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By Robert C. Ewing

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When passing through trials and opposition in the life or ministry, we sometimes wonder if that is God’s will for us. It’s so important to be in God’s will, that outside of it nothing will work together for His glory, therefore it becomes necessary to really understand what really means to be in God’s will. In fact God’s will is so great that to actually understand it we need to look at it from four different perspectives, each one opens our vision of God’s purposes for our lives, ministries and churches. Precious Christians struggle much of their lives trying to adjust themselves to what they think God’s will for them really is, but instead of wholly trusting, they keep on trying here and there ‘till their strength is gone and discouragement arrives to their soul. In the following study we are going to define God’s fourfold will, and then, see how it worked in each one of the 12 main churches in the book of Acts. In so doing we will be able to unfold the mystery of how the early church had God working with them. Yes, once we place ourselves in God’s will, the rest of the story is going to be victory everywhere. But before entering in details within each one of the 12 churches, let’s define what the fourfold will of God means.

First we find God’s Creative will. This is based on the truth that God is a Creator by nature, and still today He uses His Creative power for the fulfilling of His Master Plan – the building of His Glorious Church. Persecution, oppression, rejection and any other kind of suffering for the gospel of Christ, are signs that prepare us for God’s magnificent Creative will to overcome the fierce opposition of the enemy. God’s Creative will is going to work when all natural and mental resources are over, and in the very sight of death, no other hope would remain in the heart but His sovereign intervention in the matter. Then, the only thing that is needed is to stand in what God has revealed, either through His Logos (the Holy Scriptures) or rhema (His “now” word for each circumstance) word, ‘till we see Him changing the darkness into light as He did at the Beginning. Stepping outside of what God has said has left many in confusion and being spectators, not partakers, of the good, acceptable and perfect will of God. He is absolutely committed to fulfill His will, whatever He’s said He’ll do.

Secondly we have His Righteous or Moral will. This is clearly established in the principles we find throughout the whole Bible. It’s intended to purify our souls according to His will for His service. Every time we feel like God’s presence is not backing us in the calling He has given us, we better check ourselves to see if we still love Him with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength. Coming out of His Righteous or Moral will and still wanting to serve the Lord is like trying to bring pure water through a dirty hose. God is not going to bring His presence unless repentance and cleansing comes to our lives, then, God’s will, His Righteous will, is fulfilled and His presence will come along wherever we go.

The third aspect of His will is the Specific will. God has His predestined plan since the foundation of the world, and since there is no respect of persons with Him, walking in God’s Specific will is open to anyone that answers the call of the Spirit in their lives. So God’s Specific will for the individual is fulfilled according to how this individual enters God’s Specific will for that local church where God has placed him. As the believer involves himself in the work of the ministry in his local church, he will discover in joyful wonder, that little by little he’s entering in God’s Specific will for him. Rest it the key here, accepting the Spirit calling to serve the Lord in the local church is a challenge of faith, but the greater the rest in the heart, the easier the entering God’s Specific will.

Pride and self effort are the worst enemies for this, if any of these, or both, rule in the soul, instead of walking in His will, the person is going to be building it’s own kingdom, where they’ll live in continual anguish, fighting to keep position, ministry or church. The God of peace will call us to enter and walk in His Specific will always in rest. The greatest secret to win any battle is to maintain ourselves in God’s rest.

The last one is the Ultimate will. This is meant to gather together all things in Christ at the consummation of the Ages. How can we relate to this fourth will? By lifting up our eyes to the eternal things in heaven, knowing that God’s will doesn’t end in this earth but continues throughout the eternity. When the vision for our lives is focused only to the things of this life, we are wrongly understanding what’s God’s purpose is for us. Paul, when writing to the Corinthians regarding the resurrection in 1 Cor 15:32 says, “If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.” God’s Ultimate will is to make us partakers of His eternal glory and deity, there’s no higher calling than this. Another verse that will give us a good insight of this truth is found in 2 Cor 4:17-18 “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” The fulfillment of God’s Ultimate will is going to be carried from generation to generation, no man or church has given the privilege to finish it, it is in the matching together of all pieces of this magnificent Master Piece, that each individual and church will participate throughout the ages to finally give completion to this will.

