How To Discover "God's Big Picture" & "God's Little Picture" for your life

Acts 16:6 "They passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia; 7 and after they came to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them."

Acts 18:19-21 "They came to Ephesus, and he left them there. Now he himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 20 When they asked him to stay for a longer time, he did not consent, 21 but taking leave of them and saying, “I will return to you again if God wills,” he set sail from Ephesus."

Introduction

In today's post we consider what is entailed in discerning God's will in everyday life. We will first of all consider what I will call "God's Big Picture" for discerning His will, which is to say, four principles that anyone can use in navigating through the process of discerning His direction in our lives. For ease of study in understanding "The Big Picture", I will have each main point begin with a subsequent letter of the alphabet as we navigate through Acts 16. 

The second and closing part of the post will then deal with the "Little Picture of God's Will" with regards to how to practically hone-in on God's will for the reader. I will be utilizing a teaching I heard years ago that used the acrostic M.A.P. Hopefully, the reader will find this post helpful in grasping God's Big and Little Picture for their life. 

Grasping "God's Big-Picture" for Discerning His Will by considering the A,B,C's of discovering what He desires

In the opening text of Acts 16:6, we find the Apostle Paul being hindered by the Holy Spirit from entering into the region of Asia Minor (Ephesus, Mysia). Why would God prevent this great missionary from sharing the Gospel in that land at that time? We discover in Acts 16-17 that God had a mission for Paul to achieve first - namely going over to the region of Macedonia. The fruits of Paul's Macedonian mission can be seen in the letters he wrote to the churches in that region: Philippi, Thessalonica and Corinth. 



We then find after Paul had completed his assignment, the Lord had lifted the restraints and Paul was then permitted to freely enter into Ephesus.

How is it that Paul was able to discern the Spirit's leading and promptings? I would suggest that God's way of leading His people entails a combination of interior promptings, circumstances, people and of course the objective, infallible Word of God. We will list four major components in discerning God's Will. Notice the following ABC's of discerning God's Will:

Active obedience.  

You and I dear friend cannot expect to detect God's leading and promptings if we are operating outside the known will of God. Paul was obeying God in his work of spreading the Gospel. Obedience to Christ's Lordship positions us in ready mode for sensing God's direction. 

Bible. 

It is impossible to hear God and know His will apart from the Bible. The Bible was revealed by God for the sake of "us and our children" (Deuteronomy 29:29). God's Word is the objective standard by which all the other methods of discerning God's will are evaluated.

Circumstances. 

How often do we take the time to "read" our circumstances. God is creative in the ways He guides His people. Circumstances are a big indicator of what God is doing in our lives. Certainly Paul had to read his circumstances and make an informed decision. He had Divine guidance from God for sure, but the circumstances acted as a secondary method of confirming that he and his companions had to go one way, rather than another.

Divine Promptings. 

This refers to the internal leading of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the Person of the Godhead Who indwells us and is fully God. He speaks to us from the moment of the new-birth / conversion (Romans 8:14-16). By the scriptures the Holy Spirit inside our human spirit delivers insights and illumination (1 Corinthians 2:10-13). The Holy Spirit is the One who provides warrant or justified reasons for why we believe we are saved, Jesus is Lord and the Bible is true (1 Corinthians 12:1-3; 12:12; Galatians 4:6; 1 John 2:20,27).

All four of these elements are evident in Paul's missionary journeys here in Acts. As we noted already, he was actively obeying God (Acts 16:10). Paul had a Divine word from God, which would be tantamount to our scriptures, since he did not have a completed New Testament at that point (Acts 10:10). Paul discerned from the circumstances that he could not go into Ephesus, concluding that the Spirit was not leading them there (Acts 16:6-7). Later on of course Paul was able to go into Ephesus, recognizing that God's will was involved (Acts 18:19-21). Then we find Divine promptings at work, as demonstrated in the cited texts and by the presence of the Holy Spirit through the passages. 


Grasping "God's Little-Picture" for Discerning His Will by considering the A,B,C's of discovering what He desires

Years ago I heard a teaching from Dr. R.C Sproul that helped me to better understand what I call "God's little picture" for my life. If we take the above principles to be God's "Big-picture" or principles applicable to anyone, then the following principles or M.A.P can enable us to apply what we learned above to our individual lives. In other words, think of God's M.A.P for your life...

Motives. 

What motives do you find in your heart as you pursue your passions, dreams or what you believe to be God's "Big-Picture Will". The first part of Proverbs 27:7 states - "For as he thinks within himself, so he is....". Proverbs 16:9 notes: "The mind of man plans his way,

But the Lord directs his steps." Motives are generated from within the control-center of our soul - the heart. God alone reads the motives of the heart. Thus, in grasping the little picture of God's will for my life, I need to discern my motives or motivation for why I am doing what I am doing.

Abilities.

Sometimes when we are pursuing a course of action, we may very well have a lot of motivation and yet, not possess the necessary skills to carry out the task. Now this is not to say that we have met a closed-door-so-to-speak. What it may say is that we're not yet ready or we may require additional training, life-experience, mentoring or a deepening in prayer and God's Word. We know that God grants natural abilities from birth and spiritual abilities following our new-birth in saving faith (Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 12-14). Wherever Motives and Abilities mesh, we will then find the following result...

Passion.

When you and I discover our passion, we have zeroed-in on God's little picture for our lives. This is the "M.A.P" so-to-speak. Jesus modeled this for us by being passionate to bring glory to the Father. 

Closing thoughts

So as you and I live our lives for the Lord today, let's aim to do His will. Let's grasp "God's Big-Picture" by:

Active obedience.
Bible.
Circumstances.
Divine Promptings.

Then we can take what we learned from "God's Big-Picture" and utilize what we saw from a suggestion made in a teaching by Dr. R.C Sproul concerning our "M.A.P" or what we can also call "God's Little Picture": 

Motives + Abilities = Passion. 

P1 Why Knowing God is the most important thing

1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

Introduction:
Why is knowing God the most important matter of salvation and life? Knowing God is the common purpose to both. All other purposes fall short. One comes to know God in the gift of eternal life. One knows about God in natural life . Natural life's purpose is found in the gift of eternal life, whereby we go from knowing about God to knowing God. Today’s post will explore the priority of knowing God in both natural life and in the New life that is found in Jesus Christ.

