Monday, 19 January 2015

Man from Macedonia

Paul’s second missionary journey

Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. 7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. 9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.  Acts 16 v6:9 NIV


For sometime now since returning to Plymouth I have struggled to find a church in which I can serve God and continue to use the blog to explore possible explanations which make sense to my understanding of scripture.    One was Lev 16 v7:8.     A secular alternative is the Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge.     A third is Paul’s second missionary journey and his vision of a man from Macedonica saying "Come over to Macedonia and help us” for I am longing for God to not give me a vision but an actual person who will say “Come to ....... and help us” as I don’t seem able to trust “visions” any more    One major problem with my story and that of Paul’s is he had people to help him.   Such as Ananias.   In Acts 9 we read how Paul obtain authority to arrest and drag back to Jerusalem any Jew who had become a Christian   and despite Ananis being fearful of Paul’s reputation went and restored his sight.    In Act 16 Paul had a number of followers with him including Luke so he no doubt discussed it with them before v10 says ... we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia.   Much as I have tried to discuss with people that which I believed Christ was saying no one seems to be prepared to discuss it in anything but a superficial way.   I therefore had no other option but to step out in faith,  trusting that if I was right God would bring it about.     

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