Matthew 26:39 And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
Our first passage above is taken from the harrowing experience Jesus was passing through, as the fate of the human race hung in the balance. The world He came to save was arrayed against Him, and the devil had pulled out all the stops in his attempts to stop Christ from carrying out the plan of salvation.
Added to this was the fact that Jesus’s own disciples were going to desert Him in His hour of agony. And thus, as He considered the fearful prospect of Him laying down His life for us, He breathed that prayer that is to form the basis of any meaningful relation between God and man, “Thy Will Be Done”.
There are times in our life experience when we may prefer another route than that in which God may be leading us. Like Christ, we may prefer a plan “B” and we may not understand upfront why such and such way God has ordained is the best route to go.
But this is where faith comes in, for we are to trust God’s perfect wisdom in every situation, even if we may not see the end from the beginning as He does. God’s omniscience, His ability to know the future as perfectly and thoroughly as He does, often puts His plans and directions at odds with ours.
Because of His omniscience God’s plans may take a turn, which to finite minds may seem illogical at the moment, but He knows what He is doing, and what may seem illogical today would make perfect sense tomorrow, and as such we are to wait on Him, and watch keenly as His good purposes are unfolded.
Thus, it is His omniscience which allows Him to plan and execute His good will with precision in behalf of all who are willing to wait upon Him. And therefore, as was stated in a previous Bible study, we will need to understand that at times, our personal desires, and preferences may not align with God’s, yet, we should trust Him even where we cannot trace Him.
As the results of America’s choice filtered in, some persons rejoiced, while others wept with the bitter disappointment of unfulfilled expectation. To many it was a time fraught with nerve jangling wait and see moments as the results slowly came in. And it is true, that the wounds from the bruising battles will not be healed overnight.
But the scripture calls us to look beyond that which mortal man does, and instead, focus our attention on what God says He will do. Now more than ever, in a time of national suspense, Christians should be looking to God for guidance and direction, as those scenes, and prophecies in the Bible begin to unfold before our eyes.
Therefore, in lieu of God’s sovereignty, and of the instructions He has given us to live by, it would be well for us not to worry ourselves out of His hands, but instead patiently wait, as His will for the future of this nation, and all other nations is revealed. His will is going to be done any which way, regardless of who is in charge.
It matters not whether it is the left or the right, or some green candidate. It does not matter how the many billions are spent in support of this or that party. The fact is that God’s will is going to get done one way or the next, and as such, our focus should be on what God is doing, not so much on what the human agent may or may not do.
Therefore, we are given instructions in the word of God which should be followed, whether or not we agree with the choice made through the electoral process. The true Christian will put his or preference on the back burner, and obey God, just as Christ did when faced with a daunting situation in which He preferred another route. Let’s read:
Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
2 Whosoever therefore resists the power, resists the ordinance of God.
There will be some difficult lessons to learn as we move forward, if we desire to tow the line between obedience and personal preference. Faith in God is not to be based on agreement with what He does or permits, for this mode of thought and action will run us into problems when we may not see eye to eye with Him.
Instead, believing Christians are to acknowledge His sovereignty, and obey His word, even if it does not sync with our personal preferences. There are times in our experience when we may have to give up our rights, in order to keep on serving God with a clear conscience.
There are other times when, for the truth’s sake we may have to surrender our plans, and preconceived ideas of what we think is best so that “Thy will” may be done. The basis of any relationship with God, as far as man is concerned is love which works through obedience, not by personal feelings or preferences.
But the contemporary faith of millions, where one’s obedience is based on agreement with God would not align with that humble spirit revealed in Christ, where we are willing to be led according to His will. Thus, the study for today will contain pointers that will guide our minds in right directions, as the time for Christ’s second coming draws near.
We will study the experience of David, between the time of his anointing, and the time when he actually became king, for his experiences are pregnant with instructions for all those who choose to wait upon God.
David was anointed as the future king of Israel, even while Saul was still on the throne, and in obedience to God’s revealed will, he accepted the solemn call. It is of critical importance, that whatever we do, or plan to do, that it be in harmony with God’s will, for it is only thus, individuals can be assured of the very best outcome.
Making plans, and choices, without consulting God first will almost always result in adversity, for we do not have the ability to see the future events as God does, and as a result we will almost always make a wrong move without His input.
