Day 24: Acts 16:1-18   

As we go through our readings day by day, we discover that the primary factor in determining the “acts” of the believers during this time period was the direction provided by the Lord.

Sometimes direction came through angelic communication, visions, “a voice”, miraculous interventions, sometimes because a considered action “seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us”. The phrases “led by the Spirit”, or “the Spirit said” were common among the early believers. Numerous references indicate that it was normal for them to rely on divine input in the making of decisions of where to go, and who to speak to in their daily lives.

In today’s reading we see the phrases “forbidden of the Holy Ghost” and “the Spirit suffered them not”, with respect to Paul, Silas, and Timothy being restrained from ministering in particular places they had planned to go. A couple verses later, a vision came that indicated the team should go to Macedonia. Apparently divine direction can be either positive (to do something), or negative (to not do something).

Here is an important verse with regards to receiving divine guidance from Colossians 3:15 (Amplified Version):

Let the peace (soul harmony) which comes from Christ, rule (act as an umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ’s] one body you were also called [to live].

The “Peace of God” is a central element that God uses to provide direction for us. As the verse indicates, when we are in that peaceful state, and a question arises in our hearts as to whether to follow a particular course of action or not, observing how the question affects our “peaceful state” is a valuable guide for us. If our peace is disrupted, agitated, or uneasy, then we need to step back from the decision to re-examine, or abandon the decision altogether. If our peace remains while considering the question, then we can safely proceed. Note, it is only as we walk in the peace of God that it can (and should) function as a reliable guide for us.

When we read passages that say “it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us,” it is a reference to this internal sense or feeling of peace that operates to guide us. When we read, “the Holy Spirit suffered them not”, again it is a reference to an internal sense of  “this decision just doesn’t sit right on the inside”. This is Holy Spirit interacting with us to provide us with a clear sense of direction in which we can know that God is in the decision we are making.

Luke 4:1 says that “Jesus, being full of the Holy Ghost, was led by the Spirit into the wilderness.”  How was He led? I would suggest that as the thought of going into the wilderness came to him, it “seemed” (peace of God) to be the right thing to do.

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”(Romans 8:14)

In my own life, I have found this method of receiving divine direction to be of most use, and I have used this since I was a very young man. I have heard God speak in numerous ways, but even though He may speak different ways, it is still the peace of God that resides internally that confirms that the decision is safe to proceed with. The peace of God not only confirms a decision, but will release the timing of a decision as well.

My friend, it is imperative that Colossians 3:15 be active in our Christian walk.