Seeking God’s Will

Jul 2

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I still remember a poem I had to learn in the 8th grade. It’s The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost. In it someone stands at a fork in the road, not knowing which path to take. In the end, they “took the road less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” I love the poem, but the more I think about it, it is completely unhelpful decision-making. I don’t know if the path the person chose ended up good. All I know is that it made all the difference. What if there was a snake in the path? Or there were more obstacles in the way? Taking that path could have ended up in regret, missing the better path. Or, maybe it the less-worn path ended up being enjoyable. Perhaps as you look back on your life you wonder if perhaps you missed a few…or a lot…of those paths of blessings. Maybe you even feel like you are currently on the wrong path in your life. Or maybe you’re trying to discern what to do and what God’s will is. That is exactly where the disciples were in our text for today. We’re going to learn, from their example, some principles on how to seek and follow God’s will.

Follow God while you wait. (12-14)

The immediate context of this passage is the disciples’ obedience in going to Jerusalem following the ascension of Jesus. They traveled a Sabbath’s day journey from the Mount of Olives (about two-thirds of a mile).[1]

They knew they were to wait on the Holy Spirit before they proceeded with the mission God had called them to. What did their waiting look like? It wasn’t a passive waiting. It was an active, obedient waiting. They devoted themselves to prayer. This prayer meeting likely lasted around a week.[2] And with “one accord” they were devoting themselves to prayer. This means they were of “one mind,” and “continually united.”[3] This points to “the fundamental unity within the church. Here the group is operating in obedience, waiting for the Spirit and praying in preparation as they wait. The…church is showing some of its most fundamental characteristics: gathered, seeking the Lord’s will with one mind in prayer, and assembled to carry out God’s mission.”[4] That’s exactly how we are to function.

What would it look like for us to wait on the Lord in the same way? Often, our waiting is passive. God calls us to be faithful in the present as we trust God with our future.

Think of it this way: Imagine you are sailing on a vast ocean, waiting for the wind to guide your sails. You have a destination in mind, and you know that the wind will eventually come to propel your ship forward. While you wait for the wind to blow, what do you do? You are busy preparing your boat, making sure everything is ready and the sails are set. As you wait, you are active, looking for any signs of a breeze. You keep your sails open and positioned to catch the first gust of wind. While you can’t control the timing or strength of the wind, you can actively position yourself to be ready to sail when it arrives. That’s how God wants us to be in our waiting.

It's as R. Kent Hughes says, “The sails must be hoisted to catch the winds of the Holy Spirit through expectant belief… The one who wants his sail full of the breeze of the Spirit must have such perseverance in prayer.”[5] If you are waiting on God’s direction, actively wait on Him by devoting yourself to prayer. Persevere in it, and you will be ready when the wind comes.

Ok, so we are to actively wait on God, but you still might ask, “But how do I know what God’s will is?” There are many ways that God confirms His will,[6] with a major factor being through His Spirit. But God’s primary means of communicating His will is through His Word.

Follow God’s revealed will. (15-20)

We need to notice two phrases within this section: “the Scripture had to be fulfilled,” (16) and “For it is written” (20). They were processing the horrible account of Judas through the lens of scripture. Remember, Judas had been with them that entire three-year period of Jesus’s ministry. He had heard and seen the same things they did. And they fellowshipped with Him and loved Him. Not only was Jesus betrayed and saddened, but they certainly were as well.

What do you do when you face hardships in your life that you can’t comprehend? They relied on God’s Word, not their own thoughts and feelings. They trusted God’s sovereignty, even though they may not have understood it. They knew the prophecies concerning Judas.[7] They saw that the Old Testament stated what would happen, and they knew it did happen. They also knew they could trust God’s Word with what they were to do next.[8]

When seeking God’s will, where do you go first? Here’s what Tony Merida says, and it was convicting for me to read. I want you to really consider this and search your heart.

“Many Christians spend inordinate amounts of time and energy trying to find out God’s concealed will while ignoring so much of his revealed will. Doesn’t it make sense that he would want us to give first priority and attention to the stuff he has revealed in the pages of Scripture? Why should he tell us where we should go to college or whom we’re supposed to marry if we’re not at all intersected in making disciples or living holy lives? The believers in Acts 1:12-26 demonstrated a confidence in and allegiance to the Scriptures that ultimately made finding even his concealed will relatively simple. And it will work that way for us as well.”[9]

People lose sleep over wondering what God’s will is while minimizing His clear will revealed in scripture. Here’s some of God’s revealed will for each of us:

1 Thessalonians 4:3 - For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 - Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Matthew 28:19-20 - Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.
Acts 1:8 - You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

Follow God right now, and He will direct your path. Don’t worry about missing the path. Be sure you’re on the path right now. The best way you can be sure you won’t miss the path down the road is if you are on the right path right now. And you can know you’re on the right path because God’s Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path (Ps 119:105).

