A healthy mix of common sense, wisdom from people around me and divine direction as I pray has been behind pretty much every major decision I have made. There are some instances where I look back in gratitude and say, ‘Wow – that had God’s hand print all over it’. I could write at length on that, and maybe will another time.
During this stage of life, I am Australia-based and Asia-focused. I am especially interested in a particular people group in Asia and have been ever since 2012. But why is it so very difficult to get there? It’s only a matter of a plane trip, a bus trip and a car trip. Yet time after time, my plans to visit get stymied or at least cut short. Even when I lived in Asia, I rarely visited for one reason or another.
I am preparing for another trip next month and so this is on my mind. I am also currently reading about Paul’s journeys back in the first century and intrigued by how his plans unfolded.
Sent by the Holy Spirit and the people of God
Paul was sent on missionary adventures both by wise people and the Holy Spirit. Paul and his colleague Barnabas constituted half the multicultural leadership team of the church in Antioch at the time. During a session of worship and fasting, the leadership team sensed God’s call to set Paul and Barnabas apart for a special task. Without hesitation, they obeyed. (See Acts 13:1-4)
Both my current church in Melbourne and my previous church in the beautiful Blue Mountains have also sent me out, but that is because I asked them to. Significant prayer preceded the decision, though I’m not aware of much fasting. The Antioch model for sending out cross-cultural workers is something to consider in future. I wonder how my church would feel about corporate worship and fasting before we next send anybody out?
Conflict
After an eventful trip, Paul and Barnabas returned to Antioch. They undertook what today would be called a ‘home assignment’. That included taking part in a delegation from Antioch to the Council of Jerusalem. Then they got ready to go on a second trip. However, that is when problems arose. They disagreed strongly about who should be on their team. (See Acts 15:36-41.)
I imagine that the conflict was particularly tough for Barnabas. ‘Barnabas’, remember, was a nickname, meaning ‘Son of Encouragement’. ‘Joseph’ was Barnabas’ official name. (See Acts 4:36.) The two men finally agreed to differ. Each got on with the work of mission, effectively doubling their impact by forming two teams. Each leader took a second man along, and they went their separate ways.
Although I no longer fear conflict like I did when younger, I still don’t like it. On the Enneagram personality test, I come out as a peacemaker (personality type 9). I can write from experience about how having to deal with conflict has shaped my decisions and direction on occasions.
Restrained by the Holy Spirit and the Spirit of Jesus then given a dream
Paul and his travel companions intended to go to what was then known as Asia, but Luke’s record in Acts 16:6 states quite clearly that they were “kept by the Holy Spirit” from preaching there. Furthermore, when they were on the border of Asia, Luke states that “the Spirit of Jesus” would not allow them to enter (Acts 16:7).
How puzzling this must have seemed to Paul and his colleagues at the time. And then Paul had a dream, in which a man from Macedonia stood, begging for help (Acts 16:9). Paul got up, told his fellow travellers about it, and together they concluded that this was God’s direction for them (Acts 16:10).
Six years ago, I distinctly sensed God’s call to the Muya people. That came about through some serious prayer and a couple of days of fasting combined with ‘divine coincidences’. Yet one thing after another has prevented me enjoying extended time in the Muya region of Asia. In the meantime, I have served in other useful ways and don’t regret any of them. I wonder how much I can credit the Spirit of Jesus and the Holy Spirit with waylaying me?
Stopped by Satan
Paul and his band established vibrant churches in the province of Macedonia. The Christian communities flourished, but also went through terrible troubles. Things got so bad for the church in Thessalonica (the capital of Macedonia back then) that Paul feared for the church’s survival. He desperately wanted to visit the Christians there, to see first-hand how they were doing, and to encourage them (1 Thessalonians 3:1-5).
But he couldn’t. Paul explained to the Thessalonians in a letter that, despite making every effort to get back there, Satan stopped him (1 Thessalonians 2:17-18).
How did Paul know it was Satan’s interference that time? How do we know when Satan is behind obstacles we experience today? I have more than a sneaking suspicion that our enemy deserves the blame for at least some of my own frustrations too.
Praying for God and Jesus to clear the way
Paul had to make do with reports on how the Thessalonian Christians were faring from others. Those reports were encouraging. Yet he still kept trying to visit them – he tried again and again. In Paul’s own words … well, an English translation of them … he says, “Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again…. Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you” (1 Thessalonians 3:10a, 11).
I cannot claim such an intense longing to visit the Muya people. I very much want to visit, but confess that I do not pray for them night and day. Mind you, I don’t yet have the deep relationships there that Paul did with the Thessalonians. Perhaps one day…….
Happily, Paul did make it back to Macedonia on his third missionary voyage. A couple of Thessalonians even joined his travelling band for a while. (See Acts 20:1-4.)
Conclusion
What can we conclude from this brief look at how Paul experienced ‘guidance’? He was initially set apart by the Holy Spirit and by God’s people for cross-cultural work during corporate worship and fasting. He made reasonable plans, but they didn’t always work out. He had his way blocked by the Holy Spirit and by the Spirit of Jesus at one point. He was then directed through a dream and a follow-up discussion with his travel companions. His intentions were blocked by Satan on occasions. And he prayed ardently for God and Jesus both to clear the way for him to follow his heart’s yearnings.
From my perspective, God’s guidance is sometimes clear. On other occasions, I feel like I’m banging my head against a brick wall. Is that Satan? God? Is it just the way things are? The whole question of who influences what is exceptionally confusing. I am not as wise as Paul. And sometimes, it seems to me, the answer doesn’t really matter. It won’t change the outcome, right?
This concept I can grasp. My part in God’s mission – Missio Dei, as it is called – is known to God, valued by God and I am held within his sovereign hand. I am just an ordinary Australian Christian woman in the 21st century, but our Almighty God doesn’t change.
And so I am encouraged.