Acts 20:22
"And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there." -Paul
Acts 21:4
Through the Spirit [the disciples] urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem.
In studying what the Bible says about the Holy Spirit for a sermon, I was reminded of this strange little movement in Acts.
Did the Holy Spirit want Paul to go to Jerusalem or not? Paul felt compelled by the Spirit to go. The disciples were compelled by the Spirit to urge him not to go.
I think that the Spirit did want him to go, but wanted him to go through that bit of testing to be sure he was ready.
However, this brings us an important lesson for those of us trying to follow the Wind of God. Just because he compels us to try to stop someone from "going to Jerusalem" does not necessarily mean he wants that person to listen to us.
Perhaps also, we should consider that just because he sends us toward a city, doesn't necessarily mean he wants us to arrive there.
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3 comments:
I'm wondering if in 21:4 the Spirit had also let them know the hardship that was awaiting him (as he said the Spirit had been doing) and then THEY urged him not to go.
I'd have to ask my more knowledgeable Greek-reading brothers. The NIV makes it sound like the urging came through the Spirit.
I'd have to ask my more knowledgeable Greek-reading brothers. The NIV makes it sound like the urging came through the Spirit.
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