The will of the Lord.
Acts 21:1 -- 14. 01/12/03
I want to talk to you about the will of God for your life. The Lord Jesus said in his prayer, “not my will but thy will be done.”
In our text this morning, Paul is convinced the will of God for his life is to go up to Jerusalem. It is also that the friends of Paul was persuaded that some kind of harm will befall Paul if he continues his journey and go to Jerusalem. They are troubled by this. So much so, they ask Paul not to go.
It is similar to the story about Jesus when he told his disciples he must go to Jerusalem and there die. The disciples loved Jesus and dying was not part of their plan for the Lord. So, they begin to beg Jesus not to go. But you and I know it was God’s will that Jesus go to Jerusalem, die on cross, to be buried in a tomb, and then three days later raise from the grave and today is alive.
But in our text this morning, we find good people differing opinions about what the will of God is. You look back in chapter 20 verse 22 that in the heart of Paul, he is convinced God’s will is for him to go to Jerusalem. But in our text it seems Paul’s friends are convinced it was God’s will that Paul not go to Jerusalem. We even find a prophet by the name of Agabus, tying himself up with Paul’s belt and saying, this will happen to the owner of this belt in Jerusalem. Good people differing about the will of God.
Who is right? Well, I can’t say for sure. Paul looking at it duty wise and was convinced it was God’s will. On the other hand, those that loved Paul looking at it danger wise, thought the will of God was for Paul not to go. That is interesting to me isn’t it to you?
But this morning we want to think about God’s will, his plan for your life and mine. The Bible says we ought to seek God’s will. The Bible teaches we aren’t only to seek God’s will but to surrender to God’s will and also to stand in God’s will.
I do know this, that the main thing for your life is to seek God’s plan and will for your life. It seems the older the person gets the more interest he has in the will of God. Young people, you seek the will of God for your life. If you want peace and understanding you will want to know God’s will for your life.
I believe there are some here who know what God’s will for your life is. I also believe there are some here who are seeking God’s will. What he would have you to do. I also believe there are some here who have never given much thought to the subject at all until maybe now.
There are some things I know about the will of God. I know that it is God’s will that you trust Jesus and be saved. If you are lost this morning, the will of God is that you trust Jesus for salvation. You can never know the will of God unless you know God through salvation.
There are some markers I want to sort of pull down this morning for those of a seeking God’s will. No. 1 RECOGNITION. Look at verse 14, “the will of the Lord be done.”
What I want you to know is that God’s will is real. Recognize that God has a plan for your life. So don’t sit in this building and say there is no purpose to your existence. God has a plan for your life.
I cannot explain the peace that has come in my life when God’s will for my life is recognized. Recognize that God has a plan and a will for your life. It is real. There is joy in doing the will of God.
Another marker I want to pull down is, No. 2 RESOLUTION. Even though the friends of Paul differed in their opinions of the will of God, more than anything, they wanted the will of God done.
Listen, you have a will and God has a will. We ought to let our will be the will of God.
A grandfather said to his grandson would you like to go with me? The grandson said where are we going? The grandfather said if you want to go with me it doesn’t matter. God has a plan for you. Do you want to go with him?
Here is the third marker, REVELATION.
If you recognize God has a plan for you, and if you are resolved that you want his will for your life, then God will reveal his will to you. Are you interested? Then you come this morning saying I want the will of God more than anything else.
