In 1968, Frank Sinatra released one of his most iconic songs, I Did It My Way. NPR says “it’s a song that has come to represent a particular idea of American individualism, and in some ways feels even more relevant today than when it was recorded in 1968 by Frank Sinatra… "My Way" was an unusual song for Sinatra. It's not a love song about a girl, a boy or even a city — it's about me, me, me.”[i] Much like Queen’s comeback hit 21 years later, I Want It All (“and I want it now” - although that was really about an aspiring boxer chasing his dreams), it defined a generation as a type of slogan/anthem. The Canadian band Loverboy also sang in their 80’s hit Turn Me Loose “I gotta do it my way, or no way at all.” It seems to be a prevailing theme in the music of that era which is a mirror of cultural attitudes.
The Baby Boomer generation was the first one after WWII and it was characterized by indulgence and protectionism from parents who had to endure the Great Depression and the war. Abundance and affluence was the theme of the 50’s since the sacrifice for the war effort turned to consumerism and although wholesomeness was still the norm, the cultural revolution of the 60’s threw off all moral restraint and led to Woodstock and the “Me” generation. The state-sanctioned murder of our children was brought about in 1968 in Canada and 1973 in the U.S. and for the first time in history, child sacrifice was now predominantly done for issues of convenience, rather than in act of religious worship. We’ve been on a steady slope down ever since.
Jer 17:9 says “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick: who can understand it?” Without the influence of the Holy Spirit, we will all go our own way, which is astray from God’s commandments. It is evident in the world today what happens when we veer from God’s standard of righteousness. When it comes to our faith walk and devotion to God, obedience is pretty straightforward. The Torah offers us a list of dos and don’ts, which we are told we will be blessed if we abide by and cursed if we don’t.
The devil though has many layers of subtlety to throw at us where it isn’t always so easy to see when he’s leading us off track of God’s will for our lives. Ps 23 tells us “He leads us beside still waters,” but we often don’t experience that. Many times when we’re serving the Lord, turbulence is the norm. Sometimes that is because we are also promised tribulation when we serve Him but in those cases, we should still have inner shalom. The problem is that we can be deceived sometimes into thinking that we’re doing the Lord’s will but in reality, it’s our own flesh that’s giving the orders. And this phenomena isn’t just limited to the novice or immature believer. Even the most seasoned of saints is at risk.
When we think of the Apostle Paul, we’re left in awe of his accomplishments as well as zeal for Yeshua and the Great Commission. He is largely responsible for the establishment of the Gentile churches across the world today. Yet, as we look at his story in the book of Acts, we can see that he too was human and susceptible to error. And it wasn’t because of ill motives but only because he did it “his way.”
As a choleric temperament, Paul was naturally bold, steadfast, fearless and decisive. The greater the challenge, the more zealous he was. Who else could have been stoned almost to death and the next day go right back to preaching to the same people? Most of us would consider that crazy but Paul had a unique understanding of his mission, to the point he was even transported to God’s throne room in heaven. Yet, because of his zeal and that assurance, he wasn’t listening to clear warnings from the Holy Spirit not to go to Jerusalem
When we had parted from them and had set sail, we ran a straight course to Cos and the next day to Rhodes and from there to Patara; and having found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail. When we came in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left, we kept sailing to Syria and landed at Tyre; for there the ship was to unload its cargo. After looking up the disciples, we stayed there seven days; and they kept telling Paul through the Spirit not to set foot in Jerusalem. When our days there were ended, we left and started on our journey, while they all, with wives and children, escorted us until we were out of the city. After kneeling down on the beach and praying, we said farewell to one another. Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home again. When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and after greeting the brethren, we stayed with them for a day. On the next day we left and came to Caesarea, and entering the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, we stayed with him. Now this man had four virgin daughters who were prophetesses. As we were staying there for some days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands, and said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’” When we had heard this, we as well as the local residents began begging him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” And since he would not be persuaded, we fell silent, remarking, “The will of the Lord be done!” Act 21:1-14 (emphasis mine).
Twice we see in this passage that the Ruach HaKodesh was warning Paul, both through the disciples and the prophet Agabus not to go to Jerusalem, but Paul wouldn’t listen because he had already made up his mind that he was going to testify to his brethren that Yeshua was the Messiah. Why would the Spirit not want Paul to go and testify? Was it because He didn’t want him to be captured? That may have been part of it but when we see what happened, it is clear there was another issue God was trying to avoid.
