Conflicting Messages

Have you ever faced a big decision and felt utterly lost about which direction to go, what choice to make? A big one for me was that question that everyone asks kids who are enaring the end of high school. What do you want to do after you graduate? I had one year figured out - I was going to Vanguard Bible College for a one year program. This was something my dad had highly recommended for all of his kids, rather than suggesting a gap year because in the small town I grew up in, generally if you didn’t leave to go to school, you ended up stuck in the town working there for the rest of your life, or you got pregnant (or got someone else pregnant if you’re a guy). I figured it was the best way to give myself more time to figure out what career I was going to choose, because I was overwhelmed by the number of options. I considered being a secretary, a lawyer, a high school English teacher, being an editor, being an ultrasound technician… how was I supposed to choose? And God wasn’t giving me any crazy downloads about my career, so another year seemed like a good idea. And after that… whatever I ended up deciding.

Throughout that year at Vanguard I prayed and tried to figure out what God wanted me to do. I didn’t just want to choose something on a whim, I wanted it to be what He wanted. All I ended up with for direction was to come back the next year. So I did, year 2 at Vanguard rolled around and I kept praying. God what do you want me to do? At this point my family was preparing to move to the States and I was trying to figure out if I should go with them. There was a Bible college only 2 hours away from them that I could transfer to, so this was added to my prayers.

One day in chapel we had a speaker who was talking about the cost of the Kingdom. After he gave his message I sat there, struck by a thought. Was moving away from this country that I love and my life in Edmonton the cost that God wanted me to pay for His Kingdom? So I asked Him. And finally, we had a conversation that gave me some answers.

God, is this the cost you want me to pay?

No, I want you to stay here.

Well, if you want me to stay here you’re gonna have to tell me why. What do you want me to do here?

I want you to be a pastor.

At this point, my brain shorted out and I started to argue. I had seen the ups and downs of ministry growing up - my dad is a pastor - and I was pretty sure I didn’t want that. And yet… here we are 5 years down the road and Josh and I are ministering in rural Saskatchewan… and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Turns out, just like I thought, being in God’s will is the best place to be. Now here’s the really tricky question… how do you discern what is His will and what isn’t? How do we know when we are hearing direction from God and when it’s just us or even Satan trying to mislead us? I’m glad you asked! Today we will be continuing our series Meeting the Holy Spirit Through Acts, where we’re exploring the person and power of the Holy Spirit in the book of Acts. We’ll be in Acts 21:1-14 primarily today. Before we even read the passage, there is a big point that I want you to hold onto.

The Holy Spirit helps us to discern His will and obey.

We’ll come back to this throughout the sermon so it’s easier to remember.

The tricky part about the Bible is that if we read passages without their context, they tend not to make sense, or they seem to mean something that they don’t mean. So, before we turn to Acts 21:1-14… Let’s just chat a bit about the context. We’re following the Apostle Paul on a journey and in Acts 20, the chapter before our main passage, he is giving a farewell speech to the people at the church in Ephesus. Verses 22-24 are particularly relevant to our passage, so let’s read that first.

Acts 20:22–24 NASB95

22 “And now, behold, bound by the Spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me. 24 “But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.

Ok, Paul is bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem where bonds and affliction waits for him. Cool. Let’s turn to our main passage in Acts 21:1-14 and carry on.

Acts 21:1–14 NASB95

1 When we had parted from them and had set sail, we ran a straight course to Cos and the next day to Rhodes and from there to Patara; 2 and having found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail. 3 When we came in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left, we kept sailing to Syria and landed at Tyre; for there the ship was to unload its cargo. 4 After looking up the disciples, we stayed there seven days; and they kept telling Paul through the Spirit not to set foot in Jerusalem. 5 When our days there were ended, we left and started on our journey, while they all, with wives and children, escorted us until we were out of the city. After kneeling down on the beach and praying, we said farewell to one another. 6 Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home again. 7 When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and after greeting the brethren, we stayed with them for a day. 8 On the next day we left and came to Caesarea, and entering the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, we stayed with him. 9 Now this man had four virgin daughters who were prophetesses. 10 As we were staying there for some days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands, and said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’ ” 12 When we had heard this, we as well as the local residents began begging him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14 And since he would not be persuaded, we fell silent, remarking, “The will of the Lord be done!”

We can see three necessary steps that Paul had to walk through in this passage. They are an example to us of our big idea.

The Holy Spirit helps us to discern His will and obey.

Paul’s first step is:

Receiving The Holy Spirit’s Direction

We actually don’t really see this first step happen in the narrative of Scripture, but we do see its results. Paul tells the elders of the church in Ephesus that he is bound by the Spirit, heading on his way to Jerusalem. We see in an even earlier verse than the ones that we read, verse 16 of chapter 20, that Paul is trying to reach Jerusalem so he could be there for the day of Pentecost. Now, when it says he is bound by the Spirit, what does that word “bound” mean?

The Greek word used here is deo (day-o). It literally means to be tied or bound, like with ropes. In this sense, however, it is being used to indicate an obligation.

