TEXT: Acts 16:6-10
INTRO: In 1984 my family attended a Spiritual Retreat (Conference) in Bertchesgaden, West Germany. This was an annual event for those involved in the Ministry to the Military in Europe. These were "high times", indeed. Not only were we "high on a mountain, nestled in the Bavarian Alps; but we were also lifted to "high" (heavenly) places in the Lord! A few years ago I took a number of our church members to Bertchesgaden.
I don’t remember many specifics of this Conference. I do, however remember a class that was being taught by Dr. Daniel Black on The Holy Spirit. During that class, Dr. Black made a comment that changed the course of my life. Fireworks didn’t go off, and whistles didn’t blow when he made his statement. There wasn’t any emotional display. But, he spoke a truth that went deep into my spirit. It was a simple statement. You may not find it very profound. It was, however, God’s direct Word to me that day. Here it is: "God has a place where you can be your best for Him!" Even as I prepared this message, I sensed a strange "warmness in my spirit" as I thought again of that truth. God has a place where you can be your best for Him!"
Today, if there is anything of which I am sure it is this: "I am not my own, I’ve been bought with a price!" And may I tell you this morning that I am no different than you.
The Apostle Paul had impressive credentials. Paul (whose former name was Saul) was a Jewish Pharisee which had been converted to Christianity. He was a highly intelligent scholar of the Jewish law. He was born a Roman citizen in Tarsus. Scripture tells us that he studied at the feet of the great Rabbi Gamaliel.
However, he did not "boast" in these credentials. He "boasted" rather in the credentials listed in 2 Corinthians 11:23-28: "... I have worked harder, been put in jail more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again and again. Five different times the Jews gave me their terrible thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I was in the open sea all night and the whole next day. I have traveled many weary miles and have been often in great danger from flooded rivers and from robbers and from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the hands of the Gentiles. I have faced grave dangers from mobs in the cities and from death in the deserts and in the stormy seas and from men who claim to be brothers in Christ but are not. I have lived with weariness and pain and sleepless nights. Often I have been hungry and thirsty and have gone without food; often I have shivered with cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm. Then, besides all this, I have the constant worry of how the churches are getting along …”
Yet in the midst of all that happened in Paul’s life, he was found walking in the will of God! Turn with me please to the Sixteenth chapter of Acts. We will begin reading at verse 6:
"And they passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia; 7and when they had come to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them; 8and passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. 9And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a certain man of Macedonia was standing and appealing to him, and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." 10And when he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them."
Now this is one of those passages we often read over, not realizing its significance. This is a favorite text to be read during "missions services", and rightfully so. Especially the part about "Come over to Macedonia and help us". But, a number of years ago while considering the "will of God" I saw something else in this passage.
It would help if you had some background. As you probably know, Paul took what is commonly referred to as "Three Missionary Journeys". This passage speaks of events happening during his Second Missionary Journey, while being accompanied by Silas.
The humanity of the Apostles is seen in chapter fifteen, verses 37-40: "And Barnabas was desirous of taking John, called Mark, along with them also. 38 But Paul kept insisting that they should not take him along who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. 39 And there arose such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. 40 But Paul chose Silas and departed, being committed by the brethren to the grace of the Lord." We will address that situation more fully later.
In this passage, we can observe first that ...
I. GOD DOES HAVE A WILL FOR YOU
Look again at verse 10: "And when he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them."
Would you agree with me this morning that Paul was a success in the kingdom of God? I’m sure you do, for 13 books of the NT are attributed to him. May I tell you that this success was not the result of his schooling or of his "getting the right breaks". His success in the Kingdom was a direct result of his being in the will of God! Remember: "God has a place where you can be your best for Him!" I want to keep that before you this morning. You will be faced with a decision today -- either to pursue your own plans and goals, perhaps making an impact in the Kingdom; or to find God’s will for your life and be your best for Him.
God’s will for Paul, as seen in our text, was for him and Silas to go to Macedonia, a land lying geographically between the Balkan highlands and the Greek peninsula. It was both a Greek kingdom and a Roman province. God chose, in this case, to direct Paul and Silas to Macedonia by employing a night vision. It’s important for you to know that this is not the ONLY MANNER in which God directs us. I’ll talk more about that later.
