Acts 21 (NIV)
1 After we had torn ourselves away from them, we put out to sea and sailed straight to Kos. The next day we went to Rhodes and from there to Patara. 2 We found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, went on board and set sail. 3 After sighting Cyprus and passing to the south of it, we sailed on to Syria. We landed at Tyre, where our ship was to unload its cargo. 4 We sought out the disciples there and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. 5 When it was time to leave, we left and continued on our way. All of them, including wives and children, accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to pray. 6 After saying goodbye to each other, we went aboard the ship, and they returned home.
7 We continued our voyage from Tyre and landed at Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and sisters and stayed with them for a day. 8 Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven. 9 He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.
10 After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’”
12 When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14 When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”
15 After this, we started on our way up to Jerusalem.
I would like to introduce, or “frame up” the essential topic introduced to us in this scripture passage with a series of scriptural thoughts that may be foreign to or forgotten by us…
1. Life is a gift from God!
1Peter 3:7 Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers. –NIV
2. A vaporous (short) and valuable gift from God!
3. It is not therefore to be spent doing “our own thing!”
James 4: 3 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”16 As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. -NIV
4. Life is to be spent doing the” Lord’s thing or will”!
5. It In fact it can be very dangerous to do your own things!
Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ - NIV
Q: What is the essential point that I am making?
6. Satan “I willed” himself out of heaven!
Isaiah 14 (NIV)
12 How you have fallen from heaven,
morning star, son of the dawn!
You have been cast down to the earth,
you who once laid low the nations!
13 You said in your heart,
“I will ascend to the heavens;
I will raise my throne
above the stars of God;
I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly,
on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon.[b]
14 I will ascend above the tops of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High.”
15 But you are brought down to the realm of the dead,
to the depths of the pit.
7. Is it possible that we can also?
Luke 12:47 “The servant who knows the master's will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows.”- NIV
Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. - NIV
8. The goal of our redemption and salvation is for us to pray as our Savior prayed:
Luke 22:42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. – KJV
9. Reverently, advisedly, and in the Fear of God!
Philippians 2:12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.- NKJV
The Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology make these statements about The “Will of God”…
Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Will of God
One theme that all parts of Scripture take up in one way or another is the will of God. God's will is as vast as his entire plan for creation, and from the standpoint of objective content, it seems to be settled and unchanging.
So having a Plan A, Plan B, Plan C, Plan D, mentality regarding the will of God, to me is a unsettling and in fact unscriptural outlook on the matter….
Psalm 33:11 But what the LORD has planned will stand forever. His thoughts never change - CEV
And that is why I’m happy TODAY, that we have arrived at this juncture in our scripture journey- because the great lesson that this passage teaches us is…who to…
How to Discern and Do the Lord’s Will!
And my proposition to you this morning is…
A study of the 21st chapter of Acts will help us to learn how to discern and do the Lord’s will!
So having said that I would like to jump right out there and begin by having us confront the t o
I. THE PROBLEM that our study on “How to Discern and Do the Lord’s Will” according to Acts 21 presents:
Acts 21:1 After we had torn ourselves away from them, we put out to sea and sailed straight to Kos. The next day we went to Rhodes and from there to Patara. 2 We found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, went on board and set sail. 3 After sighting Cyprus and passing to the south of it, we sailed on to Syria. We landed at Tyre, where our ship was to unload its cargo. 4 We sought out the disciples there and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem.
A) Problem?
1. Disciples urged Paul “through the Spirit” not to go to Jerusalem.
B) Presumption?
1. “Paul if you go to Jerusalem, you are outside of the will of God!”
But look at the result, unfazed apparently Luke writes….
Acts 21:5a When it was time to leave, we left and continued on our way. ( To Jerusalem?)
2. We = Paul, Luke and their companions.
C) Persisted?
1. In their disobedience?
Acts 21:5b All of them, including wives and children, accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to pray. 6 After saying goodbye to each other, we went aboard the ship, and they returned home.
Acts 21:7 We continued our voyage from Tyre and landed at Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and sisters and stayed with them for a day. 8 Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven. 9 He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied. 10 After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.
D) Prophets and prophecy?
1. Why mention that?
Acts 21: 11 Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’”
2. Prophecy?
1. “Paul when and if you go to Jerusalem, the Jewish leaders will bind you and hand you over to the Gentiles.”
So lets look at….
II. THE PLEA resulting from this study on “ How to Discern and Do of the Lord’s Will” according to Acts 21.
Acts 21:12 When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.
A) Plea?
1. Paul don’t go, God is obviously saying “No!”
2. “You’ll be imprisoned and given over to death, God obviously doesn’t want that, don’t go!”
III. A PREMISE drawn in this study of “How to Discerning and Do the Lord’s Will” according to Acts 21.
A) Premise?
1. Paul was directly disobeying the Holy Spirit, if he’d go!
a) He would be outside of the will of God, making a grave and great mistake!
Some EXECELLENT bible teachers have seen it this way. The late Ray Stedman for example said this about this passage, he preached a message on this passage entitled…
Ray C. Stedman - Paul's Mistake.