Now, let’s look at the 12 churches to see how each one of them had the fourfold will of God fulfilled in them.

1. Jerusalem church

a) Creative will. Normally the account of every church in acts shows His Creative will, here, by the power of the Holy Spirit poured upon the 120 faithful we witness a glorious supernatural beginning for Jerusalem church Acts 1:8, and chapters 2-5.

b) Moral will. With Ananias and Sapphira Acts 5:1-11, and also during Stephen’s persecution, this was a cleansing time for this church, Acts 6:8-8:4

c) Specific will. The persecution not only cleansed their hearts but took them to fulfill the “Great Commission” which is in God’s Specific will, also in Acts 11:28-30, ch.12:1-19, Gal. 2:1-14 this give us a glance into the details of God’s Specific will for this church.

d) Ultimate will. In Acts 15 God used Antioch’s leadership with the apostles and elders at Jerusalem to more clearly define grace vs. law to finally get this clarified for future generations in God’s Ultimate will.

2. Samaria church

a) Creative will. In John 4 Christ was sowing the seed, many were receiving yet, that helped to lay a foundation for the Samaria church, God did not leave Samaria out of His Creative plan in Acts 1:8 and in the Great Commission, here, the fulfillment of God’s Specific will for Jerusalem beget God’s Creative will for Samaria church.

b) Moral will. This is seen in how the people were delivered from the lies and false power of Simon the sorcerer (Acts 8:9-13)

c) The Specific will was fulfilled when the apostles came to pray for them to receive the Holy Spirit, establishing them as a local assembly (Acts 8:14-25)

d) Ultimate will. Jesus prophetically spoke of the harvest in Jn. 4:34-38, then, in Acts 8:25 we see the beginning of future Samaritan churches. This brings to my memory that July 7th, ‘96 when Moisés Caballero and myself found ourselves at the Louisiana airport with signs welcoming the “Full Gospel Baptist Conference.” The first place we went to rent a car said that because of the conference they and many other hotels, etc. were already filled because of the 44,000 conference delegates meeting the whole week at the Super Bowl Stadium. On arriving there, we were delightfully surprised to find that God had been pouring out His Spirit all over America on the precious black saints who had been cried out to God for a visitation, this move has been spreading fast for the last three years and they are very clear on their stand for the baptism of the Holy Spirit speaking in tongues. The meeting that we were in was very evangelistic orientated, my impression was that God wanted to expose me to a potential Samaritan church once it moves into God’s divine order.

3. Damascus church

a) Creative will. We know that Damascus had a church for there were Christians there, God’s Creative will is not subject to man’s actions, nevertheless it would not surprise us finding again that because of the Great Commission, this church was created (Acts 9:15-16).

b) Moral will. The purification came to this church through Saul’s persecution, the cleansing effects of the fear of the Lord are stirred up by persecution (Acts 9:1-2)

c) Specific will. This church had an Specific will to fulfill in the conversion of Saul and how he started his ministry in that place. Here Saul escaped through a window in a basket being let down by the wall to fulfill God’s Specific will for him. This shows that man’s strongest will can not stand God’s sovereign will, when the heart is honestly desiring God’s Specific will for him. The Specific and the Ultimate will of God for Saul are intertwined together.

d) Ultimate will. God was planting the seed of His Ultimate will for the apostle Paul in how the things happened in Damascus, the same God that chose the lowly manger to bring forth His Son as the beginning of His great Ultimate will for the Messiah, often chooses insignificant small churches, where there is a faithful father to bring forth future renowned ministry (Acts 22:10-15; 26:16-20).

