It being the middle of November, we have an amazingly warm day today. It's a blessing to get together and worship our Lord on a day like this!

We have been learning more about the Holy Spirit who helps and comforts. This morning I'd like to tell you yet more about the Spirit - that is that the Spirit guides us. Well, I had been planning to give a sermon in Acts 16, but for some reason, I decided to change it to Galatians, as you have noticed in your bulletins. But, the Spirit just wouldn't allow me to do that! So, we did not read the passage as indicated but read Acts 16:6,7. And, what this passage says is so true, as you have seen! So, I will tell you about the Spirit of guidance; being guided by the Holy Spirit.

Acts 13:1-3. While they were worshipping and fasting, the Spirit descended and they had a vision. When we fast, the situation is very serious, and we are eager to receive an answer. They were serious too! It must have been such a loss for the church to send out Barnabas and Saul. So they fasted and prayed. Then, we find that the Spirit came down to them and they received guidance about going out into the world.

Acts 8:1-6. While Saul was still persecuting the Church, there was a clear working of the Spirit in Philip. Philip was sent to the town of Samaria and spread out the words of the Gospel. What kind of person was this Philip? Well, he was not one of the Apostles, or one of the pastors. However, the Lord used him so well! And, of course, God knew how to use him for His Sake. I do believe that this is how God uses Christians during this time in history. In the history of the Church, a great many laymen were used to create revivals. Probably, you have heard the name of Carlos Annacondia, a Christian who has been well-used in the revival of Argentina. People in that country seperate time as follows: "the time before Annacondia, and the time after Annacondia!" He's been used so well that everyone in the country knows him. This is how God works through ordinary people.

Acts 8:29. Philip did such a good job in Samaria but - then he was sent to Gaza, a small place! He left the blessed town of Samaria, where the Spirit of God was freely working, and went to a small town. He might have wondered and doubted the wisdom of this. But, being faithful he obeyed the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Then, he was sent to a eunich, who was the first fruit of Ethiopia later on! Again, we cannot tell what kind of plans God holds for us.

Have you ever experienced a situation where you felt so certain about doing such-and-such a thing, that you were completely baffled when the door shut right in your face? You were so sure that it was God's plan for you, and bang! When I was still a student of bible college, I was serving a church whose people, including the pastor, insisted it was the will of God to build a new church. The pastor insisted that it was the will of God, and the people were happy to oblige him. But, it stopped!

This is my third time to try to visit the Holy Land where Jesus was born and grew up. I have wanted to go there badly. But, the strange thing is, when I received a phone call from the travel agency telling me that my flight was cancelled, I was not sorry. I felt the strong guidance of the Holy Spirit telling me that I should not go.

Sometimes it's hard to obey God's voice, especially when we have gotten ourselves so wound up about a thing that we will not listen. But, we always want to obey His guidance; both, for our sakes and His.

Translated by Junko Okamoto - Edited for the Net by Shido
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