Last month we read and studied Ephesion 612. Our struggle is not against flesh and blood,

but against spiritual forces in the heavenly realms. So are our interpersonal struggles just

conflicts with other people, or are they always acts of spiritual warfare in disguise?

That was a fascinating episode in APJ 2158, not long ago,

about a month ago. And we're back to a very similar topic in this perceptive question from an anonymous

listener. Hello, Pastor John, I've been wrestling with a question that's been difficult to find clarity on,

and this is deeply personal to me right now.

In 1st Thessalonians 218, which is the text we just read together in our Bible reading,

Paul talks about his desire to visit the Thessalonians but being hindered by Satan.

That passage made me think of another moment in Acts 16 versus 6 to 8,

where Paul and his companions are prevented from entering the province of

Asia by the spirit of Jesus. My question is, how do you distinguish between being hindered by

Jesus versus being hindered by Satan? Or does it even matter? I can't help but want to make a

distinction between the two, especially considering that Paul

dealt with both kinds of hindrances. What were the signs or marks that helped him make that

distinction? It's especially challenging for me because I'm currently facing a situation where I'm

feeling hindered or blocked, and I don't know whether it's from God or from the enemy.

My instinct does to see clarity on whether God is sovereignly redirecting me for a good purpose or if

spiritual opposition is trying to derail me.

I would appreciate your wisdom on how to navigate these moments and how to discern God's will in the face of spiritual opposition.

Thank you.

Well, that question takes us into one of the deepest mysteries of Providence, and that's a good place for us to go,

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