What God Wants
This morning’s lesson will come from a verse which tells us what God wants. Since He is our creator and our savior I certainly think we should pay close attention to what God wants. Our first verse comes from the hand peter,
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His
promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not
willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
With in context Peter is teaching us that the
promises that God has made about how Jesus will return and the final judgment
day will happen will indeed take place but this will happen on God’s time table
and not ours. Then he points out just how God loves us by showing us that God
is longsuffering toward us. This word longsuffering means that he is being very
patient and he is putting off is wrath because he wants everyone to have the
opportunity to come to repentance. Of course the best definitions of repentance
is found in,
2 Corinthians 7:9 Now I rejoice, not that you were
made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in
a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing.
True repentance is not just simply being sorry for
you did. True repentance involves a change of mind or change of heart to where
you stop doing whatever it was you were doing that was contrary to God’s Word. For
instance if you were drug attic and you repented this would mean that you would
give up the drugs. Another example would be if you were living in an adulterous
relationship and you repent this means you get out of that adulterous
relationship. So as we can a change take place when we repent. A great cross
reference verse that goes along with what Peter has said can be found in the
OT.
Ezekiel 33:11 "Say to them: 'As I
live,' says the Lord GOD, 'I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but
that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For
why should you die, O house of
God has never taken pleasure in punishing the wicked.
He would much rather have people cease from their evil ways and turn to him so
that they never have to face his wrath. Knowing that God thinks this way and
knowing that he wants everyone to be saved should make everyone happy to know
that we have a God who loves us so much and is longsuffering toward us so that
we can repent and turn to him so that we can have every lasting life. Just as
quick side note What Peter says is direct conflict with those who teach that
some are predestined to be saved and some are predestined to be lost because
Peter very clearly stated that God want ALL to come to repentance.
Now the best way I know to show what Peter has
said is true is by taking a look at the life of Paul and how God was
longsuffering toward him. Now as we begin to look at Paul’s life and the
changes that happened in his life we shall certainly see just how longsuffering
God really is. For convenience sake I am going to refer Paul as Paul through
out this lesson even though he went by the name of Saul early on his life. It
is believed by most scholars that Paul was born around the same time as Jesus
and John the Baptist. It interesting that these 3 men would have the impact of
the salvation of mankind. John was the forerunner, Jesus was the redeemer and
Paul was the proclaimer and missionary.
Even though we do not have the historical records of what
Paul’s early life was like we do know that his parents and his environment
influenced him. We know that he was born in
Acts 22:3 “I am
indeed a Jew, born in
Galatians 1:14 And I
advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being
more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
Acts 26:4 "My manner of life from my youth, which was
spent from the beginning among my own nation at
So as you can see Paul was raised up with the mindset of a Pharisee and he
worked very hard to the best at what he was. This gives us great insight into
the life of Paul and will help us to understand why did things he did as we
will discover latter on in this lesson.
A few more things that we learn about Paul is that besides being a Jew and a Pharisee he was also a Greek by birth and also a Roman citizen. Being a Roman citizen gave you a great advantage because it was against Roman law to punish a Roman Citizen without a trial. It was a very serious offence to mistreat a Roman citizen. A Roman citizen could not be crucified. They also had the right to appeal to Caesars imperial court. Latter on in Paul life this would serve him well.
Now I want to talk about how Paul was an very effective persecutor.
When Paul did something he went all the way. He put his
entire heart and soul into it because he a determined and dedicated man. Paul
wanted to destroy the
Galatians 1:13 For you have heard of my former conduct in
Judaism, how I persecuted the
Paul would go around
looking for Christians and if he found them he didn’t care if they were men or
women he would hall them of to jail. We see Paul in action as he probable
watched with a smile on his face while Stephen was being stoned to death.
Notice what,
Acts 8:1 Now
Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose
against the church which was at
Now this word
“consenting” means that Paul was approving or was pleased with the stoning of
Stephen and with Paul’s upbringing we can understand why the Bible tells us
that he did all these against Christians with a sincere heart thinking he was
doing the right thing. It didn’t bother his conscience whatsoever because he
thought he doing something good for the cause of God. Notice another passage
where he testifies about he persecution of Christians.
Acts 26:9
"Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of
Jesus of
You see Paul so dedicated
at destroying the Christians that he did something that no other Pharisee did
he started looking for Christians outside of Jerusalem as we learn from,
Acts 9:1 Then
Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord,
went to the high priest 2 and
asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any
who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to
Jerusalem.
No wonder Paul was looked up to by the other
Pharisees because he was so full of passion for what he thought was for the
cause of God. Now Paul didn’t know it but his trip to
Acts 9:3 As he journeyed he came near
Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and
heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting
Me?" 5 And he said,
"Who are You, Lord?" Then the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you
are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the
goads." 6 So he,
trembling and astonished, said, "Lord, what do You want me to do?"
