Acts 21 – 22 were quite an interesting study yesterday! We spent a few minutes reviewing how Paul ignored the Holy Spirit’s warning about not going to Jerusalem – God’s directive will, and stepped into God’s permissive will by going anyway. I used Biblical Discipleship Lesson 7 as a guide concerning the will of God.
Acts 21:12-15: And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done. And after those days we took up our carriages, and went up to Jerusalem.
There are two aspects to the will of God, His permissive will and His directive will.
A. The permissive will of God.
1. It must be clearly understood that God allows things to happen that He does not approve of in order to accomplish some larger purpose.
Examples are abundant, both in and out of scripture.
a. Paul’s trip to Jerusalem – Acts 21:4-14. God warned him three times not to go, but then allowed him to go to teach him obedience and ultimately to get him to Rome.
b. Hitler – God certainly did not approve of him murdering 6 million of His chosen people, but allowed it as the beginning of the restoration of the Jews and to return them to their homeland.
c. I Peter 3:15-18 – God allows suffering in the lives of His children to perfect them, although He would clearly prefer that they not have to suffer.
2. Man has a free will. God will not force anyone to do anything. God offers salvation and lays down the principles for a godly life; but if a man exercises the free will God has given him and rejects it, God permits that man’s free will to be exercised and the man suffers the consequences.
B. The directive will of God.
1. There are certain things God specifically wills.
a. II Peter 3:9 – God is not willing that any should perish. All unsaved people are out of the will of God regardless of what else they may do.
b. I Thessalonians 5:18 – We are to give thanks in everything.
c. I Peter 2:13-15 – We are to submit to every ordinance of man. However, this must be balanced by the next point:
d. Romans 12:1-2 – We are not to be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds. (Submission to the ordinances of man is to maintain a proper testimony to win them; while at the same time, your life is to be transformed to live by a higher standard to please God.)
e. I Thessalonians 4:3-7 – God desires our sanctification.
f. Ephesians 6:5-8 – Our service is to be from the heart, with pure motives, as if we were serving Jesus Christ.
g. Ephesians 5:15-17 — We are to redeem the time. Quit wasting time! Make use of the small amount God has given you.
2. Summarizing God’s will for your life: The will of God is the same for every person on earth, to be conformed to the image of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
a. Romans 8:28-29
b. John 17:20-23
c. Ephesians 4:13-15
Even though Paul exercised his own will, and went to Jerusalem before the appointed time by God, God still was able to fulfill his plan in Paul’s life of being a witness before the Gentiles, and kings, and the Jews. Next week, we will continue Paul’s testimony and defense in Acts 23, as the chief captain of the Roman guard now knows that Paul is a free born Roman citizen!
Acts 9:15-17: But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.