Knowing God - The chief purpose of natural life
The purpose of life itself is to know God. Jeremiah the prophet records in Jeremiah 9:23-24 "Thus says the Lord, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; 24 but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord." Solomon writes in Ecclesiastes 12:13 "The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person".

Fallen man is born with the innate knowledge about God and yet spurns such knowledge on favor of created things (Romans 1:18-31). Moral men and religious adherents can at best know about God. Yet to them, God is but a principle. God, for the naturally-minded unbeliever, is often-times not viewed as truly Personal. The delivery of personal acquaintance with this God through saving trust in Jesus Christ is required to transition from merely knowing "about God" to "knowing God".

The question remains: what kind of God are we talking about that is worth knowing? God is described in the opening verses of the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 as: "God is one and only one true and living God". Why this statement? The stress of the words lies not only in the fact of God's existence, but also in the uniqueness of this God. No other God can save (Isaiah 43:10). No other God can be known (Isaiah 44:6; Jeremiah 10:10). God alone occupies His own category of being (1 Corinthians 8:4-7).

Ultimate reality is not material. Neither the universe nor even spiritual realm in the sense of the angels constitutes what would be ultimate, ultimate reality. Such realms - whether they be visible or invisible - are created realms. God is indeed spiritual in nature (John 4:24), yet He is uncreated, eternal and necessarily exists - meaning that He must exist in order for the invisible and visible realms to be. These insights explain why life's purpose resides in not just knowing about God, but truly knowing Him.

Knowing God - The purpose of salvation
What is the essence of the meaning of salvation in Jesus Christ? to know God. Knowing this God is most remarkable. Knowing God, who is the only God, the one and only God, is salvation's chief end. Jesus defines eternal life (salvation) in John 17:3 "This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." Salvation's beginning and duration revolves about knowing God. Author J.I. Packer makes the following statement in his book "Knowing God": "What we're we made for? To know God. What aim should we set ourselves in life? To know God. What is the 'eternal life' that Jesus gives? Knowledge of God (John 17:3). What is the best thing in life, bringing more joy, delight, and contentment, than anything else? Knowledge of God."

It is very clear from observing the purposes of salvation and life that "knowing God" ends up being the same purpose for both. Tomorrow we will reflect further on this point by considering further scriptural passages in the Old and New Testaments. 

Discerning God's voice through His word

Proverbs 1:8 "Hear, my son, your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching."

Introduction:

As a pastor who proclaims the words of the Bible every week, there is a conviction that the voice of God is heard through the words and their meaning. Once the meaning of the words of the Bible has been discerned, the voice of God connects with those who are ready to hear, listen and live out those words. Such words carry the authority of Divine revelation, inerrant and infallible and thus incapable of failure. The words of the Bible and the meaning thereof is the Word of God, whether the hearer is ready to receive or not. 

Without a doubt the first nine chapters of Proverbs are dedicated to character transformation. But how is this achieved? By discerning God's voice in His word. Solomon, by the superintendence of the Holy Spirit, instructs readers about the step-by-step process one undergoes when discerning God's voice in His words. After some opening remarks, Solomon writes in Proverbs 1:20-21 "Wisdom shouts in the street, She lifts her voice in the square; 21 At the head of the noisy streets she cries out; At the entrance of the gates in the city she utters her sayings". Then near the latter end of Proverbs 1-9 we read these words in Proverbs 8:1 "Does not wisdom call, and understanding lift up her voice?" This rhetorical question is posed with the underlying premise that unless people have positioned themselves to hear God's word, with the intent to listen and for the purpose to do what God had said, then the only outcome can be disaster. 

Today I want us to briefly consider what all goes into discerning God's voice through the scriptures. Proverbs 1-9 gives what I would classify a repetition of a three-step process in grasping what we mean by this idea of "discerning God's voice through the scriptures". Let's consider each step....

1. Hear the word. Proverbs 1:8; 4:1,10

Gathering together at church, or at a Bible study or in front of our Bible for private devotions is getting into position to read and "hear" the scriptures. This first step to "hearing God" in the scriptures is simply a matter of positioning oneself. Just as a fisherman may bring his boat, fishing tackle and bait to a lake to prepare for an afternoon of fishing, the hearer of the Word is gathering to hear the Bible being spoken. Proverbs 4:1,10 notes: "Hear, O sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention that you may gain understanding"; "Hear, my son, and accept my sayings and the years of your life will be many."

Little do we realize what all takes place in this first stage. Psalm 119:105 and 119:130 reminds us about the nature of the words of the Bible: "Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path"; "The unfolding of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple."

When I come to the Bible with the intent to "hear it", the aim is to find out my "duty" or "obligation". In the "hearing stage", God is granting a measure of light to me. If I choose to take in the light (which will entail the second step - 'listening'), then I will have all I need to carry out whatever God tells me (hence the third step of 'living out the word). If I should reject the measure of light given to me in this first stage of hearing, then a corresponding level of darkness will be permitted to work in my life. Thankfully God gives us more than one chance to "take another run". I think this is one reason why Jesus so often made the statement: "He who has ears, let Him ear" (see Luke 8:8 and the seven churches in Revelation 2-3). 

Hearers aim to know what "has to be done". At this stage of the hearing process, I may or may not conclude that the words have anything to do with me. Many people think they are judging the Bible, when in reality we are judged by it. My judgment of the Bible, whether accurate or not, does not affect its truth value nor its quality as God's word. James 1:22-23 states - "But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror." The point James is making is that we begin at the point of "hearing" God's words, but we mustn't remain only hearers. Henceforth the second stage in Discerning God's voice through the scriptures is....

2. Listen to the word. Proverbs 2:1-6; 5:1,7

Some may question whether there is a difference between "hearing" and "listening". The case can be easily made that there is a difference. When a parent calls to their child to do their chores, the child may physically hear the voice and yet not move to action. The parent will then change their tone and say something to the effect: "are you listening?" Hearing entails the physical ears, whereas listening entails the ears of the heart. Again, Jesus so often spoke of how in reality, we have two sets of ears. All people can hear the Bible preached or taught with the physical ear, however not everyone will listen and respond with the ears of the heart.