God’s plan and design was for Paul and Silas to minister to those whom He had prepared for the Gospel. We find in this passage a very important reason for aspiring to the will of God: God sees all things --- we don’t! We see our yesterdays, God sees our tomorrows! We observe that which goes on around us on a natural plane --- God views the things of the spirit realm! We see through "a glass darkly", God sees clearly! We sow the seed; God prepares the ground! We hunt; God knows where the game is. We fish; God prepares a "great catch" and directs us to it. God knows! Listen folks, God knows where the harvest is. He has worked it --- He has prepared it. And now, the only thing left is the harvesting! That’s why the Lord stated "Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest." (Matthew 9:38) Whose harvest? HIS HARVEST! God had prepared the harvest in Macedonia, and we find Him now sending His laborers (Paul & Silas) into that harvest! They were hindered from going into another region, because that field was not ready to harvest!
Paul understood the importance of being in the will of God. He realized being out of God’s will and operating on our own flesh would be tantamount to: "beating the air" (or shadow boxing) (1 Cor 9:26). Dearly beloved, GOD DOES HAVE A WILL FOR YOU! It is wrong to feel that only those "in the ministry" need concern themselves with the will of God. We are all "in the ministry".
II. GOD’S WILL IS NOT ALWAYS EASILY DISCERNED
Or, I could put it another way: "God’s Will is Sometimes a Circuitous Route." I mean by this that God’s will is often not the shortest distance between two points! Look again at the text. After reading verse 9, it is obvious that the will of God for Paul and Silas was to travel to Macedonia. However, God’s plan was not evident to Paul and Silas upon their departure from their home base of Antioch. They had to travel over 600 miles before His Will became clear to them. Now, notice this with me this morning:
1) God’s will for Paul & Silas as they departed Antioch was for them to travel to Macedonia.
2) This "will" was not clear to them as evidenced by verse 7:
"and when they had come to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them;"
3) With the lack of "specific direction" from the Lord, they acted upon His "general direction". Let me explain that a little more clearly:
Is there evidence that Paul & Silas had received a mandate from God to depart on this Third Missionary Journey? If so, we don’t read about it. Let’s look at Acts 15:35-41
But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching, with many others also, the word of the Lord. 36And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us return and visit the brethren in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are." 37And Barnabas was desirous of taking John, called Mark, along with them also. 38But Paul kept insisting that they should not take him along who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. 39And there arose such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. 40But Paul chose Silas and departed, being committed by the brethren to the grace of the Lord. 41And he was traveling through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches."
Just as a sidelight, let me point out the divisive disagreement between Barnabas and Paul, which led to a "parting of the ways". Did you notice the terminology of verse 38: "But Paul kept insisting that they should not take him along..." There are problems caused when we insist on our way without praying about the will of God!
As I mentioned, Paul and Silas set out on this Third Missionary Journey without a specific direction from the Lord. They acted, rather upon his general direction.
Now we have arrived at a crucial point of this message! There are those who would like to tell you that the will of God will always be as clear to you as the nose on your face. These folks are not well versed in Scripture! The clear teaching of Scripture is "we walk by faith, not by sight". I have said all that to say this: "It is possible for a person to be in the divine will of God without even knowing it!" Now, before you turn me off, allow me to substantiate my claim by turning to another portion of Scripture found in Matthew’s Gospel, chapter 11, beginning with verse 1: "And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities. 2Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, 3And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?
Who was this asking the question? It was John the Baptist, who was in prison because of his preaching of the Kingdom. I don’t know what your estimate of John is, but I know what Christ thought of him. Look at verses 10 & 11 (Matt 11): "For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 11Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist...:"
This was the "one and only John the Baptist". The "Preparer of the Way of the Lord". The one who baptized Jesus in the river Jordan. Listen to the account of this momentous occasion as recorded in John 1:32-34 "And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. 33And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. 34And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God."
And now, some time later in Herod’s prison, John the Baptist began to evaluate his life. "Have I spent my life in vain?" "Is this Jesus, indeed the Messiah or do I have to begin seeking for another?" Jesus was, of course the Messiah. And John, though at that point not aware of it, was in the will of God!
