Discerning God's Will | Acts 22:17-21 | Pastor Daniel Batarseh

Can we show our appreciation to the praise team for leading us? Thank you. If you were at our conference last year, then you would have hopefully remembered that we spent our time that weekend exploring the life and the ministry of the apostle Paul. And you might have also remembered that by the end of that conference, I acknowledge that whatever we learned in those sessions just really scratched the surface of what this man's legacy has to offer us as followers of Jesus Christ. Well, that truth is something that I was reminded of in my personal time reading God's word this week as I've recently been in the book of Acts.

And something stood out to me in a particular passage that moved me so deeply. It was instructive, reassuring, and convicting all at the same time. And it did such a work in my heart that I couldn't help but share it with my wife that same night before I went to bed. And when I woke up, it was still with me, so I was prompted to share it with others. And as I have been meditating and praying on what to speak on today, I could not shake off that passage.

So I decided to look more deeply into it. And when I did, I discovered that there was much more to learn from it than I initially thought. But before we look at these verses, I must give you the context of the passage. In the book of Acts, Paul's testimony is granted to us on three separate occasions. The first time, it is narrated by Luke in Acts chapter nine.

And two other times, Paul himself recounts his experience with the resurrected Lord. Once in Acts chapter 22 and the other in Acts chapter 26. However, when you look at it more carefully, you realize that there are distinct details. And that does not imply contradiction. Far from it.

It just shows that Paul tailored his account, and when he sought to emphasize a certain thing, it was because he was dealing with a particular audience. And so he would include some truths while omitting other events related to his conversion. He's very strategic in how he shared his story. And it's in the second account where we find something that Paul adds that you can't see in the other two. It's found in Acts chapter 22, and I would encourage you to turn there.

And here's the background to why Paul is sharing his testimony in Acts chapter 22. The apostle arrived in Jerusalem in Acts chapter 21, and when he got there, he was sharing all that God had done with the leaders among the Gentiles, and they were so moved and they praised God for it. But the leaders were concerned because rumors were spreading about the apostle Paul, and here were the rumors. He is teaching others to reject, to to overlook, to almost despise the law of Moses. And so these leaders encouraged Paul in order to dispel these, false slanderous things.

Paul, why don't you go to the temple, honor certain customs to show the Jews that this is not what you're about, that you're not against the law necessarily, that you're not against certain customs from the law. And so Paul agreed, but things did not go according to plan. Because once he arrived at the temple, the Jews recognized him and they stirred up the crowd to apprehend him, ultimately to have him killed, to get rid of him once and for all. And Paul is mauled by this crowd. And though beaten near to death, the Romans learn of it, they intervene and they rescue this man from this riot.

And the Romans, they're they're confused themselves. And so what do they do? They arrest Paul and they are ready to put him into custody. And as they are about to enter into the barracks, Paul asks, may I say something to this crowd? And he is permitted to do so.

And so, Paul now is ready to make an opportunity out of this. And he's not looking to defend his innocence necessarily. More than that, he wants to share what Christ has done in his life and he wants to show how his ministry is rooted in a heavenly call. And so what does he do? Well, he shares about what happened on the road to Damascus.

And more than that, he talks about how Ananias was sent by the Lord to pray for him and to instruct him further of how he had to go to the Gentiles to preach this truth. And how it was the God of our fathers who is the one who commissioned me. But Paul doesn't say much before the same crowd that erupted in fury at his sight would explode once again, and we'll get to that point later. But it's after he shares about his Damascus road experience and after he talks about Ananias that we see something again that you don't see elsewhere. Acts 22 verse 17.

Paul's speaking to this crowd and he says, when I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance and saw him saying to me, make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly because they will not accept your testimony about me. And I said, Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another, I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you. And when the blood of Stephen, your witness was being shed, I myself was standing by and approving and watching over the garments of those who killed him. And he said to me, go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles. Again, this snapshot is not found anywhere else.

Only here in Acts 22. Why? Well, it's because of the audience. And the main reason is that Paul is trying to convince this group when he retells his first visit to Jerusalem after his conversion. That's what he's talking about here.