David did not ask to be placed in that situation of being king, and thus, whenever he would encounter difficulty, he could pray with the confidence that God would hear and answer. The tendency to make plans on our own, and then ask God to underwrite those plans is often productive of undue adversity.
David was minding his own business, taking care of the sheep, when God called and anointed him to go in a completely different direction, and because of this, God could be trusted to mitigate any problems that would arise. Walking in obedience to God’s voice comes with the built-in promise that He will take care of any issues we may encounter. Let’s read:
1st Samuel 16:1 And the Lord said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.
The only problem here is that Jesse has eleven sons, and we’ll observe that God does not tell Samuel up front, who it’s going to be. That guidance would be given in the fullness of time, but until then, Samuel is to obey the first instruction by going to the house of Jesse.
This presents one of the most important lessons for us in our day, because, God often does not reveal His entire will all at once. The path of the just is like the shining light that shines more and more until the perfect day, and therefore it is an obey as you go system that we are called to adopt in all of our life experiences.
The human agent often prefers those detailed plans that stretch way into the future for many years, and if the will of God is not revealed in great detail some persons tend to worry themselves out of His hands. Walking by faith is a pray as you go and obey as you go system, and wherever it is adopted, God will lead in the best possible paths on an ongoing basis.
The same plan of action was given to Abraham, the father of the faithful, for when God called him to go to a land which he should afterward inherit, the fine details were not revealed up front. But as Abraham obeyed the first instruction, the way forward would be revealed on an ongoing basis.
Some people are not happy with the way things are going in this country, with the constant vitriol and hate that is spewing from lying lips. And because of this, many have already begun to make their move to more rural areas in the country, in harmony with the counsels given to the remnant. The pandemic is also causing many to relocate away from the cities.
That’s all well and good, but just make certain that it is “Thy will” and not “our will” that is being done, because one error in judgement could set a flurry of adverse regrettable circumstances in motion. When Abraham moved, it was always in obedience to the voice of God, and because of this, God would cover him with His presence whithersoever he went. Let’s read:
Genesis 12:1 Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee.
The words “That I will shew thee” imply that all of the fine details were not given up front, just like the anointing of David. God did not reveal to David that in the process of becoming king, he would first be the most wanted man in Israel, as king Saul would seek to hunt him as a wild beast for no valid reason.
When the children of Israel were instructed to pass through the red sea, they could not clearly discern the distant shore, yet, as they took that first step in obedience, the way forward became increasingly plain. They were following God’s instruction, and if any issue arose, they would have confidence that it was God’s will they were following, not theirs.
Just so it will be with all who choose to live by the pray as you go and obey as you go system. Thy will, the will of God would be revealed in ever increasing clarity until it is perfectly known. Until such time we must do what He bids us do in the here and now for this adds resiliency in the Christian’s life. Let’s read:
Isaiah 40: 31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
After arriving on the scene, where the anointing of Israel’s future king was to take place another lesson for us unfolds, as Samuel made a rush to judgment based on what he saw. Even though God had told him that the chosen one would be revealed in due time, Samuel, as many of us often do, went ahead of God, and made a judgement based on externals.
The children of Israel had often rushed to judgment based also on what they saw. That’s why the giants in the land frightened them to the point where they were ready to turn back to the land from which God had rescued them. Walking by faith translates into a willingness to be led by God on an ongoing basis.
Even though folks may get a strong impression in a certain matter, we are not to live, or decide merely by impressions. Instead, persons must always leave some wiggle room, just in case, “Thy will” is not the same as our impressions. This is also true currently, for it is God who sets up rulers, and He takes them down at His discretion. Let’s read:
1st Kings 16:3 And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee.
6 And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the Lord's anointed is before him.
7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.
Another issue that often arises in our walk with God is that of timing, for our timing, and God’s timing is mostly out of sync. In the fulfillment of God’s will, it will often be the case that the human agent thinks God is taking too long, and as such, we may at times find ourselves itching to make a move, or a decision, ahead of Him.
This lesson more than all others should serve as a beacon of warning for those who will live through the last days of earth’s history. Deliverance is often just around the corner from one hasty move and we will discover that here is where the enemy of souls lays many of his snares for believers.
David and his men were frustrated at the length of time it was taking for the fulfillment of God’s will to make him king. At every turn king Saul was seeking to take his life, and they came to believe that they would have to help God in bringing His purposes to pass.
