인간의 생각과 하나님의 생각

I have come before God in this precious place of worship.

I hope this will be a time of receiving the greatest grace and a time of blessing where answers are answered.

I will greet the people next to me.

Success in worship is success in life. Worship is the answer.

Over the past week, you have likely experienced both big and small events.

I bless you in the name of the Lord, that through worship you may receive the comfort and blessings given by God, gain new strength, and be blessed with the grace to make a new start.

The year 2026 is already approaching its tenth month.

Everyone, you have probably made many plans as you start the year.

As we go through life, we have likely made plans and intended to do things our way, but there are many instances where things do not go according to plan or our will.

Simply put, there are many cases where things don't go my way.

You probably started the year with great anticipation as well.

So, you have come this far by setting goals and plans, but there have likely been many instances where things did not go as you intended.

There are cases where the road gets blocked, completely contrary to what I expected.

In today's text as well, we can see a character who faced a life where their path was completely blocked because things did not go according to their will and plans.

The Apostle Paul is currently in a very difficult situation.

He set out with expectations, plans, and determination, but now that the path has been blocked, he is in a very difficult situation.

Through his first missionary journey, Paul initiated many evangelistic movements in the region of Asia Minor, which is now the region of Turkey, and reaped much fruit.

So, with that response and the work of God, we set out on our second missionary journey.

He began his evangelistic journey with a grand dream of strengthening every field he visited and spreading the gospel movement.

Of course, there were God-given hearts and plans, but Paul had a clear goal and plan to be used in the gospel movement in Asia Minor.

With the disciple Timothy also joining in, everything seemed to go smoothly.

It seemed to be going well enough to make me think, "At this point, it must be proceeding properly."

I ask that you try to understand the heart of the Apostle Paul. How filled with anticipation and excitement he must have been!

They were trying to penetrate the region of Asia Minor, but then, surprisingly, the following words appear in verse 6 of the text.

The Holy Spirit prevented them from preaching the word in Asia.

In a way, isn't it like a bolt from the blue?

It is not just any work, but doing God's work and preaching the gospel, yet I heard a voice saying that the Holy Spirit is preventing me from preaching the word in Asia.

There are many points that you need to think deeply about through today's message.

You have probably had an experience like this as well.

I believe you have experienced a situation where you tried your best in your own way, but your path was blocked, leaving you not knowing what to do.

If you happen to be going through such things, I hope you find the answer through today's message.

I hope you realize that there is a greater plan of God that you have not yet seen.

The fact that the path is blocked means that there is a greater plan of God.

I pray in the name of the Lord that you may see this greater plan of God.

To see God's greater plan, you must not blindly insist on your own thoughts to the very end, but be able to lay them down in the face of God's thoughts.

I bless you in the name of the Lord that today’s worship service will be a time where you truly believe in God, lay down all your own thoughts, and become filled with God’s thoughts.

Let's get to the main point.

When the path of life is blocked, the most important thing is that we must listen to the voice of God.

Instead of becoming frustrated, conflicted, or resentful just because the path is blocked, we must stand still and listen to God's subtle voice in that very place.

Let's look at verses 6 and 7 of today's text.

"The Spirit prevented them from preaching the word in Asia. So they traveled through Phrygia and Galatia, and when they came to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them."

We departed from Antioch for the second missionary journey.

Paul, Silas, and Timothy formed a trio and traveled throughout the cities of Asia Minor preaching the gospel.

Looking at verse 5 of the text, it says, "Then the churches were strengthened in faith and their numbers increased day by day."

In a word, the work of God and the work of the Holy Spirit took place.

However, an unexpected event occurred to Paul's team, who were preaching the gospel with passion.

The Holy Spirit gave a direct instruction. It means that you should no longer preach the gospel in Asia.

It is not because of any other matter, personal motive, or goal, but because the work of witnessing the Gospel has been blocked.

There are many passages in the Bible that are difficult to understand, and one of them is today's text.

At first glance, this is a part that is really hard to understand.

The Holy Spirit prevented them from preaching the word in Asia.

At first, it seems that even Paul was skeptical, wondering what was going on.

I should have believed, but it seems there were parts I couldn't fully trust.

So, while traveling to the lands of Phrygia and Galatia, they arrived at Mysia, the westernmost region of Asia Minor.

