Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha
The
Holy Spirit is key to fruitfulness and multiplication and increase because He
is the One Who gives divine direction which leads to fruitfulness. One of the
ways to labor for profit is to walk in divine direction – obey the instructions
of the Holy Spirit (Genesis Chapter 26, Psalm 127 verse 1, Proverbs Chapter 23 verse
4, Isaiah Chapters 45 verses 13 to 14, 48 verse 17, 58 verses 11 to 12.
Fruitfulness, multiplication and increase come by the Holy Spirit. Please see
Isaiah Chapter 63 verse 23, Ezekiel Chapter 29 verses 18 to 20.
It is quite instructive that because Paul and his
team members were sensitive to the Holy Spirit and also obeyed the Holy Spirit,
much result oriented work was done where the Holy Spirit directed them to, a
field ready for harvest. Significantly, it buttresses the fact that it is not
by might nor by power (Zechariah Chapter 4 verse 6). Paul and his colleagues
wanted to go and preach in Asia (preaching the word of God is doing the work of
the kingdom and this should gladden the heart of God); yet they were forbidden
by the Holy Spirit to preach in Asia, including Bithynia. This was because God
had a different location for them; a place where souls ripe for harvest were
waiting to hear the gospel but unfortunately no one was preaching the gospel
there and then. Fortunately, Paul and his team members obeyed the Holy Spirit
and allowed their steps to be ordered of God to Macedonia in response to the
Macedonian call. Lydia and her household were harvested into the kingdom.
Additionally, the girl with spirit of divination was set free.
Unfortunately, Paul and Silas were imprisoned. As
they praised and worshipped God in prison, what appeared to be a misfortune
turned out to be a blessing to the kingdom of God. There was an earthquake that
threw the doors of the prison open but Paul and Silas as well as the other
prisoners stayed put in prison. None escaped. This was unknown to the keeper of
the prison who thought that the prisoners had escaped. He came close to suicide
but was restrained by the kind words of Paul. Needless to say, God intervened
and the keeper of the prison alongside his household was harvested into the
kingdom of God.
Yet another outcome of Paul’s sojourn in Macedonia
is that the Church in Philippi was born, planted and handed over to the
brethren. Eventually, Paul and his team departed Macedonia to other climes when
the persecution became life threatening.
If Paul had disobeyed or delayed by going to other
places, the Church in Philippi would probably not have been born or planted
when it was. The very ripe harvest would also have been delayed or lost. Talk
about divine timing and benefits of divine timing (1st Chronicle
Chapter 12 verse 32). Also, their labor in Asia or Bithynia would have been in
vain - no ready ripe harvests to bring in.
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