Acts 28:16. “And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him.”

Acts 28:30, “And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,”

Hey OTP family!! I am excited today because God is so amazing that even when the world see us as being in bonds (bound/in jail/oppressed, etc…) that God still declares us free! We may be in these circumstances indeed, but in our spirit, heart, and mind we are free! We can rejoice and live our lives, giving glory to God as if we are not in those circumstances.  This is the blessing of serving God with our whole hearts.

For Paul, in the scripture text, had just gotten off a ship that barely survived a storm. But all survived on broken pieces and boards and made it safely to land. Eventually they were able to finish their journey and make it to Rome. When they did finally get to Rome, Paul still remained bound to the duty or purpose that God called him to. He was still going to appear before Cesar to testify of God. However, his court date was going to take some time. It was not an immediate arraignment. He had to serve many years before he was given the opportunity to stand before Cesar.

However, God, in his infinite wisdom, allowed Paul to find favor with centurion that his experience was house arrest, rather than a jail cell. What a mighty God we serve that even in custody we find favor with those who philosophically oppose us. 

Eventually, Paul moved out of the centurion’s home and was able to hire his own house. It was in this situation that he found himself still able to send letters, and to minister the word of God to those who would come and see him. 

Paul wrote many of the New Testament books. Of these many were written while he was in custody awaiting his appeal onto Cesar. However., the fact that he was in custody didn’t stop him from doing God‘s will. Paul was yet able to speak peace while in custody.

Think about your own situation. What are some of the situations where we recognize them to be tools of the enemy. Situations where he has tried to bind us and keep us down and discouraged us from doing the wheel of God? 

We have to recognize that there are times in our lives when the weapons form. We must stand fast in the knowledge that God promises us they will never prosper. With this fact in mind – during those times where we know we are standing in the path of the weapon – we can press forward, knowing that we will be triumphant. 

Just as Paul looked around and saw his circumstances, but refused to allow them to keep him from accomplishing God‘s will, and purpose, we must have that same mindset.

We must be able to speak peace while in custody!  

What does that mean? That means your physical circumstances should not control your state of mind.. For example the person who may be experiencing pain in their body, should not focus solely on the pain that it keeps them from functioning in life. We pushed through the pain daily.. We understand that people are depending upon us and we can’t allow the pain to keep us from doing our necessary work. In the midst of the pain we go to work we shop we cook. We tend to the necessities of our lives. 

We may be in the custody of pain, but yet we speak peace. We do what we must because the love of God constraints us or compels us to do so..

Isn’t it amazing that some people on the outside of our lives looking in would identify us as being in some type of custody, but we do not? Why? Because we can stand in the midst of it and rejoice, serving God and speaking peace. What a mighty God we serve. 

It is a state of mind. What some people see as a limitation, we see as an opportunity to give glory to God. “I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”(Philippians. 4:12-13).

So today, OTP family, I encourage you – no matter what you’re going through you can stand in the middle of it and still speak peace. This thing is not the end of you. For God‘s plan for your life will be fully accomplished. I’m gonna say that again. – God‘s plan for your life will be fully accomplished! We stand on God‘s promise to us recorded in Jeremiah 29:11. 

Speak peace in the midst of custody and have a blessed day!

Acts 16:6-7, “Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.”

Hey OTP Family! I don’t know about you, but I have always wondered about ‘real time’ navigation when it comes to the Holy Spirit. I mean we live our lives from moment to moment and at any given time the enemy desires to set traps and pitfalls to snare us as we walk with God. I am amazed and grateful to see God operating in ‘real time’ with his people. This scripture shows us know that God desires to be our navigator in this walk – if we will let him. 

By definition, navigator is a person who directs the route or course of as ship, aircraft, or other form of transportation, especially by using instruments and maps. 

God desires to be this for us – the navigator. And the amazing part is that he does not need to use any external devices to get the job done. He is all knowing, all seeing, and he is everywhere at the same time. He already knows and desires to share the information that we can handle. All he needs are people with an ear to hear what the spirit is saying to us. For he is always speaking – he is our daily bread, but we are not always listening.

Looking at our scripture text – in verse 6 God had told them not to preach the word in Asia. But on their journey, they wanted to go to Bithynia, which is a region in Asia minor. God had to constrain them again, not to preach the word there. It wasn’t that God did not what his word spread there, but it was a timing thing. God would eventually allow Paul to preach in Asia.

God has a way of sharing tidbits with us, but they are not for right now. We hear/see what God is saying and we want to move right away. However, God wants to be our navigator to take us the way we need to go in order to be prepared for the vision. It is not always a straight line from A to B. There are times when we have to go on a journey to point B that will burn off all the things that cannot be carried there from point A. It is the middle part of the journey that we really need to hear his voice. This is because if we get to point B too soon, we are not ready, the people there is not ready, and the end result will not be what God originally showed to us. Then we question God why? The answer is, you did not follow as God lead. You put the cart before the horse and made a wreck of everything. Now God has to back track and fix everything you messed up.

How many times has this happened to you?

What has God giving you specific instructions not to do but you still try to circumvent his will to do what you wanted to do?

We have to prepare for the journey. 

Just because God has put some temporary restrictions on you does not mean that you should stand still. Truthfully, this just means you need to pay closer attention to what God is saying so you can do what needs to be done right now. In patience, possess ye your soul (Luke 21:19). Patience here is taken from the Greek word hypomone, which means enduring hardship, persevering through trials, and weathering storms without succumbing to fear or despair.

This is especially appropriate for us when we have seen that tidbit from God and are rejoicing with a heart that is ready to walk in that promise. But again there is some baggage we carry that cannot go to this next level. God has a plan to excise this weight and sin that can so easily beset us (Hebrews 12:1). To effectively accomplish we need God to be our navigator.

Introspection time – look at your self, and your current circumstances. Ask yourself, how did I get here? If the space does not feel as if this is where the Lord wants you to be then check your navigation system. Did you follow your own plans there? Or was God leading you to this place?

If it does not feel in your spirit that this is where God led you, then repent – with a sincere and wholesome heart. Take your hand off the wheel, and let God guide you back to the place you need to be.

If you are walking according to the word and your spirit give you confirmation, then stand ten does down! This is your place of spiritual battle, and you will come out victorious. This is a place that God is using to burn off some of that extra weight that cannot go with you to the next level. Let God work on you. It is a hard place, but a necessary one on your way to the next point. Eventually, you will be allowed to go exactly where God needs you. As you will be prepared for anything you might face there.

When Paul could not go into Asia right away, they found themselves in Berea, a Greek area, but the people received the word readily (Acts 17:11). This shows us that God will still use us mightily on our journey. Although they were not yet in Asia, they were will ministering the word of God every they went. This is the blessing of God’s navigation skills.

Let God be your navigator. No matter where the journey takes you the blessings of God will meet you there.

Have a blessed day!