Man's Word or God's Word?

Introduction

Christmas Tree fiasco - wasting two hours trying to find what lights were burned out… Went to Walmart to buy a light repair tool. My wife, “Just string up some more lights...” I wish I would have listened because that’s what we did…

Some of the greatest regrets in your life come from not listening. Have you ever thought, “I wish I would have listened...”? Young adults, you wish you would have listened to your parents, professors, etc. Older adults, you wish you would have listened to financial adviser, etc.

Sometimes greatest regrets come from listening to the wrong people. Maybe people that intended good for you, but their well-intentioned advice was wrong advice.

Reflecting back on life, how many of us wish we would have listened more carefully to God?

Reality: You’re always listening to someone - Maybe you’re listening to you. Or, you’re listening to people that really do not have your best interest at heart. Or, you’re listening to people that do have your best interest at heart, but they don’t understand God’s will.

Ultimately, am I listening to the voice of man or the voice of God? And, am I putting myself around people who are going to help me hear God’s voice accurately and help me to live out what God says?

Two ways to follow God’s Word rather than Man’s Word.

Be confident about what God says.

While in Ephesus, Paul convinced the Spirit’s next stop for him was Jerusalem. () From there, Paul wanted to go to the heart of the empire - the city of Rome.

Why Jerusalem?

A love offering for Jerusalem - a famine in the land. () Paul collected an offering from churches in Macedonia to take to Jerusalem - a way for the Gentile churches to show their support and appreciation for Jerusalem church. After all, the Gospel had flowed out from Jerusalem church. ()

Paul loved the Jews. He was one of them. () Wanted another opportunity to share the Gospel.

However, Paul was a wanted man. He knew he would suffer in Jerusalem. He was a Pharisee gone rogue - preaching Jesus and preaching against the Mosaic Law. His new way of life didn’t sit well with the religious leaders. But, Spirit leading him. You can’t say no to the Spirit!

Ends his ministry in Ephesus fully aware that going to Jerusalem was going to be difficult. ()

Imagine how difficult his farewell was to believers in Ephesus that he loved knowing that he would not see them again. ()

Jerusalem? Suffering? Why? God said it. When God speaks you listen.

Let’s get back to the basics. What has God said to you? Words you need to hear because they motivate you to move forward in faith:

Follow me. Because of what He has done, why wouldn’t you? - Jesus told Paul to follow Him. The invitation for all - follow Jesus and find life.

You are redeemed. Follow - give your life to Jesus and be forgiven of your sins through His death and resurrection. Believe in Him and have eternal life.

It won’t be easy. - Jesus told Paul on the Damascus Rd. that he would suffer. Suffering in Jerusalem doesn’t surprise Paul. He expects it. - Following Jesus won’t be easy for you either. Jesus doesn’t say to us, “Follow me, and I’ll help you pursue the American dream.” Or, “Follow me, and I’ll make you successful and happy.” Instead, He says take up your cross - it’s not going to be easy. Think about men and women in the Bible - can you think of any heroes of the faith that had it easy? Abraham? Moses? Noah? David? Joseph? Peter? Paul? The stories of Scripture are stories of people whose faith cost them in this life but rewarded them in the next life.

You will be used. (, ) Is there a greater privilege than to be used by God? Who has had the greatest impact on your life? People who had an easy life or people who have walked by faith through tremendous times of difficulty? You will be used by God - and often your greatest seasons of usefulness will be in the hard seasons.

You will be rewarded. (, ) Some day, you and I will know that it’s all been worth it - holding on to Jesus even though it costs us.

I am with you and for you. () You are not doing life alone.

Paul knew these things - so when God said, “Let’s go into a place of even more suffering” Paul trusted God because he was confident in God’s Word.

God may be leading you into a hard season - let the words of God motivate you to do whatever He says: to live by faith, pursue holiness, and intentionally invest into the lives of others for the sake of the Gospel.

Be cautious about what people say.

Sending Hudson to school with a xylophone for “z.” Good intentions but definitely wrong advice.

Paul leaves Ephesus and goes to Tyre - a group of believers who loved Paul.