Now stay with me this morning. Don’t miss this important point. Allow me to tie this together. Return with me to our story about Paul and Silas. I asked the question "Did they begin their missionary journey by a specific mandate of God?" The answer is: "We have no evidence of this". Am I saying they were out of the will of God? Absolutely not!! They were in his perfect will! You see, with the absence of His Specific Direction, they operated their lives on His General Direction. I’ve mentioned that term a number of times, now let me explain it:
The General Direction of God is that "Will" we know by the general revelation of God. I’ll make it clearer for you: Paul and Silas operated upon the general direction of Christ when He said “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." (Matt 28:19,20)
There are those who excuse their inactivity from God by saying "I haven’t heard from Him regarding His Will for my life". But friends, look at the example of Paul and Silas. It was God’s ultimate will or plan that they go to Macedonia. But His will took a circuitous route. It was not straight from Antioch to Macedonia. No, there were things to be accomplished on the way! Scripture records in Acts 16:5 "And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily." As they walked, God directed their steps. After all, this is promised in Psalms 37:23 that "The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way."
There are those times when one hears clearly from the Lord. There is no doubt regarding His Will in a particular situation. There are those times we know that we must "wait upon the Lord" for guidance. However, there are those times when, after seeking the Lord and receiving neither mandate nor prohibition regarding a specific matter that we are to begin walking "circumspectly" within the confines of His general will. If we are not careful, we will reach the end of our life on earth with little to offer God, simply because we timidly waited --- afraid to move without fireworks going off in our spirit, or blazing letters stretching across the sky directing our course of action. Friends, we must learn that it is not always in the "strong wind, the earthquake or the fire", but more times than not the will of God is communicated to us by the "still small voice" as seen in 1 Kings 19!
Now, before I move off this second point of the message, let me say something else about the "Circuitous Route" God’s Will sometimes takes. In Romans 1 we read Paul’s introduction to his letter to the Christians living at Rome. In verses 9-10 we read: "For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; 10Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you." Did he have a prosperous journey to Rome? Indeed, he did. But he had to be imprisoned in Jerusalem; threatened by death; shipwrecked off the island of Mileta; bitten by a venomous snake and brought to Rome as a prisoner of the state. Could this be considered a prosperous journey? Yes indeed, for Paul was in the will of God, and His will is often circuitous in nature!
IMPORTANT: Never attempt to evaluate your position in the will of God by the circumstances that surround you! Realize that "The Will of God is Sometimes Not Easily Discerned".
III. THE KEY TO BEING IN HIS WILL
As you know, I am big on "Keys". For a "key" is that which unlocks something that is locked. A lock is often used to keep something away from someone. A key is necessary to make available to us that which is safe-guarded. Therefore, the third and last point to this message is "the Key to Being in His Will". It’s a simple key. It is not one of many keys on a key ring. I believe the key to being in the will of God is this: WANTING TO BE IN HIS WILL!!
Friends, I believe from the depths of my heart that if you WANT TO BE IN GOD’S WILL YOU WILL BE IN HIS WILL! You may not even be aware of it, but God has a way of keeping the desirous in His will. I have Scripture to substantiate this belief. It is found in Psalms 37:4 "Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart."
I have never seen someone who is genuinely desirous of being in God’s will get too far away from it. God will not tantalize us with the possibility of being in His will, and then pull away the "brass ring" every time we reach for it.
Conversely, I have not often seen someone in the center of God’s Will who was not desirous of being in His will. We will never simply slide into the will of God. Being in His will requires desire. He says in Jeremiah 29:13 "And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart."
CONCLUSION. What, then can we say regarding the will of God:
1. God does have a will for every person sitting in this church this morning. Make no mistake about, He has a SPECIFIC PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE. No matter what you accomplish, you will never be considered successful in GOD’S EYES until you walk in His will.
2. Sometimes, that will is not clearly discernible. In those cases we must seek God, and then operate under the guidance of His general direction --- that direction seen in Scripture. As we set out, we say "God, I’ll go only as far as you lead, and no further. I believe you have set before me doors; some open and others shut. I will walk through the open doors, and stop at the closed."
3. If we are desirous of being in God’s will, we will be! The key is desire. We must be serious about being in the will of God. We must be take seriously the model pray given us by Christ: "Our Father, which art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done!" We must settle for nothing less.
4. We understand to be truly successful in life requires being in the center of God’s will. This is a place of security and blessing. As someone once said: "God’s will will never lead you where His grace cannot keep you"! The best place in this earth to be is squarely in the will of God.
If you are serious about this tonight, we are going to pray. I believe the Spirit would have us pray in this fashion: "God, I know you have a will for my life. It is my earnest desire this morning to see this will accomplished."
