How to know the will of God
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LAST WEEK WE TALKED ABOUT THE RENEWAL OF YOUR MIND...
IN THE SECOND PART OF THIS PASSAGE IN ROMANS 12:2.
WE READ ABOUT DISCERNING THE WILL OF GOD
THE PERFECT WILL OF GOD
IN FACT,
THE REASON IT SAYS WE WANT TO RENEW OUR MINDS IS...
TO BE TRANSFORMED
TRANSFORMED IN OUR THINKING…SO THAT
WE MAY DISCERN THE PERFECT AND ACCEPTABLE WILL OF GOD
LETS READ IT AGAIN THIS MORNING.....
.....open in prayer......
Romans 12:1–2 (ESV)
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
BODIES -
EVERYTHING THAT YOU ARE
YOU VERY BEING....
LIVING SACRIFICE -
IT DOESN’T DIE SO THAT IT CAN’T LIVE
IT DIES SO THAT IT CAN LIVE BUT IN A DIFFERENT WAY
HOLY AND ACCEPTABLE TO GOD -
IT IS POSSIBLE TO BE ACCEPTABLE TO GOD
TO LIVE IN A WAY THAT IS PLEASING AND ACCEPTABLE BEFORE GOD
IT’S NOT ABOUT ACCEPTING THE LIE THAT...
YOU CAN’T BE PLEASING TO GOD
OR YOU CAN’T BE ACCEPTABLE TO GOD DAY BY DAY
well i guess all we can do is......CONFESS THAT YOUR UNGODLY AND BANK ON THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF JESUS
THAT IS FALSE....
WE ARE JUSTIFIED BY FAITH ALONE APART FROM WORKS..
WE ARE ACCEPTED ON THE BASIS OF THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST ALONE
AND NOW WE ARE TO OFFER SACRIFICES TO GOD THAT PLEASE HIM
oh my lord…thats good
YOU CAN CHOOSE TO GO HOME THIS AFTERNOON AND DO SOMETHING THAT PLEASES GOD
YOU CAN MAKE A PHONE CALL THAT PLEASES GOD…OR
SAY SOMETHING SWEET AND KIND TO YOUR SPOUSE THAT PLEASES GOD
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
THE GOAL FROM THESE TWO VERSUS IS...
THAT ALL OF LIFE BECOMES WORSHIP TO GOD
THE DECISIONS WE MAKE
THE WORDS WE SAY
THE ACTIONS WE TAKE
ARE ALL ACCEPTABLE SPIRITUAL WORSHIP TO GOD
WHAT IS SPIRITUAL WORSHIP...
THE AIM OF ALL LIFE IS THIS....
THAT GOD BE DISPLAYED AS INFINITELY VALUABLE
TO LIVE OUR LIFE AS A DISPLAY THAT SAYS.....
GOD IS MORE VALUABLE THAN ANYTHING
THIS IS WHAT SPIRITUAL WORSHIP IS
WHAT DO YOU MEAN???
IT MEANS.......
WHEN I LOOK AT YOU IT LOOKS LIKE....
YOU VALUE GOD MORE THAN MONEY
THAT YOU VALUE GOD MORE THAN POWER
THAT YOU VALUE GOD MORE THAN YOU VALUE ILLICIT SEX
THAT THOSE AROUND YOU LOOK AT YOUR LIFE AND SAY....
I WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT WHAT OR WHO IS IN YOU
BECAUSE IT AIN’T NORMAL
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
THIS IS JUST A SOLID STATEMENT ABOUT YOU
IF YOU ARE IN CHRIST
YOU ARE A NEW CREATION
SO....THE NEW GETS RENEWED?
YES…THAT IS CORRECT.....
THATS WHAT IT SAID
YOU ARE MADE A NEW CREATION AND THEN...
YOU NEED TO BE RENEWED IN YOUR MIND
CHURCH......
THIS IS THE CHRISTIAN LIFE....
YOUR ALREADY NEW AS A CHRISTIAN
NOW....GET RENEWED
THIS IS WHAT WE DO EVERYDAY AS CHRISTIANS
OR WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING.....
THIS IS COMING FROM PAUL....
