God's Way or Man's Way?

Introduction

Reflecting on 3rd year anniversary at NW - Not what I expected - but amazing what God does when you allow Him to write the story.

- These verses describe the Christmas story - A baby in a manger? A Messiah who grows up in the middle of nowhere, travels with a group of misfits, and dies on a Roman cross? Christmas story is proof that God’s ways are higher than our ways.

- That’s true of your life - and true of the end of the Book of Acts.

Acts doesn’t end like we'd expect - started with such promise but ends with such seeming uncertainty.

God’s ways are not always your ways.

Constant question: Will I choose God’s way or my way? At times, God’s way doesn’t make sense. Can I trust Him? At times, uncomfortable situations. Should I follow Him? At times, tremendous sacrifice, is it worth it?

Do I believe that God’s ways are higher? Will I choose God’s way instead of my way even when God’s way doesn’t make sense?

Three reasons why you should live God’s way:

If you live God’s way you will experience divine confidence.

Meeting with Ephesian elders - Paul willing to follow God knowing affliction and prison awaits him.

Goes to Jerusalem - not good - two years imprisoned in Caesarea. No one knows what to do with him. Felix wants to send him to Jerusalem, but Paul appeals to Caesar.

Off to Rome. Where God wanted Paul in the first place, but in this way? As a prisoner? God’s ways higher than our ways.

Journey anything but easy. Boards a ship with other prisoners - in the custody of Julius, a Roman centurion.

Situation goes from bad to worse . Obvious God is with Paul. God wants Paul in Rome, and God uses incredible circumstances to put Paul where He wants Paul.

God’s kindness: Julias treats Paul kindly - on one stop, he lets Paul go visit his friends.

Traveling difficult - Paul gives some advice to the centurion - but he doesn’t listen. Why would he? (vs. 10-11)

Heavy winds turn to storm - vs. 20 - “All hope of our being saved was abandoned...” You’ve felt that way - then at the right time - God spoke truth into your situation.

God’s protection: Paul - “I told you so… But… God has told me...” (21-24) vs. 25 - I have faith in God!

Sailors try to escape the ship. Paul: “You won’t be saved.” vs. 31

Shipwreck - centurion keeps soldiers from killing prisoners. (vs. 41-42) (God’s protection.)

Huge storm - But, doesn’t stop God’s plan for Paul. The journey through the storm was God’s plan for Paul. What we’ve seen in Paul’s life is absolute confidence in God’s will.

Confidence in God? = I know He’s faithful. I know He is at work in all things.

When you lack confidence in God:

Worry and anxiety - Put yourself in Paul’s shoes - how worried would you have been if was your story? For you, you know what God wants for you, but you constantly doubt that God is able to see you through.

Disobedience to God’s Word - Because you worry, you ask, “Is God’s way really better?”

When you are full of confidence in God:

Not going to give God terms and conditions. - “I’ll serve on my terms - when I only have to display a little faith but not great faith.” E.g., - I’ll serve on Thanksgiving day, but I won’t actually share the Gospel. I’ll leave that to someone else.

Not going to give up. (Paul encourages everyone to stay on the ship and doesn’t try to escape Himself.)

How do I experience this confidence? - Walk with God. Simple as that - (NOTE: No one else on the boat had confidence because no one else on the boat walked with God!) The more you live by faith the more He grows your faith. The Christian life wasn’t easy for Paul but over and over again He saw God at work. Certainly, the more he walked with God the more he grew in the confidence of God. Maybe you lack confidence in God because you don’t know God.

Ill. - Haircut at Great Clips - confidence booster - but nowhere near the confidence I have in the God who has spoken truth over my life.

If you live God’s way you will experience divine opportunities.

A prisoner, shipwrecked, and now on an island he never expected to be on. Paul is supposed to be in Rome - visiting with the church in Rome - gaining their support so they would send him to Spain.

On a surface reading, it doesn’t make sense why God allows Paul to

Now, on the island of Malta - If it was you and me, we’d ask the question: “Where is God in all of this?” God’s ways are higher than our ways. By His Sovereign design God directed Paul’s steps. He’s directing your steps as well. Traveling to Rome as a prisoner and shipwrecked on Malta is not God’s plan gone wrong - BUT - God giving Paul divine opportunities he otherwise would not have had if his journey to Rome would have been easy and carefree.

Divine opportunity on the ship: hardened prisoners hear the Gospel. Sailors who over their years of travel had been exposed to numerous false gods heard about the One true God.

Divine opportunity in Malta: Paul starts a fire and bit by a poisonous viper. Natives: “Paul is getting what he deserves. He must be a murderer. That’s why he is a prisoner. He’s getting justice.” (28:4)

Paul shakes off the snake and doesn’t die. He’s fine. People: “He’s a god...” Luke doesn’t tell us, but I imagine Paul shared the Gospel with these natives. Divine opportunity.

