Understanding God’s Will? Acts 21: 10-14 & Romans 12:1-2
Paul has left Ephesus and is now heading for Jerusalem. In the first few verses of Acts 21 we see that after a couple of stops, Paul and his traveling companions, arrived at Caesarea.
There they are met by a man called Agabus, who gives Paul a message from the Holy Spirit. [verses 10 & 11.]
The disciples, who accompanied Paul also heard the message and tried to talk Paul out of continuing his journey but eventually gave in and we have verse 14. Actually the last few words in verse 14 is how Paul lived his life anyway.
“The Lord’s will be done.”
Now flip over to Romans chapter 12 and look at verses 1-2, where Paul is giving some solid teaching.
Most of the time when hear this passage taught or preached it’s always about surrender but sometimes we’ll teach about separation and how carnal living keeps us separated from the will of God!
As a child of God our desire should be to know and to do the will of God, not run from it.
Maybe you have felt as if God is playing keep a way with His will. You ask but don’t seem to get solid answers…
I want you to know that the will of God is NOT out of our reach or too hard to find.
Let me show you a couple of things.
1. We need to seek [Look for, pursue or search for] the will of God.
God’s will is not some mystery or a guarded secret. God really wants us to know His will more than we want to know it.
That’s why He tells us to “Seek and you shall find” He also said, “Draw near to Me and I will draw near to you.”
God is not ignoring us BUT we must understand that as a child of God, you DON’T call the shots. As a child of God, you are His, therefore we should NEVER be willing to settle for less than God’s best, which is exactly what happens when we call the shots. We not only need to search for God’s will as if everything depended on it! [Because it truly does.] Secondly…
2. We need to surrender to God’s will.
In Ephesians chapter 6, Paul is talking to children, fathers and servants about obedience and he gives some sound advice in verse 6.
[Eph 6:6 New English Translation] “not like those who do their work only when someone is watching - as people-pleasers - but as slaves of Christ doing the will of God from the heart.”
I can’t think of a more perfect example of this verse than Jesus.
For a moment, put yourself in His place. You already know God’s will for your life, and understand that in just a few short hours you will be facing the reality of one of the cruelest types of death known to man, death on a Roman cross. Could you kneel as, He knelt there in the garden of Gethsemane and surrender to the inevitable? Could you/I say as He said, “Not my will, but Father Your will be done!”
We need to search for His will and we must be willing to surrender to the will of Almighty God and 3rd.
3. We need to stand in the will of God
[Col 4:12 NKJV] “…that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.”
Pastor Jerry Shirley gives this definition of God’s will:
The will of God is exactly what we would choose for our lives if we had sense enough to choose it.
Do you realize that God loves you more than you could ever love yourself? God sees what we could accomplish, if we would just search for and follow His plan!
In the Panama Canal there are a series of locks, and if you want to cross there, you have to be able to accurately navigate thru them. Each lock has markers which the captain must use to make it through successfully. Also he must be able to maneuver the ship so that the markers line up in a straight sequence. If not he puts his passengers, crew and cargo; not mention the lives of those around the canal in jeopardy.
God has given us several markers and when they line up we have a better assurance of what God’s will is for our lives!
Pastor where do we find these markers? Every single marker is found in the Word of God.
Let me give you the first marker, which we’ll call, recognition. Recognition is the ability to know something. When I see one of you around town, I recognize you or know something about you.
What should we recognize/know about God’s will?
A. We need to know God’s will is real.
This is the first step to knowing that God has a will for your life is knowing that it’s real because we see throughout the Bible.
[Psa 37:23 NLT] “The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.”
[Proverbs 3:6NKJV] “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
The NLT reads it this way. “Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”
You and I may not be able to know all the details of God’s will for our life…but we can know for sure that God really does have a plan for your life! There is a Handcrafted crafted plan set in place by the One who designed the universe!
For me that’s a powerful and fascinating thought. To know that the God who created everything we see and can’t see, everything we know and have yet to discover, is so involved in something as minute as me!
Jesus reminds us in [Mat 10:29 NLT] “What is the price of two sparrows--one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.”
How many of us ever give a sparrow a second thought? For us a sparrow is insignificant, and God’s Word says, they are practically worthless, yet God has a plan for each of them! So how much more does He care for you and me, who are made in His image?
So we must know that God’s will is real but:
B. We need to understand that God’s will can be refused.
The number one reason so many fail to live out God’s will is because they refuse to see it or accept it.
Understand that God will not force you to accept or do His will. He has given us a free will to choose. He didn’t force Adam and Eve to obey Him, but gave them a choice.
Sometimes I’d like to say, “God, why give us a choice when You know we’ll mess up.”
Because God doesn’t have a “Chain gang” mentality. He wants people to freely choose to love, obey, and follow Him. God doesn’t want prisoners who serve and love Him by force!
You can choose to be saved or not, as long as you understand the consequences of your choice…
Now should you choose salvation you have another choice: Will you do the will of God? It’s your choice and you can live as far outside the will of God or as close as you desire…
I think for years I have been telling God that I will serve Him any place He needs me, as long as it’s within driving distance from our home. “You know, Lord, we have grandchildren and our kids may need us for something. You know we have our home established here in Florence, so use me…wherever. YEA RIGHT…
Who am I…Who are you to tell God what to do!? There is none like our God! There is no one who can command Jehovah and He obeys. I heard a preacher say that we speak a certain verse and God is obligated to do what we command.
Listen to just a portion of a conversation between one man and God…
[Job 38:1-4, 12-13, 16-21 NLT] “1 Then the LORD answered Job from the whirlwind: 2 "Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words? 3 Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them. 4 "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much. ... 12 "Have you ever commanded the morning to appear and caused the dawn to rise in the east? 13 Have you made daylight spread to the ends of the earth, to bring an end to the night's wickedness? ... 16 "Have you explored the springs from which the seas come? Have you explored their depths? 17 Do you know where the gates of death are located? Have you seen the gates of utter gloom? 18 Do you realize the extent of the earth? Tell me about it if you know! 19 "Where does light come from, and where does darkness go? 20 Can you take each to its home? Do you know how to get there? 21 But of course you know all this! For you were born before it was all created, and you are so very experienced!”
Many Christians today apparently think they know more than God, while others say they believe in God, but choose to live by their own rules. In reality, what they’re saying is God is ok for their eternity, but not for their present!
The will of God is very real, it is possible for you/me to refuse it BUT…
C. God’s will is always Right
[Rom 12:2b NKJV] “…that you may prove what [is] that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
Sir Thomas Lipton, the famous yacht racer, won many trophies, except the one he really wanted. The America’s Cup had escaped his grasp. One day he was showing some friends all his trophies in his home, and said, “I’d give them all away to get the one I didn’t get!”
What have you gained in this world that you would gladly give up for that one thing you missed?
Think about a guy who likes to play the violin…he turns on a CD of Beethoven’s 5th Symphony and begins to play at the same time...but he’s playing Yankee Doodle. He can do that if he wants, but is it the right way?
See God has arranged a great symphony for your life…don’t sit off in a corner playing Yankee Doodle. Please, pay attention and follow Him beat for beat!
God’s will is real, can be refused, but is always right!
Maybe you feel it’s too late…Listen, as long as there is still breathe in your body it’s not too late to turn around and do life God’s way!
Invitaion:
