Acts 21:7-14 :
When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais. We greeted the brothers, and stayed with them one day. On the next day, we, who were Paul’s companions, departed, and came to Caesarea.
We entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied. As we stayed there some days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. Coming to us, and taking Paul’s belt, he bound his own feet and hands, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit: ‘So will the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and will deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’”
When we heard these things, both we and they of that place begged him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
When he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, “The Lord’s will be done.”
It has been said that history is His story and that is what we see here. Luke, himself, even tried to stop Paul from going to Jerusalem because it was so obvious what the Holy Spirit was saying.
This is a fascinating study of the will of God because it is clear that there are many things that take place to fashion it. Paul’s will took a definite part in this case, but ultimately, everything that happened ended up being God’s will as Luke and the others accepted here. If it was that Paul was wrong to not take their advice, Luke still knew that what was to take place was God’s will.
One of the most important things I see here about the will of God is that the Holy Spirit’s voice was clear to all. There wasn’t any question to any of them about what God’s will really was for them. Luke knew that he wanted to stop Paul. Paul knew that he needed to go suffer for Jesus. No one was asking anymore and I believe that is because God was able to make himself perfectly clear to them.
If we are not clear about the will of God for us, then it is likely that we are looking in the wrong place. I believe that many times God does not tell us in words or directions but in the knowledge of a good thing that we should do. God has told us in the Bible that if we know of a good we should be doing and we don’t do it, it is sin for us. If you know of any good thing you should be doing, that is God’s will for you.
James 4:17 :
To him therefore who knows to do good, and doesn’t do it, to him it is sin.
If you are sinning, you aren’t on speaking terms with God so you won’t hear much else until you repent and do what you are supposed to be doing! Some of you may really not know what to do specifically, and to you I suggest Bible reading while trusting in God’s Holy Spirit. I believe that God will eventually put something good in your heart to do.