If It Is God's Will

 If It is God’s Will

Acts 18.19 They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.20 When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined. 21 But as he left, he promised, “I will come back if it is God’s will.” Then he set sail from Ephesus. 22 When he landed at Caesarea, he went up to Jerusalem and greeted the church and then went down to Antioch.

James 4:13-15 English Standard Version (ESV)
Boasting About Tomorrow
13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— 14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”


We are faced with choices each day. A few weeks ago we looked at the portion of the Prayer that Jesus taught us to pray to the Father, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
What is meant by God’s Will?
It is have in mind, intend, to be resolved or determined, to purpose, to desire, to wish, to love, to like to do a thing, be fond of doing, to take delight in, have pleasure.
II Peter 3.9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
He loves to see people come to Him.
Psalm 40.8 I take joy in doing Your will, my God, for Your instructions are written on my heart.
Delighting in the things God delights in.


Here in Acts 18 Paul is in Ephesus. He is pressed by that church to stay on, but he is feeling called to continue his journey. He promised he would come back if it is God’s will.
He eventually did return.


If it is God’s will... not just in missionary journeys but in all of life’s journeys, in the journey of life itself.
James 4.13 validates that.
It is have in mind, intend, to be resolved or determined, to purpose, to desire, to wish, to love, to like to do a thing, be fond of doing, to take delight in, have pleasure.
Psalm 115.3
3
Our God is in heaven;
    He does whatever pleases Him.

All too often Christians want their will done. The journey to heaven is surrendered to His will.



1. Surrendering To God’s Will Is the Wisest Thing You Can Do.
Proverbs 3.5-6
ways=
Root word=to tread, bend, lead, march
way, road, distance, journey, manner, path, direction, habit,
1. of course of life (fig.)
of moral character (fig.)


In all your travels on this journey of life put God first. Become very close to Jesus, get to know Him as you make your way through life.
He will direct your paths.... smooth, agreeable, straight

Colossians 1.1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
John 3.25 An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. 26 They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.”
27 To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.
We take our places in God’s Kingdom which He has prepared for us.
Works of service He has prepared for us to do.
Ephesians 4.11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

2. God’s Will is Revealed to Us as We Journey in Faith.

To Abraham the LORD said, “ The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.” Genesis 12.1

It was God’s will for Abraham to move out but He did not tell him where.
I used to think that the LORD would lay out everything for us.

He doesn’t. That would eliminate the need of faith. We walk by faith not by sight. Step by step. Day By Day, sometimes moment by moment!

3. His Will Will Never Take You Where His Grace Cannot Keep You.

His will can be for you to suffer.
Isaiah 53.10
Yet it was the LORD's will to crush Him and cause Him to suffer, and though the LORD makes His life an offering for sin, Je will see His offspring and prolong His days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in His hand.

I Peter 4.19
So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

I Peter 2.19 For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God.20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

His will is the best.

It will take you to places spiritually you never dreamed of.

His will is to make you like Jesus.
Romans 8.29
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
He is the Master Weaver.
Romans 8.28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.
This takes faith.
God is using my suffering for my good! His purpose is to make us like His Son.
O boundless love Divine, how shall this tongue of mine,
To wondering mortals tell this matchless Divine?
That I a child of hell should in His image shine! The comforter has come!

If it is God’s will we will...
May His will be done on earth as it is in heaven.