The first time he goes to Jerusalem as after he is saved by the Lord Jesus Christ, he wants to let him know, I did not dishonor my Jewish heritage. I didn't spurn my roots. I didn't reject it. And and how does he convince him of that? Well, look again at verse 17.

He says, when I returned to Jerusalem, I was praying where? In the temple. In the temple. I honored this holy place from the beginning. And more than that, he he does this throughout his testimony in acts 22, but more than that, he also wants to try to persuade them that his ministry to the Gentiles is something that came from God.

Remember, the Jews didn't feel too great about the Gentiles. Right? And so Paul mentions again here, look at verse 21, that the Lord sent him to the Gentiles. And before he could continue, before he can elaborate, they again interrupted him and they would not tolerate this. Now, as helpful as this observation may be in solidifying the integrity of this man of God, the inspiration of this passage is beyond that.

There's something that runs deeper here, and it deals with the conversation that Paul has with Jesus Christ. If you really look carefully, then this is what you're seeing. The essence of this exchange is Paul's ambition and desire is redirected by God's perfect will. Do you see that? Moreover, it reveals how even the apostle Paul initially struggled to grasp God's leading at this point in his life.

That's what moved me so much. I have to read again, is this really Paul objecting to what the Lord Jesus Christ is telling him to do? Is this Paul really hesitant to understand God's purposes in his life, at least in this chapter of his life? The answer is yes. But when you consider even more what this passage has to offer, you realize that the theme of God's will is so prevalent, but there are more truths attached to it for our benefit.

In other words, I wanna take this time this afternoon to unfold for us three truths about God's unique will that's applicable to every believer in Jesus Christ. Three truths about his will. Here's Paul who has this ambition and here's God who has his will for his life. And Paul made a choice to go with what God said. So here's three things that I want us to take from this passage.

The first thing is this. The will of God is illuminated when we are prayerful. The will of God is illuminated when we are prayerful. It's not by chance that the Lord's warning to Paul to flee from Jerusalem happened while he was in prayer. And he's very specific in his experience.

Because what does he say? He says that he fell into a trance. Now the word trance is interesting in the Greek. It's it's the word, ecstasy, where we get the word what? Ecstasy from.

And it's used a few times in the New Testament. When you find it in the gospels, it's generally used to describe the reaction of some of the people after they witnessed a miracle. A miracle that Jesus performed. It's almost as though they were outside of themselves while they were beholding this supernatural occurrence. So they're like in a state of mind of of great ecstasy.

However, when you see it in the book of Acts, it's more so used to describe a personal supernatural experience. The depth of one's encounter of a different realm. And that's what we see here with Paul. Paul here is talking about a perception that seems to be transported elsewhere, though he is physically in one place. It's a state of mind that is surreal, but it's very real.

And it didn't just happen to Paul as he's retelling his story of how Christ visits him while he's in the temple praying. It happened to another man named Peter. So go to Acts chapter 10 and I want you to see it with me because I'm going somewhere with this. In Acts 10 verse nine, here's how Luke tells us of Peter's a great turning point in his walk with the Lord. Says here in Acts ten nine, the next day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the house top about the sixth hour to pray.

And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance. Now he has this vision, right, of this blanket that's being dropped from heaven with all these creatures in it. We won't get into that. I want you to see what happens though at verse 13. While in a trance, verse 13 says, and there came a voice saying, rise Peter, kill and eat.

Peter said, by no means Lord, for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean. And the voice came to him again a second time, what God has made clean, do not call common. It's interesting how Peter himself falls into this trance through which Lord Jesus gives him instructions that would revolutionize the church's gospel mission. Peter and Paul had this experience and the main reason why I'm bringing this up is when these divine orders came to them while they were in prayer. What happened to Peter?

He went up to the house top at the sixth hour to pray. And while he was praying, the Lord meets him in that place. Now, it would be very irresponsible for me to use Peter and Paul as examples to teach that if you pray, eventually you'll tap into trances. That'll be wrong. However, it's not wrong to say that Peter and Paul were granted guidance when they prayed.

