Bible Study: Strength In God's Will

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Today is Tuesday November 16, 2010 and we are continuing our reading through the Bible. Today's message comes from the Book of Acts, chapters 20-22. In these chapters we will read about, Paul's mission in Macedonia and Greece, the raising of Eutychus from death, a message to the Ephesian elders, and Paul seized in the Temple at Jerusalem. If you would like to read today's chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this link onto your browser: imfollowingjesus.com/bible-november-16 All Scripture quoted comes from the King James Version.

Today's Message: Strength In God's Will
The word will is defined as a personal choice, a desire, when we choose to live in the will of God we are saying that we are going to live our lives as the personal choice that God has chosen for us or as He desires us to live. When Jesus' disciples asked Him to teach them to pray the first thing He said was, “When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.” - Luke 11:2. When we are up in heaven we will always be in God's will so we might as well get use to it now. It's not always easy following the will of God, we are going to face lots of temptations, trials, and even some suffering, but God is always with us and as we endure these things with Him we can be sure that our greater reward awaits us. “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.” -Revelation 21:7.

No matter what Paul was going through he did everything in that the Holy Spirit led him to do, if it meant that he was going to suffer he gladly accepted the challenge and did whatever God asked him to do. Paul was heading back to Jerusalem, along the way he stopped to preach the Gospel where the Holy Spirit led him, while in Miletus he spoke to the elders of the church from Ephesus. “And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons,.. And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God...Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” - Acts 20:18,22-24,28.

Paul did not know what was going to happen to him when he arrived in Jerusalem, he was well aware that there would be some affliction and he was joyful about it. He encouraged the elders to keep preaching the Gospel and reminded them that Christ paid for their lives as well with His blood. Even when he expects persecution and affliction, the love of Christ gives him the strength to proceed. “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” - I Peter 5:10.

When trying to do the will of God we are always going to get opposition, even if it is not intentional. Along his journey back to Jerusalem a man named Agabus who was a prophet urged Paul not to continue on his journey. “And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. 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.” - Acts 21:11-14.

Paul was willing to accept that he may die in Jerusalem saying, “The will of the Lord be done.” The powerful influences of the Holy Spirit bind the true Christian to his duty. While we can not know what the future holds even throughout the day, we can be joyful knowing that one thing in our future does hold true and that is being in the Kingdom of God. “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” - I Corinthians 6:9-11.

While Paul went through much suffering following God's will none of it can compare to the suffering that Jesus endured as He shed His blood to save us. Jesus died for all with joy, He took on the sin debt that every living soul owed by giving His life for them. He bore much pain, humiliation, and suffering so we do not have to spend eternity in hell. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” -Romans 5:8,9.

Although Christ died for all He will not give eternal life to anyone unless they ask Him to save them. That is God's will for everyone, but sadly, few will allow Him to choose their will for them. It takes a strong person to follow the will of God, but we do not have to gather the strength ourselves. Paul knew where his strength came from and that is what enabled him to follow God's will. It came from Christ, and no matter what we are going through we can join Paul in saying, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” - Philippians 4:13. Praise God!

Be blessed, enjoy the rest of your day/night and week.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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