God's Timing

After Paul was commissioned by God in Acts 9:15 to "bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel," Paul went to Arabia for three years. Barnabas came and found in him in Tarsus to help him with the new work in Antioch (Acts 11). Then, in Acts 13:1-3 the prophets and teachers are fasting and praying. The Holy Spirit tells them to set apart Barnabas and Saul "for the work to which I have called them." So, Barnabas and Saul (Paul) go on what is known as the first missionary journey of Paul. In Acts 15:36-41 Paul and Silas start the second missionary journey. On this trip the Holy Spirit prohibited Paul and Silas to preach in Asia Minor (Acts 16:6). When they tried to go into Bithynia to preach the gospel, the Holy Spirit did not permit them (Acts 16:7).

Paul was commissioned and sent out by the Holy Spirit to Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel. That is very broad. It is also very straight forward. Yet, Paul was obey his charge from God according to God's timing and God's leading. It is far too easy to get busy working "for" God and yet fail to pursue His continued leading and timing. After Paul was prohibited from preaching the gospel in Bithynia, he received a vision of a man calling for him to "come over to Macedonia and help us" (Acts 16:9-10). By Paul yielding to the Holy Spirit's leading, he received word from God through a vision as to where he was to go and preach. When he obeyed this call, he bore fruit in Macedonia (Acts 16:14-40).

And, that is my desire...to bear fruit in every good work (Colossians 1:10). Even when we know what we are called by God to do, we must continue to seek God's will and direction and timing.