Seeing God’s Will Clearly | Acts 21

Summary

God’s will can feel blurry when we don’t know what is next, but Scripture gives us clarity about what God is doing in every season: making us more like Jesus. Through Paul’s journey toward Jerusalem, we see that God’s will is revealed by the Spirit and requires us to live with open hands. Rather than waiting for God to conform his will to ours, we can trust him with what we cannot control, surrender what we are holding onto, and believe that even in waiting or suffering, Jesus will meet us there.

Key Takeaways

• God’s will is for you to become like Jesus. Paul knew suffering awaited him in Jerusalem, but he continued forward, following the path Jesus had walked before him (Acts 21:10–14; Matthew 16:21). The who, when, and where of God’s will might be blurry, but the what is clear: God is making us more like Jesus. Even seasons that feel like waiting are not wasted; the Spirit can use them to cultivate Christlikeness in us (Hebrews 12:1–2).
  • God’s will is revealed by the Spirit. Paul did not know every detail of what was ahead, but he had enough clarity from the Holy Spirit to keep moving forward (Acts 20:22–23). The Holy Spirit reveals God’s will through:
  • God’s Word: The Bible is the revealed will of God. The Spirit uses God’s Word to clarify how we should live and gives us the power to walk in obedience (1 Thessalonians 4:3–5; 5:16–18).
  • God’s people: God uses his people to help us discern his will. Wise counsel can encourage, challenge, and help us see what we might be missing on our own (Acts 21:10–14).
• God’s whisper: There are times when the Spirit prompts us personally. When a prompting aligns with God’s Word and our desire is to glorify him, we can move forward while seeking wise counsel in significant decisions.
• God’s will requires open hands. Paul was willing to be imprisoned or even die for the name of Jesus because finishing the course Jesus had given him mattered more than holding onto his own plans (Acts 20:24; 21:13). Following God can mean releasing good dreams we had for our lives and trusting him with what comes next. God’s will may include waiting, loss, or suffering, but it also means getting more of Jesus (Acts 23:10–11).

Discussing and Applying the Sermon

• Where does God’s will feel blurry to you right now? What are you hoping he will make clear?
• How does knowing that God’s will is for you to become like Jesus change the way you view your current circumstances?
• Is there an area of your life where you feel like you are in a holding pattern? How might God be using this season to make you more like Jesus?
• Is there anything in your life that you know is inconsistent with God’s will because it is keeping you from becoming more like Jesus? What would repentance look like?
• The Spirit reveals God’s will through God’s Word, God’s people, and God’s whisper. Which of these do you tend to neglect or have difficulty trusting? Why?
• What dream, plan, expectation, or outcome are you having a hard time holding with open hands? What makes surrendering it to God difficult?
• What would it look like to trust that even if God’s will includes waiting, disappointment, or suffering, Jesus will meet you there? How can your community group pray for you as you walk in that?