Because that's something that you and I can expect as well. That's a truth that is woven throughout the scriptures. Listen carefully. God honors a praying man. The Lord blesses a praying woman.

God solves things when we come to him in supplication. He intervenes when we intercede. He comes through when you take time to commune. And one of my favorite examples of this is in the life of David. Oh, there's so many places you go with David's prayer life, but there is one place that's often overlooked.

We studied this when we were looking at second Samuel. It was when he was forced out of Jerusalem into the wilderness because his son Absalom raised up a rebellion against him. And while David is on foot with some of his loyal friends, he learns of even greater tragedy that one of his greatest and most trusted advisors, Ahithophel, joined the rebellion against him. And I want you to turn to the Old Testament to see David's words with me in second Samuel chapter 15 and verse 31. Second Samuel fifteen thirty one, and it was told David, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.

And David said, oh Lord, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness. That's all his prayer was. It was a sigh. It was brief. You know, people think that it's the length of our prayers that gets God's attention.

It's not the length, it's the depth. And this man from the anguish of his soul, from the depths of his being says, oh, Lord, please turn this man's counsel into foolishness. How does God answer that prayer? Does he give David this vision of the future and step by step blueprint of what he ought to do? No.

Does he at this very moment turn Ahithophel's brain like Nebuchadnezzar's Where he loses just basic decency and becomes animalistic in his behavior? No. Does he smite him? Does he kill him before he even gets a chance to open his mouth? Nothing of the sort.

The answer to what the answer to David's prayer is is found in the very next verse. While David was coming to the summit where God was worshiped, behold, Hoshai the archite came to meet him with his coat torn and dirt on his head. Where's the answer? Do you notice the word behold there? That's an important word because it highlights the significance of Hushai's entry into the scene.

And more than that, the close secret of events suggest that the behold is meant to connect what David just prayed to what is happening right here, right now. I suggest you that David's answer to his prayer is found in Hushai coming to him. And if there's any doubt about this, I want you to consider what the scripture says. After David and Hushai, yes, they meet and he sends him back as a spy. Go be a counselor in Absalom's court.

Hushai agrees. He makes his way back and in two chapters later, the Holy Spirit gives us commentary of Hushai's activity in the courts of Absalom. Look at second Samuel 17 verse 14. Absalom at this point is asking, Ahithophel and really his advisors advisers in general, what should we do at this point now? We occupied the throne.

What do we do with David? He's on the run. Ahithophel gives his piece of advice and then Hushai says something and notice what it said here in verse 14 of chapter 17. And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, the council of Hushai the archite is better than the council of Ahithophel. Here it is.

For the Lord had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that the Lord might bring harm upon Absalom. Do you see it? How did the Lord determine to foil Ahithophel's wisdom? Through Hushai providing greater and more persuasive advice. Why do I bring that to your attention?

To show how when God honors a praying man, he commends and blesses a praying woman and his answers don't always look like how we think they should look. He can intervene supernaturally, but how does he intervene in this case? He uses the heart of a loyal friend to be the means, the instrument of seeing this problem solved. Just a small reminder that, oftentimes we overlook how friendships and relationships are God's answers to us. This is Hushai.

He came through for this man because God came through for David in prayer. And it would be, very irresponsible on our end to think that David only prayed in emergencies. You can't study that man's life carefully and come to that conclusion. He had a pattern of opening his heart before the Lord in the good and the bad. And if you go back to Peter and Paul's example, where the Lord spoke to them and provided the next step in an amazing way, they also share in David's pattern.

It's hard to not see it. What was Peter doing when the Lord spoke to him? You say he prayed. Yeah, but how did he pray? They were preparing lunch, he separates himself from people and activity to be in solitude with the Lord.

What did Paul do? He separates himself from ministry and busyness and he goes to the temple to do what? To pray. Yes, we're called to pray without ceasing. And yes, sometimes we're only left with the option to pray while on foot.

