Discerning God’s Will Through God’s People

Intro

Typical intro stuff…

Turn to Hebrews chapter 10. That’s the first place we will be tonight.

Recap the first two message and use the stool illustration again.

Just like we’ve started with an assumption the last two messages…we start with another one. An assumption that we must have. A principle that needs to be acknowledged…and that is this.

We need people.

-Scripture describes it.

Acts 2:42–47 ESV

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

-Scripture prescribes to it.

Hebrews 10:24–25 ESV

24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

So we need people. For a few reasons.

For encouragement.

Look back at verse 25.

For Godly living.

Look back at verse 24.

Why are we called to love? Because we follow Christ. The great commandment. Why are we called to do Good Works? Because we have been saved.

Titus 2:14 ESV

14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

So in essence…what are we commanded to do with one another? Stir one another up to love and good works…meaning…stir one another to Godly Living.

Meaning…in order to live Godly Lives…we need godly people around us.

There’s no getting around it. We need people. You can’t be a Christian and hate people.

You can’t be a Christian and despise fellowship. Not continually and not consistently.

So we need people, because scripture describes it, and prescribes it. We need people for encouragement, and for Godly living. And lastly for tonight and the purpose of our message and how it relates to our series. We need people…

To discern God’s will.

It’s evident in God’s word that we need God’s people to discern God’s will.

As we’ve seen in this series so far…God reveals himself through his word, applied to our hearts through God’s spirit….and now we are going to see that the application of God’s word is driven by God’s people.

Let’s go back to our car illustration from a few weeks ago.

Point A, your old life.

Point B, heaven and salvation.

The highway, Jesus Christ, the way.

The onramp to the Highway, God’s word.

The vehicle that drives you. God’s spirit.

The gas in the vehicle…God’s people.

So, the facts are laid…the truth is told. But how does it actually happen? What should you be doing in your life right now to make sure you’re incorporating God’s people into discerning God’s will.

The first step is so obvious…

So what should you do?

Get around people.

Who love God.

Who love you.

Essentially, people who take the great commandment seriously.

Matthew 22:37–39 ESV

37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

So find people like that. And to better help us in our application. Let’s talk about a few people we will find in our lives who meet that criteria.

Teachers, Preachers, and Pastors

God uses pastors, teachers, and spiritual leaders to equip believers and help them understand His will through the Scriptures.

Ephesians 4:11-13 - "And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,"

2. Mature Believers

God uses mature believers to provide counsel and wisdom, helping others discern His will in specific situations.

Proverbs 11:14 - "Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety."

3. Fellow Believers

Our friends…our peers. Those around you right now. Your c-group.

Fellow believers can encourage and affirm God’s leading in our lives, confirming His will through their words and actions.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 - "Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing."

Fellow believers also provide correction and accountability: God uses others to correct us and hold us accountable when we stray from His will, guiding us back onto the right path.

Proverbs 27:17 - "Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another."

Prayer, intercession, and healing: Believers pray for one another, seeking God’s guidance and discernment together.

James 5:16 - "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."

As a point of encouragement. Be willing do to this. Ray Ortlund says regarding this passage “you can either be impressive, or you can be known, but you can’t be both”.

Notice, there is a particular category that I didn’t include in my list. One that we often turn to when looking for guidance…so it would seem obvious to be here…and that is…your family.

We should consult family when they fall into these categories.

If they don’t love God. They can’t give you godly guidance.

If they don’t love You. They won’t give you godly guidance.