Luke led by the Holy Spirit in recording this inspired book, wrote down at this juncture that it was "through the Holy Spirit" that these disciples told Paul he was not to go up to Jerusalem. The Greek is very strong here -- much stronger than our English text. Literally they said, "Stop going up to Jerusalem!"
Ray C. Stedman - Paul's Mistake
Paul's mistake? He did not observe what the Holy Spirit said plainly and clearly.
2. Paul was doing his own thing, and rejecting the revealed will of God!
Ray C. Stedman - Paul's Mistake
Taken in connection with the previous paragraph, it is clear that this was the last effort made by the Holy Spirit to awaken the apostle to what he was doing. Agabus was joined in this by the whole body of believers. The whole family present urged him not to go, Luke included. We read, "When we heard this, we and the people there begged him not to go up to Jerusalem." So even his close associates recognized the voice of the Spirit, to which the apostle seemed strangely deaf. He refused to listen.
3. Perhaps this is why his life ended “tragically” in Roman imprisonment and martyrdom?
Ray C. Stedman - Paul's Mistake
And in Paul's reply to them we can detect that, without quite realizing what has happened, he has succumbed to what today we call a "martyr complex."
Now I will never consider myself to even remotely have an handle on the Word of God that Dr. Stedman did, but let us consider together…
IV. THE POSSIBILITES in this study on “How to Discern and Do the Lord’s Will” according to Acts 21.
A) Possibility #1:
1. Paul was directly disobeying the Holy Spirit, if he would go!
a) He would be outside of the will of God, making a grave and great mistake!
B) Possibility #2:
1. The Holy Spirit revealed to the disciples the hardships that awaited Paul if he’d go to Jerusalem.
a) The Spirits revelation:
Acts 21: 4 We sought out the disciples there and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem.
a) The Holy Spirit made known to them what He had already made known to Paul:
Acts 20:22 “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. - NIV
i. “Not knowing what will happen to me there”...all the particulars, he didn’t have a detailed account.
Acts 20:23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. - NIV
ii. Agabus affirms:
Acts 21:10 After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’” - NIV
2. The Spirits revelation led to men’s interpretation:
Acts 21:12 When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.
a) “Bad things await you, God is warning you not to go!”
But look at this….
3. The Spirits revelation that led to men’s interpretation did not deter Paul’s determination!
Acts 21:13a Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart?
a). Why are you trying to weaken my will, with this emotional response?
b). Why are you trying to deter me from the Lord’s will with this plea?
Acts 21:13b I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
WOW! WHAT A STATEMENT MADE BY THE APOSTLE PAUL! WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS OF A CONVICTION LIKE THAT?
V. A PARALELL of this passage on “How to Discerning and Do the Lord’s Will” according to Acts 21.
It can be found in….
Matthew 16 (NIV)
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
A) Father’s revelation!
Matthew 16:17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.
Q: What did it lead to?
B) Further illumination by the Son!!
Matthew 16:21 From that time on Jesus began to explain (reveal other things) to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. - NIV
Q: What did it lead to?
C) Man’s Misinterpretation!!!
Matthew 16:22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” -NIV
Q: Sound familiar?
Acts 21:12 When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.
Matthew 16:23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”- NIV
VI. THE PRINCIPLES from which a disciples learns “How to Discern and Do the Lord’s Will.”
Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.- NIV
A) Principles?
1. DENIAL!
2. DEATH!!
a) Denial and death to self, family, friends, pleasures, preferences, preconceptions, etc., for the sake of the Kingdom of God and His Christ, is the foundation from which some discerns and ultimately does the Lord’s Will!
The Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology goes on further to say this about the Will of God…
Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Will of God
The will of God is not simply a passive plan, the blueprint for his creation… The concept of God's will is developed specifically along theological lines, in reference to salvation…If Jesus was to do God's will, so were his disciples. The prayer that Jesus taught them made God's will a central concern in the life of discipleship.
Matthew 6:10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.- NIV
SO FOR A DISCIPLE TO BE POSITIONED TO DISCERN AND DO THE WILL OF GOD HE OR SHE MUST..,
Luke 9:23Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.
Paul affirms this by saying…
1Corinthians 15:31 I affirm, brethren, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. – NASB
Paul goes so far as to say…
Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. - NIV
Steven Cole in one of his messages regarding this states…
Steven Cole – “To discern the will of God you must write God a blank check with your life.”
By that I believe he is underscoring the non-negotiable requirements on discipleship that Jesus lays in in Luke 14….
Luke 14: 25 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said:26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. 27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?29 For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, 30 saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’
31 “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. -NIV
B) Point?
1. Those who don’t write “a blank check” with their lives cannot consider themselves my disciples!
C) Price?
1. If I don’t?
Luke 14:34 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? 35 It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out.“Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”- NIV
1 Corinthians 6:19b You are not your own; 20a you were bought at a price.- NIV
1 Peter 1:18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. - NIV
D) Perspective?
