Sent Where God Leads

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. After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.

(Acts 16:6-10)

Only God knows whom He has not predestined for salvation, and He does not reveal that information to His saints. As far as the church is concerned, we are to continue obeying the Lord’s command to preach the gospel to everyone throughout the earth. However, we must also be attentive to the leading of the Holy Spirit in this regard.

What do I mean by that? Quite simply, God knows precisely whom He has chosen for salvation—and whom He has not. Therefore, in the normal course of events, God would not lead His saints to preach the gospel to those He has not chosen. The passage quoted above makes this point clear: God did not want Paul and his ministry team to preach the gospel in the regions of Asia and Bithynia at that time. While the text does not give a specific reason, we can reasonably infer that the people living in those areas had not been chosen for salvation, and God did not want His apostle labouring there in vain.

In contrast, the same passage reveals where God did want Paul to preach—namely, Macedonia—obviously because He had chosen certain individuals in that region for salvation.

Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized. Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, "Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city." And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

(Acts 18:8-11)

The context of the passage quoted above is that the apostle Paul had begun preaching the gospel in the city of Corinth. What is particularly noteworthy here is that the Lord Jesus declared that He had “many people in this city.” In other words, Jesus knew exactly how many individuals in Corinth were appointed for salvation. As a result, He encouraged Paul to remain there and continue preaching the gospel.

If you read the broader account in the book of Acts, you’ll see that Paul remained in Corinth for nearly two years, faithfully proclaiming the word of God. This reinforces the principle that, although we are called to proclaim the gospel throughout the world, we must also be led by the Lord as to where He specifically sends us. For He knows where His people are—we do not.

Michael E.B. Maher

Predestined to His Purpose

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