But there is a special blessing that is reserved for those who take time to commune with God. There is. And we see it in this example in the New Testament. So I wanna ask you this. If you're somebody who wants to know the will of God, I'm not I'm not limiting that to knowing how to serve him in ministry, just the will of God for your life overall.

Do you habitually pray? Do you seek him? Does it regularly cross your mind with surprises or plans or events, tragedies, even rewards, potential promotion, whatever the case may does it regularly cross your mind? I have to pray about this. I need to seek the Lord.

Be honest. Be honest. Down deep inside, do you really believe that prayer can change things? Do you really believe that if I bring this before the Lord, it can alter things? Or is this idea of prayer, is the practice of prayer, even the thought of prayer, even the conviction to pray is virtually non existent.

And there might be some here saying, I pray, but I'm not getting the answers that I'm looking for. In fact, it seems like the Lord's ignoring me or maybe you've had this experience. The more I pray about it, the more he seems to be putting me in the opposite direction. And if that's you, then be encouraged with the second point when we consider this passage and discerning the will of God. The first is that it's illuminated when you pray, when you pause, when you seek him.

God will bless you and his answers vary. He's not gonna give you a trance, but he might send somebody. He might send a phone call. Things might just begin to move. Here's the second point.

If you are somebody who is seeking, who regularly seeks, who's even frustrated because it's not working, Well then, consider this. The will of God, number two, may not fully align with our righteous desires. Notice I didn't say selfish desires. Notice I didn't say fleshly desires. Righteous desires.

When Paul is telling this group in the temple about the past, how he was at Jerusalem at one point to pray and it was in that place of prayer that God gave him this mission, why was he in Jerusalem to begin with? To minister to the Jews. And you can't blame him. Can you think of a better place? This is the hub of the religionists of his day.

Moreover, Jerusalem was the beginning point of his evil campaign against the Christian movement. So think about how Paul is thinking here. I just met this Jesus who who I was persecuting in his body. He saves me. He transforms me.

I'm gonna go back to Jerusalem and I'm gonna show everybody that I'm changed by this man. The very man that I fought and resisted rescued me and renewed me. What kind of impact would that make on his colleagues who who praised his zeal against the Christian movement? What would it do for the general population who knew of his incredible mind and devotion to the law to now find him? To find him now promoting the very message that God's Stephen killed?

The very message that he approved to disintegrate through his martyrdom? Paul is not thinking emotionally here. He's being very strategic. And so this is why he's in Jerusalem as he retells it. And this is precisely what Paul uses to protest Christ's initial command to leave Jerusalem.

Paul, get out of here. They're not gonna accept your testimony. And this is one of those moments in the Bible where we can truly identify with the humanity of these heroes of the faith. Can you see it? Paul is attempting to convince the Lord how his plan is the way to go.

I I couldn't help but smile when I learned this about Paul. To think that he is trying to persuade the Lord of the effectiveness of his idea. You know why I smile? Because most if not all Christians have done something similar. We give the Lord our proposal and we try to pressure him to buy it, to act on it, to sign off.

And we give him reasons too. Right? Again, I can't help but chuckle when I read Paul telling the Lord about his testimony and his history. And I wanna share a few insights under the second point that can save you your breath in trying to object to God's leading in your life. Here's the obvious one.

He always knows better than you. Always. So Paul seems so certain that his testimony would win the Jews in Jerusalem. And he's not, again, being emotional. He's actually being rational.

He's being logical. But like Paul, please pay attention to this point. But like Paul, be prepared for your rational, well thought out plans to be delayed or rerouted altogether. It seems good. In fact, you actually told other Christians about it and they're like, that's amazing.

Then you bring it to the Lord and guess what? He doesn't think it's so amazing. Be prepared for that. We're dealing with a man. Why is he in Jerusalem?

Is he looking for an estate? Is he looking for a vacation home? Nothing wrong with vacation homes. That's not why he's in Jerusalem. That's not why he's wrestling in prayer.

He wants to win souls. What can be wrong with this? And yet, the Lord says, no. Not here. The Lord said, I don't want you to preach here.