HE TALKS LIKE THIS ALL THE TIME....WATCH THIS..
1 Corinthians 5:7 (ESV)
7 Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump of dough, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.
WHAT IN THE WORLD???
YOU ARE UNLEAVENED
GET THE LEAVEN OUT???
I MEAN IF I’M UNLEAVENED, I DON’T HAVE LEAVEN TO GET OUT.....RIGHT?
WRONG…OH YES YOU DO
YOU ARE PERFECTLY UNLEAVENED SO…GET THE LEAVEN OUT....LOL
CHURCH...
THIS IS HOW JUSTIFICATION AND SANCTIFICATION WORK....
BECAUSE I’M JUSTIFIED AND SEEN AS UNLEAVENED IN CHRIST
I HAVE TO GET THE LEAVEN OUT
IF YOUR NOT GETTING THE LEAVEN (which is sin) OUT OF YOUR LIFE
YOUR PROBABLY BEARING WITNESS THAT....
YOUR NOT JUSTIFIED BY FAITH
IF YOU SEEM TO BE VERY CONTENT WITH YOUR SIN
SOMETHING IS WRONG
OH COME ON SOMEBODY....
10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.
SO…YOU ARE A NEW PERSON
NOW…YOU ARE BEING RENEWED
2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
IT’S NOT JUST KNOWING THE WILL OF GOD BUT..
IT’S TESTING AND APPROVING THE WILL OF GOD
THAT IS.....I KNOW THE WILL OF GOD
AND I LIKE IT....I WANT IT.....THATS WHERE I’M GOING
THE FIRST QUESTION THIS MORNING IS THIS....
1. WHAT DOES THE WILL OF GOD MEAN?
THERE ARE 2 BIG MEANINGS OF THE WILL OF GOD IN SCRIPTURE
I MENTIONED THESE BRIEFLY LAST WEEK
BUT THE GOAL IS....
TO FIND OUT WHICH ONE...
THE ROMANS 12:2 PASSAGE IS TALKING ABOUT.
WE NEED TO KNOW WHETHER...
IT IS THE SOVEREIGN WILL OF GOD
WHICH ALWAYS COMES TO PASS WITHOUT FAIL
OR
WHETHER IT IS THE MORAL WILL
OR WILL OF COMMAND
THE BIBLE USES THE “WILL OF GOD” IN BOTH WAYS.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS THAT THIS CREATES FOR US IS....
IT APPEARS THAT GOD ORDAINS TO HAPPEN
WHAT HE ALSO DISAPPROVES OF
OR
HE FORBIDS SOME THINGS TO HAPPEN...
THAT HE ACTUALLY MAKES HAPPEN
OR
HE COMMANDS SOME THINGS...
THAT HE HINDERS
AND THIS HAPPENS BECAUSE...
THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT MEANINGS FOR....”HIS WILL”
NOW…
I WANT TO SHOW YOU THIS IN THE BIBLE
AND THEN I WANT TO SHOW YOU...
WHICH ONE HE IS TALKING ABOUT IN VERSE 2.
LETS LOOK AT THE SOVEREIGN WILL OF GOD
HIS WILL THAT ALWAYS HAPPENS....NO MATTER WHAT
39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
“AS YOU WILL”
“LET YOUR WILL BE DONE”
THIS MEANS....
GOD HAS A SOVEREIGN PLAN
WHICH IS WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN
JESUS IS GOING TO DIE
WHAT WERE SEEING IS THIS...
JESUS IN HIS HUMAN NATURE IS SAYING...
IN MY HUMAN NATURE....I DON’T WANT NAILS TO GO THROUGH MY HANDS TOMORROW
SO IF THE PLAN CAN BE ADJUSTED....
THAT WOULD BE PLEASING TO MY FLESH
BUT....”YOUR WILL BE DONE”
THE SOVEREIGN WILL OF GOD IS...
THE PLAN THAT GOD HAS
THAT HE ALWAYS EXECUTES
Acts 4:27–28 (ESV)
27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.
