Guidance

All right, well, why don't we start with a word of Prayer?

Operations. Father in heaven. We come before you with a desire to walk with you and know you more and more. And we know that we are dependent upon you and the work of your spirit in our lives to draw Us near you. Father, may your spirit, be active and alive. And each of our hearts for your word, has a way of changing us and renewing us and strengthening us and we pray. Your word would be active. Your spirit would be active in our hearts today as we open your word. Be with me that as I speak, I would speak the words that you've laid upon my heart. And that your truth would be evident in all. That is said in Jesus name, amen. Well, it just, sometimes it shocked me to come to the end of the series we've done. And I typically do maybe four weeks, it's been a six-week series and looking at the prayer, as taken from Luke chapter 11 verses 1 through 4 and we've arrived. We've arrived here at the last portion of the idea of you do lead us not into temptation and I thought about that a lot and really it identifies that there are choices that are made in our lives and we are called to be aligned with God in the choices we make. And that means that in our lives, we have to focus on what God wants for our lives, not what we want for our lives, because our choices are our lead us into temptation. You know, Jesus stepped into 10 in to Temptation by Satan. And Satan wants to tempt you as well and deceive you in how you live your life.

this, some Week. We had an opportunity to go down to watch our granddaughter graduate in the master's program at geology at Davis University in California. And it was really interesting, we sat for a long time, watching all these graduates received their doctorates in their master's degrees in and it got me thinking about, you know, the years that they have put into their lives to achieve these degrees and we all applaud them for sure in what they have accomplished because it's a great deed, but I wonder How much of their lives with God. They sacrificed to pursue these degrees and the weather, the influences of the secular education of our students didn't change their lives and dramatic waves. And I don't know where that went, but I I do know that a lot of the lives have been, they must go out and they must use those lives to attend. The challenge is to use your life to change the world. Well, if it isn't change for Christ then Is it a useful life? You know, because God wants us to live a life for him and if we're living it, based on what we achieved through an education and not with him. Have we really achieved much of anything in our lives? And that's a huge question. It comes to the choices that we make in this life and those choices either lead us into temptation and as sometimes lead us away from the Lord, or it leads us closer to the Lord. And so, rather than think about it in terms of Temptation, think about it, in terms of wanting God, to be our guide and strengthen this, our protection because we don't want to be influenced by Satan and so when we go to God and ask him to keep us from Temptation, we're asking him to keep us from the devil's schemes to truly influence our lives in a positive way in God's way. Anyway the verse the whole verse is forgive us our sins that for. We also forgive everyone who sins against this but then this last part and lead us not into temptation What's the pathway that we want to choose and that should be the pathway God chooses for us. So we're going to look at it in three different areas. One, God's will for our lives. What is God's will? What does he want from us? And the beginning point in life is really realizing, okay? There is something that God wants from our lives, not what we want to put into our lives, but what he wants to put into our lives. The next thing is, how do we find the strength to walk that way in this life? And finally, am I ready to join the battle? You know, that's the big question. So the first one is God's will 1st. John 5 2 says, this is how we know that we love the children of God by loving God and carrying out his commands. And here's a question for you, do you love your children? Do you love your children? If you love your children, you ought to be carrying out God's plan for your life. If you choose to do your own plan, rather than God's plan, are you leading your children, astray? from what God, desires for your life and their lives because your responsibility is to help your children, know, and walk with God, and if we choose to live life my way and do it all the things I want rather than seeking after what God wants for my life, where We're not doing it God's way. We're falling out of his will. I love my children and I love my grandchildren and I want them to know God and walk in his life. I hope that's your will as well. And it begin

By knowing Jesus Christ, as Lord and Savior. Probably greatest joy of my life was when my sons wanted to know Jesus Christ as their lord and savior. That was the biggest issue and then the second biggest is that I somehow help them along the way to know Jesus Christ as Lord. And Savior, we have a scenario in Phillipi. Paul has been arrested, he's been thrown into jail and rather than complaining to God. You know, why in the world after I've served you so well, that you would have me thrown out of this jail, he's sitting there with Silas and he's praising the Living. God, In this, in this jail cell, he's been whipped his back is probably bleeding from the whip marks that have been placed upon his body. And yet, he's praising the Living. God, God sends a an earthquake that shakes, the prison and releases him from the blocks that he was in and opens the doors of the prison. And the Jailer comes in. He's, he's a fearful because he sees the doors open and he takes his knife and he's ready to kill himself. And Paul says, we're all still here. Well, he's probably been listening to Paul and Silas as they praise God. And he knows that he needs something in his life. And so he says these words in Acts 16:30. Sirs. What must I do to be saved? Those are great words and if they're received and understood for the very best that person comes to know Jesus Christ as their lord and savior, because that's what we have to do, believe on Jesus Christ and that begins life. True life. Otherwise, we're separated from God and that's simply eternity. As Keith mentioned, this morning, we are in Eternal death sentence, apart from Jesus Christ. But once we know him Life Begins and we begin the process and it continues on because God has a plan for each of Our Lives that he once worked out in US. Think about that. He has a plan for Don's life and my plan ought to be to find out what his plan is for my life and just do it. You know, no matter what is happening in my life, I ought to be doing what God has called me to do. Okay? And a lot of that has to do with some of the other things were going to talk about gaining God's strength but I need to do God's work if he shins to 10 says for God for we are God's handiwork created in Christ. Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do. In other words, God had a plan for Don pedricks life, he has a plan for Mary Patrick's live and for your life. Are you seeking his plan? Are you living out his plan in your life?

