February 13, 2020: SOAP #3724:  Leviticus 20-22; Acts 20

Scripture:  Acts (NIV) 20:22 “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.

Observation:  Two different messages from the Holy Spirit to Paul.  One that He should go to Jerusalem.  The other that he would face prison and hardship.  Two totally different messages, but both from the Holy Spirit and both important.

If Paul only had the leading that he was to go to Jerusalem and not the information about the hard times, Paul might have thought that surely God would not have him suffering and that he must have missed what God was saying to him.  If Paul only had the message about the hardship ahead in Jerusalem, he might have determined that he was being warned to stay away from Jerusalem.

But when Paul experienced prison and hardship in Jerusalem, he was certain that he had not missed God!

Application:  When finding one’s location using a compass, one needs to find the angle to two recognizable points that can be located on a map.  Drawing lines on the map through those two points (triangulation) allows one to identify their location where the lines intersect.

As I have continued to walk along the direction God gave me years ago, there have been times when God has given me additional insight, scriptures, prophetic words.  In considering the old and new together, I was better able to understand God’s ultimate direction and see how it all fit together.  God is amazing!!!

Prayer:   Lord, continue to lead me and I will continue to follow.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!