Proverbs 3:5-6 - 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him [submit (NIV), seek his will (NLT)], and he will make straight your paths.

Make decisions to advance the kingdom. (21-23)

The apostles were firsthand eyewitnesses who closely observed Jesus's life and could provide verification of his resurrection (1:21-22).[10] Also, they were dedicated disciples who were personally taught by Jesus, ensuring the accurate transmission of his teachings. This was of utmost importance for the advancement of the kingdom. They weren’t just gathering as a committee to vote someone in. They were seeking the will of God because the making disciples of all nations was at stake. Getting the gospel to you and me was at stake. They needed exactly twelve to begin this mission, because “their number corresponds to the tribes of Israel, for in a real sense they represent the restored Israel, the people of God.”[11] And how we see the gospel spread through Acts is to the Jew first, then the gentile (Rom 1:16).

I love what Tony Merida says regarding this and what it means for our decision making. It’s completely paradigm shifting for us. If you hang your hat on anything in this sermon, let it be this. “We must make our decisions in view of God’s unfolding plan of redemption.”[12] I want you to think through the big decisions you have made in your life. What were the primary factors that led to you finally making that decision? You know what the number one factor should be, or at least one of the top few factors? Will this decision best advance the kingdom of God? Will this decision be best for gospel advancement?

This is what should drive the decision whether you retire or not, who you marry, what university you attend, what job you pursue, and where you move to. I bet, if you think back on your big decisions, that up to this point that question hasn’t even been on your radar. Maybe I’m wrong. If so, I know you are seeing some fruit from your kingdom-minded decisions in your life.

One of John Piper’s most famous sermons was delivered at the Passion conference to 40,000 college students in 2020.[13] The main, powerful illustration became one of his most popular books, Don’t Waste Your Life. He tells the story of two ladies from his church who were in their 80s and died in a car crash in Cameroon while doing medical missions. It seems like a life wasted he said, but in reality, a life wasted is what he read in a Reader’s Digest about a retired couple who lived out their retirement on the beach, spending time on their boat, playing softball, and collecting seashells. Here’s what he had to say about it.

“That’s a tragedy,” he told the crowd. “And there are people in this country that are spending billions of dollars to get you to buy it. And I get 40 minutes to plead with you—don’t buy it. With all my heart I plead with you—don’t buy that dream. . . . As the last chapter before you stand before the Creator of the universe to give an account with what you did: “Here it is, Lord—my shell collection. And I’ve got a good swing. And look at my boat…“Don’t waste your life,” he said, the words quietly tucked in before he barreled into another memorable anecdote, this one about a plaque in his home featuring C. T. Studd’s poem, “Only one life, twill soon be past / Only what’s done for Christ will last.”

Maybe that’s not the situation you are in. Maybe you are facing a difficult situation and wondering where you went wrong on the path. Sometimes what advances the kingdom isn’t what we expect to, though. Sometimes the kingdom is advanced through difficult times. I’ve experienced that in my life. The situation with Judas, as horrible as it was, was a part of God’s plan to advance the kingdom of God, to bring about redemption through Jesus. Without the betrayal of Jesus, you don’t have his arrest, his trial, his crucifixion, and his resurrection. God uses difficult times for His glory. Maybe you are amidst a difficult time right now, and the decision you need to make is to trust God amidst it and leverage even your sorrow or pain for His glory.

I love how Elisabeth Elliot put it, who sought God’s will to go on the mission field to Ecuador, and whose husband, Jim Elliot, was speared to death by those he was seeking to reach…the same people Elisabeth Elliot went back to later to live amongst and share the gospel with. Hear what she says.

“To ask for the guidance of God is to make a choice, and this takes faith. It must be faith of a far higher kind than the breezy “If I like what I see I’ll take it.” It is the faith that has strength to wait for the rewards God holds, strength to believe they are worth waiting for, worth the price asked. Our prayers for guidance (or for anything else) really begin here: I trust him. This requires abandonment. We are no longer saying, “If I trust him, he’ll give me such and such,” but, “I trust him. Let him give me or withhold from me what he chooses.”[14]

As we work our way through Acts, one thing you will notice is that when the Christians are in hard situations, the content of their prayers isn’t that God would remove them from those situations, but rather that He would give them greater boldness and opportunities to share Christ amidst their hardships, that they would leverage their situation for the sake of the gospel. When our focal point is the glory of God and advancing His kingdom, it changes all our pursuits.