SO HEROD, PILATE, THE CROWDS THAT YELLED CRUCIFY HIM AND THE SOLDIERS
ALL DID WHAT GOD HAD PREDESTINED TO TAKE PLACE
AND THE SOVEREIGN WILL OF GOD WAS ACCOMPLISHED ON FRIDAY MORNING
AND WATCH THIS...
IT WAS ALL.....SIN
PILATE, HERODS MOCKERY
THE SOLDIERS GAMBLING FOR HIS CLOTHES
THE HATRED OF THE MOB STIRRED UP BY YELLING CRUCIFY HIM
THIS IS ALL SIN
AND IT WAS PLANNED BY GOD...
I LOVE THIS TEXT BECAUSE...
IT IS A LIGHT IF YOU WILL
ON SO MANY THEOLOGICAL ISSUES BEING TAUGHT TODAY
PASTOR CHRIS…ARE YOU SAYING THAT GOD’S SOVEREIGN WILL
THE ONE THAT ALWAYS COMES TO PASS
INCLUDES....SIN.....YES
IF GOD COULD NOT PLAN THE DEATH CRUCIFIXION OF HIS SON...
WE COULD NOT HAVE BEEN SAVED
IT’S NOT LIKE JESUS JUMPED UP ON THE CROSS AND DIED
AND GOD SAID....WHOA
I DIDN’T KNOW THAT WAS GONNA HAPPEN
BUT I GUESS I CAN USE IT....TO SAVE PEOPLE
YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND THIS....
GOD PLANNED IT FOR YOU
AND IT COULD NOT OF HAPPENED WITHOUT SIN
YOU DON’T KILL THE SON OF GOD WITHOUT SIN
17 For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN???
SOMETIMES…SUFFERING FOR DOING GOOD
IS GOD’S WILL
OH LORD, I JUST LOST SOME OF YALL
GOD’S SOVEREIGN WILL DOES NOT CHANGE BECAUSE OF EVIL
OR BECAUSE SUFFERING MAY COME
WE SAW THIS WITH JESUS
UNDERSTAND THIS...
SUFFERING FOR DOING GOOD…USUALLY INVOLVES SOMEONE SINNING AGAINST YOU
SOMETIMES WE GO THROUGH SUFFERING BECAUSE...
GOD’S PLAN IS BIGGER THAN WE CAN UNDERSTAND
LETS LOOK AT MORE SCRIPTURE ABOUT THE SOVEREIGN WILL OF GOD
11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,
THIS EXTENDS TO THE DETAILS OF ALL IN EXISTENCE....
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.
33 The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is from the Lord.
NOW THE OTHER MEANING OF “THE WILL OF GOD” IS
THE LAW OF COMMAND
OR THE MORAL WILL
FOR EXAMPLE...
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
ONLY THOSE WHO DO THE WILL OF MY FATHER...
ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM
WHICH IMPLIES....SOME DON’T AND SOME DO
WHICH MEAN THE WILL OF GOD IS DONE BY SOME
AND NOT DONE BY OTHERS
WHICH MEANS THIS WILL OF GOD IS DIFFERENT THAN THE FIRST ONE
BECAUSE THE FIRST WILL OF GOD IS ALWAYS DONE .....WITHOUT FAIL
THIS ONE IS DISOBEYED AND NOT DONE
3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality;
HAVE YOU???
NO SOME OF YOU HAVE NOT
WHICH MEANS SOME OF YOU HAVE BROKE THE WILL OF GOD
YOU DISOBEYED
CONTRADICTED THE WILL OF GOD FOR YOUR LIFE
17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
SOME DO…SOME DON’T
THEREFORE, WE HAVE TWO MEANINGS OF THE WILL OF GOD IN THE BIBLE
ONE IS HIS SOVEREIGN WILL
AND THE OTHER IS HIS MORAL WILL
ONE IS ALWAYS DONE
THE OTHER IS OFTEN NOT DONE
WHICH ONE IS HE TALKING ABOUT IN VERSE 2 OF ROMANS 12???
