Life has so many
questions.
What Church? College?
Career? Dating? Marriage? Kids? Take the job? Quit the job? Start the business?
Keep Working? Retire? Buy? Sell? Move here? Go there?
How do I know God's
will for all the stuff not exactly spelled out in the Bible?
Great question. However,
it's a bit misleading because the Bible spells out how to discern everything, especially
things not exactly spelled out, because that's mostly what we deal with.
And the Bible is the most relevant resource on the planet.
Plus, since the Bible is absolutely timely, that is exactly what’s spelled out in our text today. Acts 21:1-14.
It’s been over 20
years since Paul was convicting, imprisoning and killing Christians.
Now he’s preaching
and teaching and starting Churches.
He’s a soul winner
and disciple maker. He's traveled over 10,000 miles on three missionary journeys,
(mostly by foot), covering land in Israel, Syria, Turkey and Greece.
It won’t be long though,
and he’ll be imprisoned, eventually taken to Rome and through a couple imprisonments,
he will pen his final seven (of thirteen) epistles: Ephesians, Philippians,
Colossians, 1-2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon. And then, he’ll be beheaded, for
his faith.
Now, here in our
text, Paul is winding up his third missionary journey, which was about 2,500
miles, half by land, half by sea (little more by sea).
The writing reflects
their mood, they were in a hurry to get to Jerusalem.
Acts 21:1
Now it came to pass, that when we
had departed from them and set sail, running a straight
course we came to Cos, the following day to Rhodes, and from
there to Patara. 2 And finding a ship sailing over to Phoenicia,
we went aboard and set sail. 3 When we had sighted Cyprus,
we passed it on the left, sailed to Syria, and landed
at Tyre; for there the ship was to unload her cargo. 4 And finding disciples,
we stayed there seven days. They told Paul through the Spirit not to
go up to Jerusalem.
Why were they in such
a hurry to get to Jerusalem?
Acts
20:16, Paul was hurrying
to be in Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost.
But now their journey
comes to a screeching halt, for seven whole days.
So, they did what all
Christians ought to do when out of town with time on their hands. Find disciples.
Find some believers. Find a Church and meet some family.
Christians belong to
the biggest, best, most powerful, family on the planet. If we’d only harness that
Truth, and come together in one accord, we would turn this world upside right overnight.
So, with seven whole
days, where does Paul preach? What does he say?
Crickets. Not a word written
about Paul or his crew saying anything.
However, somehow, the
folks of Tyre heard about their hurry to get to Jerusalem, and “They told
Paul through the Spirit not to go up to Jerusalem.”
Now we start
to uncover our question about discerning the will of God.
Paul has a desire
to be in Jerusalem, but the folks of Tyre have a, thus saith the Lord, don’t
go to Jerusalem.
They told
Paul, through the Spirit, not to go up to Jerusalem.
How does Paul
respond?
Silence, at least as far
as what’s recorded in the Bible.
In the silence is a
message.
Sometimes silence is
the best answer. A certain Indian tribe gives the gift of silence before
answering. If they respect you, they will honor you by not answering you, until
investing time in considering your question and formulating a respectful answer.
Psalm
46:10. Be still and know
that I AM God.
There was a time when
God would mainly tell His plan to man through His prophets.
However, now, if
someone tells you, that the Lord told them to tell you to do this or that. Be still
and know the Lord, listen for His voice to you, His Holy Spirit in you, confirming
His Word already planted within you, His Voice, His peace, His inward witness.
Matthew
4:4. Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds from
the mouth of God... not
man, not the pastor, teacher, preacher...
We’ll see that Paul is
not going to heed the words, through the Spirit, not to go to Jerusalem.
This is a highly
debated issue.
Some say Paul missed
it and was going against the warning of the Holy Spirit.
Others say the folks of
Tyre misspoke; they were only supposed to warn Paul but not tell him what to
do.
However, we should
simply believe that the Bible says what it means. And the Bible says, They
told Paul through the Spirit not to go up to Jerusalem.