Then the Lord said to him, "Arise and go into the city, and you
will be told what you must do." 7
And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing
no one. 8 Then Saul arose
from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him
by the hand and brought him into
From what we have learned about Paul and his
mindset I think we can understand that it was going to take something big to
get the attention of Paul and meeting Jesus on that road to Damascus was what
it took to get Paul to see the light. Now Paul didn’t know who Jesus was at his
time so that is why he asked who are you Lord? Then Jesus tell him who his and tells
Paul that is hard for you to kick against the goad. What Jesus is describing
here with this phrase of kicking against the Goad was long pointy stick that
shepherds used to motivate their animals and it was also used on wagons and
placed behind the oxen’s legs so that if they tried to kick at the wagon behind
them they would be poked an soon would thing twice about doing it again. In
essence Jesus knew that Paul had the truth about Jesus but that he had been
resisting it and him knowing the mind of Paul he knew that he had been hard for
him resist this truth and now Paul would have no doubt that Jesus was the son
of God and that this new sect know as Christians was God’s plan. In Paul 3rd
account of his encounter with Jesus we are told that Jesus also says this,
Acts 26:16 'But rise and stand on your feet;
for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a
witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will
yet reveal to you. 17 'I will
deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles,
to whom I now send you, 18
'to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to
light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive
forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith
in Me.'
So God reveals to Paul that he wants him to be an
eyewitness for him so that others can have their eyes opened to the truth so
they can have the forgiveness of their sins. So Paul does as he is told and he
lead to Damascus where he waits further instructions as Jesus told him to do.
We learn that Paul spends 3 day and 3 nights without food and water and prays
continually during this time. At this point we can see that Paul believed that
Jesus was the son of God and he had repented he was very sorrow for what he had
done against the Christians and he was willing to change his ways.
Now around this same time Ananias is told by Jesus
to go to Paul and lay his hands on him so that he can receive his sight. At
first Ananias is reluctant and tells Jesus about how horrible Paul was and all
things he had been doing to destroy Christianity but Jesus says this,
Acts 9:15 But the Lord said to him, "Go,
for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the
children of
This teaches us that no matter how bad we have
been as person or what we have done to others in our past if we turn to God and
become a Christian God can use to accomplish great things in his name again
this goes back to main verse that God wants all to come to repentance. Now
Ananias does what he is told and he heals Paul’s vision but then he tells Paul
something else that he must to in order to become a Christian and have his sins
removed.
Acts 22:16 And now why are you waiting? Arise and be
baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.'
Now I think that it very important that grasp what
is going on here. As we have already stated Paul believed that Jesus was the
son of God. He had already repented of what he had done in the past and we can
see that he willing to change by the fact the he obeyed Jesus by waiting in
Acts 9:17 And Ananias went his way and
entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the
Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you
may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." 18 Immediately there fell from his
eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he
arose and was baptized.
Paul understood what he had to do become a
Christian and have his sins washed away and so he was baptized in the name of
Jesus for the remission of his sins. After Paul became a Christian he took this
same zeal and passion had a Pharisee and used it to further Christianity and
every where he went he taught others about the wonderful love of God and how he
wants all to be saved. If you will take the time to examine the letter that
Paul wrote and what was written about him by Luke in the book of Acts you will
see that he went around teaching the exact same message that was taught to him.
In fact Paul teaches more about the plan of salvation and important of being
baptized more than anyone else in the NT.
So know we can surely see that when Peter said
that God wants all people to come to repentance that Paul is great of example
that God means what he says. If a man like Paul can be forgiven after trying to
destroy Christianity then surely we can see that no matter what we have done in
our past can also be forgiven. Once we become a Christian we get new beginning
because become a new creature in Christ. Once we accept God Grace we need to
have the attitude that Paul had.
Philippians 3:3 For we are the circumcision, who
worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in
the flesh, 4 though I also
might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have
confidence in the flesh, I more so: 5
circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of
Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6 concerning zeal, persecuting the
church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 7 But what things were gain to me,
these I have counted loss for Christ. 8
Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of
Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and
count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ
9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which
is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the
righteousness which is from God by faith;
10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and
the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain
to the resurrection from the dead. 12
Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that
I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself
to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which
are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the
prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore let us, as many as
are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will
reveal even this to you. 16
Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk
by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.
These are great words to live by when become a
Christian. Keep your eye on heaven by living each day for God and put your past
behind you. Now as we come to the close of our lesson there is another verse
that tells what God wants.
1 Timothy 2:3 For this is good and
acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the
knowledge of the truth.
You see this exactly what I have been sharing with
you today. I have shown from the truth that is God’s Word that he wants
everyone to be saved and they way find out how to be saved is by knowing or the
knowledge of what His Word says and so I make this plea with you this morning
if you are not a child of God that is if you have never had your sins removed
as the God’s word describes then why not make today you day of salvation. As we
looked Paul’s life we could see then he was very sincere man and even thought
he was doing things right but he found out different on the road to