You never know the things that He has in store for you.

Acts 16:16-16:26  Paul and Silas, departed into the region of Macedonia. Paul had wanted to go into other regions but God had led him in a different track.

 When you walk in the Spirit and let God do the leading, you never know the things that He has in store for you.

God requires a walk by faith. None know what the next step will be. Even Pastors who everyone looks to for inspiration, guidance and direction, are led by the Spirit one step at a time. It’s great to want to build, grow and minister in just about any fashion but you must give place for God to give you the direction. All of your plans will come to nothing if you do not allow God to direct you.

No sooner did their ministry begin to bear fruit when the Devil began to harass them and divert them from their true ministry.

Beware when the world begins to praise your efforts. Beware when the Devil starts to preach the same message that you are preaching. Beware when things are going too smoothly. First, realize that your enemy is not the messenger of flesh and blood – but the Spirit of deception.

The message of those sent by Satan to praise you or to draw attention to you is not designed to bring converts to your God given assignment. Those praises are meant to build pride in your heart and to deter you from your true ministry that gives God the glory for all that is done.

Paul and Silas tolerated the spirit of divination for a little while at least. It feels good when people praise you. It feels good when people say how good you’re doing, how good you teach or how good you sing. It feels good when people speak kindly of your walk with the Lord. It feels good, so you are in no hurry to rebuke the enemy.

You’ll even hear the Voice of the Spirit say: Come on, you know something isn’t right about this, but you may sure like the sound of being praised. You’ll even like to relax in your sense of worth. Yeah, I’m special, Yeah, I’m good, yeah – it just doesn’t get any better than this. Until you begin to feel really uncomfortable with all the praises.

When you start believing in your own knowledge you will prove your own ignorance.
If you try to decipher your own direction or lean on your own experience you’ll realized that you just don’t have the answers.

Life’s answers are only in Christ. Without His guidance, direction and anointing you will fall flat. You don’t have the power to deliver yourself, or power to change your life and your words are empty with His anointing.

Watch out! When you try to get rid of that pride and self-recognition, the evil spirit won’t give up easily. He will do his best to get even and destroy you.

If you dare to stick your neck out and begin to rebuke the evil spirit your in for a ride.

Paul and Silas were brought into the market place so that the whole city could see the accusations against them. They were then brought before the civil judges and eventually before the Roman army commanders in an all-out effort to destroy their ministry.

Satan knew that Paul and Silas were there on business for the King of Glory. He knew that their ministry could cause many to accept Christ. He knew that this could be the beginning of a great church in Philippi and he was out to stop it at all costs.

If you are going to do a great work for the Lord, Satan is going to try to stop you too! He doesn’t want to see you build a great work, but he can’t stop you no more than he could stop Paul and Silas.

So maintain your unity in Christ and allow God to direct your path. God is a great big God and there is nothing impossible for Him. There are multitudes of souls in your life who need Jesus and you through The Holy Spirits guidance are to reach them if you’re willing to be used.

Paul and Silas didn’t get away from some of the effects of Satan’s onslaught and you won’t get away without some hard lessons and some battle scars.

But God never leaves you nor forsakes you and He will never allow you to be defeated. He makes a way of escape where there seems to be none. He watches over you.

In the deepest, darkest hour of the night, midnight, Paul and Silas began to sing praises unto God. The joy of the Lord is your strength! Paul and Silas didn’t know what was going to happen next – but they did know how to praise God in every situation.

They began to sing unto the Lord - they just sang praises with a grateful heart unto God. Paul and Silas had learned the secret of victory over self-pride. They had learned the secret of defeating the devil on his own territory. They had learned to praise God in every situation and to put their trust in God!