Paul, Silas and Timothy were on the second missionary journey, strengthening the existing churches established on the first missionary journey.
Then they were going into new areas to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ.  Now you would think that God would want them to do just that, wherever they decided would be a logical next step.  But not so!

(NASB) Acts 16:6-8 “They passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia;
7 and after they came to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them;
8 and passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.”

These three men knew they were to be on this missionary journey…but they had been given two red lights by the living Spirit of God.  We know these men were praying men who desired God’s will for them.  Their faith was in His leading them to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Have you been in a similar situation?  Knowing you are in God’s will, yet He stops you from a logical choice?

What does God tell us?
(NASB) Isaiah 55:8-11 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,’ declares the Lord.
9 ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts.
10 ‘For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
And do not return there without watering the earth
‘and making it bear and sprout,
And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater;
11 so will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;
It will not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.”

Men of prayer obeyed God’s leading…and when a red light was given, they did not push their own agenda and go anyway.  Have you done that, pushed your own agenda and logic without stopping?  God does not bless mightily where He does not lead you.

Next week we will be exploring the green light that the Lord gave to those three men.  The green light was given because the living God of the Bible had prepared the hearts of those to whom Paul, Silas and Timothy were sent.

Paying attention to the red lights is just as important as the green lights of God’s will for you.