Thus, when the situation seemed right, and all the stars seemed to line up by circumstance, they made a suggestion which, on the surface, seemed to be in harmony with God’s will. Yet, it was the old enemy of souls coming through as an angel of light to take advantage of their hastiness.
If we begin to think that God is taking too long to do such and such, we will make ourselves vulnerable to the assaults of satan, who is constantly on the alert to capitalize on our haste. Here in America there are those who are itching for a changing of the guards, and like David’s men, that haste may drive them to do things that are entirely out of sync with God’s will.
Especially is it necessary for us to pray and to wait upon God in a volatile or extreme circumstance, for His good purposes know no haste nor delay. In the fullness of time, His will is going to be done, but until such time, let none who believe in Jesus try to take matters into their own hands, as David’s men tried to do.
It is of critical importance that we study the next passages of scripture very closely so as to know how temptations on hastiness occur, even as they would appear to be logical, and may seem to have backing from God. The suggestions, and temptations coming from devils are often veiled in a veneer of logic, so, let buyers beware. Let’s read:
1st Samuel 26:2 Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.
3 And Saul pitched in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon, by the way. But David abode in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness.
4 David therefore sent out spies and understood that Saul was come indeed.
5 And David arose, and came to the place where Saul had pitched: and David beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his host: and Saul lay in the trench, and the people pitched round about him.
6 Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I will go down with thee.
7 So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people lay round about him.
8 Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time.
What do you do when all the stars seem to line up? God had already anointed David, Saul was seeking to take his innocent life for no valid reason, David is armed to the tooth and to cap it all off an unnatural sleep from God has fallen upon the enemy, which, for all intents and purposes seems to suggest that God has set things up for David to take out Saul.
This logical line of reasoning resonates deeply in the mind of Abishai, and seems to be confirmed by the obvious Divine intervention in the unnatural sleep. Here is where satan makes his move upon Abishai’s hastiness and tempts him to employ his will rather than God’s will, by slaying the duly appointed king.
But David, who is being led by the Spirit of God now recognizes the temptation as being contrary to God, and he refuses to enter into temptation, as so many of us often do. The lesson for us here is that even if all the stars of heaven line up, we must never allow logical reasoning to drive us to go contrary to God’s revealed will. Never! Let’s read:
1st Samuel 26:9 And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the Lord's anointed, and be guiltless?
10 David said furthermore, As the Lord liveth, the Lord shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle and perish.
11 The Lord forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the Lord's anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go.
12 So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul's bolster; and they got them away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither awaked: for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from the Lord was fallen upon them.
For us to avoid conflicts between “Thy Will and my will, it will be necessary for us to wait upon God in all circumstances. We should avoid drawing lines in the sand by giving God a set deadline to do such and such or else. We must avoid chomping at the bits impatiently, because satan can, and will take advantage of undue eagerness and haste.
Again, we are not to withdraw from adversities if it not God’s revealed will. Like Christ, as He faced the daunting prospect of imprisonment and death, let those who will live through the final conflict go to God to learn what is His will in any given situation.
The Lord has plainly stated that difficulties would arise for all during the final chapter of this earth’s history. Trouble will be coming on the earth from many different directions, and it will affect every person to a greater or lesser degree.
Let not these facts drive us to start planning on our own without God’s guidance, and direction. Instead, let “Thy will” and not my will be done. Very often in emergencies or dire situations persons will resort to planning and deciding for themselves without input from God who knows best.
As the election of a lifetime loomed large, gun sales skyrocketed, as millions across America began to arm themselves in order to protect themselves and their families. Walmart, which had stopped selling guns and ammunition resumed doing so in light of the unprecedented sales taking place.
Even though there will be a time of trouble, there will also be a simultaneous time of deliverance for God’s people, and because of this, we are advised to wait for His voice, before making any move based on logical reasoning alone. Let’s read:
Daniel 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
Therefore, it is incumbent upon us not to worry or lose sleep over what is certainly coming upon the earth. Let us not like the secular world resort to a mode of self-preservation. Instead, let all who trust in God look beyond that which is seen to that which is eternal, for at the end of the day, when the dust has settled, the kingdom of God will stand forever.
We therefore end with a passage of scripture which reminds us of God’s care for His people through the final conflict, and let us learn to wait and trust Him in any given situation, for it is not my will, but “Thy will be done”. Let’s read:
Psalms 91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most-High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
3 Surely, he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flies by day;
6 Nor for the pestilence that walks in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the Most-High thy habitation;
10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
God Bless!