It is there and it is ready for you. And for me, we need to be doing what God wants us to be doing in our lives and we find strength in that as we choose to follow that plan. Your finding that today you're sitting here in this audience day, you have been praising God. You've been praying. You are now studying his word as I present it to you. We are growing together in our understanding of Lord, that is a wonderful thing and the Bible addresses that Romans 12:5 says. So in Christ, we know many form, one body, and each member belongs to all the others. You know I belong to you and you belong to me and together we can be encouraging each other and guiding each other along, the pathway that God has chosen for us. That plan, God has for our lives. We help each other carry it out. On the other hand, if you choose to spend your time with others, that's a negative thing. 1st Corinthians 15:33. It's not up there. So don't look for it guys up there, but it says Bad Company. Corrupts good character. Who you hanging out with who you hanging out with God wants you to hang out with Believers? Why? Because it develops, good character. What's good character? It's what God wants to put into your life to help you live the way you ought to live. Okay. Well, what about God's strength? How do we gain it? How do we walk close to him in our lives? And some 37:4 says, take Delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Okay, you know, we out like that idea of the desires of our heart, but really, the desires of our heart come from the recognition that God is there an Arlo, And he has a plan for us to our desires, ought to be to fulfill what God is doing in our lives. If not, in other words are desires ought to be his desires and where they are. He can fulfill it in our lives and we become more like him. We find our strength and understanding in him, we are Guided by the spirit that exists in a truly. If we've come to know Jesus Christ, as Lord and Savior that Spirit dwells in our lives and it was there to give guidance. Remember the idea of this whole sermon is the guidance of God it comes. When we are trusting that the spirit will be guiding us and leading Us in the pathways of true. Okay, there are areas in our lives that help this growing to, this idea, to grow and become more centered in our lives. When I came to know, Jesus Christ as my Lord, and Savior, I was just a little kid, I was 5 years old and, you know, I knew that I needed to save your and I asked for it. And, and I did want to live my life like him. But there were certain things that had to grow in that little life in order for me to understand and know, God, more and more and part of those that was the whole sense that I needed to be seeking God, and that comes through prayer. Any patients chapter 6 Genesis Christ goes through the process of the armor of God, where he talks about building those things into our lives. But it happens as we pray, it gets down to the end of that process and it says in verse 18 and pray in the spirit on All Occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests with this, in mind, the alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people. In other words, not only do I have to be praying for myself, I have to be praying for all of you. And as I've mentioned before, each and every one of you, your name is brought before the kingdom of God each week as I pray here in this church for you. Individually. And I hope that that is part of your desire, is that your prayers are not only for yourselves, but for the body of Christ and being built up. Well, as that little kid, grew up from a five-year-old, he understood that prayer was a powerful thing. I understood that because that was part of my parents process as well. We had prayer together, each day and I began to develop the sense of connection with the Living God through those things. And that's why young in my life. I did commit my life to serving the Living. God, he wants us to be involved in that prayer process to know and understand him. But there's another step as well. You see, God didn't just put us here and say, okay, just follow me, pray about it and find my way. He's giving us a guide to help us along the way along with the spirit of the Living. God he's given us this wonderful book that we call the word of God or the Bible but it is essentially God's plan for connection with humankind Okay. And he gives guidance and wisdom and understanding every issue that could come up in your life. But if this book is closed and not used in your life, it doesn't make any difference. You have to open it up and you have to read it. Some 119 is that great. Some, it's the longest longest chapter in the Bible 176 versus, you know, and it takes a little bit of wild to read, but if you know what it's all about, it's all about knowing God's word. 176 verses talking about knowing God's word. While here's one of them verse 11, I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. In other words, when that word becomes powerful in hidden inside of you, it begins to make a difference, will it doesn't happen when you read a verse and say, okay, I'm on my way.