Jesus makes the following statement about this second set of ears in Luke 9:43-45   "And they were all amazed at the greatness of God. But while everyone was marveling at all that He was doing, He said to His disciples, 44 “Let these words sink into your ears; for the Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men.” 45 But they did not understand this statement, and it was concealed from them so that they would not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask Him about this statement." 

Proverbs 2:1-6 details what happens in this second stage of listening: "My son, if you will receive my words and treasure my commandments within you, 2 Make your ear attentive to wisdom, Incline your heart to understanding; 3 For if you cry for discernment, Lift your voice for understanding; 4 If you seek her as silver And search for her as for hidden treasures; 5 Then you will discern the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God. 6 For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding." 

This second stage of discerning God's voice in the Christian life is a combination of God's supernatural grace having begun in the human heart and our being positioned to respond. The measure of light given by God in the first stage of hearing is agreed upon by the believer in this second stage. This is where we go from "having to do" God's word to "desiring to do God's word" (see Proverbs 5:1,7 and 7:1-2). If I have a jar of fresh honey in front of me (I really like honey by the way!); we could liken "hearing" to gathering facts about the honey (it is gold in color; it takes 2 million bees to make the jar I may have) and listening to opening up the jar and beginning to taste and savor it. 

We could summarize the difference between "hearing" and "listening" in the following way: hearing sees what needs to be done; listening responds with a desire to get it done." So, in discerning God's voice in His word, I must position myself to hear the scriptures, followed by a internal, Spirit-wrought, voluntary desire to hold firm and delight in what I've heard. However, these first two steps must be followed by a third and final step, namely....

3. Live out the word. Proverbs 8:32-36

Notice what Solomon writes near the end of his first section of Proverbs 1-9 in Proverbs 8:32-35 “Now therefore, O sons, listen to me, for blessed are they who keep my ways. 33 “Heed instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it. 34 “Blessed is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at my doorposts.
35 “For he who finds me finds life
And obtains favor from the Lord." In the Jewish way of thinking, one cannot prove that they have "gotten God's truth and its meaning" until they are living it out for themselves. The three steps we have outlined in this post function as a three-braided rope. Jesus reaffirms what we just noted in Matthew 7:24-27 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them,may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. 26 Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.” James echoes similar sentiments in James 1:18-25.

The point? We demonstrate we have discerned God's voice in His word when we are living it out with delight. 

Closing thoughts

The first nine chapters of Proverbs are dedicated to communicating the need for character transformation. But how is that accomplished? By discerning God's voice in His word. We discern God's voice in His word by the following three steps:

1. Hear His words (that is, position yourself in relationship to the words of scripture)

2. Listen to His words

3. Live out His words

How silence before God is so refreshing

Isaiah 40:31 - 41:1 "Yet those who wait for the Lord Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary. 41:1 Coastlands, listen to Me in silence, And let the peoples gain new strength; Let them come forward, then let them speak; Let us come together for judgment."

Introduction:

Silence. Stillness. The language of awe oftentimes entails no words, nor sound - only wonder. The world in which we live is too often noisy. When was the last time you pulled over to the side of the road on the way home from work to admire the sun sinking into the horizon? thanking the Sovereign God that regulates our course around it? The experience of watching snow fall and listening to each flake hit the ground in silence enhances enjoyment and appreciation of the snow. When we conjoin the experience of the snow with reflection upon God's Providential guidance of each flake, we come to appreciate God in a much deeper way.

This morning I did something for the first time in a long time - I sat silent before the Lord. I don't know about you, but I oftentimes fail to practice this simple discipline. Frequently I find myself and our Christian world too addicted to noise. In those moments of the Christian walk when we are unable to articulate how we feel, or when we don't know how we ought to pray - silence is far better than giving up. Whenever you read Isaiah 40 and 41, God's affirmations of "fear not" and "be strong" are best received in a mode of silence and surrender. 

Author Richard Foster quotes from an older writer - simply known as "Brother Lawrence" - concerning the place of silence in the Christian life:

"I do nothing else but abide in His Holy presence, and I do this by simple attentiveness and an habitual, loving turning of my eyes upon Him. This I should call....a wordless and secret conversation between the soul and God which no longer ends."

Think of silence before God as a form of fasting. When one fasts, they are quieting the soul. Physical appetites and the whine of the flesh are denied for the purpose of hearing the Holy Spirit speak to us through scripture and in our human spirit. In our prayer lives, talking to God with punctuated 1-2 minute intervals of silence positions us to wait upon His promptings. I don't know about you, but I find myself too hasty in bringing my requests before God to the detriment of silence. Silence prepares the heart to take a moment to be still and appreciate God. 

The cross and Jesus' accomplishments were interwoven with this thread of silence. We read in Acts 8:32 of a Deacon by the name of Phillip expounding upon Isaiah 53:7-8 wherein the prophecy is given of the Messiah being as a "a lamb that is silent before its shearer". When Jesus was brought before the Jewish officials in his pre-crucifixion trials - He remained silent (Matthew 26:63). As Jesus' closest followers stood before the cross - we see no words escaping their lips. Jesus Himself utters seven words from the cross - while His followers remain silent. The cross and all its victorious agony had deeply penetrated to the deepest core.  

The question before us as disciples of Jesus is how willing are we to take the time to be silent before our Lord? When we come before the Lord and contemplate the barren cross of the God-man, do we aim to enjoy our God? As Christ now sits upon His throne as our prophet, priest and King - we must ask anew: "Do I take the time to be silent and to recognize His Lordship and sway over my life?" As a final practical point - I would urge the reader to read through Isaiah 40-41 and mark down the verse that speak of silence before God. Then, take 1 minute or more to just sit and think upon what you read and say nothing. At first it may seem difficult to do - yet like enjoying a sunset or falling snow - God's tangible presence will be felt. 

A little pond, leaves and understanding God's leading in circumstances

Psalm 143:10 "Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground."

I can recall growing up as a young boy and walking over to the pond near our home. Every autumn I enjoyed walking up to that pond and observing the leaves fall onto its glassy surface. At one end of the pond was a small drain that emptied the pond into a small creek that ran alongside our property. I marveled at how leaves at one end of the pond would begin to face the same direction relative to that drain. No matter whence they came nor the direction they had been facing when they landed on the water; that drain and its tug on the water's surface orientated all the leaves in its direction.