Paul says that he wanted to go back to Bithynia from here, but the Spirit of Jesus did not permit it.

The opposition of the Holy Spirit keeps appearing.

Then Paul went down to Troas, where opposition from the Holy Spirit did not appear.

Through this message, we come to realize that evangelism and missions are not accomplished by any human thoughts or plans, but through the guidance of the Triune God.

Evangelism and missions are accomplished through God's guidance.

If you look at today's text as well, the Holy Spirit is mentioned in verse 6, the Spirit of Jesus in verse 7, and God in verse 10.

In short, this is a passage where we can see that evangelism and missions are the sovereign works of the Triune God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

If you look at Proverbs 16:9, you will find the following verse.

"A man may plan his way in his heart, but the Lord directs his steps."

In all things, God's plan must take precedence, not human plans.

Therefore, we must always ask, "God, is this your will?"

Most of us make our own plans and want God to fit into those plans.

I usually make a plan and pray, "God, please make this happen."

However, first, you must discover God's will. You must discover God's plan.

I must discover that purpose and plan, and align myself with it.

Then, Pastor, how can I align myself with God's plan and will?

Today, like Paul, we must listen to the voice of God when the path of life is blocked or when things do not go our way.

You must think of it this way: 'When the path of life is blocked, it is a timetable to hear God's voice.'

Then, what does it mean to hear the voice of God?

It is precisely holding onto the Word of God.

I must reflect upon myself through the word proclaimed from the pulpit.

The Word is a mirror reflecting my life.

Please re-examine your thoughts and plans in light of the Word.

"God, what is it that I need to realize through this message today?"

Instead of just listening and moving on, I must examine my thoughts and direction.

Why is that? It is because, as the title of today's message suggests, human thoughts and God's thoughts can be different.

Because human plans and God's plans can be different, we must listen to God's voice.

Please never miss the fact that the message from the pulpit is the timetable of God's answer given to us right now.

If it has nothing to do with you, there is no reason for you to be sitting here.

The word proclaimed every week is the word of answer given to us.

You must have received a fabric message this year. Do you remember?

I received the message, "If you believe, you will see the glory of God."

This fabric message is an important message that we must continue to receive focused responses to throughout the year.

I hope you always remain within the flow of this word and the spiritual flow.

I believe that at that time, you will experience an important answer given by God according to His timetable.

The Apostle Paul wanted to hear the voice of God in Troas.

How desperate must he have been? How desperate must he have been, for the Holy Spirit stopped him from preaching the gospel while he was doing God's work?

So, he prayed in Troas, earnestly seeking to hear the voice of God.

"God, where is the mission field that You desire?"

While praying earnestly, I heard the voice of God.

The answer to this prayer appears as a vision. Let's look at verses 9 and 10.

"In the night a vision appeared to Paul: a man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, 'Come over to Macedonia and help us.' When Paul saw the vision, we immediately made efforts to leave for Macedonia, recognizing that God had called us to preach the gospel to those people."

It is a scene we know all too well. It is the scene where Paul sees the vision of the Macedonian man.

This is a scene where a Macedonian man crosses over and shouts for us to help.

This is important because Macedonia, in modern terms, refers to the Greek region, or in other words, Europe.

This is an important scene where God's grand plan heads toward Europe.

It has become the timetable for the door of the Gospel to open to Europe.

What does this mean? It means that God's will and plan right now lies in the evangelization of Europe.

Paul came to realize, "Ah, God's plan and will now is not the evangelization of Asia, but of Europe."

The wave of the Gospel that began in this way has passed through the West and reached us today. Amen?

That wave of the Gospel has reached our country, and has entered your homes and individuals.

The important thing is that we must now continue to send this wave of the gospel to 237 nations and 5,000 people groups.

We have that mission.

Even now, there are so many people at the 237 site calling out to us. There are so many people shouting for us to come and help.

The word 'help' is not a simple shout, but a wailing cry.

The people around us right now are wailing like that. They are wailing, begging to be helped and to be saved.

He is crying out desperately, "Come quickly and give me an answer." He is asking for the answer to life. He is asking to be saved. He is saying that he is in so much pain right now that he wants to die.

So, we are going to Cebu, Singapore, and Bulgaria.

It is to help the many multi-ethnic people and international students living in the country.

