Dave's Diary

Daily Readings: Acts 21 and Psalm 89

Determined to fulfil the Lord’s calling, Paul travelled to Jerusalem. In Acts 20:22-23, he stated plainly that he was going there ‘compelled by the Holy Spirit’ and knowing that in every city he visited the Spirit warned him that hardships awaited.

Now, as he travelled, he was warned again through at least two prophetic words. First, “through the Spirit” the believers in Tyre urged him not to go to Jerusalem, and then Agabus brought him a word from the Holy Spirit that he would be bound and handed over to the Gentiles. Was the Holy Spirit really trying to turn Paul back? Had Paul been wrong?

No. In my understanding, the Holy Spirit gave revelation to the believers in Tyre and to Agabus in Caesarea about what would happen to Paul in order to forewarn him … but not to turn him back. In Tyre they took it upon themselves to urge Paul to turn back. Although they did so in good faith, they were misinterpreting the Spirit’s intention in showing them what awaited Paul. In Caesarea, Agabus was more correct in simply giving the word and leaving the interpretation up to Paul. In this case it was his travelling companions who got the interpretation wrong and urged him to turn back.

Paul is a great example to us. He listened carefully to the Lord for himself, so he had received the Spirit’s warnings personally, long before anyone else heard from the Spirit about him. And he took on himself the responsibility to understand what the Spirit intended for him to do with the warning. The warning came not to turn him back, but to strengthen him by forewarning him of the trouble that awaited. Therefore, when others brought him word of the same thing, he knew what it was about and he could clearly discern that their interpretation was incorrect. That’s why no amount of urging on their part could dissuade him from pursuing the Lord’s plan (v.13-14) but instead he declared confidently:

‘I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.’ (v.13)

Life application: Take upon yourself the responsibility of receiving the Spirit’s guidance and direction for your life. The Holy Spirit lives in you, so you do not need others to hear His voice for you. Any sense they have of what the Lord is saying to you should only act as confirmation of what you have already heard for yourself. So make time every day to listen – truly listen – to the Holy Spirit. Some days you’ll sit in silent fellowship with the Spirit. But when He wants to direct you, you’ll be ready to hear His voice.