Sometimes when we are aiming to discern God's will as Christians, its helpful to consider the pattern of our circumstances. All secondary means of weighing out God's will - like circumstances - must be sifted through the pages of scripture. The Bible stands as the infallible and inerrant source of measures and standards, since it is God's will written and revealed. 

As the Psalmist requested Divine guidance, He pleaded that the Holy Spirit guide him on level ground. Manytimes in the circumstances of our lives, certain indicators can be used by the Holy Spirit in reorientating our lives. Oftentimes life is not like the glassy surface of a little pond but moreso like a roiling sea of activity. We know of course that it is in those tulmultuous times that God steps into the sea of our circumstances and bids us to come. Just as Jesus commanded the sea of Galilee to obey His voice and it became calm, God can take chaos and bring it to order. What was broken is mended. What was formerly an uncertain direction is made clearer.

What are some of those indicators God uses in our circumstances? Let me lay out real quick "four p's":

1). People

2). Problems

3). Appointments

4). Promptings

With an open Bible and eyes closed in prayer, we can begin the process of surveying what is really going on in our lives. God is ever at work. Our issue is that we often fail to recognize what may very well be His ways of guidance. Scripture is our anchor, our compass and our map. The Holy Spirit is our internal companion Who is Sovereignly in union with the Father and the Son in our circumstances. Today as you consider your circumstances, take stock of the pattern and overall drift of direction. 

Ask the Lord to show you in His word and through prayer what and where He is leading you next. As you pause and look, you will see the "leaves" of the details of your life pointing in an overall pattern. Ask the following questions: What people has he brought into your life? What problems or challenges have you faced lately that has driven you to pray? What Divine appointments demonstrate that there are no coincidences, but Providence guiding you through this season in your life? What promptings or impulses have you not been able to ignore, but instead keep coming up on the inside?

God has been at work, you and I just need to listen, be ready to obey and then do what it is He is calling us to do. 

ABC's of discerning God's will

Acts 16:6 "They passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia; 7 and after they came toMysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and theSpirit of Jesus did not permit them."

Acts 18:19-21 "They came to Ephesus, and he left them there. Now he himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 20 When they asked him to stay for a longer time, he did not consent, 21 buttaking leave of them and saying, “I will return to you again if God wills,” he set sail from Ephesus."

Introduction

In today's post we consider what is entailed in discerning God's will in everyday life. For ease of study, I will have each main point begin with a subsequent letter of the alphabet, hence the title of this series: "ABC's of discerning God's will". 

In the opening text we find the Apostle Paul being hindered by the Holy Spirit from entering into the region of Asia Minor (Ephesus, Mysia). Why would God prevent this great missionary from sharing the Gospel in that land at that time? We discover in Acts 16-17 that God had a mission for Paul to achieve first - namely going over to the region of Macedonia. The fruits of Paul's Macedonian mission can be seen in the letters he wrote to the churches in that region: Philippi, Thessalonica and Corinth. We then find after Paul had completed his assignment, the Lord had lifted the restraints and Paul was then permitted to freely enter into Ephesus.

How is it that Paul was able to discern the Spirit's leadings and promptings? I would suggest that God's way of leading His people entails a combination of interior promptings, circumstances, people and of course the objective, infallibe Word of God. We will list four major components in discerning God's Will. Notice the following ABC's of discerning God's Will:

Active obedience.  You and I dear friend cannot expect to detect God's leading and promptings if we are operating outside the known will of God. Paul was obeying God in his work of spreading the Gospel. Obedience to Christ's Lordship positions us in ready mode for sensing God's direction. 

Bible. It is impossible to hear God and know His will apart from the Bible. The Bible was revealed by God for the sake of "us and our children" (Deuteronomy 29:29). God's Word is the objective standard by which all the other methods of discerning God's will are evaluated.

Circumstances. How often do we take the time to "read" our circumstances. God is creative in the ways He guides His people. Circumstances are a big indicator of what God is doing in our lives. Certainly Paul had to read his circumstances and make an informed decision. He had Divine guidance from God for sure, but the circumstances acted as a secondary method of confirming that he and his companions had to go one way, rather than another.

Divine Promptings. This refers to the internal leadings of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the Person of the Godhead Who indwells us and is fully God. He speaks to us from the moment of the newbirth/conversion (Romans 8:14-16). By the scriptures the Holy Spirit inside our human spirit delivers insights and illumination (1 Corinthians 2:10-13). The Holy Spirit is the One who provides warrant or justified reasons for why we believe we are saved, Jesus is Lord and the Bible is true (1 Corinthians 12:1-3; 12:12; Galatians 4:6; 1 John 2:20,27).

All four of these elements are evident in Paul's missionary journeys here in Acts. As we noted already, he was actively obeying God (Acts 16:10). Paul had a Divine word from God, which would be tantamount to our scriptures, since he did not have a completed New Testament at that point (Acts 10:10). Paul discerned from the circumstances that he could not go into Ephesus, concluding that the Spirit was not leading them there (Acts 16:6-7). Later on of course Paul was able to go into Ephesus, recognizing that God's will was involved (Acts 18:19-21). Then we find Divine promptings at work, as demonstrated in the cited texts and by the presence of the Holy Spirit through the passages. 

So as you and I live our lives for the Lord today, let's aim to do His will. Let's be actively obedient. Let's consult the Bible in our decision making. Let's be mindful of our circumstances. Then finally, let's be listening for what could be Divine promptings from the Holy Spirit. 

P1 God's will on Men, Women, The Church, Marriage and Culture - 1 Timothy 2:1-4:6

1 Timothy 3:1 "It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do."

1 Timothy 3:14-15 "I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long; 15 but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself inthe household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth."