I don't want you to witness here. Now, if we heard the Lord saying that, we would think, was that really the Lord? Yeah. It's the Lord. Why?

Because he knows better than you and he knows better than me. And see, this roadblock would not only be confirmed by this vision, Paul would experience it periodically whenever he tried to engage the Jews. You read throughout acts, we touched on this at the conference. Paul had some success in winning the Jews over to the gospel, but more than that, he experienced persistent rejection and resistance from them. And in those providential nudges, he would always go back to the Gentiles and he would see greater fruit there.

Why? Because he was primarily called to the Gentiles. And so it wasn't just in this vision, Paul had this burning passion for the Jews. He couldn't help it. So wherever he would go, he would find a synagogue and yes, there was some some fruit in that but then there would be enough rejection for him to say, enough.

I'm going to the Gentiles. So the Lord even used experience, closed doors to say, this is not my will for you. So again, another hint that the Lord doesn't have to give you a chance to lead you. He did it for this mighty man of God who would lay the foundation of the church, but even in this man's life, God would do it through providence. The second thing I wanna observe under the second point is that God's will for our lives will not unfold the same way as it does for others.

You know, when you read Paul's experience here in the temple, it matches closely with another man of God's experience. Not Peter's, Isaiah's. Turn to Isaiah chapter six in a very known passage and I want you to see it with your own eyes. We'll begin in verse one. In the year that king Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne high and lifted up and the train of his robe filled the temple.

Where did this happen? Where did this vision lead him to? Seeing the Lord in his temple. Skip over to verse eight. And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, whom shall I send?

Who and who will go for us? Then I said, here I am, send me. Verse nine, and he said, go and say to this people, keep on hearing but do not understand, keep on seeing but do not perceive. So when you compare Isaiah and Paul's experience, here's what you find. Both had a vision of the Lord in the temple.

In that vision, both received a commission from the Lord. And with that, both were told and both were prepared to face a stubborn people who would oppose their message. So parallels. Here's the main difference. Isaiah was told to stay and preach to the stubborn people.

Paul was called to leave. Now I'm not suggesting that Paul is using Isaiah's ministry to protest God's strategy for his life. Here is what I am saying though, we often look at how God works with others and wonder why he can't do the same for us. Lord, I'm looking over there and I see how you provided for so and so. I'm in the same situation.

Can you can you do the same here? God Almighty, I with my own eyes, my own ears, have experienced how you have healed this very same sickness. Can't you do it again? Lord, if you can use brother so and so and open all these doors for the ministry, what am I gonna do with all this pent up zeal and no outlet? In fact, I think I have something really to offer.

Sometimes the reason for our protest and God's leading in our lives is when we compare and look over and see what he's doing for others earlier, more bountifully, more obviously. And we think, why for them and not for me? Can I tell you at least one reason why? Because God is an amazing author. There are some amazing authors who have written many books, some up to a 100.

Some hymn writers have written thousands of hymns. God is writing billions of stories at the same time. And every single one is unique, though there might be some comparisons to make. Which leads me to this final point under the second point. God does not owe us any explanation for why he leads the way he leads.

There's a clear contrast between the words of Jesus and Paul in this regard. Paul was elaborate in his explanation. Was he not? Jesus was very brief. So Paul is explaining things and the Lord doesn't go back and forth with him.

Does he? How does he end the conversation? He simply says, go. I'm sending you to the Gentiles. And we can applaud Paul here.

Do you know why we can applaud Paul here? Because he doesn't demand further clarification. He just submits. K. You want me to go to the Gentiles?

I will go to the Gentiles. Paul simply trusted in God's leading even though his bosom was burning to be in Jerusalem. These are righteous desires, but they were not God's will. And my question was, how do I arrive at that level of faith where even though what I am seeking God for is good, sacrificial, holy, consecrated, God glorifying, but he doesn't approve it at least for the time being or at all. The way you can trust God in his leading in your life is to know God more.

In other words, the more you know who God is, the less you will question why he does what he does. Because you know his nature. You're convinced of his goodness. You see that he is so attentive and personal and so he's not ignoring you. He's not tricking you.

