God’s Will, Will Always Be Done

What is a coincidence?

Coincidence is when you go to school and someone is wearing the same outfit as you are.

Coincidence is when you come to church someone is wearing the same winter jacket.

Coincidence is when someone asks a question and all off a sudden two students shout out the same answer at the same time.

However, there are other things that happen that some people say it was pure coincidence.

It’s almost as if they happened by accident.

It happened out of pure chance, someone simply got very very lucky.

I am not referring to wearing the same outfit or the exact same kind of tennis shoes…I am talking about something much more serious - sometimes even having to do with matters of life or death.

Sometimes things happen - and they seem to be pure coincidence…but behind it all we see God’s hand.

It is not coincidence, rather it is God using different circumstances in our lives to accomplish his will - because God’s will, will always be done.

God’s plans will never be interrupted.

In Acts 23 Paul has been arrested by the roman government and the jews were about to kill Paul.

The roman commander takes Paul to prison to prevent the jews from murdering Paul.

During the night Paul is likely afraid of all that has happened and knows that he will likely die at the hands of the jews.

But Jesus appears to Paul at night and says:

Hechos de los Apóstoles 23:11 NIV

11 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”

Jesus promises Paul that he will live.

Paul will surely not die - God’s will is for Paul to go to Rome and to continue sharing about the message of Jesus Christ.

Unfortunately, things go from bad to worse.

In Acts 23:12 we read.

Hechos de los Apóstoles 23:12–15 NIV

12 The next morning some Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. 13 More than forty men were involved in this plot. 14 They went to the chief priests and the elders and said, “We have taken a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul. 15 Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him before you on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about his case. We are ready to kill him before he gets here.”

They have formed a plan to kill Paul.

They are plotting against his life and will ask the commander to bring Paul to the jewish religious court and they will kill him before he even arrives.

This was an evil - but secret plan. However, notice who hears about this plan:

Hechos de los Apóstoles 23:16 NIV

16 But when the son of Paul’s sister heard of this plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul.

Paul’s nephew hears about the plot to kill Paul.

He tells Paul, Paul asks a soldier to take his nephew to the commander so that he can reveal the plot to kill Paul.

Hechos de los Apóstoles 23:19–22 NIV

19 The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside and asked, “What is it you want to tell me?” 20 He said: “Some Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul before the Sanhedrin tomorrow on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about him. 21 Don’t give in to them, because more than forty of them are waiting in ambush for him. They have taken an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him. They are ready now, waiting for your consent to their request.” 22 The commander dismissed the young man with this warning: “Don’t tell anyone that you have reported this to me.”

The commander, very kindly takes the young man by the hand and asks him to tell him everything.

The young man tells him and the commander tells him to keep this a secret. He is worried for Paul’s life and wants to make sure Paul is protected.

The commander decides to take Paul to Cesarea (75 miles), but notice the security detail:

Hechos de los Apóstoles 23:23–24 NIV

23 Then he called two of his centurions and ordered them, “Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight. 24 Provide horses for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix.”

Notice how protected Paul is.

Surely Paul is safe from any attempt to murder him.

Conclusion

No, some may say, I don’t see anywhere in this chapter where it says that Jesus told Paul’s nephew about the plan to kill his uncle.

It does not say that Jesus touched the commander’s heart to listen to the young man or even to prepare a security detail for Paul.

…and although the Bible does not explicitly say this - we know that Jesus is behind all this.

Jesus is God, and he allowed the young man to be in the perfect spot to listen about the plot to kill his uncle.

Jesus is God, and he touched the commander’s heart to listen to young man and to spend money and resources in ensuring Paul had enough security during his journey from Jerusalem to Cesarea.

Jesus is God, and he had promised that Paul would reach Rome to testify about Jesus.

Therefore, none of these things are are coincidence - God was behind all this because God’s will, will always be done.

Never forget, that God uses circumstances in our lives so that his will, will be done in our lives, God’s purpose for our lives will always be accomplished by the power of the resurrected Christ.