Discerning God’s Will (Linton Hall Sermon)

Psalm 127:1 CSB – Unless the LORD builds a house, its builders labor over it in vain; unless the LORD watches over a city, the watchman stays alert in vain.

Proverbs 3:5-6 CSB – Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not rely on your own understanding;
⁶ in all your ways know him,
and he will make your paths straight.

Acts 21:1-6, 10-14 CSB – After we tore ourselves away from them, we set sail straight for Cos, the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. ² Finding a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, we boarded and set sail. ³ After we sighted Cyprus, passing to the south of it, we sailed on to Syria and arrived at Tyre, since the ship was to unload its cargo there. ⁴ We sought out the disciples and stayed there seven days. Through the Spirit they told Paul not to go to Jerusalem. ⁵ When our time had come to an end, we left to continue our journey, while all of them, with their wives and children, accompanied us out of the city. After kneeling down on the beach to pray, ⁶ we said farewell to one another and boarded the ship, and they returned home.

¹⁰ After we had been there for several days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. ¹¹ He came to us, took Paul’s belt, tied his own feet and hands, and said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews in Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him over to the Gentiles.’” ¹² When we heard this, both we and the local people pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem.

¹³ Then Paul replied, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

¹⁴ Since he would not be persuaded, we said no more except, “The Lord’s will be done.”

Acts 20:36-38 CSB – After he said this, he knelt down and prayed with all of them. ³⁷ There were many tears shed by everyone. They embraced Paul and kissed him, ³⁸ grieving most of all over his statement that they would never see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship.

Acts 21:1-2 CSB – After we tore ourselves away from them, we set sail straight for Cos, the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara.

² Finding a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, we boarded and set sail.

On the Way, Good People Disagree

In Tyre: Acts 21:4 CSB – We sought out the disciples and stayed there seven days. Through the Spirit they told Paul not to go to Jerusalem.

In Caesarea Maritime: Acts 21:11-12 CSB – [Agabus] ¹¹ He came to us, took Paul’s belt, tied his own feet and hands, and said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews in Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him over to the Gentiles.’” ¹² When we heard this, both we and the local people pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem.

Acts 21:13-14, Then Paul replied, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

¹⁴ Since he would not be persuaded, we said no more except, “The Lord’s will be done.”

Paul to his friends in Ephesus: Acts 20:22 CSB – “And now I am on my way to Jerusalem, compelled by the Spirit,…

Acts 20:22-24 CSB – “And now I am on my way to Jerusalem, compelled by the Spirit,

not knowing what I will encounter there,²³ except that in every town the Holy Spirit warns me that chains and afflictions are waiting for me. ²⁴ But I consider my life of no value to myself; my purpose is to finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God’s grace.

Nehemiah 6:3 CSB – “I am doing important work and cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?”

Romans 6:6-8 CSB – our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be rendered powerless so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, [sinful desires, impulses, instincts]

 ⁷ since a person who has died is freed from sin. ⁸ Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him,

Acts 21:17-19 CSB – When we reached Jerusalem, the brothers and sisters welcomed us warmly. ¹⁸ The following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. ¹⁹ After greeting them, he reported in detail what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.

In Jerusalem—Trouble!

Acts 21:20 CSB – When they heard it, they glorified God and said, “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law.

Acts 21:21 CSB – But they have been informed about you—that you are teaching all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to abandon Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or to live according to our customs.

Matthew 18:15 CSB – Jesus said, “If your brother sins against you, go tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won your brother.

Acts 21:23-24 CSB – We have four men who have made a vow. ²⁴ Take these men, purify yourself along with them, and pay for them to get their heads shaved. Then everyone will know that what they were told about you amounts to nothing, but that you yourself are also careful about observing the law.

Acts 21:27-29 CSB – When the seven days were nearly over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd, and seized him, ²⁸ shouting, “Fellow Israelites, help! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people, our law, and this place. What’s more, he also brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” ²⁹ For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple.

Acts 21:30 CSB – The whole city was stirred up, and the people rushed together. They seized Paul, dragged him out of the temple, and at once the gates were shut.

F.I.P.A.

• Facts
• Intuition
• Principles
• Action

Acts 21:31-34 CSB – As they were trying to kill him, word went up to the commander of the regiment that all Jerusalem was in chaos.

³² Taking along soldiers and centurions, he immediately ran down to them. Seeing the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.

³³ Then the commander approached, took him into custody, and ordered him to be bound with two chains. He asked who he was and what he had done.

³⁴ Some in the crowd were shouting one thing and some another. Since he was not able to get reliable information because of the uproar, he ordered him to be taken into the barracks.

Paul’s Response

Acts 21:35-39 CSB – When Paul got to the steps, he had to be carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd,

As he was about to be brought into the barracks, Paul said to the commander, “Am I allowed to say something to you?”

He replied, “You know how to speak Greek? ³⁸ Aren’t you the Egyptian who started a revolt some time ago and led four thousand men of the Assassins into the wilderness?”

Acts 21:40 CSB – After he had given permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned with his hand to the people. When there was a great hush, he addressed them in Aramaic:

Acts 22:1-3 CSB – “Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense before you.” ² When they heard that he was addressing them in Aramaic, they became even quieter. ³ He continued,…

Acts 22:22 CSB – They listened to him up to this point. Then they raised their voices, shouting, “Wipe this man off the face of the earth! He should not be allowed to live!”

Acts 22:23-24 CSB – As they were yelling and flinging aside their garments and throwing dust into the air, ²⁴ the commander ordered him to be brought into the barracks, directing that he be interrogated with the scourge to discover the reason they were shouting against him like this.

Acts 22:25 CSB – As they stretched him out for the lash, Paul said to the centurion standing by, “Is it legal for you to scourge a man who is a Roman citizen and is uncondemned?”

Acts 22:29 CSB –  So those who were about to examine him withdrew from him immediately. The commander too was alarmed when he realized Paul was a Roman citizen and he had bound him.

Acts 23:10-11 CSB – …the commander feared that Paul might be torn apart by them and ordered the troops to go down, take him away from them, and bring him into the barracks. ¹¹ The following night, the Lord stood by him and said, “Have courage! For as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so it is necessary for you to testify in Rome.”

Lessons for Following God’s Will

1. Often, Knowing God’s Will isn’t hard.Predetermine to obey

“The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried.”– K. Chesterton

2. Most of the time, God has already made His will clear. Be humble

3. Sometimes, following God’s will creates trouble. Be Courageous.

Psalm 27:1 CSB – The Lord is my light and my salvation—
whom should I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
whom should I dread?

4. God will is always for our good. Be confident!

Romans 8:28 CSB – We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.