He's not torturing you. He's good. And so I I have less questions. Questions are not sinful themselves but you can come to a place where your walk with a God is with God is more worshipful than it is about interrogation. Let me bring you to the third and final point of God's will in discerning it.

The first is that it's illuminated when we pray. The second is that it does not always align with our righteous desires. And lastly, the will of God will not always be understood or praised by others. The will of God will not always be understood or praised by others. The point here is not found in the one passage that we read, but it's in the following verse after verse 21.

Look at verse 22 of acts 22 and see how the Jews reacted to Paul's testimony. Up to this word, they listened to him. Then they raised their voices and said, away with such a fellow from the earth for he should not be allowed to live. Up to what word? Gentiles.

Moment Paul brought up the Gentiles, that was it. These Jews could not fathom that the Gentiles would share in the same spiritual privileges. They could not eat It was unthinkable that they could have good standing before God apart from the law. And here is this Paul saying that the God of our fathers commissioned him to go to these heathens. So all it took for this crowd to You wanna talk about getting triggered?

Gentiles triggered them. That's it. Sermon's over. You're a dead man. Here's another illustration of how mankind utterly rejects God's good and perfect will for humanity.

What are they objecting to? God's saving more people. Goes to show how vile we can be, especially in our spiritual pride. But on a personal level, it also reminds us that serving God in the way that he has called us to will not always be understood. And more than that, can even be vehemently opposed.

Paul's trying to tell him about his ministry. They want nothing to do with it. And it's not unique to Paul. My mind went to another man of God that is testified of in Acts chapter seven. We're still in Acts.

Scroll back to chapter seven and notice how Stephen recounts the life and ministry of Moses. And I want you to see something with me that's quite amazing. Most people think that Moses knew he was called when he was 80. That's not what acts seven twenty three shows. When he was 40 years old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Israel.

And seeing one of them being wronged, he defended the oppressed men and avenged them by striking down the Egyptian. Look at this. He supposed that his brothers would understand that God was giving them salvation by his hand, but they did not understand. So Moses at 40, mighty in word and deed, educated in the schools of Egypt, high up in government position, had it in his heart to visit his brothers because something happened there where it was revealed to him that maybe God brought me here and promoted me to this place so that I can deliver the Jewish people. And when he tries to rescue one, he kills an Egyptian man.

You read that later on that they reject him, even the Jews. And I I can't help but smile at this as well. You know why? Because you have Moses here who who is in tune with the will of God, but he's trying to do it in his own timing, in his own way. It would take Moses a very long time to kill one Egyptian at a time, wouldn't it?

How would God do it? He would just use the Red Sea. Timing is important in God's will. Timing is very important. So 40, he thinks, yes.

This is it. I see it now. And Moses was a strong man. So he puts it all together. He attempts to bring about the salvation and it's rejected.

What are we told? They did not understand. And listen, you're saying why is Stephen bringing this up? I need to mention this. Stephen is bringing this up again to his persecutors who are ready to kill him, the Jewish leaders, because he wants to remind the Jewish leaders that Jesus is not the only redeemer that they have rejected.

That they have a pattern in their history of overlooking and failing to see God sent rescuers. So you rejected Christ. Let me tell you that this is deep in your bones. You did it with Moses. He came to deliver you.

You didn't see it then and you can't see the greater Moses now. But let's put ourselves in Moses's sandals. When we realize that God has called us to something to serve him, to love him, and people around us don't get it. Be prepared that if you seek God, that if you're gonna comply with his wishes, that you would be misunderstood in that pursuit both by unbelievers and fellow believers. And that misunderstanding should never discourage you from that path.

Never. As long as you are in accordance with God's word, as long as you've done your part to receive illumination in prayer, you are in the safest place. You are in the best place. I heard someone once say that the hardest thing about God's will is not knowing it, it's doing it when you know it. There's some truth to that.

