“For if I preach the Gospel willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, a dispensation of the Gospel is committed unto me” (I Corinthians 9:17).

Against (Def): (Gr.): Akon from A Hekon: Unwilling, Nonvoluntary

The apprehension of the Apostle Paul (cf. Acts 9) by the Lord Jesus is a story of the Lord’s power to choose, to conscript, to compel and constrain one for His eternal purposes. The Apostle is the exception to the common rule and understanding, God will not make you do anything against your will. The Apostle understood the power and authority under whom he was being constrained, and he surrendered to his Lord.

“For though I preach the Gospel, I have nothing to glory of; for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me if I preach not the Gospel” (I Corinthians 9:16).

Necessity (Def): (Gr.): Anagke from Ana Agkale: Constraint, Must Needs, Needful

Have you ever come up against the constraint of the Holy Spirit? The compelling of the Holy Spirit is relentless. You can tell when someone is resisting that compelling, they usually get very busy doing what they want to do to cover for the agitation going on deep in their spirit. Other times people do the opposite and go into isolation. The Prophet Jonah simply booked a ticket on a ship and headed in the opposite direction to where the Lord was sending him.

There is another common misconception and it goes like this: God knows my heart, He knows what I want and He will not ask me to do something otherwise. Oh, yes He just may. Where does this all lead us? The answer is simple, to the Cross.

Jesus, Himself had to address this issue. In Gethsemane He prayed:

“He went and fell on His face and prayed, saying ‘O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will'” (Matthew 26:39).

Against My Will is the true test for the disciple of Christ. The Master passed the test, and by the grace of God so can we. Entering into crucifixion, experiencing the excruciating death to my will, to what I want, be it noble or corrupt is the touchstone for every soul that would know Jesus.

There is a dark side to all of this and the Apostle knew it better than most: “woe is unto me if I preach not the Gospel” (I Corinthians 9:16).

Woe (Def): (Gr): Ouai: Grief, Anguish, Affliction, Calamity

The Apostle was well aware of the grief, anguish, affliction and calamity that awaited him if he did not preach the Gospel because the constraint of the Holy Spirit was upon Him and to resist Him was futile and foolish, given the alternative consequences.

There is a fearful reverence that should go with doing things given to us from God against my will. Stubborness, selfishness, self-will and resistance must go to the Cross to be crucified. Eventually we must all bend the knee to the Lord of Lords, King of Kings, Almighty God, our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.

The calling of the Lord is a holy calling to the Lord. There are many lessons to be experienced as we learn Christ. The Lord was gracious with the Apostle Peter by letting him know the things that awaited him, even those against his will:

“Verily, verily I say to you, ‘When you were young, you girded yourself and walked wherever you wanted to go, but when you shall be old, you will stretch forth your hands and another will gird you and carry you where you do not want to go'” (John 21:18).

Martyrdom through the violent death of crucifixion awaited the Apostle and he knew it, accepted it and in the year A.D. 64 it was accomplished. Against My Will is not an easy task to bear. That is why God gives us more grace.

It is not only the ultimate sacrifice in which Against My Will applies. It is in the daily life of decisions, choices, obedience to the known will of the Father, where we must live and die, for when we die we live in the glorious freedom of the Spirit, the joy of the Lord, the peace of God, the love of Christ Jesus.

Are you ready? Let’s go.

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