Look, there’s no easy way to say this. Well, maybe there is. Some people are sitting around waiting to find out what God’s will is for their life when almost all of it is already well known. At least the most important parts have been fully revealed. Many people who profess Christ use the “I don’t know God’s will” excuse to remain in their apathy, inaction, laziness, competing desires, rebelliousness, and more. But the believer who wants nothing but God’s will will be unswayed by hardship (and thus resisting the temptation to be comfortable) and undeterred by a relationship where that relationship would get in the way of the pursuit of God. This is the one who is devoted to prayer and eager to obey God’s Word and be on mission for him. In Acts 21:1-16, Paul is making his way to Jerusalem with his entourage of church leaders and the offering he’s been collecting for the beleaguered in that city. Everyone knows how it's going to go when Paul arrives in Jerusalem. It isn’t going to go well. But it is God’s will. Looking at this passage together on Sunday will help us determine some things about God’s will for our own lives. It’s going to be a challenging message.

Series: The Book of Acts
Message: 58 – Let The Will of the Lord Be Done
Text: Acts 21:1-16
Todd Dugard
Harvest Bible Chapel
October 5, 2025

Comfort is the worst addiction.
- Marcus Aurelius

When I want nothing but God’s will…

…I will be unswayed by hardship (v. 1-4)

Put an X beside the easy aspects of being a Christian:
o Witnessing
o Resisting temptation and fleeing sin
o Overcoming addictions
o Living out what it means to be the Imago Dei
o Keeping your marriage vows
o Keeping yourself sexually pure
o Raising your kids
o Pursuing holiness
o Knowing the Bible
o Praying
o Being in relationship with fellow believers
o Being generous in your giving

If God opens the door for you to do something you know is good or necessary, be thankful for the opportunity. But other than that, don’t assume that the relative ease or difficulty of a new situation is God’s way of telling you to do one thing or the other. Remember, God’s will for your life is sanctification, and God tends to use discomfort and trials more than comfort and ease to make us holy.
- Kevin DeYoung, Just Do Something: A Liberating Approach to Finding God's Will.

…but devoted to prayer (v. 5-6)

If we don’t pray nothing else matters.

Psalm 86:17

…I will be undeterred by relationship (v. 7-13a)

Warnings along the way prepared Paul for the imprisonment and hardship that did indeed befall him there, fortified him for the experience, and convinced him that God was in it all.
- John B. Polhill

Is everything sad going to come untrue? What’s happened to the world?
- J.R.R. Tolkein

Revelation 21:4

…but eager to obey the Word (v. 13b-16)

Seek first the kingdom of God, and then trust that he will take care of our needs, even before we know what they are and where we're going.
- Kevin DeYoung, Just Do Something: A Liberating Approach to Finding God's Will

Additional Resources:
Just Do Something: A Liberating Approach to Finding God's Will
- Kevin DeYoung
https://www.amazon.ca/Just-Do-Something-Kevin-Deyoung/dp/0802411592