They had heard from the Spirit as well and seem to give Paul a very different message than what Paul had received: “Don’t go to Jerusalem.” After a week, Paul left these believers.

Went to Caesarea - stayed at Philip’s home - one of the seven chosen from .

Agabus from - took Paul’s belt and bound Paul’s feet and hands. “Thus says the Holy Spirit: This will happen to you if you go to Jerusalem.” Wow! A strong word.

Vs. 12 - “We” told Paul not to go. We = Luke. Even Luke was encouraging Paul not to go to Jerusalem.

People that loved Paul dearly told Paul NOT to go to Jerusalem because of what God had told them. If it were you, you might begin to second-guess your decision.

Paul: “I am ready to be imprisoned and die for Jesus.”

vs. 14 - Paul not persuaded. Friends said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.”

They thought he was crazy, but Paul simply doing what he convinced the Spirit of God was telling him to do.

Contradiction? Who was right?

Everyone heard the Spirit correctly - Paul was going to suffer. But, Paul and his friends differed in the way they viewed suffering. Paul saw suffering as inevitable when you follow God’s will. (Jesus told Paul this and Paul had seen God use suffering in his life over and over again.) Paul’s friends saw suffering as something to avoid.

You are surrounded by people who love you, and many of the people who love you are well-meaning Christians who at times will give you the wrong advice. “Yes, follow Jesus… but, are you sure you should do that?”

Why would people give us wrong advice? Why would we give wrong advice? Most of us are far more interested in a “good life” instead of a faithful life. We believe:

A good life is a pain-free life. The lie: the less you suffer the better your life. Problem: You never step out in faith for the Kingdom because it might cost you or cause a little pain. Never share the Gospel because it might cost a friendship. Never give generously because affect the way you live, etc.

A good life is a happy life. Happiness = the absence of conflict or unfavorable circumstances. Happiness = life going your way. Everything working out the way you want. Selfishness! What about the obedient life?

A good life is a successful life. You achieve your dreams. You get the degree, the job, the family and live the American dream. But, you can be successful and completely miss the will of God for your life.

The good life is a faithful life!

Be cautious about what people say. People love you and want to give you good advice, but if their advice is not consistent with Scripture it’s bad advice.

Because we want the good life the question we’re constantly asking ourselves and question people want us to consider: “What’s best for me and my family?” A self-centered question. Instead, when making decisions ask: “What’s best for God and His Kingdom?” Because, what’s best for God and His Kingdom will always be what’s best for you and your family.

Be committed to God’s plan.

So what about you? When you come to the end of your life do you simply want to look back and say, “I lived the good life. This world told me the good life was achieving my dreams, minimizing my suffering, and being happy. I did it!” Or, “Jesus told me to take up my cross and follow Him, and He will give me eternal riches. So, that’s what I did. I lived like Jesus.” So, what will it be for you? “I lived a good life.” Or, “I lived like Jesus.”

Paul lived like Jesus. In fact, his life is very similar to the life of Jesus. Long before Paul set his face towards Jerusalem, Jesus set His face toward Jerusalem knowing that He would be arrested in Jerusalem. He set His face to Jerusalem knowing He would suffer injustice at the hands of sinful people and ultimately suffer a brutal execution on a cross. But, Jesus went to Jerusalem for you and for me. He set His face toward Jerusalem because your eternal destiny hung in the balance. In Jerusalem, He suffered and died in our place only to rise again three days later to deliver us from sin and death. Do you know Jesus? Have you given your life to Him? If not, turn to Him in faith and repentance.

God’s plan is for you to live like Jesus - to obey the Father even if that means life won’t be easy for you. Because in your obedience, God is using you. God is growing you. God is making you more like His Son.

This morning, as you listen to God’s voice, you may need:

A change of perspective. Repent of listening to the voice of people instead of the voice of God. You’ve been striving for the good life instead of the faithful life. This morning, ask God to change your perspective so you can begin living a life that is focused on His will.

A change of direction. How have you ignored the voice of God? Where have you been disobeying the Lord and now need to obey? What has God been telling you to do that you have been refusing to do?