1 Timothy 4:6 "In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following."

Introduction:

As a pastor, my aim is to stand before the Lord Jesus Christ at His judgment seat and to hear Him say: "well done my good and faithful servant." As the Apostle Paul writes to pastor Timothy in his first epistle to Timothy, he wants to make sure that Timothy proclaims to his congregation certain truths that they will need to be an effective group of believers. On seven occassions you find Paul making statements to Timothy about setting forth the truths of God's Word before the people: "the command entrusted to you" (1:18); "writing these things" (3:14); "pointing out these things" (4:6); "prescribe and perservere in these things" (4:11-12); "prescribe these things" (5:7); "maintain these principles" (5:21) and concerning immorality "flee from these things" (6:11). Among the 14 different subjects discussed by Paul in 1 Timothy, we find the need to preach the Gospel, issues on men and women, marriage, doctrine and morality. With particular reference to 1 Timothy 2:1-4:6, we find five general areas that in all reality affect one another that must be addressed by every pastor and church in every age. Today's post begins consideration of what God has to say about men & women, the church, marriage and the culture. The first two of these we will cover quickly, since other recent posts have covered in detail God's visions for godly manhood and woman hood. We could call this discussion: God's will on men, women, the church, marriage and culture. 

God's will on men. 1 Timothy 2:1,8

As we noted already, we won't camp to long on this point or the next, since much has been covered in recent posts. Paul's statements are so clear on the subject of godly men that barely no further comment is needed. He states in 1 Timothy 2:1 - "First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men." Then in 1 Timothy 2:8 we read - "Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension." In short, God through Paul desires godly men who will be spiritual leaders without hesitation. So that is God's will on men, but what about His will on women?

2. God's will for women. 

We read these words in 1 Timothy 2:9-10 "Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments, 10 but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness." God desires women saved by grace through faith to demonstrate the richness of His work inside of them, to exercise their distinct roles as women while enjoying equal status and value in God's site and to enjoy God's redemptive restoration of their womanhood in Jesus Christ. 

3. God's will on the church. 1 Timothy 3:1-13

In 1 Timothy 3:1-13 we see Paul laying out details concerning the qualifications for Pastors (3:1-7) and Deacons (3:8-13). God has ordained at least two major offices in the local church (and I would suggest a third, elders, in texts such as Acts 11:30; 1 Timothy 5:17). In just focusing on the offices of Pastor and Deacon, it is amazing how many of the qualifications center around the family life and moral/spiritual development of the man. This is not to say of course that pastors should not possess the ability to administrate, teach, preach nor that Deacons should not possess skills for practical, pastoral care of God's people, since such qualifications are spoken of elsewhere in God's word (compare Acts 6; Ephesians 4:11-12; Titus 1). Nevertheless, other than the short phrase for Pastors being "able to teach"  in 1 Timothy 3:2, the qualifications for Pastors and Deacons center mainly around their home lives and testimony.

To get more specific, more space is devoted in the qualifications on the subject of Pastors and Deacons marriages and homelife than any other set of qualifications. Just notice briefly the qualifications that center around marriage/family:

1. "Husband of one wife" 1 Timothy 3:2

2. "his own household" 3:4

3. "his children" 3:4

4. "his own household" 3:5

5. "Deacons likewise...." 3:8

6. "Women" or in some versions "their wives" 3:11

7. "husbands of only one wife" 3:12

8. "managers of their children" 3:12

9. "their own households" 3:12 

These qualifications admittedly places pressure on pastors and their families and if not careful, can tempt many pastors and their families to perform, rather than rely upon the power of the Holy Spirit. As with any Christian, whether in the pew or behind the pulpit, only the power of the Holy Spirit and the power of the cross make such standards of living not only possible but reality. (compare Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 5:18) These observations obviously overlap between the comments we are making about God's will for the church and marriage. The church and its equipping servant leadership (pastors) and effective servants to the people (literally the meaning of "deacons") constitute God's will for what He wants in terms of the order, leadership and example in the local church. 

Closing thoughts for today

As I mentioned a moment ago, God's will for the church and for marriage intertwine and overlap. For now we will close out today's post, however let me conclude with this observation regarding why Paul is making such a big deal about the marriages and homelives of the leadership in an among the church. The point? Marriage is a big deal to God in his church, and he wants men and families of those men to champion and model before the congregation and ultimately the culture what sound marriages and home lives look like in a world where disfunction is unfortunately, but in reality, the norm. Only by the power of the Holy Spirit and the cross can pastors, deacons and the church body live out God's will for men, women and the church. Tomorrow we will consider God's will for marriage, as depicted in these verses and in other verses. 

The leading of the Holy Spirit

Acts 1:1-2 "The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen."


Whenever one travels through the book of Acts, reference is made to the Person and work of the Holy Spirit roughly 40 times.  Out of those instances, one of the main ministries we find ascribed to the Holy Spirit is the ministry He has in leading the church and Christians. In today's post we want to consider what the Book of Acts has to teach us about the leading of the Holy Spirit.


Harbor lights and the Holy Spirit
Years ago I heard a wonderful preacher relate how harbor lights enable us to picture the various ways and methods the Holy Spirit uses in leading the Christian.  In the picture above you see a modern day example of this notion of "harbor lights". The idea is a fairly simple one: To guide a ship safely into a harbor or up alongside a pier, a series of lights will line the length of the dock or pier.  If the approaching captain sees more than one "harbor light", they know they are heading straight into the pier. However if they are aligned in the same direction as the pier or harbor, they will look at the row of lights head-on and see what appears to be one light, rather than a set of lights.  In dark or foggy nights, such a system along with a light house can be useful in guiding small and large sailing vessels to their intended destination.  In the Book of Acts we can discern the following "harbor lights" used by the Holy Spirit in leading and guiding individual Christians and the church as a whole.


1. Passages of scripture.
The whole book of Acts is one of the 65 other books of scripture inspired by the Holy Spirit to instruct and equip the church.  If we were to liken the scripture to the lighthouse in the above illustration, we could say the scripture is the chief way in which the Holy Spirit speaks and guides His people.  Jesus said the Spirit would bring back to remembrance to the Apostles all the things He had taught them. (John 16:12-13) Certainly Luke's composition of the Book of Acts under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost is proof positive of this truth.  In Acts 15:28 we see the Jerusalem Council laying down instructions that were tantamount to scripture, being that they made it into the Book of Acts itself and constituted what was to be universally used in all the Gentile churches.  Without the scriptures, no one could hear what the Spirit is saying at all to the churches.  It is the believer's lamp unto their feet and light unto their path. (Psalm 119:105)


2. Promptings. Acts 8:29
In Acts 8:29 we see the Holy Spirit's work of prompting: "Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this chariot.”  This harbor light is the Spirit's activity within the Christian.  As the Christian takes in the scriptures and heeds them, they begin to cultivate the ability to discern and understand those promptings of the Spirit. 


