Guided by the Spirit: Overcoming Obstacles in Ministry
The Spirit provides guidance and power to overcome obstacles in ministry
Let’s look at Acts 16:1-40.
Paul, Timothy, and Silas made the right decisions, but they still had problems. Motivational churches teach, “If you do this, you won’t have problems.”
The Bible says, “In this world, you will have trouble.”
Even when you obey God, you will have problems. And sometimes, that is the will of God.
When you obey, you will be tested
The disciples obeyed God, and they got killed. Stephen got stoned for preaching the Word of God. Today, we’re scared to preach the Word as is. We sugarcoat it. We water it down — 50% juice, 50% water. But the Word knows what it’s meant to do.
The Word is powerful — more powerful than our minds.
Obeying God won’t bring a red carpet. It brings resistance.
Even in ministry, you’ll be misunderstood, attacked, tested. The closer you get to God, the harder it gets. And the more you obey, the more the enemy will push.
Overview of Acts 16:1- 40
This whole chapter shows how the Spirit guides and gives power to overcome obstacles in ministry.
Timothy Joins Paul and Silas (Acts 16:1-5)
The Macedonian Call (Acts 16:6-10)
Lydia’s Conversion in Philippi (Acts 16:11-15)
Paul and Silas Imprisoned (Acts 16:16-24)
The Philippian Jailer’s Salvation (Acts 16:25-34)
Paul Refuses to Leave Secretly (Acts 16:35-40)
Acts 16:6-10 6 Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. 7 After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. 8 So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.
The Spirit Closes Some Doors to Open Better Ones (Acts 16:6-7)
God closed doors where Paul and Silas planned to go, but opened better ones. Sometimes when you pray and God doesn’t give it to you, that’s not rejection — it’s redirection. God’s closed doors are not punishment, they’re protection.
I thank God for all the closed doors in my life. His plans are better than our opportunities.
We can build a house in our own strength, or let God build the house.
Discernment in the Spirit is Vital for Effective Ministry (Acts 16:8-9)
Paul had a dream. A man from Macedonia says, “Come help us.” Paul obeyed and that’s the power of discernment in the Spirit.
You can be trained, but training doesn’t qualify you — obedience does. God qualifies you. His Spirit in you qualifies you.
You don’t need a theological degree to preach the gospel. If you’ve got the Holy Spirit, you can preach, lay hands on the sick and heal, and cast our demons.
Not because of you but because of the One inside you.
Following the Spirit’s Leading Brings Divine Encounters (Acts 16:10)
Because Paul obeyed, Lydia and her household were saved. Because Paul obeyed, the jailer and his household were saved. Your obedience can shift generations.
Faith is not private.
It’s public.
It’s kingdom.
It’s community.
It’s conviction.
fight in the spirit
There’s no doubt you will be tested. The devil will attack you. The more you want to read the Word, the more distractions will come. You will be misunderstood and alienated. But if you obey God, He will move.
Don’t burn out — burn bright.
What battles are you facing? Are you fighting them with the help of God or giving in to the voice of the world?
Watch the full sermon to learn how to overcome obstacles in your life.