The original text is
even more emphatic, saying, they kept telling Paul through the Spirit
not to go up to Jerusalem.
We don’t need to
understand to believe. Childlike faith.
Often if we simply
believe, understanding will come. Obedience brings understanding.
So, let’s believe and
keep reading. Lord willing, we’ll return to this with greater understanding.
5 When we had come to the end of those
days, we departed and went on our way; and they all
accompanied us, with wives and children, till we were out
of the city. And we knelt down on the shore and prayed. 6 When we
had taken our leave of one another, we boarded the ship, and they
returned home.
Such love from the
townsfolk. You know, like when you walk good friends to the door, then out to
their car, then you talk a good while more, hug goodbye four times more.
However, maybe it’s
just me but it sounds like Paul and crew are still in a hurry. Like they were
counting the days. Finally, when we came to the end of those days,
we departed and went on our way. But they all accompanied
us, the wives, the children, toddlers, dogs, chickens, ducks... We shuffled
along, all of them, all the way out of the city, then to the shore.
Then, we knelt on the
shore and prayed.
Finally, we were able
to take our leave of one another and board the ship.
Once on the ship they
were off to the races again.
7 And
when we had finished our voyage from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais,
greeted the brethren, and stayed with them one day. 8 On the next
day we who were Paul’s companions departed and came to Caesarea...
Now, finally they’re
back in the land of Israel, about 70 miles from Jerusalem.
8... and
entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the Seven,
and stayed with him. 9 Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied.
Don’t
miss this powerful picture of forgiveness and redemption.
Imagine you have a
beautiful life on the beautiful shores of the Mediterranean.
You’ve come a long
way from the day you were called into the ministry, to serve food to widows.
Now you’re a
well-known evangelist. And your four lovely virgin daughters are known for
their God given gift to prophesy.
Suddenly, the
peaceful quiet of your home is broken by a loud knock on the door.
You look out the window
and can’t believe your eyes.
That man. Could it
really be him?
Your mind drifts back
two decades. Back when you first saw him. Back when you were one of the Seven,
chosen to serve food. You remember your old friend Stephen, also one of the Seven,
a man full of faith and power, through whom the Lord did great signs and
wonders. Acts 6:8.
You wonder where
Stephen would be today, how many souls would’ve been saved, how many wonderful
things the Lord would’ve done through him... had it not been for that
man standing there outside your door. Paul (back then, he went by his Jewish
name, Saul) he’s the one who had Stephen killed. Stoned to death.
What do you do?
You fling the door
open wide with a great big grin and hug each one as they enter in. Because the
Love of Jesus can wash and cleanse and forgive every sin and make all things
new.
Even Saul the great
sinner, who became Paul the great soul winner.
Jesus still does the
same for us today, even for a wretch like me.
10 And as we stayed many days, a certain
prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 When he had come to us, he took
Paul’s belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, “Thus says the Holy
Spirit, ‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt,
and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’ ”
We met Agabus back in
Acts 11:28. Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed
by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the
world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar.
So, when Agabus
spoke, folks listened.
Now our questions
about the will of God rises again.
Notice this time there’s
no warning not to go to Jerusalem, just a prophetic statement by the Holy
Spirit of what would happen.
Well, there was no
warning not to go by Agabus or the Holy Spirit.
However, as for the other
folks in the room, that’s another story.
12 Now when we heard these things, both we
and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to
Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my
heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die
at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
They are speaking
from emotion, not by the Spirit.
Now, for Paul
something’s changed. It’s more than a desire. It’s beyond being silent.
Now, he’s become so sure that going to Jerusalem is the Lord’s will that he’s
willing to die for it.
So, when they saw
that...
14 So when he would not be persuaded, we
ceased, saying, “The will of the Lord be done.”
The emotions settled.
The peace of God
prevailed.
They all yielded to
the will of the Lord.
That is the best
ending. Even better than, “and they all lived happily ever after.”
How did that happen?
Four ingredients to
discerning the will of the Lord.
1.
