God’s Plans Prevail

Introduction

A desperate man was once attempting to discern the will of God for his life while eating alphabet soup. He prayed, “God just use the soup to spell out you will for my life!” When he opened his eyes the letters spelled, “oooo.” It was at this moment the man realized he was eating spaghetti o’s and not alphabet soup. The story is very cheesy and funny because the premise is sort of ridiculous. As if God’s will for hids life is to be found in a bowl of alphabet soup. That if he just prays hard enough the letters will magically rearrange and uncover the exact plan for his life. And yet, I believe many Christians operate in very similar ways looking for strange coincidences to guide them to God’s plan for their life. I want to suggest this morning that God’s plan for your life is going to come about whether you like it or not. That God’s plans cannot be stopped, and that many times God operates in very ordinary and natural ways. Not all of God’s interactions with us feel or appear to be very supernatural or other worldly, but that doesn’t mean he is not working. He has a plan for your life, and he will see it through. The question is will we see the actions of God in our lives and give him the praise that is due to him. Can we identify the work of God in our lives, even when He works through normal means?

God’s Plans Are Often “Normal” v. 12-25

[Read v. 12-25] In the previous passage Paul was taken before a council of Jewish officials (Sadducees and Pharisees) aka chief priest and scribes. The tribune took him there in order to determine the reason why Paul was being accused by the Jews in the first place, since the tribune found Paul being beaten by a mob of Jews even earlier in this story. He learned that Paul was being accused because Paul believed that Jesus was the promised Messiah, Christ, that the Jewish people had been waiting for. And that Jesus had commanded Paul to go even to non-Jews, gentiles, in order to tell them that the Messiah had come and to follow him.

As Paul mentioned the hope of the resurrection this caused an argument to arise between two factions the Pharisee and Sadduccees at the council and the argument gets so intense that the tribune decides to remove Paul from the situation and return him to the military barracks in order to keep him safe. But certain Jews still want him dead. So, a group of 40 of them make a vow to neither eat or drink until they kill Paul. However, they can’t get to him in the barracks to they need him to come out.

The 40 seek the help of the Jewish council to enact their plan. They want the council to lure Paul out of the barracks by telling the tribune that they want to question Paul further. However, somehow Paul’s nephew (sisters son) hears about the plot and goes to barracks to warn Paul. Paul sends his nephew to the tribune, through the centurion and the tribune decides to send Paul to Caesarea. It just no longer safe to keep Paul in Jerusalem. So, Paul is escorted out of the city with a guard of 200 soldiers and 70 horseman and another 200 spearman at 9:00 pm. They are also to provide a horse for Paul in order to go to Felix the governor and face his accusers there.

At this point I want to remind you what God told Paul after the trial before the Jewish council the first time. Acts 23:11 “The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.”” So, God promised Paul that he would go to Jerusalem to testify to the facts about him. And then when a plot against Paul arises the situation turns so that Paul is taken to Caesarea. Which will lead to trials there, which will lead to Paul going to Rome. It is clear the Lord knew what would happen. But is that all that is happening. Does God just know the future, or does God act so that his plan will take place?

It is easy to see God acting in passages like Acts 12:6-19 in which Peter is imprisoned and it most likely going to die. The believers begin to pray fervently for him and them an angel appears and wakes up Peter. Peter’s chains fall off and a gate opens on its own accord. (No power garage doors) And it so other worldly that Peter thinks he is having a dream until he makes it outside of the prison and the angel leaves him in the street. Peter says, Acts 12:11 “When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”” Was that God? Obviously!

But what about in Acts 22:22-29 when Paul about to be flogged mentions that he is a Roman citizen and avoids the flogging. I explained that to be born a citizen someone in Paul’s lineage would have had to earn the citizenship. Was that God? Or is Paul just quick on his feet? Is God working when the miraculous is less clear. Does God work through nephews and tribune’s or only through angels and miracles?

Isaiah 46:9–11 “remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’ calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.”

The Bible teaches us that God does not simply know the future, but he acts in this world to bring it to pass according to his purposes. All things are his, not just the miraculous. This is wonderful news, because it means that there is nothing outside of his control and it means that nothing is meaningless. You pain, sorrow, fears, and struggles all have meaning because he uses it all for his purposes.

It is easy to see God work in the miraculous and isn’t it wonderful to know that he works through the mundane as well?

Everything is a part of God’s plan, and God’s plan is established in the truth.