I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND HOW AMAZING THESE TWO TRUTHS ARE
YOU MAY THINK THAT IT’S JUST INTERESTING
OR NOT INTERESTING
IT IS WAY MORE THAN INTERESTING....IT’S BEAUTIFUL
LET ME TRY TO EXPLAIN
THOSE TWO REALITIES THAT ARE IN THE BIBLE
THE WILL OF COMMAND
OR THE MORAL WILL OF GOD....(THOUS SHALT NOT KILL)
AND HIS SOVEREIGN WILL…(I ORDAIN THAT MY SON BE KILLED)
I ORDAIN WHAT I FORBID....WOW
THOSE TWO THINGS CORRESPOND TO...
PROFOUND LONGINGS AND NEEDS THAT YOU HAVE...
IN MOMENTS OF CRISIS AND LOSS
YOU PROBABLY HAVE NEVER THOUGHT OF THIS
BUT YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED IT FOR SURE
(EXAMPLE)
SUPPOSE YOU WERE ABUSED AS A CHILD
AND MAYBE AN UNCLE OR SOMEONE SEXUALLY ABUSED YOU
OR MAYBE EVEN A DAD
AND LETS SAY SOMEONE IS TRYING TO...
COUNSEL YOU AND HELP YOU THROUGH THIS UNBELIEVABLE INCIDENT IN YOUR LIFE
AND LETS SAY THAT PERSON ASKED YOU...
“SO YOU THINK THAT WAS THE WILL OF GOD”
THERE ARE 2 THINGS THAT YOU NEED TO BELIEVE
YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT GOD HATES WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU
AND WHEN HE WAS LOOKING AT THE ABUSER
HE WAS SHOUTING....DON’T DO THAT
THAT IS CONTRARY TO MY WILL
I COMMAND YOU NOT TO DO THAT
GOD HATES WHAT HE SEES AND HE WILL APPROVE OF JUDGEMENT
YOU NEED TO BELIEVE THAT
2. YOU NEED TO BELIEVE THAT GOD IS SOVEREIGN
THAT GOD..... IN A MOMENT CAN TURN EVERYTHING
FOR HIS GLORIOUS AND EVERLASTING GOOD
HERE IS THE THING...
YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT GOD DISAPPROVES ALL THINGS SINFUL
AND THAT HE IS SO SOVEREIGN, SO POWERFUL...
THAT HE CAN TAKE EVERYTHING INCLUDING THAT MOMENT AND TURN IT AROUND FOR GOOD
NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE AT IN YOUR LIFE
YOU NEED TWO THINGS
A GOD WHO CAN EMPATHIZE WITH YOU AS A HIGH PRIEST
AND A GOD WHO HATES SIN
YOU NEED A GOD WHO IS IN THAT MOMENT
SOVEREIGN AND GOVERNING ALL THINGS
SO THAT EVEN THE SINS THAT ARE BEING COMMITTED AGAINST YOU
ARE BEING FOLDED INTO HIS PURPOSES FOR YOU...
SO THAT YOU CAN SHINE LIKE THE SON SOMEDAY...
IN SPITE OF THAT LOSS OR THAT PAIN
BOTH OF THESE ARE NEEDS THAT GOD MEETS.
SO....WHAT DOES IT MEAN...
RENEW YOUR MIND
SO THAT YOU CAN DISCERN THE WILL OF GOD
WHICH ONE IS HE TALKING ABOUT
MY ANSWER IS...
IT IS THE WILL OF COMMAND
NOT THE SOVEREIGN WILL OF GOD
HE IS NOT SAYING..
GET YOUR MIND RENEWED SO YOU CAN DISCERN...
WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TOMORROW
HE IS SAYING...
GET YOUR MIND RENEWED
SO YOU CAN DISCERN WHAT OUGHT TO HAPPEN TOMORROW
THROUGH YOUR LIFE
HE WANTS YOU TO RENEW YOUR MIND NOT SO...
YOU CAN KNOW THE SOVEREIGN WILL OF GOD
BUT HE WANTS YOU KNOW HIS MORAL WILL FOR YOUR LIFE
HOW DOES GOD WANT ME LIVE
HOW DOES HE WANT ME TO ACT OR SPEAK
WHAT IS HIS WILL FOR MY LIFE
.....WORSHIP TEAM COME......