The Holy Spirit certainly can guide us when and where to go.  For example consider Acts 8:29 "Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this chariot.” There will be of course those promptings whereby the Spirit hinders or says "wait".  Consider please Acts 16:7 "and after they came to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them." Why would the Spirit hinder the Apostle from making headway into a region that needed to hear the Gospel? As Luke writes on, we see the Spirit first had Paul to go into the regions of Macedonia in Acts 16 and 17.  In Acts 18:19 the Spirit evidently opens the door for Paul and his companions to enter into the regions of Asia Minor, as seen by their presence in Ephesus.  Such promptings are designed by the Holy Spirit to strategically place His people at various points and places so as to effect His Sovereign purposes in and through them. 


Such promptings by the Holy Spirit enables the Christian to think more clearly on a matter.  For example, in the wake of Paul's following the Spirit's leading, he realizes that the goal of His missionary strategy is to press into the western most boundaries of the Roman empire where the Gospel had not yet been preached. (Acts 19:21) Certainly the apostles would always check such promptings within the context of the study, preaching or hearing of God's word, as evidenced by the nearly twenty messages we find strung throughout the book of Acts.  So with passages of scripture, the Spirit leads with inner promptings, but notice also how He leads through...


3. People
Acts 20:22-23 states: "And now, behold, bound by the Spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me." Clearly the Spirit was warning Paul of what laid ahead. How is it that the Holy Spirit was "testifying to Paul" in every city? Consider Acts 21:4 "After looking up the disciples, we stayed there seven days; and they kept telling Paul through the Spirit not to set foot in Jerusalem."


Why would the Spirit seem to be on the one hand leading Paul eventually to Jerusalem (as He does so in Acts 21-23) and yet be speaking through people to seemingly dissuade Paul from entering into Jerusalem? The Spirit's purposes are to test Paul and to verify through people the calling of Paul.  Clearly the Spirit's ultimate purpose was to get Paul to Jerusalem so that he would eventually end up testifying about Jesus in Rome. (Acts 23:11) The Spirit always affirms His will through passages of scriptures and confirms His will through promptings, people and one more area....


4. Personal situations.
As you come to the end of the Book of Acts, Paul is clearly recognizing by now that he is where he needs to be.  Under house arrest in Rome, Paul takes the cue from his situation that the Spirit has brought him to Rome to preach the Gospel unhindered. (Acts 28:31) Oftentimes the Spirit will lead you and I through something that is far from comfortable and oftentimes painful. However the Spirit's dealings with us is with the view of us as having completed the task.  The whole process by which the Spirit was taking Paul was from the vantage point of Acts 28.  Every trial, imprisonment, beating, hardship, storm, all of it, was engineered by the Sovereign Lord to guide Paul strategically through and to lead Him to the place He had known from the beginning Paul would be.


Conclusion:
As always, the Spirit's promptings, people and particular situations, when lined up perfectly with passages of scriptures, provide an effective way for the Christian and the church to follow.

God, the believer & temptation

2 Samuel 24:1-3 "Now again the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and it incited David against them to say, “Go, number Israel and Judah.” 2 The king said to Joab the commander of the army who was with him, “Go about now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and register the people, that I may know the number of the people.”

1 Chronicles 21:1-2 "Then Satan stood up against Israel and moved David to number Israel.2 So David said to Joab and to the princes of the people, “Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan, and bring me word that I may know their number.”

Introduction: Meet David, the believer who was tempted and tested

Most should be familiar with the account of King David, but in case the reader may not be acquainted with this remarkable man of God, here is what we learn from his life story as told in Samuel & Kings:

1. Private anointing of David - 1 Sam 16

2. Preparation of David - 1 Samuel 17-2 Samuel 1

3. Public anointing of David as King over Judah - 2 Samuel 2-4

4. Public anointing of David as King over Israel - 2 Samuel 5-6

5. Promise to David of an enduring throne and ultimate descendant - 2 Samuel 7

6. Public life of David - 2 Samuel 8-24

7. Proper end of David's reign and life - 1 Kings 1-2. 

The book of 1 Chronicles in chapters 11-29 records the life of David, focusing more on the events of his life that related specifically to God's covenant with him and the kingdom over which he reigned a total of 40 years. In 1 Chronicles we see the focus too on David's military victories, the growth and decline of his kingdom and details regarding his preparations for what would be the construction of the temple by his successor and son - Solomon. 

Truly David functions not only as a type or example of a believer living for God, at times failing and then ultimately repenting (see the Psalms), but it would be David's bloodline that God would use to bring about the humanity of Jesus Christ. (see Romans 1:3; 9:4-5)

David's fame lies not only in his significance in the realm of spiritual matters and Bible prophecy, but also in how he dealt with testing and temptation.  It is in this particular area that we will be exploring the theme in today's post: God, the believer and temptation. Our texts will be 2 Samuel 24:1-25 and 1 Chronicles 21:1-30.

God's will in the life of David the believer

In previous posts we have looked at God's ultimate will as having to do with what God purposes and/or desires to accomplish in the world and in the lives of people.  We have also noted that within God's Ultimate will we can discern three other "wills": Permissive will, unrevealed will and revealed will.  I will not repeat the detailed analysis of each of these areas, nor will I repeat the numerous scriptures associate with each, but rather just mention these main headings as a means of walking our way through these two chapters.1

God's Ultimate will - To prepare a place for the temple and the cross
Sometimes the best way to interpret a passage of scripture is by noting what is at the end. In 2 Samuel 24:18-25 & 1 Chronicles 21:18-30 we see David purchasing the site where Solomon's temple would be built (1 Chronicles 22:1), and where Jesus would be crucified 1,000 years later.  Interestingly enough, this same site is the famed Mount Moriah that Abraham was told by God to offer Isaac over 1,000 years prior to David in Genesis 22:2. God's ultimate will always has a purpose that we often may not fully understand or see.  So what all did God permit, reveal and in some case not reveal in bringing about this ultimate purpose?