It doesn't happen that way. You need to take a little time, okay? If this verse is important and it's from God, and we, we need to realize that every verse in this book is from God. It's written by, man, but Guided by God, then we know that this is an important verse for me and somehow, it will lead me to understanding and knowing god a little bit more. So in verse 15 of the same, same chapter, it says I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways in other words. I don't just read a passage of scripture and just run off and let it go. God wants us to think about it. How does this influence my life? How does this help me to grow in Christ? How does this make a difference in the long run? What is God trying to tell me from the depths of his word and the longer you meditate on it won't or you contemplate. And think about where it goes, all of a sudden, it begins to explode in your life and in your mind, And you can really take that in and it becomes a part of your heart and your desire to walk with him. And that's what we wanted. This life is God to make a difference and the word helps us to do that helps us to make a difference, okay? so, We received Jesus Christ, as Lord, and Savior were trying to do. The will of God, we have been involved in prayer. We've been looking at his word, okay? But there's a battle out there. You're in here. We're growing. We're taking advantage of those things, and that's wonderful. But there's a world out there that is in desperate need of what we have here. And that's part of God's plan as well for each one of you. Now, you might say, well, you know, I'm kind of shy and I have a hard time speaking with people. Well, are you involved in prayer for those people out there? Are you thinking about the scripture that can help them think about those things? Because God will place you in situations that will make a difference?

Paul writing Romans in chapter 10, he talks about coming to know Christ and the need that that has and he says in Romans, 10:14. How then can they call on the one? They have not believed in, and how can they believe in the one whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? A real job is knowing God and proclaiming God. And that's what God is called each. And every one of us to, we need to be willing advocates for others, for the sake of Christ. That's why, when I sat in that audience chamber, with thousands of people there and looking at it all these graduates and I'm wondering How many of them have even heard the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ? They could change their lives and change the entire way. They present what they have learned over.

6 to 10 to 12 years of education, and the upper upper levels and yet, I have no idea who Jesus Christ is and what he's done for their lives. all that wasted time if they don't know Christ remember is Paul said you know I've achieved all these things you know he was one of those graduates you know higher Echelon, doctors you might say and he said, you know what he says about it all Apart from Christ, that's just rubbish. That's just rubbish.

Knowing Christ. You know, you can be the poorest man in the world, but if you know Christ, you're rich and Powerful, you're rich and powerful. And we need to be willing to Proclaim that and that's what God has called us to do. Here's the command. He said it to the disciples but essentially it's the world. Because remember this is our book and this is our message to us. Think about it when you read scripture, how does it apply to me as a person that says therefore go and make disciples of all Nations, baptizing them in the name of the father, and of the son and of the Holy Spirit? Those are words not just of the disciples are words to You. And the question is, what are you doing to present the word of God to a world that is in desperate need That's part of the battle. Are you involved in the battle for Jesus Christ? You know, don't be fearful and don't be worried about what you do. Remember Joshua was a guy who struggled with that, he was a guy who walked in uncertainty and Moses talked to him about that uncertainty and said, hey, you don't get your act together because God is with you and you can watch that and then he gets on the site, on the east side of the Jordan River and he's looking across at this land and all of a sudden there's this armor guy that's right next to him. And he's well, Who are you? And you recognized him, the Lord and he says to Joshua and Joshua 1:9 have, I not commanded, you be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged for the Lord. Your God will be with you wherever you go. You know, he's not leaving you, he's not forsaking you, when he put you in a situation in this life that gives you an opportunity to Proclaim Jesus Christ of the Lost. Take advantage of it, don't be worried.

you know, that person that heats Jesus Christ desperately If you're the Avenue, praise the Lord, you know. And if you don't succeed in that praise the Lord because he's giving you the opportunity to okay, I have this opportunity to step up, you know, and I I'll use it.

let him be the one who changes the wife because he's the only one who can I guess what? If we do, all the things that God has called us to do. If we are fulfilling his plan for our lives as we go through it, we are Victor's. We are Victor's in. Jesus Christ, doesn't matter whether it's a success looked at the by the world is as good as Hessville life. If it's looked at by God is just had a full life. Praise His name, 1st Corinthians 15:57. That is a chapter, that talked about Jesus Christ and walking with him and and the ultimate that changing of Our Lives from this Mortal body to this Immortal body, and all of these wonderful things that Paul is addressing and he says, in verse 57. But thanks be to God. He gives us Victory through our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Victory through Jesus Christ. You don't have Victory by living this life, by your standards. You have victory in this life by living in Christ standards for your life. And that's the call to each and everyone of us. No matter what we're doing in this life. If God is the center, the focus, we're doing it God's way. But if we're the center of focus or somebody else, guiding, and directing our paths in the different way. There's no Victory. Their Victory is in Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ Alone.

Let's pray.

Our Father in heaven. We thank you for Your word, your powerful, where the guides and directs our path. We thank you for the ability to pray in these wonderful areas that we've talked about over the past six weeks. And we pray that that has given us an idea of how to move ahead and change our lives into the image that you desire for our lives so that Victory can be proclaimed. when we leave this life Victory in Jesus Christ, Our Mighty savior, Bless us in this oh Lord Our God in Jesus name. Amen.