Obeying the Will of God

 By:  Dale Weckbacher

 

Text:  Acts 21:1-16

 

Acts 21:13-14

Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” ¹⁴ And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.”

(ESV)

 

I generally end each posting to this blog with the words “May God bless everyone reading this post.”  While I aim to write in a manner that brings blessing to everyone, I also want to challenge everyone reading with truth from the Word of God.  This has a biblical foundation in Romans 12:2 which challenges every believer to lose conformity to the World and experience transformation of mind through the Word of God.  Therefore, I hope that this post will both bless, and challenge the hearts of everyone reading it. 

 

In obedience to the will of God, Paul is determined to go to Jerusalem (Acts 20:22-24).  While Paul mentions he is unaware of what specifically will happen to him in Jerusalem, he goes there knowing that the Holy Spirit has revealed to him that imprisonment and afflictions await him wherever he goes (Acts 20:22-23).  Acts 20:1-16 records the account of Paul’s journey to Jerusalem and shows his determination to obediently follow the will of God, despite the urging of well-meaning disciples not to go.  In this passage we see,

 

1)      Paul visiting the disciples in Tyre and Caesarea on his way to Jerusalem (Acts 21:1-8) – Similar to his whirlwind tour in Acts 20:1-16, Paul does not go straight to Jerusalem but makes a detour to Tyre and Caesarea to visit the disciples there.  Even though Paul stated he was not aware of what would happen to him in Jerusalem, he did receive a word from the Holy Spirit that wherever he went imprisonment and afflictions await him (Acts 20:22-23).  However, Paul’s sense of urgency and his actions show an awareness this would be his final act of ministry. 

2)      Concerned for his safety, the disciples in Caesarea urging Paul not to go to Jerusalem (Acts 21:9-12) – Losing a loved one or close friend is traumatic for anyone, loss of one teaching truth from the Word of God is spiritually traumatic.  It is therefore understandable that the disciples Caesarea would try to talk Paul out of going to Jerusalem, knowing what might happen to their beloved teacher there.  To accomplish this, they have Philip’s four unmarried daughters prophesy with the prophet Agabus coming from Judea using Paul’s belt to bind his hands and feet to illustrate how the Jews would treat Paul in Jerusalem (Acts 21:9-11).  The Word from the Holy Spirit offered by Agabus is indeed from the Lord with those in Caesarea believing it was a warning to Paul not to go to Jerusalem (Acts 21:12).  However, the prophecy could also be a clarification to Paul of what will occur to him in Jerusalem (Acts 20:22).  How Paul interprets the prophecy becomes clear in the rest of the text.

3)      Paul, in obedience to the will of God, going to Jerusalem (Acts 22:13-16) – Paul is obedient to the constraint of the Holy Spirit (Acts 20:22) and interprets the prophecy of Agabus as clarification that he will suffer imprisonment in Jerusalem and be taken into the custody of the Gentiles (Acts 21:11).  Paul then tells the disciples in Caesarea to stop their weeping and the breaking of his heart because Paul is willing to suffer imprisonment and even death for the Lord (Acts 21:13).  After Paul’s statement of faith, the disciples realize Paul could not be persuaded to stay away from Jerusalem and surrender themselves to the will of the Lord (Acts 21:14).  After this, Paul prepares for his trip to Jerusalem and is accompanied by some of the disciples who bring him to the house of Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple who would provide lodging for Paul and those with him (Acts 21:15-16). 

 

Paul is determined to go to Jerusalem under the compelling of the Holy Spirit and after the prophecy of Agabus, knows he will be imprisoned and delivered to the Gentiles (Acts 21:11).  However, Paul does not view this circumstance with fear, but an opportunity to share the Gospel with the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem and then the Roman officials the Jews will turn him over to.  In his letter to the Romans, Paul wrote that all things work together for good for those that love God and are called to His purpose (Romans 8:28).  Not only is this an opportunity to share the Gospel with others, but Paul’s death for his faith will also bring him into the presence of God (2 Corinthians 5:8).  Unknown to Paul was the legacy of his teaching he would leave behind in the epistles which are contained in the New Testament. 

 

Where we place our treasure identifies the location of our heart (Matthew 6:21).  Every believer must regularly identify the location of their heart by finding what they treasure.  We must ask ourselves if we are like the disciples in Caesarea who treasured protecting Paul and tried to derail Paul’s ministry from following the direction of the Holy Spirit by going to Jerusalem.  In contrast, we should be like Paul and treasure our relationship with God and obediently follow the direction of the Holy Spirit even though it could mean pain, suffering, or even death.  I challenge those reading this to spend time this week searching their hearts to determine the extent to which they value their relationship with God through Christ.

 

Perhaps you are reading this and do not have a relationship with, I invite you to pray with me now so God can forgive you of the sin separating you from God (Romans 3:23, 6:23). 

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

I pray this post will both bless and challenge you this week.