4. Caesarea church

a) God’s Creative will. Acts 10 gives the account of the beginning of the church at Caesarea, God’s direct intervention with Peter shows that in God’s mind that church was already created, and Peter’s message brought it to life.

b) Moral will. God used Peter vision in relationship to this church to show that both Jews and Gentiles are clean before God through Christ (Acts 10:34-38; 11:1-18; 15:8-9). Also, you may notice that Cornelius was a godly man showing a clean heart.

c) The Specific will is shown among other thing in the 4 times the word “certain” is in this chapter and also in 11:5, it is interesting to note that God sent two of the top apostles, Peter and Paul, not to preach publicly to the church but to be God’s channel for guidelines and direction when needed (Acts 12:19; 23:33), besides them, there were Philip and his daughters that prophesied who lived there, and certain of the disciples of Caesarea, all of these having an active role in God’s Specific will for this church (Acts 21:8-16).

d) The Ultimate will. When Paul appealed unto Caesar (Acts 25:11) he was opening the door for God’s Ultimate will for him and also for the church in general. In Acts 23:11 God gave His approval to go to Rome, and also in Acts 19:21 we see how he had purposed in his spirit to see Rome even from Caesarea, king Herod and other Roman leaders were influenced by the church in Caesarea leaving an impact on the future of the church on the Roman empire, and in all the churches around the world.

5. Antioch church.

a) Creative will. Acts 11:19-22 tells us the story of how this church was built, not by man’s purpose but God’s grace.

b) Moral will. The Antioch church passed through the world’s famine prophesied by Agabus. Also with their appreciation for the Jerusalem church when their leaders were undergoing martyrdom and imprisonment (Acts 12:1-5), this was the time of purification and heart searching.

c) God’s Specific will is seen in Acts 13:1-4, after naming 5 Specific leaders at Antioch the whole church witnesses the presence of God, for in a special worship service (v. 2-3) “As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away”.

d) Ultimate will. Antioch became the springboard for many churches all over, also intertwining the Ultimate and Specific will of God (Acts 14:26-15:3; 16:35-40; 18:22-23). Antioch church seems to lead the list of martyrs in the second century.

6. Philippi church

a) Creative will. The story of God raising up the Philippi church is in Acts 16:9-15. Again it was not in Paul’s plan to go there, but it was in God’s Creative will to take him there.

b) God’s Moral will. Paul’s letter to the church, reflects God’s Moral will or criteria for that church, it is designed to sanctified them (Jn. 17:17).

c) God’s Specific will for the Philippi church intertwines with the Creative will for three times Paul endeavor to step out to preach in three different places but each time he was hindered. After this, (Acts 16:6-8; 2 Cor. 2:12,13) God gave him the vision of a man of Macedonia calling for him to come help them which they did.

d) Ultimate will. This is seen in chapter 16:35-40 for in here when the authorities discovered that they had beaten a Roman citizen, Paul, they greatly feared, they wanted Paul and Silas to quietly leave the city, but Paul had them to come themselves to personally and publicly ask them to go, this guaranteed the future rights for the Philippian church.

7. Thessalonica and Berea (twin churches)

a) Creative will. Just as Isaac boys were born as twins Esau preceding Jacob so here it was Thessalonica preceding Berea but both suffered the same birth pains from the same oppressors as in the natural bearing twins is painful the same is here, in both cases it was doubly painful for this baby churches, because Paul had to flee from both towns when strong persecution came. Both churches were born through Paul’s ministry in the local synagogues.

b) Moral will. The main thought in the epistle to the Thessalonians is the “blessed hope” and since hope gives purity (1 Jn. 3:3), this shows God bringing forth a healthy baby.

c) Specific will. This is specially seen in that Paul had traveler companions as Sopater which means “a safe father,” he was the son of Pyrrhus meaning “flame colored” (Acts 20:4) (this name appears in some, but not all, of the ancient versions), this certainly pictures the birth of the Berean church, despite the flames of fired persecution, God proved unto them that He was the safe Father who shielded them. Often one can learn about the father in the way he have trained his son, “And he was accompanied by Sopater of Berea, {the son} of Pyrrhus; and by Aristarchus which means “best ruler” (this name is mentioned 5 times in the N. T. (Acts 19:29; 20:4; 27:2; Col. 4:10 and Phm. 1:24, always in Paul’s difficult times) and Secundus (Gk.= Second, showing humility willing to take the second place) of the Thessalonians” (NAS) so these names are suggestive of the type of training they have received in their local churches finding God’s Specific will for them.

d) Ultimate will. The second epistle of Paul to the Thessalonians deals with God’s Ultimate will for His whole church, and also for the world, in as much as the doom of the Anti-Christ and the ungodly are prophesied.