However, we must see that there are so many such scenes not only in the 237 mission field but also among our neighbors around us.

I haven't told you, but do you know how many people around you are suffering in silence?

There are so many people who have turned away from God and are lost in hurt and despair.

I bless you in the name of the Lord to go forth as true evangelists, testifying to them that Jesus Christ alone is the solution to all of life's problems and the only gospel.

I pray in the name of the Lord that God will be with you as you proclaim the gospel of this uniqueness wherever you are, and that many works of healing and restoration will take place.

Are there many things that do not go your way? At such times, I hope you will hear the voice of God.

I believe that God has a greater plan for you. I hope you find God's greater plan.

Secondly, I hope you experience God who opens a different way.

Let us look at verses 11 and 12 of the text. "We sailed from Troas to Samothrace and the next day went to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is the first city of Macedonia and a Roman colony; we stayed in this city for several days."

Paul, having heard the voice of God telling him to go to Macedonia and preach the gospel, immediately obeyed.

As I have mentioned before, it is important to obey immediately when the word is spoken.

I hope that when the message is proclaimed from the pulpit, you will be people who obey the Word.

I believe that when you obey, tremendous works and answers from God will follow.

The place I immediately moved to was the region of Philippi, the first city of the Macedonian region.

Philippi is an important gateway for the evangelization of Europe and the place where the first church in Europe was established.

A very important meeting took place there.

These are verses 13 and 14.

"On the Sabbath, we went out to the riverbank outside the gate to see if there was a place to pray, and sat there and spoke to the women who were gathered. While a woman named Lydia, a seller of purple cloth from Thyatira who served God, was listening, the Lord opened her heart to follow Paul's message."

Surprisingly, God had already prepared a person named Lydia for the evangelization of this region of Philippi.

Lydia was a wealthy person who could exert influence at the time. She was a socially renowned industrialist.

In particular, the Bible portrays Lydia as a servant of God. It can be seen that although she was a Gentile, she was a convert to Judaism.

What is truly amazing is the fact that the Lord opened his heart and made him follow Paul's words.

Lydia, having heard the gospel from Paul, was filled with joy.

The reason they were able to accept this message well and understand the Gospel is that the Lord had already opened the door of their hearts.

This is the word of verse 15. "He and his household were all baptized, and he invited us, saying, 'If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come into my house and stay.' And he urged us strongly to stay."

Through one person, Lydia, the whole family received the gospel and accepted Jesus Christ.

Through the gospel that came through one person, the entire family and household heard the gospel of Jesus Christ and came to spiritual life.

How joyful and grateful is this?

I believe that through each and every one of you who possesses the Gospel, Jesus Christ will be witnessed in your family and household, and a history of transformation and healing will take place.

Afterward, Lydia had Paul and his companions stay at her house and strongly urged them to stay.

It was to spread the word movement in one's own home.

This became a mission home and eventually became the foundation of the Philippian church, the first church in Europe.

In this way, we can confirm that God, who had blocked Paul's path to Asia, was preparing a new way.

God used Paul at the very place where the historical timetable of the evangelization of Europe was being fulfilled, and raised him up as an important worker.

The blockage of the road to Asia ultimately became the timetable for a greater response: the evangelization of Europe.

Dear saints, when God blocks your path, do not be discouraged or despair, but rather look forward to amazing things.

I hope you remember that God has prepared great and secret things that we could not have imagined.

It is recorded in Isaiah 55:9 as follows.

"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts are higher than your thoughts."

Our thoughts and God's thoughts cannot be compared in dimension.

Please look at God's greater plan.

I will conclude.

God is greater than we think.

God is the one who works even in places we cannot see.

Therefore, do not be discouraged or despair just because the path is blocked; instead, hold onto the Word and listen to the voice of God.

I hope that as you pray, you will be guided to follow the greater plan that God opens up for you.

I pray in the name of the Lord that your lives will become a monumental work of the Gospel that saves 237 nations and 5,000 peoples.

I will pray.

Thank you, God.

Thank you for allowing me to ask about God's plan and will when the path of life is blocked.

Thank you for making us realize that we have a bigger plan.

May this week also be a time when we enter into God's thoughts, look toward His greater plan, and become precious saints who move forward in faith toward the 237 nations and 5,000 tribes.

I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.