God's Show, Not Mine.


So what do you do when you want to do some ministry for God but he prevents you from doing it? This was Paul's problem. At one point he wanted to go in to a place called Bithynia. But he was prevented by the Holy Spirit (Acts 16:17). But who would preach the gospel to the people of Bithynia? That was God's problem.

In 1st Peter 1:1, Peter addresses his letter to several cities including Bithynia. It was clear that there were Christians and churches in Bithynia but that Paul had nothing to do with them. Who started those churches in Bithynia? No one knows. There is no historical record that Peter went there. And we know Paul was prevented from going there. So who started these churches? Obviously God raised up other men and women in order to start churches in Bithynia and they preached the gospel there. Who were these unknown people? They are unknown but to God. Just because God doesn't allow us to do a ministry does not mean that it won't get done. So when we find ourselves stuck not being able to move down a ministry road that we want, we cannot assume that God doesn't want it done, He just doesn't want it done by us. We shouldn't get frustrated. It is God's show and his world.

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