In Acts 21, Paul arrives in the Temple and once he is recognized, instigates a riot which eventually leads to his capture, trial, appealing to Caesar and travelling to Rome where he would ultimately be executed for his faith. While the Lord does tell him not to worry and that he was to bear witness in Rome (Act 23:11), we should not mistake that as being the perfect will of God. It is clear He warned him not to go but since he was intent on doing it anyway, God was going to maximize what He had to work with. I love the fact that He’s already factored in my stupidity to the outcome of things. It gives me great comfort.
The question that needs asking is, why was Paul at the Temple in the first place that led to such an uproar? It wasn’t just like Peter and John earlier who were witnessing there. Paul had an assignment, which came from the elders of the Jerusalem assembly.
And the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. After he had greeted them, he began to relate one by one the things which God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. And when they heard it they began glorifying God; and they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed, and they are all zealous for the Law; and they have been told about you, that you are teaching all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs. What, then, is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come. Therefore do this that we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow; take them and purify yourself along with them, and [g]pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads; and all will know that there is nothing to the things which they have been told about you, but that you yourself also walk orderly, keeping the Law. (Act 21:18-24)
Paul was at the Temple to offer a sacrifice in order to prove that the accusation that he was preaching against the Torah wasn’t true. However, the sacrificial system had been replaced with Yeshua’s shed blood and resurrection from the dead. He was the fulfillment of that system and it was now His blood that saved us, not the blood of animals that pointed toward His coming (Heb 9:11). By participating in a vow and sacrifice, Paul was in essence nullifying Yeshua’s sacrifice and going back to the incomplete system that was never sufficient to take away sin to begin with and God was having none of it.
God’s warning to Paul not to go to Jerusalem wasn’t to prevent him from getting captured. It was to stop him from compromising on what he knew to be true in order to submit to the elders of the Messianic community who foolishly thought they could appease the Jews, who were never going to accept their message anyway. By the way, it’s the same error many Messianic congregations make today as well. Him getting captured was to prevent him from publicly denying the very faith he was there to defend. It’s a mistake that ended up costing him his life.
The eminent apostle Paul was like many believers today. He was zealous for the Lord but blinded by his zeal and not listening to the clear warning of God not to do what he was intending. It is a stark example for us that even in our fervour to do the Lord’s work, we often slip into doing it in our own wisdom and strength and then things go badly. Paul might even have thought that his persecution was because he was doing the right thing and many of us also think the same thing. However, the enemy is crafty and knows our weaknesses of character and fleshly tendencies and will disguise an opportunity as being of the Lord when it is really outside of His will. Compromise is never the way of God but in our fallen way of thinking, the end can sometimes justify the means.
When Sinatra sang “I Did It My Way,” he was really describing the fundamental flaw in human nature. We want to do it our way instead of God’s. It’s what got Adam and Eve evicted from the garden and what will send the majority of humanity throughout history to a burning lake of fire in torment. It’s the foundational lie of the enemy: you will be like God. And no one is exempt, even one of Yeshua’s apostles.
So how do we avoid this trap? First, we have to start with humility. Paul’s zeal actually disguised his pride. Again, choleric temperaments are the most prone to being self-willed but everyone is in danger of doing it their way. Peter exhorts us to “humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may will exalt you at the proper time” (1Pet 5:6). Humility is acknowledging Yeshua’s lordship over our lives in all respects.
Secondly, Prov 16:3 tell us “Commit your works to the Lord and your plans will be established.” We have to lay our plans on the altar of sacrifice. I’ve had a desire to go to Africa for many years to minister over there and have several pastors asking me to come but it has been clear to me that God’s timing has not come yet. I could try and force the situation and get myself over there but I would not be able to do what God intends for me to do while I’m there if it’s outside of His timing. So, I wait on Him and when the timing is right, the door will open, probably in ways that I couldn’t even imagine.
Lastly, we have to listen. Deut 6:4 starts with the most famous prayer in Judaism, the Shema, which means to hear. Once we have prayed and committed our works to the Lord, we wait to hear back from Him on timing and methodology. I want my plans to serve Him, or anything else for that matter to have the maximum effect and benefit for me. Ps 46:10 tells us to cease striving and know He is God. By praying and waiting to hear an answer before we act, we ensure we don’t go ahead of Him. Many believers use this as an excuse not to do what they know they should but that comes back to motive. Yeshua said He did nothing unless He saw the Father doing it first. That’s wise council for all of us.
In today’s maverick culture where going against the grain and rebelling against authority is lauded, we miss the point that going against God’s instructions NEVER works out to our benefit. He is perfect, all-knowing and only wants what’s best for us. When we do it our way, we presume we know better. Sinatra and many others throughout history may have done it their way, but when Yeshua is Lord and King of our lives, it is best to do it His way.
Darryl Weinberg
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