MY FRIEND: So, I have a question for you about Paul.
ME: Ok, go on
MY FRIEND: So, why did Paul expressly disobey the Holy Spirit, got into trouble and nobody is talking about it?
ME: Wait, which Paul are we talking about here?
MY FRIEND: Apostle Paul ofcourse,
ME: Errrhm, do you mind showing this from the bible?
MY FRIEND: Sure! In Acts 21, Prophet Agabus meets Paul on his way to Jerusalem. Agabus takes Paul’s belt and ties up his own hands and feet with it and says, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way, the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles” (verse 11). When the people in Paul’s party heard the prophecy of Agabus, they did everything possible to dissuade Paul from going to Jerusalem, but he was so adamant.
ME: You mean he was resolute?
MY FRIEND: It’s the same thing
ME: Not quite, he was resolute about obeying the will of God
MY FRIEND: Now you’re confusing me, are you saying Agabus is not a prophet of God? Or his prophecy is not from God?
ME: No, actually Agabus is actually a true prophet of God and his prophecy was very valid, straight from God
MY FRIEND: So why won’t Paul obey it?
ME: Because it wasn’t an instruction. And besides, obeying it would contradict Paul’s obedience to God’s will
MY FRIEND: So God can be speaking to me but it’s not an instruction?
ME: Yes, sometimes God speaks to give insight. Think about it, the prophecy was not for Paul not to go to Jerusalem, the prophecy was for Paul to know what is waiting for him in Jerusalem. However, Paul will be shallow to take God’s kindness of showing him the future as a symbol of turning his back to what God describe as his purpose for his life.
MY FRIEND: So, what was God’s purpose for Paul?
ME: Recall when Paul first got born-again? And God sent him a discipler called Ananias
MY FRIEND: Yes, yes, yes
ME: Listen to what Ananias was told about Paul’s ministry in Act 9: 15-6 “…But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name…”
MY FRIEND: Hmmm, So the prophecy was a reminder and a confirmation of what Paul is about to experience and not a signal to run away?
ME: Yes, but more than that, sometimes we may get prophecies that seem to conflict with what we are convinced to be the will of God for our lives too. The first response is not to throw your conviction away, you need to go back to God to understand the place of the various instructions and put things in proper perspective.
MY FRIEND: So, if I’m convinced that sister Janet is my wife but one prophet say he sees danger ahead if we marry. It doesn’t mean he’s wrong, neither does it mean what God said to me has changed
ME: Well, if you’re sure God led you in the first place and not the sister’s straight legs or sonorous voice, then yes! lol
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