God's permissive will - David was to be both tested and tempted. 2 Samuel 24:1; 1 Chronicles 21:1
In both 2 Samuel 24:1 and 1 Chronicles 21:1 we read what appears to be a seeming contradiction.  2 Samuel 24:1 records that "God incited David" to do a census of his armies, whereas 1 Chronicles 21:1 says it was Satan who urged David to do the numbering of his men.  Without going into the technicalities of grammar and language, the explanation for this difficulty of interpretation is explained by noting the area of God's permissive will.  The Bible Knowledge Commentary explains: "There is no contradiction for the Lord had simply allowed Satan to prompt David to an improper course of action in order that Israel might be punished and that David might be instructed. This is similar to the Lord's permitting Satan to trouble Job (1:12; 2:6) and His allowing an evil spirit to torment Saul (1 Samuel 16:14). In any case, the Lord Himself did not incite David to do evil for "God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone" (James 1:13).2

In surveying other scriptures, we can note that God "tests" his people in order to promote their spiritual growth (James 1:3-4; 1 Peter 1:6-7) and to get them to examine the condition of their hearts (2 Chronicles 32:31). Satan on the other hand will tempt people in order to try to destroy them. (Matthew 4:1-11; James 1:13-15). Thankfully God's permissive will has boundaries in which even Satan has to observe, being that in the events of testing and temptation, the believer is made more pure and strengthened in their resolve to follow God. (Romans 5:3-5)

God's unrevealed will
Clearly God's unrevealed will refers to those areas God has not divulged to His people.  For example, we are not told why God would choose to let Satan act, rather than choosing some other means to bring about His ultimate purposes of judgment and direction.  What we do know is that it was "in" David's heart to number his men.  Satan was the direct agent who urged and tempted David to act and God permitted it to be done so as to bring about His ultimate purposes.

God's revealed will - why He was judging Israel and testing David
God's revealed will, or what is also called sometimes His moral will, was clearly transgressed by David.  A King in Israel was not to trust in the number of horses or chariots that he possessed, but in God alone. (compare Deuteronomy 17:15-16; Psalm 20:7) Israel as a nation had grown quite powerful and with whatever events took place in her history, she had forgotten how to treat those who were living in her borders.  We won't spend a great deal of time on this point, only to comment that many connect the events of 2 Samuel 24:1 to 2 Samuel 21:1. God again tests to purify or grow his people.  Included in that testing might very well be permission granted to the enemy or some other means to further shape and mold His people and to accomplish His ultimate purposes.  

Applications and conclusions
We have looked today at David the believer and what he underwent in falling for Satan's temptation to number his armies.  We discovered that God permitted or willed to include Satan's act of tempting David so as to test David and ultimately lead him to purchase the future site of Solomon's temple and the much later crucifixion.  What applications can we draw from these texts regarding God, the believer and temptation?
1. God tests us to purify our motives and to advance us for His Good. (1 Peter 1:6-7)

2. Satan's temptations can be avoided and are only entered into when we have chosen to align our hearts according to our selfish desires, rather than God's. (James 1:13-15)

3. God permits what He hates in order to accomplish the good He intends in our lives and in His world. (Genesis 50:20; Romans 8:28)

4. God mercy and grace can turn back impending judgment for those who repent and humble themselves in his sight. (1 John 1:9)

5. Focus on God's faithfulness and Christ's accomplished work to exit your way out from under the enticements of temptation. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Endnotes:

1. The reader is welcomed to read the post: http://pastormahlon.blogspot.com/2014/01/p2-gods-will-believer-and-suffering.html, where I spell out in detail the distinctions within God's ultimate will, as well as corresponding scriptures.

2. Bible Knowledge Commentary. Zondervan. Page 481.

Seeing God's Ultimate Will through tears

Habakkuk 1:2 "How long, O Lord, will I call for help,And You will not hear? I cry out to You, “Violence!” Yet You do not save."

A young boy trying to make sense of what happened, and why

I will never forget the night I had basketball practice as a young lad at our rural Pennsylvania high school. Both my parents were working at the time and so their pattern was that each would inform the other as to whom was going to pick me up after practice. Normally when the practice was finished, one of them would come after work and wait out front at the main pick-up area in front of the school.  On this particular night as everyone was exiting the building, I went outside expecting to get into one of their vehicles that had been kept warm by them while waiting in the chilly winter night.  They had not come, so I went in and waited, and waited, and waited.  

After a half-hour more I started to get nervous and so I began digging around in my pockets to find a quarter to put in the pay-phone (perhaps some of you reading this may remember those). When I called our house, there was no answer.  As a young man, with the lights turning off in the gym and only the janitors sweeping up before closing down, I felt abandoned.  I recall screaming into the phone - "Where are you!" - to no avail.  When I came back out of the payphone area and rounded the corner, there my parents pulled up and with tears and many apologies, informing me that each of them thought the other had came to get me.  Needless to say I was relieved and to know what had happened, as well as why it happened, afforded me much clarity.  

Meet a prophet trying to make sense of what had happened, and why?

Since that time I have had seasons of life where time and again I have found myself trying to make sense of God's purposes through veils of tears. I relate to the prophet in the Bible who through tears was trying to make sense of what His heavenly Father was doing, and why.   The prophet's name may be difficult to pronounce, however the meaning of it is clear.  The prophet to which I am referring is Habakkuk, and his name means "to cling, to embrace." The opening of his book quoted above in Habakkuk 1:2 relays to us the fact that he was crying out to God for answers.  The Hebrew word translated "cry" in that text speaks of someone crying at the top of the their lungs in search of help and deliverance.  Habakkuk's pen would had quivered as he wrote his prophecy, for his tears undoubtedly stained each line which the Holy Ghost inspired him to write. 