He is obligated by the Holy Spirit to go to Jerusalem. This means he received direction from the Holy Spirit and is being led to Jerusalem by that direction. How on earth would Paul know that this direction was from the Holy Spirit?

One handy thing is, we know that Paul has experience hearing from the Holy Spirit and being directed by Him. We see in Acts 16:6-10

Acts 16:6–10 NASB95

6 They passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia; 7 and after they came to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them; 8 and passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. 9 A vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing and appealing to him, and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 When he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

We see in this passage 2 times where the Holy Spirit provided direction. Once, when it says “the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them” to go into Bithynia, and once by receiving a vision to go to Macedonia. Whenever I read this passage I find myself wishing that Luke had gone into greater detail about what he meant by the Spirit of Jesus would not permit them to go to Bithynia. However, we can tell that the Holy Spirit (who is, of course, the Spirit of Jesus) was providing quite firm direction as to His will. Which was not to go to Bithynia. Paul has practice receiving direction from the Holy Spirit. This leads us to his next necessary step.

Discerning God’s Will

The gift of discernment is talked about in 1 Corinthians 12:10 in the list of gifts the Holy Spirit gives the Church, and it’s one that is clearly at work in our passage today. So let’s pause in the story just to chat a bit about discernment. 1 Corinthians 12:10 says

1 Corinthians 12:10 NASB95

10 and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.

When it says the disinguishing of the spirits this can mean telling the different between the Holy Spirit and demonic spirits. This can be put into action in a situation where you have to figure out if you’re hearing from God or from someone else, or in situations where you recognise that something demonic is at work or present. Sometimes, discerning God’s will when we receive direction that we think is from the Holy Spirit is as straight-forward as determining if it truly was the Holy Spirit speaking, with no conflicting messages from other sources. Not that discerning if the Holy Spirit is the one speaking is always easy, or even ever easy. For many people this is an ongoing struggle. However, in Paul’s case, it is even more complicated because he has many other Christian leaders begging him not to do as he is feeling led.

Acts 21:4 NASB95

4 After looking up the disciples, we stayed there seven days; and they kept telling Paul through the Spirit not to set foot in Jerusalem.

Acts 21:11–12 NASB95

11 And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands, and said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’ ” 12 When we had heard this, we as well as the local residents began begging him not to go up to Jerusalem.

Luke includes himself here by saying “we”, so even Paul’s trusted traveling and ministry companion, the educated doctor and historian is speaking the opposite of how Paul was feeling directed. How did Paul know who to listen to? Looking at Acts 21:4, it describes the other believers as telling Paul through the Spirit not to go to Jerusalem. How are we supposed to know who to believe and listen to? The NASB translation includes a footnote here

Ie. Because of impressions made by the Spirit

That’s a handy disctinction. When I was studying this passage and looking at commentaries by many different scholars to understand this passage, most of them came to the same conclusion. These believers were given an impression by the Spirit about what would happen to Paul in Jerusalem (which he was also told by the Spirit) and then they, quite naturally, took that and begged Paul not to go because of the revelation of the suffering and imprisonment he faced.

Now, interesting to note here, the man named Agabus who is described as a prophet comes to give Paul a message. Using act-it-out symbolism very much like Old Testament prophets sometimes did, he takes off Paul’s belt or girdle and tied himself up to show that Paul would be bound by the Jews in Jerusalem and delivered into the hands of the Gentiles. This is the message he brings from God. And we know he is a trustworthy prophet because in Acts 11:27-28, Agabus predicts the famine that did end up happening during the reign of Claudius. He has proven to have correct predictions. He gives an accurate message from the Holy Spirit. And he warns Paul of what is to come, but what is notably missing in his message? He does not warn Paul not to go.

How is Paul supposed to know who to listen to here? He has direction from the Holy Spirit. He feels bound to go to Jerusalem - and let me tell you, when you feel the Holy Spirit binding you to do something, it makes an impact. He feels bound to go to Jerusalem. But all these other Christian leaders are begging him not to go. How is he supposed to know? How can he discern? In this case, we know that the Holy Spirit has to help Paul to discern what His will is. In fact, Paul feels such certainty about what he has heard that he pleads with the believers - Acts 21:13

Acts 21:13 NASB95

13 Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

We see in this passage how the Holy Spirit gives Paul the gift of discernment to figure out what is the will of God. He is set in what he knows the Holy Spirit is directing him to do - go to Jerusalem and face what awaits him there. Having discerned the will of God and faced opposition, Paul’s last step is:

Choosing Obedience At A Cost

Sometimes the cost of obedience is high. For Paul, he knows already that choosing to obey the Holy Spirit and go to Jerusalem will lead to imprisonment and suffering. He chose to obey, he was willing to pay that price. He says to those who are begging him not to go to Jerusalem:

Acts 21:13–14 NASB95

13 Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14 And since he would not be persuaded, we fell silent, remarking, “The will of the Lord be done!”

What About Us?

How do we use discernment?

the Bible

confirmation from others

practice helps us to recognise the voice of the Holy Spirit

We need to ask, how high a price are we willing to pay to follow Jesus? How important is He to me? And will I submit to His will for my life, since I have declared Him to be my Lord?