8. Corinth church

a) Creative will. In Acts 18:1-20 is the account of how the Corinthian church was started, Aquila and Priscilla were God’s provision for Paul to fulfill God’s Creative will at Corinth.

b) Moral will. The first epistle to the Corinthians speaks about God’s Moral will, because the apostle is correcting various problems, notice also that correction needs love, as shown specially on chapter 13.

c) Specific will. Acts 18:9-10 shows the rhema word God gave to Paul, this word is the Specific will for him in a nutshell. Also we can say that God Specific will is also seen in 1 Cor. 12 and 14 where God is giving the specifics for the individual in the Corinthian church.

d) God’s Ultimate will. Although 1 Cor. 15, the resurrection chapter highlights the resurrection, 2 Cor. speak much of suffering for Christ. This is designed to prepare us for God’s higher calling waiting for us in glory. Our “tomorrows” are determined by our “todays”

9. Ephesus church

a) God’s Creative will (Acts 19). Paul, on his way to Jerusalem, entered the synagogue to reason with the Jews, though he couldn’t stay with them, the seed of the Creative Word was sown, and the fruit came afterwards.

b) Moral will. The answer to our dark, great depressions is to be so conscious of God’s great purposes that the light of His presence makes the darkness to flee. The letter to the Ephesians is such a book that is full of eternal purposes for us. When we are overwhelmed by the greatness of His purposes we’re both freed from our oppressions and released to walk those 7 walks that are seen there.

c) The Specific will is seen in Acts 20:17-38. Here, Paul reminds the elders of the model of Christ in his life, so that they will abide in the Specific call they had to oversee the flock. d) The Ultimate will (Rev. 2:1-6). Here Christ the judge is showing His evaluation of their present condition so that they can repent and return to their first love, then God gives the promise to the overcomers to encourage them to fulfill His Ultimate will for them.

10. Troas church

a) The Creative will (2 Cor. 2:12-14). Even though some of the details are not given here in how the Troas church came forth, we see God’s divine order for building here, there are four principles to it like the four legged table; 1) doing the right thing v.12, 2) at the right time, showed by v. 12 “..when the door was open for me in the Lord.” 3) in the right way, Paul knew how to raise churches in the right way, by carrying the decisions of the Jerusalem counsel which when read would bring peace to the churches, and 4) with the right help. This brings us to the background in Acts 16, where Paul tries to minister there, but since he didn’t find Titus and then came the vision of a man of Macedonia telling him “come and help us,” he learned that Christ was teaching him to not to build a three legged table, but to have all four points of divine order, otherwise the table might fall over if anyone of these principles were missing.

b) Moral will. This is seen in the very fact that the church service was the Lord’s Supper, speaking of them in God’s righteous will.

c) The Specific will. There are specifics here that Paul did not mention in any other church. Paul has the greatest list of his coworkers (seven in all) mentioned here (Acts 20:4). The fact that Paul says in v. 5 that “They were waiting for us in Troas” suggest that Paul and his immediate traveling companions were besides the 7 waiting for them, Dr. Luke was obviously one of those, since this was his home town and is seen traveling with Paul from here on. God’s Specific will is shown in that the name of the young man Eutychus is given as well, as already mentioned Paul’s companions.

d) Ultimate will. Even though the tragedy occurred during the Lord’s Supper, trying to shorten it with it sense of solemnity, yet God’s Ultimate will came forth victorious over the circumstances that arose to stopped it. It is also significant that Satan did not hindered Paul from his important appointment meeting with the Ephesian elders at Melitas. The fact that Paul was very conscious of his future Ultimate will for him is seen in v. 16 for he was hastening to go to Jerusalem where he would be imprisoned for Christ’s sake.