Able commentator George Adam Smith writes concerning Habakkuk's prophecy: Habakkuk feels justice cannot prevail in Israel, because of the disorder which God permits to fill the world. It is true that he arrive at a prophetic attitude, and authoritatively declares God's will; but he begins by searching for the latter, with the appreciation of the obscurity cast over it by the facts of life."1

Habakkuk is portrayed, in accordance to the Hebrew meaning of his name, clinging to His God while at the same time not understanding completely the God to whom He clings. Habakkuk's book is valuable because at its heart lies the search for God's ultimate will.  In this post I want us to consider what it means to see God's ultimate will through the tears of Habakkuk.  In this post today we will briefly consider how God's ultimate will is made up of various tributaries that run their course through Habakkuk's cries, complaints and comfort. Four headings will be used to walk through Habakkuk's words: God's Ultimate Will; Unrevealed Will; Permissive Will and Revealed Will.

God's Ultimate Will

When we speak of God's will in the Bible, we are talking about His overall plan and purposes for creation, salvation and eternity. Ecclesiastes 3:14 "I know that everything God does will remain forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it, for God has so worked that men should fear Him." Ephesians 1:11 reminds the reader that He works all things after the counsel of His will.  Romans 11:36 comprehensively states in few words: "For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen."  So God has an ultimate desire, purpose or will for all things, all people and all times, which lies at the heart of what is meant when we say God is Sovereign.  

Habakkuk undoubtedly asserts God's ultimate will in each chapter of His book: He states God is from everlasting in 1:12; that God will fill the earth with His glory in 2:14 and that He alone is Habakkuk's strength in 3:19.  Habakkuk knows God's ultimate will will prevail.  However the struggle of Habakkuk, and the reason for his tears lies in the fact he does not know how it will happen nor why what is obviously contrary to God's Holy character is happening? It is here where we see three more headings that fit under the larger umbrella term of God's ultimate will that can offer maybe not all the answers, but can certain bring us much relief.

God's unrevealed will.  Habakkuk 1

Whenever you see "how" and "why" questions in the Bible, that indicates a lack of knowledge or answers.  Habakkuk asks God in Habakkuk 1:2 "How long"?  Then Habakkuk asks two why questions: "why do you let me see iniquity?" (Habakkuk 1:3) and "why has God made men who creep" in Habakkuk 1:14.  There are aspects of God's will that we as believers can never know.  Deuteronomy 29:29 reminds us: “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law." Whenever the disciples probed Jesus about the exact time of His coming, His response to them in Acts 1:7 was - "He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority." Clearly there were details about the Father's purposes and reasons for doing His will that would not be revealed to Habakkuk.  

Unless God reveals His intentions by His Word, the matter remains closed.  Why does God not disclose everything? Among the numerous answers that we could give, let me suggest just two: to leave room to live by faith and not sight (2 Corinthians 5:7) and to discover the glory of His wisdom and purposes (Proverbs 25:2). You and I can hardly understand what is revealed, let alone what God has chosen to keep hidden.  However, along with Habakkuk we too can say that the same God who has an unrevealed will is the same Good and Powerful God who has both a permissive and revealed will.  So then in God's ultimate will there is undoubtedly an unrevealed side, however there is also a second aspect, namely...

God's permissive will.   Habakkuk 1-2

God's permissive will had to do with what He allows and yet does not advocate.  Habakkuk complains about God's permission in 1:13 "Your eyes are too pure to approve evil,And You can not look on wickedness with favor.
Why do You look with favor On those who deal treacherously? Why are You silent when the wicked swallow up?" In Habakkuk 2 we see Habakkuk crying out in prophetic taunt against the idol makers and ruthless of Israel who have been permitted by God to continue.  Truly we know from passages such as Genesis 50:20 and Romans 8:28 that God permits what He hates in order to accomplish the good He intends.  

God is certainly not the author of evil, yet He wills to use the decisions of good and evil willing agents, as well as good and bad circumstance to accomplish whatsoever comes to pass.  Acts 2:23 perhaps most clearly drives home this point: "this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death."  As one writer has noted, the gear works of an old clock run counter to one another from the back, however when you flip the clock to see the front, its face depicts perfect timing running in the same direction.

So we see through Habakkuk's tears God's ultimate will, which contains His unrevealed and permissive wills.  But there is one last aspect that is perhaps the most comforting, namely...

God's Revealed Will.  Habakkuk 2-3

After pouring his heart out in Habakkuk 1, Habakkuk states He will wait until he hears from God.  Habakkuk 2:2 gives us these words: "Then the Lord answered me and said,'Record the vision and inscribe it on tablets, That the one who reads it may run.'" God has spoken, and is revealing.  Remarkably its not until you get into chapter 3 that you discover that God's will runs like a mighty river through the book, with the various tributaries of unrevealed, permissive and revealed wills working in and among the chapters.  Certainly Habakkuk's tears fall into those first two tributaries of God's unrevealed and permissive wills, however it is in this final tributary of God's revealed will that we see God dry those tears.  

In Habakkuk 3 we see the prophet break out in song.  Certainly he relates the fact that the trials of this world are still in his line of sight.  He even goes as far to say that even though crops may fail (3:17), animals may die (3:17) and the farm so to speak be ready to fold (3:17), yet....  .  Now whenever you see that word "yet" or "nevertheless" in scripture, that little word cancels out whatever was just written, and prepares you to see that truly reality of the situation.  Notice how Habakkuk closes his book in 3:18-19 "Yet I will exult in the Lord,I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. 19 The Lord God is my strength, And He has made my feet like hinds’feet, And makes me walk on my high places. For the choir director, on my stringed instruments."

There truly is nothing more comforting than the words of God in the Bible.  These scriptures are God's revealed will for both us and our children. (Deut. 29:29) By these words our souls are preserved, saved and profited. (1 Timothy 4:13-16; 2 Timothy 3:16)  Many a saint's tear stained Bible has brought comfort and the peace that surpasses all understanding.  Why? Because when God speaks through his words, the heart is able to say in the words of the song: "it is well with my soul". 

Conclusion:

Through the tears of Habakkuk we have witnessed God's ultimate will and its various parts: God's unrevealed, permissive and revealed wills.  Though we may be as a child trying to make sense of why and how, the important thing to know is the Who, God Himself. As Chuck Swindoll states: "The Sovereignty of God may not answer all of my questions, yet it surely does relieve me of all my fears."

Endnotes:

1. George Adam Smith. The Book of the Twelve Prophets - Volume II. Harper and Brothers Publishers. 1928. Page 132-133