1. Do I need to discern and do the Lord’s Will?
Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. -NIV
2. It is from this perspective and practice that you discern and do the Lord’s Will!
Acts 21:13 Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
Acts 21:14 When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”
E) Point?
1. Paul’s determination and their inability to dissuade him caused them to discern that this was the Lord’s will for Paul’s life!
Acts 21:15 After this, we started on our way up to Jerusalem.
Let me close with to more important points on “How to Discerning and Doing the Lord’s Will” going beyond our scripture text…
VIII. PRINCIPLE(S) for “ How to Discern and Do the Lord’s Will”?
This perhaps is not all inclusive but is a good basis upon which to discern and do the Lords will….
A) Word of God.
1. Some things are BLACK & WHITE - literally!
1Thessalonians 4:3 It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; - NIV
1Thessalonians 5:18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. - NIV
1Peter 2:15 For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. - NIV
Ephesians 5: 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,- NIV
B) Witness of the Spirit
1. This is a predominate principle in the book of Acts.
Act 8:29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” - NIV
Acts 13:2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” - NIV
Acts 16:7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. - NIV
a) Point?
Romans 8:14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. - NIV
C) Wise Counsel.
Proverbs 11:14 Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety. - NIV
Proverbs 15:22 Without counsel, plans go awry, But in the multitude of counselors they are established. - NIV
Proverbs 24:6 For by wise counsel you will wage your own war, And in a multitude of counselors there is safety. - NIV
D) Weighing of Circumstantial Evidence.
Matthew 10:29 Aren't two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will. - NIV
Revelation 3:8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. – NIV
Ephesians 1:11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, - ESV
Finally let me address the “theological elephant in the room” that our scripture passage puts before us today…
VIII. THE PROPHETIC introduced to us on this study of “ How Discern and Do the Lord’s Will” according to Acts 21.
And by that I mean the introduction in this passage of…
A) Prophets and prophecy.
1. They are mentioned twice in this passage.
Acts 21: 9 (Phillip) had four unmarried daughters who prophesied. 10 After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.
2. What does this passage and the rest of the New Testament say about this matter?
Just because of the lack of time, please allow me to briefly and simply introduce these ideas…
3. Jesus gives us a warning about prophets:
Matthew 7:15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.”-NIV
4. John also gives us a warning about prophets and prophecies:
1John 4:1 “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”-NIV.
B) Perspective.
1. That’s balanced?
1 Thessalonians 5:19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt 21 but test them all; hold on to what is good, 22 reject every kind of evil. – NIV
1Corinthians 14:29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. – NIV
B) Point?
1. A practical one?
a) Prophets were foundational:
Ephesians 2:20 (Church) built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. -NIV
i. The foundation has already been laid, once for all!
b) But regardless of whether you believe that prophecy is for today or not the point is clear – “Prophets and prophecies” for lack of a better way of saying it can “miss it, misinterpret or misrepresent!”
1 Thessalonians 5:20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt 21a but test them all; – NIV
1Corinthians 14:29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. – NIV
c) They could enact the gift in the flesh?
i. Ala Balaam?
2 Peter 2:1 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.- NIV
2 Peter 2: 15 They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Bezer, who loved the wages of wickedness. 16 But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey—an animal without speech—who spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.- NIV
2. The New Testament promise is this:
Hebrews 8: 11 And it will nevermore be necessary for each one to teach his neighbor and his fellow citizen or each one his brother, saying, Know (perceive, have knowledge of, and get acquainted by experience with) the Lord, for all will know Me, from the smallest to the greatest of them – AMPC
CLOSING….
1. Do you know the Lord’s Will for your life?
John 7:17a If any man desires to do His will (God’s pleasure), he will know (have the needed illumination to recognize, and can tell for himself)… - AMPC
2. Do you want the Lord’s Will for your life?
Philippians 2:12b work out (cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete) your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling (self-distrust, with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ). 13 [Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight. - AMPC
3. Will you deny and die in order to know and do the Lord’s Will for your life?
John Piper - Life as a Vapor -Thirty-One Meditations for Your Faith
Living knowing that your life is a vapor is different than just living. Things here are passing away. You’ve got to hold on to what will stand. Savor what matters… Life Is Short. Eternity Is Long. Live Like It.
John Piper - Life as a Vapor -Thirty-One Meditations for Your Faith
You will exist forever. You and God are both in the universe to stay—either as friends on His terms, or enemies on yours—which it will be is proven in this life. And this life is a vapor. Two seconds, and we will be gone…Time is precious. We are fragile. Life is short. Eternity is long. Every minute counts. Oh, to be a faithful steward of the breath God has given you.
John Piper - Life as a Vapor -Thirty-One Meditations for Your Faith
Three texts resound in my ears: “Redeem the time” (Ephesians 5:16 ); “It is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy” (1 Corinthians 4:2); “His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me” (1 Corinthians 15:10 ).
John Piper - Life as a Vapor -Thirty-One Meditations for Your Faith
Surely God means for our minutes on earth to count for something significant.
