How to Hear the Holy Spirit
Acts 16:5-10
Acts 16:6–7
"...having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia..."
"...the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them."
Asia (v.6)
Roman province of Asia.
Present-day western Turkey.
Ephesus is in this region.
How did Paul know?
We don't know what Paul saw or heard.
The exact mechanism of this prohibition is unknown.
It might have come through:
Vision
Angel
Dream
Voice from God
Prophetic word
Prayer and discernment
Wisdom counsel
Themes from Scripture (less likely here)
Sanctified desire (less likely here)
Natural closed doors (blocked roads, military disturbances)
8 PRINCIPLES
01. TRUST THAT GOD WANTS TO GUIDE YOUR LIFE.
Acts 16:6–8
The team was hindered from going:
Southwest to Asia
North to Bithynia
So they went west to Troas.
There are ways God will actually guide you away from certain decisions.
The invitation in this passage is to be attentive to the Holy Spirit's leadership.
Paul gets visions.
I'm convinced this was in the context of prayer.
Same thing as Peter.
02. PRAY & FAST OVER DECISIONS.
May be the single greatest way to discern God's will.
03. GOD’S VOICE GETS LOUDER WHEN YOU’RE LIVING ON MISSION.
04. NOT EVERY GOOD DECISION IS GOD'S DIRECTION.
This is why we need to pray about decisions.
There is an infinite number of possibilities that are all right things.
Many times the problem isn't knowing what's sinful.
The problem is doing one of the infinite things that could be God's will—but aren't.
Warning
Do not let the dread of "living outside God's will" consume you.
This is not the point of this passage.
Some people become obsessed with the idea that they missed God's will.
This is demonic and a lie from the enemy.
God's nature is sovereign.
He has calculated in our mistakes.
Bad theology leads to believing lies.
"My life would be better but I missed the boat."
"I married the wrong person."
"I wouldn't be suffering this tragedy if I didn't..."
05. BE SATISFIED WITH GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY.
The Doctrine of God's Sovereignty
"If there is one maverick molecule in all the universe, then God is not sovereign. And if God is not sovereign, He is not God."
—R.C. Sproul
God's sovereignty means He calculates in your mistakes.
Instead of worrying...
Memorize:
Galatians 5:16–25
What do I do if I don't hear from God?
06. JUST DO THE NEXT BIBLICAL THING.
...until you hear from the Holy Spirit otherwise.
Acts 16:8
"So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas."
There is less specificity around the place they were allowed.
They knew their overall mission:
Preach Jesus.
Plant churches.
They couldn't go:
Southwest
North
They came from the east.
So they went west to Troas.
It seems in the text that they just kept doing the next right thing.
99% of God's will for you
Walk with Jesus.
Kill sin and grow spiritually.
Live on mission to the lost.
Work hard at your job.
Pursue normal goals.
Friendship
Marriage
Kids
Money
House
Grandkids
Lead a humble life.
Love your spouse.
Lead your kids to the Lord.
Participate, serve, and give in the Church.
Care for those in need.
Acts 16:9–10
A vision appeared to Paul in the night.
"Come over to Macedonia and help us."
They immediately went into Macedonia,
"...concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them."
Look at what following God's plan got for them.
Acts 16:22–24
Attacked by the crowd.
Beaten with rods.
Thrown into prison.
Feet fastened in stocks.
07. GOD'S DIRECTION MAY LAND YOU IN PRISON.
God's will isn't always easy.
Just because the outcome involved difficulty isn't proof it wasn't God's will.
Jesus
Luke 4:1–2
Jesus,
"...full of the Holy Spirit..."
was led by the Spirit into the wilderness.
Luke 22:42
"Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done."
It ultimately led Him to the cross.
Do you know why He died?
For our resistance to God's will.