation is that we keep moving in ministry, always testing to see that we are aligned with God’s guidance, and when things stop or start to slow down, be ready to adjust course.