God’s Plan is Established in the truth v. 26-30

[read v. 26-30) The tribune who we learn in this passages is named Claudias Lysias writes to Felix, the governor of the Provence of Judea explaining what had happened with Paul. He explains the he rescued Paul from the mob that was trying to kill him. He does kind of make it sound like he knew Paul was a Roman citizen all along and he doesn’t mention that he chained him and almost had him flogged (illegal to do to a Roman citizen). However, what he does say is true. He did come to know that Paul was a citizen and he did rescue Paul from the hands of the angry Jews. He goes on to explain that Paul was being accused about questions of the Jewish law, again true, but the he did not see that Paul deserved death or imprisonment. So, when the tribune learned of the plot against Paul’s life he decided to do the just thing and move Paul out of Jerusalem. This would give Paul and his accusers the chance to explain their case in an environment that would be more fair. Paul was never going to win a case in Jerusalem, the deck was stacked against him. But perhaps in Caesarea he could present his case and receive a fair trial.

Paul’s faithfulness and his innocence are winning him favor with the Roman officials. And as he wins favor with this officials, God uses the officials to accomplish his plan of getting Paul to Rome. It is true that God is active in accomplishing his plans. He does more that just know the future he acts in the present to guarantee the outcome correlates with His will. However, it is also true that we are called to be obedient.

It is not acceptable for the Christian to say, “Well God is just going to do his thing no matter what so why should I even try.” It’s all predestined so, I guess my role is pointless. In a way that I just don’t totally grasp the certainty of God’s sovereignty works with the choices of intelligent creatures. We are to obey God’s commands and stand for the truth, even though the outcome is secure. These truths work together not against each other.

I have heard it said, “God’s will is not something to be found, but rather it is something to be done.” The details are not our primary concern, the Lord will work those things out, but we are to live in accordance with God’s revealed will knowing that he will use our obedience for His glory just like he uses the suffering and disobedience of this world for his glory.

Man’s plans are malleable (meaning they can change) but God’s plan are set in stone. He does not change, and his plans are never ruined by anything. But instead of trying to figure out the little details we are to live as he has commanded us. Micah 6:8 “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

Paul is given and incredibly specific word from the Lord about Rome in Acts 23:11. I personally have never had that kind of experience. But I will say I have seen God work and move me to the places he wants me in by just doing the next right thing. It is always right to do right. Don’t search for the will of God, do the will of God. Be just, be kind, walk humbly with the your God and he will take care of the rest.

Because no matter what God has in store for your life, it is a guarantee.

God’s Plans are Guaranteed v. 31-35

[Read 31-35] The foot soldiers accompanied Paul for half of the journey to Caesarea. It would have been a two days journey, so once far enough from Jerusalem that they no longer needed the 400 soldiers it seems like only the 70 horsemen accompanied Paul to Caesarea. The rest of the men returned to Jerusalem. Once they arrived at Caesarea they presented Paul with the letter from Lysias to Felix. Felix did not have a good reputation as a governor. He was very harsh toward his subjects, but in this case he does what is right. He ask Paul where he is from and Paul tells him Cilicia. Felix would also preside over Cilicia as well as Jerusalem so he agrees to hear Paul’s case once the accusers from Jerusalem arrive. Paul is going to yet again testify to the facts about Jesus and his resurrection from the dead. God’s plan will come to pass.

Paul’s story is a microcosm of how God works. Whatever he wills will come to pass and along the way he will use extraordinary and ordinary means. While, God desires Paul to testify in Rome, and Rome is the end of Paul’s journey in Acts. Rome is not the end of God’s plan. Getting to Rome is representative of the gospel going to all of the nations. In the Gospel being proclaimed to Caesar’s household, (the ruler of the empire) God is effectively showing that his word will be proclaimed all over the earth. And yet, even when it comes to this earth we know there is an end beyond this place.

We do not live for an earthly kingdom, but rather we live for a heavenly kingdom. This world is not the end. 2 Peter 3:8–13 “But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” God’s will is going to be accomplished. His promises always come true. He is promising that one day the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved. New Heavens and new earth will replace them. Are we living like this true?

Conclusion

Last week I introduced the phrase Monday morning difference. What should change in light of our text on Monday morning. What will the people you work with see in you tomorrow because of you church attendance and community group participation. Does RHC make a difference in your life? And if so how? Here are a few things I will be striving for this week in light of this text. 1) Strive to be less concerned with the future and take action in the present. 2) Strive to live ready for heaven. Fight sin and take a risk for Jesus.