Publius - chief of island - God uses Paul to heal Publius’ father - then others are healed. Divine opportunities.

Malta was never on Paul’s travel agenda, but it was on God’s. For three months - unexpected mission trip.

One more pit stop (vs. 13-14) Then finally to Rome - where Paul is put under house arrest with a soldier guarding him. (vs. 16)

First - Jews - explains his situation but they’ve heard nothing about Paul! Divine opportunity for them to hear the Gospel from Paul without preconceived assumptions because of what happened in Jerusalem.

Divine opportunity to preach to Jews in Rome - they come to his home in large numbers - some believe but many reject. However, God is going to work through Paul in ways far beyond these Jews in Rome. Paul quotes - God is at work among Gentiles.

Divine opportunity to preach to Roman soldiers: An amazing divine opportunity to share with least likely people to come to faith. In chains, Paul had opportunity to preach to Roman soldiers. Under house arrest - a soldier chained to Paul on a 4 hour shift.

- Rome’s elite soldiers heard the Gospel! The whole imperial guard! NOT only that, but in a Roman prison, Paul wrote Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians.

From our perspective, Acts doesn’t end like we’d expect. Doesn’t make sense, but it makes perfect sense to God who desires to save those far from Him. Paul goes through tremendous suffering but in the midst of tremendous suffering, tremendous opportunity.

God has ordered your steps so that through you He might extend His grace to people far from Him.

Your life might not make sense to you right now - but doesn’t change reality that tremendous opportunity surrounds you. No excuse to shrink back from those opportunities. Could be greatest season of ministry.

Two Attitudes. Which will you choose?

Self-pity. Self-pity leads to disobedience. (Self-pity - Not wanting to hear you brag about Clemson…) When you are focused on you, you’re not going to have the eyes to others around you that need to hear the Gospel from you. All the excuses in the world do not change the calling of God on your life. “Where is God?” “Life is hard.” “I’m not happy.” “I give up.” The struggle is real, but the truth is real as well. God is present, God knows where He has you, and God has given you everything you need to walk in obedience. Who’s not hearing the Gospel because of your lack of obedience? (Think Jonah)

Humbled awe. Run toward divine opportunities with intentionality: God has extended grace to you so that through you He might extend grace to someone else. God is at work in the life of someone around you -

Humbled awe.

Never getting over your salvation and calling. Requires every day intimacy with God.

God-ward perspective. Life might not be going my way, but God is ALWAYS at work for my good and His glory. He is sovereign, and I am amazed that He chooses to use me.

Eyes-wide open. God is at work in people around me, I’m going to join Him in His mission.

At LSU game - light in darkness - that’s what you are and nothing changes that - Be in humble awe that God allows you to be light in darkness.

If you live God’s way you will experience divine productivity.

Acts ends with a cliffhanger. What happened to Paul? Did he get to stand before Caesar and plead his case? Did he ever get to Spain after he was released from prison?

Cliffhanger because it’s ultimately not Paul’s story. This is God’s story of how God works in unexpected ways to complete His purpose. Acts is not the story of Paul or Peter. Instead, it’s the story of Jesus. Through Acts, we’ve seen how Jesus has been at work in the lives of people even through difficult circumstances.

Last word in the book of Acts in Greek language: unhindered. Paul seemed hindered - shipwrecked, Malta, imprisonment.

Be encouraged - nothing stops the Gospel - God will complete His work through His people.

You might feel hindered, but God is not hindered. You are a part of an unhindered mission that will culminate in a day where people from every tribe, tongue, and nation.

Unhindered does NOT mean that we will always see the results that we want to see, but it does mean that your life is not wasted when you live God’s way. Living God’s way is the most productive way you can live. Living God’s way for His mission is the best use of your time and resources.

If the Gospel is unhindered:

Be UNHINDERED in the way you pray. People close to you and far from God. How often are you praying for them? 3 opens: Open their hearts, open the door for conversation, open your mouth?

Be UNHINDERED in the way you serve. - Some of us still haven’t found a place of meaningful ministry. Why not?

Be UNHINDERED in the way you invite. Christmas season - people are more open to accept an invitation to church than any other time of the year. Who is it that you think would never show up?

Be UNHINDERED in your generosity. What has God given you to use to be a blessing to His kingdom?

Be UNHINDERED in the way you share. It’s time to have that conversation with that coworker. To not is to disobey.

The Gospel is unhindered because Jesus was unhindered. He was not hindered by sin or the ways of man. He placed His focus on His Father’s will - - the cross seems foolish to man, but the salvation of God. The cross of Christ has made a way for you to have a completely new life - a new perspective, a new purpose, a new hope. Jesus died and rose again for you. Turn to Him.

Believers: what has hindered you from living God’s way? Self-pity? Disobedience? Lack of confidence? Repent.