James 4:13-15 (NKJV) Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will[a] go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”
“If the Lord Wills”
Acts 18:20-21 (NKJV) When they asked him to stay a longer time with them, he did not consent, 21 but took leave of them, saying, “I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem; but I will return again to you, God willing.” And he sailed from Ephesus.
1 Corinthians 4:19 (NKJV) But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power.
1 Corinthians 16:7(NKJV) For I do not wish to see you now on the way; but I hope to stay a while with you, if the Lord permits.
Acts 16:6 (NKJV) Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV) Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
When we act according to the Lord’s will, we align ourselves with Proverbs 3:5-6 above.
Then God will direct our paths and make them straight – This is the way of blessing!
“If the Lord Wills”
- Every business decision should be made based on submission to God’s will.
- In fact, every decision we make should be based on God’s will.
Acts 18:20-21 (NKJV) When they asked him to stay a longer time with them, he did not consent, 21 but took leave of them, saying, “I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem; but I will return again to you, God willing.” And he sailed from Ephesus.
1 Corinthians 4:19 (NKJV) But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power.
1 Corinthians 16:7(NKJV) For I do not wish to see you now on the way; but I hope to stay a while with you, if the Lord permits.
- Paul based his ministry decisions on whether God allowed it or not.
- He may have wanted to visit some of his disciples, he may even have received an invite, but he said, “I will come if the Lord wills”.
- Paul even based what he would teach on what the Lord allowed him to do.
Acts 16:6 (NKJV) Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia.
- When God said no, they accepted it and didn’t go!
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV) Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
When we act according to the Lord’s will, we align ourselves with Proverbs 3:5-6 above.
- It means we are trusting the Lord with all we do.
- It means we are not relying on our own mind and strength.
- It needs to take place even if we don’t understand.
Then God will direct our paths and make them straight – This is the way of blessing!