Your Neighbor is God Appointed
Our God of Revelation – Part 1

Scripture Reading:  Acts 16:6-10

Key Verse: Acts 16:9

During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”

Do you see God as a God of revelation?  Do you believe that He can reveal to you what He wants you to do today?  I believe God does reveal truths to us in a couple of ways.  First, He has revealed much (most) of what He wants you to do today in the Bible.  The Bible is God’s Word; His very breath (2 Timothy 3:16).  No Christ follower should ever say: “God never speaks to me” or “I never hear from God.”  The fact is: God has spoken.  As the Hebrew writer put it: “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His son, who He appointed heir of all things…” (Hebrews 1:1-2).

A second way God speaks is through various kinds of revelations.  In our scripture for today, God spoke to Paul through a vision.  God had, in some way not told to us, spoken earlier to Paul: “kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching in the province of Asia” (Acts 16:6).  In other words, God had made it clear to Paul and his companions that they were not to go to Asia.  Then, during the next night, God had made it clear to Paul to go to Macedonia.  Was this vision a dream Paul had?  How did Paul distinguish it from a simple dream?  We don’t know, but we do know Paul felt convinced, and that is what God does—convinces!  After Paul was obedient to that vision, we see how God blessed Paul’s ministry.  (Continued)

Father, grant me revelations of your desires and directions for my life.  I will be open to them as I read your Word and as I live out my life today!  In Jesus’ name, amen.