SEED
It all begins with a
Seed.
Let’s zoom out to see
the big picture.
First the Seed was
planted by God, back in Acts 20:16. Paul desired to be in Jerusalem on
Pentecost.
Psalm 37:4. Delight
yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of
your heart.
Proverbs 16:3. Commit your works to the Lord and your thoughts will be established.
Proverbs 3:5-6. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own
understanding, in all your ways acknowledge him and He shall direct your
paths.
If we
keep delighting, committing, trusting, it’s like adding fertilizer,
water and sun, to the Seed and out sprouts faith.
2.
FAITH
God plants the Seed.
If we stay the course, delighting, committing, trusting, then, Active, Obedient
Faith blossoms.
Acts 20:22, And
see, now I go bound in the Spirit to
Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there,
The (definite
article) Spirit. Not, “a” spirit, not Paul’s spirit, but the
Spirit.
The Seed (desire) grew into faith bound in
the Holy Spirit.
James 2:14-26. Faith without works is dead. Real faith accompanies corresponding
action. Active Obedient Faith.
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,
the evidence of things not seen.
Romans 10:17 Faith
comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Keep listening, delighting, committing, trusting,
in the Seed, the Word, planted by God in your heart, and it will produce faith.
Yeah but Paul, don’t
you know if you go, you’ll be bound?
I’m already bound in
the Spirit. So, I’m bound to go.
No, don’t go, you’ll
be persecuted.
Been there done that.
All who live Godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 2 Tim. 3:12.
You might get killed.
Then, I’ll be Home. To
live is Christ, to die is gain. Phil. 1:21.
I’m not burying my
head in the sand. I know there’ll be trouble (John 16:33) nevertheless, none
of these things move me. I have a perfect peace that passes
understanding.
3.
PEACE
Acts 20:23-24. None of these things move
me.
Philippians 4:6-7, Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication,
with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace
of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds
through Christ Jesus.
Psalm 119:165, Great
peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
God plants the Seed. If we stay
the course, delighting, committing, trusting, then, Active Obedient Faith,
blossoms, and then, like sunshine in a storm Peace shows up and
leads the way.
Now, one more final ingredient
to discerning the will of the Lord.
4.
RESOLVE
This
brings us back to a question we left hanging in Acts 21:4.
Why’d they tell Paul,
through the Spirit not to go to Jerusalem?
Resolve.
Paul had to make up
his own mind, settle his own soul, set his face like a flint (unmoving,
unwavering) to go to Jerusalem (just like Jesus did, Luke 9:51, Isaiah 50:7)
regardless of the consequences.
When it comes to
obeying the Word of the Lord:
Considering
Consequences Causes Confusion.
Paul had to hold fast
and not draw back, he had to have dogged determination, steely resolve.
Matthew 16:24. If anyone desires to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his
cross and follow Me.
Hebrews 10:38.
Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back My soul has no
pleasure in him.
Galatians 1:8. If we or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel, let him be accursed
(anathema: devoted to utter destruction).
Jesus shows us how the Seed (the Word planted by God) is tested and tried.
Mark
4:14-20
The Sower sows
the word. 15 And these are the ones by
the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan
comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. 16 These
likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear
the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17 and
they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when
tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they
stumble. 18 Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they
are the ones who hear the word, 19 and the cares
of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other
things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 20 But
these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the
word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some
sixty, and some a hundred.”
Let’s pray.
Lord
Jesus, thank You for sowing Your Seed in our hearts today. Help us to stay the
course, delighting, committing and trusting. Thereby receiving Your gift of faith
to follow Your peace with steely resolve. We pray our hearts won’t be like the
wayside, stony or thorny, but like the good ground, bearing much fruit, nourishing
and refreshing all those You’ve given us, so none are lost.
Thank
You, for hearing us and healing us for Your glory.
We love
You, forever.
Amen.
Prayer
Requests:
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21:1-14
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Acts 21:1-14
This was feed for you
to read. Now it’s Seed for you to sow.
Thank you for
sharing.