How the Holy Spirit works (Acts 16:6-40)

Acts 16:6-40

"... the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time." "... again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there" (Acts 16:6-7, NLT).

1. How sensitive do you think you are to the guidance of the Holy Spirit in your life?
2. Generally, do you intentionally seek the Holy Spirit's leading before making decisions and taking action?
3. Discuss this quote by A.W. Tozer: "If the Holy Spirit was withdrawn from the church today, 95 percent of what we do would go on and no one would know the difference. If the Holy spirit had been withdrawn from the New Testament church, 95 percent of what they did would stop, and everybody would know the difference." Do you agree? Why? Why not?
4. Describe how the Holy Spirit guided Paul's team on his second missionary journey (Ac 16:6-8)? Have you been aware of how the Holy Spirit has stopped you from doing what you want?
5. What is the meaning of Paul's vision at Troas (Ac 16:9)? What did Paul do as a result (Ac 16:10)? [Notice the pronoun "we."] What do you learn about the Holy Spirit through this vision?
6. Following his vision, what did Paul do practically (Ac 16:11-13)? How did Lydia come to believe (Ac 16:14)? What did she and her household do (Ac 16:15)? What is the Holy Spirit's work when the gospel is preached (1 Cor 2:12-14)?
7. How did Paul help a slave girl (Ac 16:16-18)? What did her owners do and why (Ac 16:19-24; 2 Tim 3:12)?
8. How did Paul and Silas respond to flogging and imprisonment (Ac 16:25)? What happened (Ac 16:26)? How did the jailer and his family come to faith (Ac 16:27-34)? How did Paul use his citizenship to protect the new church at Philippi (35-40)?