And for you and I to be reminded of this may provide a little bit more fuel to our faithfulness. That's true for all of us as believers. I'm sure most of us in here have paid some kind of a price for following Jesus Christ. But even within Christendom, to serve the Lord the way He's called you to will not always be recognized and appreciated, but you do it for the Lord. You do it for the Lord.

Imagine how much this must have hurt Paul to see the Jews reject God's purpose for his life. God using him to be the means to bring about the gospel and they didn't want anything to do with it. Knowing God's will is one thing, doing it and stay doing it is another. And so this really covers many bases. One, if you're looking for God's will, you can't do it without seeking God's face.

And be open to how He answers that. Be open to His timing. No matter what's in your heart like Paul, he had it for the Jews but he was meant for the gentiles. Moses had it at 40 but it was meant for another time. Be pliable to how God leads you.

So be ready that even your righteous wishes and and desires and dreams may not always come to fruition the way you thought. But it's always because God has something better. And he's equipped you for a greater fruit, a greater harvest, a greater future. And lastly, when you're there, maybe you are there, keep going. Don't give in.

Don't listen to the lies. You know, there are people you'd be amazed who are even convinced or being convinced that it was better to just be in the world. It was better to be lukewarm. It was better to be nominal. It was better to do it your way.

So all these things that would try to capture your consecration, cut it off and realize that these men of God, they knew temptation, they knew struggle, but, oh, they stuck with it until the end and they're not regretting it now. They're not regretting it now. Lord, we thank you for this word. A brief reminder of how we can discern your will. And so, Lord, we think about what, we've prayed about in years past.

Help us believe that you honor man, a woman of prayer, and help us wait if we don't get answers right away. And Lord, if answers seem to be going another way, help us trust you. Help us not compare. Help us always believe that you're offering something wonderful for your glory. And help us, oh, Lord, to use the energy that we would have to argue maybe to worship instead.

To go when you tell us to go to state when you tell us to say, lastly, help us do it for you and you alone. Help us to do it for your smile alone. Lord, we give ourselves afresh to you, thanking you for how you can even speak to us through somebody else's story. We honor you today. In Jesus' name.

Amen. Amen. Let's stand and worship the Lord. Walking with the Lord Jesus, I've learned so much. One of the things that I've learned about myself and about the Lord is that I am so grateful he never took my advice.

I'm so happy. And I'm glad that he didn't take Paul's advice either. Hypothetically, what would have happened if Paul spent all his energy and efforts in Jerusalem? What kind of letters would we be left with in the bible? How far would the gospel have gone?

Speculating. Sometimes, a lot of the times, no is the best answer. You know, we could've kept going, I think of Philip. So Paul is told to leave Jerusalem. He really wanted to stay.

Philip in Samaria was the means to see revival, most unlikely place, at least one of the most unlikely places. And in the middle of the revival, the Lord says, I need you to go into the wilderness. To do what? To talk to one guy. What if Philip objected?

Lord, these are brand new babes in Christ. Look at this awesome move of the spirit. Nobody saw this coming. You're asking me to leave now? I gotta fasten and pray more.

I don't know if that was the Lord who told me to go. He didn't object. He goes, he interrupts this man's personal devotion time in the book of Isaiah, and look at the history of Ethiopia, and you'll see what came about of that one one on one experience. And so whether he tells us to go, tells us to stay, we have to trust him. Can we ask him to help us trust him?

Whether it's for ministry, whether it's for work, whether it's with our bodies, whether it's with relationships, whether it's with our plans, no matter how unique they may be, Lord, we want your will. We want your will. Help us to know that when we pray about it, we have, no reason to be fearful. We've done our part. Or help us, lord, when doors aren't opening, that we want them to be opened, to trust in your story writing, in and your shepherding.

And Lord, no matter what we're doing now, knowing that we are in the will of God, but we're not seeing the fruit perhaps, we're not seeing the full reward of it, or it's it's difficult, especially because people don't understand or maybe even people don't receive it. Help us just serve you no matter what. Well, we love you. Thank you for this church. Thank you for every brother and sister here.

Help us all have this in common that we wanna be in your will, and we trust that you'll guide us there. In Jesus name. Amen. And amen.