Pastor Baker's Blog

Entry for November 1, 2006

Daily Reading: Acts chapters 13 thru 16

Key Verses: Acts 16:6-9

Sometimes when we are serving the Lord, we feel we know the direction to take. We may know the goal, but our means of reaching the goal may not be the way God wants to reach the goal. Paul understood his purpose for preaching the gospel to the Gentiles. He also understood that the gospel was to reach the entire world. So, he chose the route that was obvious to him. Asia was a heavily populated area, so he figured he could reach the most people for Jesus there. When the Spirit did not allow him to go to Asia, he figured that he would go to Bithynia, another heavily populated area. But, the Spirit did not allow him to travel that way either.

We don't know how the Spirit forbade Paul and his companions from traveling to these regions. It may have been through a prophet, a vision, an inner conviction or other circumstances. To know God's will does not mean we will necessarily hear His voice. He leads in different ways. When seeeking God's will:

1. Make sure your plan is in harmony with God's Word,

2. Ask mature Christians for their advice,

3. Check your own motives,

4. Pray for God to open and close the doors He desires.

The Holy Spirit guides us to the right places. It is important to know what God wants us to do and where He wants us to go, but it is equally important to know what God does not want us to do and where He does not want us to go.

2006-11-01 16:08:58 GMT

Comments (2 total)

Author:Anonymous

Learning to cooperate with the Holy Spirit has been a tremendous blessing to my life. Everyday I am opening more areas of my life for Him to have full control. The ways of the Lord are so much better than my ways. My ways always caused struggle and stress. I would try to force a situation to turn out the way I felt it should turn out. This caused tremendous pressure and I would wind up totally stressed. It used to be that I would get so stressed that I would become physically ill. Through the understanding of the Spirit's role in my life, I have slowly learned to release and relax. God is in control. He loves me and He is working it out for my good.
--Aundrea Baker
<mailto:abaker@thewaybiblefellowship.org>

2006-11-01 16:16:56 GMT

Author:Anonymous

We must realize that even when walking in God's perfect will for our lives, we will still incur obstacles, suffer persecution, and sometimes may even be forced to turn back from the path that we were so sure was ordained by God. Actually, I think that often times we get guidance from the Holy Spirit and then put life on Auto pilot. “I’ll take it from here Lord, thanks for your time!” We only get off track when we try to move ahead of God, even with good intentions. Seeking God for our daily bread has never been more clear than it is to me now.
--Reggie

2006-11-02 12:32:30 GMT

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		Pastor Baker's Daily Devotional

		Entry for November 1, 2006 Daily Reading: Acts chapters 13 thru 16 Key Verses: Acts 16:6-9 Sometimes when we are serving the Lord, we feel we know the direction to take. We may know the goal, but our means of reaching the goal may not be the way God wants to reach the goal. Paul understood his purpose for preaching the gospel to the Gentiles. He also understood that the gospel was to reach the entire world. So, he chose the route that was obvious to him. Asia was a heavily populated area, so he figured he could reach the most people for Jesus there. When the Spirit did not allow him to go to Asia, he figured that he would go to Bithynia, another heavily populated area. But, the Spirit did not allow him to travel that way either. We don't know how the Spirit forbade Paul and his companions from traveling to these regions. It may have been through a prophet, a vision, an inner conviction or other circumstances. To know God's will does not mean we will necessarily hear His voice. He leads in different ways. When seeeking God's will: 1. Make sure your plan is in harmony with God's Word, 2. Ask mature Christians for their advice, 3. Check your own motives, 4. Pray for God to open and close the doors He desires. The Holy Spirit guides us to the right places. It is important to know what God wants us to do and where He wants us to go, but it is equally important to know what God does not want us to do and where He does not want us to go. 2006-11-01 16:08:58 GMT Comments (2 total) Author:Anonymous Learning to cooperate with the Holy Spirit has been a tremendous blessing to my life. Everyday I am opening more areas of my life for Him to have full control. The ways of the Lord are so much better than my ways. My ways always caused struggle and stress. I would try to force a situation to turn out the way I felt it should turn out. This caused tremendous pressure and I would wind up totally stressed. It used to be that I would get so stressed that I would become physically ill. Through the understanding of the Spirit's role in my life, I have slowly learned to release and relax. God is in control. He loves me and He is working it out for my good. --Aundrea Baker <mailto:abaker@thewaybiblefellowship.org> 2006-11-01 16:16:56 GMT Author:Anonymous We must realize that even when walking in God's perfect will for our lives, we will still incur obstacles, suffer persecution, and sometimes may even be forced to turn back from the path that we were so sure was ordained by God. Actually, I think that often times we get guidance from the Holy Spirit and then put life on Auto pilot. “I’ll take it from here Lord, thanks for your time!” We only get off track when we try to move ahead of God, even with good intentions. Seeking God for our daily bread has never been more clear than it is to me now. --Reggie 2006-11-02 12:32:30 GMT Site Home