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in v. 7, “the Spirit of Jesus (see R. V.)” is very suggestive. The Holy Spirit is not merely the Spirit of Christ, He is “the, Spirit of Jesus.” . ,
in Asia, he did not conclude that he was to give up preaching, he simply sought some other place to preach. When the Spirit will not suffer us to speak in one place, we should go to another. The Word was as a fire in Paul’s bones and he must speak somewhere. If Paul had been like some of us he would have taken the Lord s prohibition of his preaching the Word of God in Asia as an excellent reason for tak ing a vacation. Before attempting to preach in Asia, Paul had gone““through the region of Phrygia arid the region of Galatia. His labors at that time in these places were greatly blessed. There is no description of them here, but we learn from later allu sions to them that there were many conver sions by them and many churches organ ized (ch. 18:23; Gal. 1:2). It is well to note and bear in mind that Paul did not need the guidance of the Holy Spirit to set him to preaching, but to keep him from it. He attempted to go into Bithynia and preach there, and it was only the prohi bition of 'the Holy Spirit that kept him from doing so. If it had not been for this express prohibition of - preaching he would have gone to the place nearest ht hand. The Word of God tells us to preach, so we need no special revelation for that (Matt. 28:19, .20; Mark 16:15). What we need a special revelation for is to keep us from preaching, j. Many people nowadays ' will not speak publicly nor do personal work privately because they are waiting, as they say, for the direction of the Holy Spirit; but it is evident from what we read here that the guidance of the Holy Spirit is not needed to incite us to preaching or to do personal work, it is only needed to keep us from preaching or from doing personal work where we should not. As Bithynia was the nearest country at hand they immediately attempted an entrance to win it for Christ. Here again the Holy Spirit blocked the way. How strange it all must have appeared at the time. But God had larger plans for His faithful ser vants and all became clear soon.. The name by which the Holy Spirit is called
Tuesday, February 6. Acts i6:g, io.
Step by step, and only a step at a time, God led His faithful servants on. The means that God used for Paul’s guidance were various: first, the direct guidance of the Holy Spirit; second, a vision (cf. ch. 9:10-12; 10:10-17, 30; 18:9, 10; 22:17-21 ; 27:23, 24 ; 2 Cor. 12:1-4, 7.; Acts 2:17) ; third, his own judgment (v. 10, R. V.). And thus today God leads us by a variety of means. Where we oftentimes make a mistake is that we try to dictate to God the way in which He shall guide us. The important matter is not how God guides us, but the certairity that He does guide us. The promptness with which Paul responded to the guidance of God, no matter how it came, is worthy not only of careful nqte but of imitation. This is one of the great est secrets' not only of a happy life but of an efficient life. If we respond at once to God’s leading it becomes clearer; if we falter it becomes dimmer and dimmer and we are left to grope our way as best we can. “Come over into Macedonia, ' and help us,” how strange it must have sounded. What! an outcast, wandering Jew help proud and potent Macedonians, especially people of the distinguished colony of Phil ippi? Yes, for he was the bearer of that , in which alone, there is help for man—the Gospel. When Paul heard the call, “Come over, into Macedonia, and help us,” then he knew at once that it was “to preach the Gospel," for that was the only, thing that realy would “help.” If he had been like ’many modern missionaries he would have thought it was a call to establish schools and colleges among them, or to found a hospital in thfir midst. If he had been like mariy modern preachers he would have thought it was a call to preach sociology, or higher criticism, or perhaps give a course of lectures on “the great poets.”
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