The filling of Judas’s spot was to advance the kingdom of God. The purpose for having exactly twelve apostles was a symbolic message about the restoration of God’s people. But it had much farther reaching implications than just the immediate. There is an important point we can draw for our decision-making here as well.

Our decisions can have an eternal impact.

Having someone take up Judas's position was crucial, as it served a greater purpose for the future kingdom. Jesus had informed the twelve apostles about their distinct role in the future kingdom of God, where they would be responsible for judging the twelve tribes of Israel (Matthew 19:28; Luke 22:28-30). By appointing a successor for Judas, the church expressed recognition and appreciation for the apostles' unique function. These individuals were entrusted with significant tasks that carried immense significance. The importance of our decisions should not be underestimated, as they can hold everlasting consequences.

We can’t park on this point, and I wish we could, but I want to ask you one question. Do you make your decisions with eternity in mind?

Seeking God’s will is a process, not an event. (24-26)

They prayed. They trusted in and sought God’s means of decision making from His Word. They gathered information and made an informed decision (they narrowed it down to two candidates). Then they cast lots. Their casting of lots wasn’t a blind casting of lots. It was an informed process. “Marked stones were placed in a jar and shaken out. The one whose stone fell out first was chosen (cf. 1 Chr 26:13).”[15]

Casting lots may seem like luck to us, but they prayed to the God who “knows the hearts of all.” Proverbs 16:33 says, “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.” God knew who would be best to fulfil his purposes. God judges hearts and sees what we cannot see.[16] He knows your heart. He knows you better than you know yourself. They knew this and were seeking God’s guidance, not relying on their own intuitions.

I love what Jen Wilkin says. “If we want our lives to align with God’s will, we will need to ask a better question than “What should I do?” . . . God is always more concerned with the decision-maker than he is with the decision itself.”[17] He is concerned with your heart. God desires that your heart be the same as His…that your desires be the same as His.

“For example, a child may look across a busy street at the ball that bounced away, but he doesn’t run after it, because he knows “my dad wouldn’t want me to do that.” He doesn’t have to ask his father for advice on every particular situation; he knows what his father would say because he knows his father. The same is true in our relationship to God. As we walk with the Lord, obeying His Word and relying on His Spirit, we find that we are given the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). We know Him, and that helps us to know His will. We find God’s guidance readily available. “The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight, but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness” (Proverbs 11:5).
If we are walking closely with the Lord and truly desiring His will for our lives, God will place His desires in our hearts. The key is wanting God’s will, not our own. “Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4).”[18]

Are your desires His desires? Seeking the answer to that question is essential in seeking and following the will of God. So, we must actively wait on God, devote ourselves to prayer, seek counsel from God’s Word, check the desires of our heart and the purpose of our pursuits, and then, at some point, we must make a decision.

Trust God with the decisions you make.

This is the last scriptural case of casting lots to make a decision. Shortly after the appointment of Matthias, the Holy Spirit came to indwell God’s people. He is the Counselor who helps us make wise decisions.[19]

I want to encourage you, don’t stop seeking to follow the will of God because you are fearful you took the wrong route in the past. Trust Him for the next step and trust Him where you are within the path now. And follow Him forward.

I love how Tony Merida says it. “When we as Christians understand our role in the unfolding drama of redemption, when we have a grasp on God’s revealed will, when we’ve gathered the necessary information in order to narrow our options, when we have prayed to the Lord, we should then simply trust God, make a decision, and go with it.”[20]

What decision do you need to make? The first decision you need to make is to follow Jesus. Give your life to Him. Repent and believe that He died in your place and rose from the dead to give you life. Maybe you need to make the decision to repent for living for yourself and seeking your desires above all else. Maybe you need to begin your obedience to God by actively waiting on Him through prayer. Maybe you need to pray these words: “I trust you.” Whatever it is, we need to seek and follow God’s will.

[1] R. Kent Hughes, Acts, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 1996), 25.

[2] Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, 2nd ed. (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2014), 320.

[3] Darrell L. Bock, Acts, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007), 78.

[4] Bock, Acts, 78.

[5] Hughes, Acts, 25, 26.

[6] https://www.gotquestions.org/will-of-God.html

[7] Zechariah 11:12-13; Psalm 41:9; 69:25

[8] Psalm 109:8

[9] Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Acts, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary (Nashville: B&H, 2017), 17.

[10] John B. Polhill, Acts, The New American Commentary (Nashville: B&H, 1992), 93.

[11] Polhill, Acts, 93.

[12] Merida, Exalting Jesus in Acts, 15.