11. Tyre church

a) The Creative will of God brings us to Mark 7:24-31. It is obvious that since Christ ministry at Tyre begun in a house where the Syro-Phoenician woman was tested by His Creative word when she cried for her daughter’s deliverance, there Christ was laying the foundation for the local church to follow. b) The Moral will. Note that these two passages (the one related in Matt 15 and Mk 7, and the other in Acts 21:3) have one thing in common, the people there were tried by the Word. Joseph discovered that when the Word of the Lord was trying him it was also purifying and preparing him to seat on the throne (Ps. 105:19).

c) The Specific will of God. Here it was where Paul’s ship in Acts 21:3 laid the heavy burdens down so this gives us the hint of the purpose of this church, one that frees people from their heavy burdens. This is in harmony with what happened to the Syro-Phoenician woman, when the Lord delivered her from her heavy burdens. It was a family church which met the needs of the family. God knows his people who are in the Tyre type of churches (Ps. 87). Also we can see in Ps. 45:12 that the Specific will of God for Tyre was to recognize Jesus in Paul’s life giving him a present of intercession. It is obvious that this church was a prophetic type of church, and one fact that confirm this was that the believers there knew about the doom of Tyre in Ez. 27, 28.

d) The Ultimate will of God for Paul’s life is found in the words that the disciples spoke to him, confirming what he just have said to the Ephesians, that the Holy Spirit witnessed to him in every place about the bonds and afflictions waiting for him at Jerusalem, even though Paul knew deep in his spirit that the highest calling for him was to offer his life in sacrifice unto the Lord, here is the secret to fulfill the Ultimate will of God. Actually Psalm 45 speaking about the daughter of Tyre bringing presents, will teach us how this church will be part of the Bride of Christ bringing her Specific gifts to the Lord at Christ coming.

12. Rome church

a) Creative will. Acts 2:10 speaking about the different languages at Pentecost “visitors from Rome both Jews and Proselytes and obviously many of them got back saved when they returned to Rome. We read in Ro. 1:1-16 that Paul wanted to go there and impart his ministry gift to them because God’s Specific will is not only subject to the pass but it is constantly working in the churches.

b) God’s Moral will is seen in the epistle that Paul wrote unto them, teaching them God’s righteousness by faith.

c) God’s Specific will deals with Specific individuals is in Ro. 16. The important thing here is to note the meaning of the names because these are like jewels, each one different to the other reflecting the Glory of God. God allows us to see this because these are the examples of how we can shine. The church is made of living stones and so this shows the different kinds of living stones that the Lord has for His church in Rome.

Phebe = “radiant or bright”, reflecting the light of Jesus

Priscilla= “Ancient”; mature in the ways of the Lord

Aquila = “Eagle”; flying above the troubles

Epaenetus = “praised”, lifting up Jesus because of the first fruits

Mary = “to spoil”; spoiling the devil from his souls, evangelizing

Andronicus = “man of victory”; we are more than conquerors

Junia = “youthful”; always renewed by the word of the Lord

Amplias = “enlarged”; Ps. 4:1 growing in distress

Urbane = “of the city”; he that has burden for the large cities

Stachys = “a head of grain” Jn. 12:24 dying to be fruitful

Apelles = “called”; called and approved in Christ

Aristobulus = the best councilor; fill with the Holy Spirit

Herodion = “hero”; winning the battles of the Lord

Narcissus = “narcotic”; relieving the pain of others, entering into God’s rest

Tryphena = “luxurious”; the abundance of grace

Tryphosa = “luxuriating”; sharing the abundance of grace

Persis = “from Persia”; international vision

Rufus = “red”; the son of Simon the Cyrenian the one who bore the cross of Christ, redemption

Asyncritus = “incomparable”; manifesting the manifold wisdom of God

Phlegon = “burning”; remaining in the fire of the 1st love

Hermas = “herald of the gods”; bringing the good news of Christ

Patrobas = “paternal”; taking care of the little ones

Hermes = “herald of the gods”; bringing the good news of Christ

Philologus = “lover of the Word”; digging into it continually

Julia = “soft-haired”; submission

Nereus = “wet”; pouring the dew of the Spirit everywhere

Olympas = “heaven-descended”; dwelling in the heavenlies

d) Ultimate will. The verses in 1 Pet. 5:13 and in Rev. 17:9 speaking of Babylon are showing the church of Rome, and we find that Paul and Peter wrote to Rome and had Mark in the ministry helping them when they did (2 Tim. 4:11). This is prophetically of how the end-time churches are going to show the glory of God. This end-time churches will reveal the perfection having all the ministries, gifts, fruits etc., working together to show the whole picture of the plan of God for His glorious church (Eph. 4:13-16).

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