THE WILL OF COMMAND IS REVEALED IN THE WORD OF GOD
THIS IS WHERE YOU START ON HOW TO DISCERN THE WILL OF GOD
WHAT IS HIS WILL FOR MY DAILY LIFE
START WITH THE WORD
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
YES....EVERY GOOD WORK
THE WORD OF GOD EQUIPS YOU FOR EVERY GOOD WORK
THERE IS NO OTHER BOOK THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TO HELP YOU DISCERN THE WILL OF GOD
A RENEWED MIND WILL ALLOW YOU TO READ THE BIBLE
AND UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS
THERE ARE MANY TIMES IN LIFE WHERE YOU HAVE TO MAKE CHOICES..
AND THE BIBLE DOES NOT TELL YOU HOW TO CHOOSE
THE BIBLE WILL NOT...
TELL YOU WHO TO MARRY
WHICH CAR TO DRIVE
WHETHER TO OWN OR RENT A HOME
WHERE TO TAKE A VACATION
WHAT PHONE PLAN TO CHOOSE
WHICH BRAND OF ORANGE JUICE TO DRINK
AND THERE ARE A THOUSAND OTHER CHOICES THAT YOU HAVE TO DISCERN ON YOUR OWN
SO THE MORAL WILL OF GOD IS THIS....
THAT YOU READ THE BIBLE AND PRAY FOR A RENEWED MIND
SO THAT WHEN YOU APPLY ALL OF THE THINGS THAT ARE REVEALED TO YOU IN HIS WORD....
WHEN THE TIMES COMES TO KNOW THE WILL OF GOD ABOUT....
WHO TO MARRY OR
WHETHER TO BUY OR RENT.....
THE THINGS YOU HAVE READ IN HIS WORD WILL PRODUCE GODLY DECISIONS IN EVERY AREA.
A RENEWED MIND…WASHED IN THE WATER OF HIS WORD....
PRODUCES DISCERNMENT OF GOD’S WILL
OH MY LORD…I HOPE YOU GET IT....
ARMED WITH THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT IS EVERYTHING IN THE LIFE OF A CHRIST FOLLOWER
....STAND TO YOUR FEET....
YOU MAY BE HERE TODAY....
I KNOW IT’S MOTHERS DAY
AND I’LL TELL YOU WHAT
MOMS YOU ARE LOVED AND CHERISHED BY GOD
HE HOLDS YOU IN HIGH REGARD
RAISING KIDS IS HARD....
I BELIEVE MOMS HAVE THE HARDEST JOB IN THE WORLD
AND I’M NOT JUST SAYING THAT FOR BROWNIE POINTS
BEING A MOM IS VERY DIFFICULT
AND I BELIEVE THAT GOD’S WILL FOR EVERY MOM IS THIS...
TO BE STRENGTHENED AND ENCOURAGED WHILE BEING AN EXAMPLE TO YOUR KIDS
I DON’T CARE HOW OLD YOU ARE OR HOW YOUNG YOU ARE
YOU HAVE AN IMPORTANT MINISTRY TO YOUR KIDS
WHAT AN OPPORTUNITY....
I WANT TO DO THIS TODAY....IN HONOR OF MOTHERS DAY....AGAIN....LOL
I WANT EVERY MOTHER TO STAND.....
I WANT ALL THE FAMILIES TO GATHER AROUND THEM AND WERE GONNA PRAY FOR STRENGTH AND ENCOURAGEMENT
AND THE DISCERNMENT OF GOD’S WILL IN THEIR LIFE
Father we come before you today asking for strength and encouragement for these mothers. being a mother is a difficult task but it is your sovereign will for those who are…to be.
Lord we pray that you would help them, as they read your word and pursue your will for their life. Lord that you would give them wisdom to teach and lead their children to you. Lord in those moments when they feel inadequate to raise their children…Lord would you wrap your arms of comfort around them, so they may know that they are called according to your will.
We pray for all the fathers in the house today, that they would love and cherish and honor their wives as christ loved the church. Lord help us to lay down our lives, our plans, our desires in order that we may serve our wives....the mother of our children....Lord we ask all of these things in your name....EVERYBODY SAID.....AMEN