FORBIDDEN BY THE HOLY SPIRIT TO PREACH THE WORD
“NOW when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, THEY WERE FORBIDDEN BY THE HOLY SPIRIT TO PREACH THE WORD IN ASIA.”
Acts 16:6 (NKJV)
At times, some believers wondered that how can God stop someone from doing a particular thing that is considered the right thing—a thing that would be beneficial to His Kingdom.
Paul and his team were forbidden by the Holy Spirit not to preach the Word of God in Asia:
6 NOW WHEN THEY HAD GONE THROUGH PHRYGIA AND THE REGION OF GALATIA, THEY WERE FORBIDDEN BY THE HOLY SPIRIT TO PREACH THE WORD IN ASIA. 7 AFTER THEY HAD COME TO MYSIA, THEY TRIED TO GO INTO BITHYNIA, BUT THE SPIRIT DID NOT PERMIT THEM" (Acts 16:6,7 NKJV).
Why would God do that? Did He not want the people there to be saved?
a. God did, but He might have another plan on how to reach the people in Asia; that particular time might not be the right time for Paul and his team to go there.
b. The heart of the people there might not be ready yet for the Word of God.
God being omniscient, He knows the souls that are ripened for the message of salvation. This is the reason why it is important for whoever is going out for outreaches or evangelism to pray and
allow God to direct them to the souls that are ready to be saved.
If you did not allow God to lead you through the Holy Spirit in the work of ministry or the witnessing of the gospel, you may not have the desired result.
Prayer and being sensitive to the leadings of the Holy Spirit should be an integral part of the work of ministry or outreaches and soul winning.
Paul wanted to start his ministry in Jerusalem, but Jesus appeared to him in a vision and told him that his ministry would not be received or accepted there, that He was sending him to the gentiles (Acts 22:17-21).
If you are in a wrong place of assignment, where you are not assigned to be by God, you may suffer terribly and unnecessarily.
A number of things that could happen if you are running your ministry or assignment where you are not sent or assigned by God:
a. Your message would not be received (Acts 22:18).
b. You would attract wrong people who would be a thorn in the flesh to you, stiff-necked and recalcitrant people.
c. There would be no provision, financial resources for the work. God would only finance what He has sent you to do and when you are at the place you assigned to be.
Peace.