now after these events paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through macedonia and achaia and go to jerusalem, saying, “after i have been there, i must also see rome.” and having sent into macedonia two of his helpers, timothy and erastus, he himself stayed in asia for a while. [acts 19:21-22]
paul resolves in the spirit to go to rome–he would be put in a caesarean jail for year then he would be transferred and kept in rome, and would write several letters from there (ephesians, colossians, philippians and philemon). after being released, he would again end up in rome in prison where he would, according to church tradition, be beheaded for the sake of Jesus’ name.
the resolution that paul had was not out of the norm for him–
do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? so run that you may obtain it. [i corinthians 9:24]
he was running with resolution and purpose. Jesus also resolved to go to a place where he would shepherd then die in order to be obedient to the Father and bring about the kingdom of God:
when the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to jerusalem. [luke 9:51]
this resolution is done “in the Spirit” when we rest in the presence of God and we expose ourselves to the word of God, and we will be convicted of our sin and where we need repentance. in addition, we can also pray for direction and opportunity like paul, (from that roman prison where he was headed to):
at the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. [colossians 4:3-4]
we pray for open doors and opportunities for the word in the Spirit, then we go in the power of the Spirit.
today, ask the Lord, “where do i need to be resolved to go? open a door for the word, and let me go boldly, resolutely!”
~ ce