Get Close To The Lord

THE WILL OF GOD # 1

Acts 16:1-10 - “Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek: Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium. Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek. And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem. And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in
number daily. Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavored to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.”

What is your purpose in life? To have a good paying job? To have a good retirement in your old age? To be successful in the raising of your family? There is such a thing as the overruling providence of God. We must realize that Satan does try to lead astray. However, we must also realize that God leads and overrules with His providence. Rev. 3:7 - “Rev 3:7 - “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth,
and no man openeth;” There is such a thing as a divine call. We notice that in our text there is a man of Macedonia. But we need to realize that this was the voice of God that spoke to Paul concerning this matter. vs. 10 - “And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavored to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.”

May I just say that each one of us has just such a calling. II Tim. 1:9 - “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,” Many times we ourselves do not really understand our own pathway. We “buffet the air” again and again as long as we have not learned
the secret of being in the center of God’s calling. In the Christian life our relation is to a person, not to a doctrine.

Russell Stolp
Chaplain, CFO

Psalm 37:4 "Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart."
Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy
ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.