Six-Week Series: Maturing in Prayer: Learning that God's Permissive Will is Not His Perfect Will

Six-Week Series:

Maturing in Prayer: Learning that God's Permissive Will is Not His Perfect Will

Overview This six-week Bible study series will guide participants in understanding the difference between God's permissive will and His perfect will, particularly as it relates to prayer and spiritual maturity. Each week will focus on a different aspect of discerning God’s will in our lives, helping believers to align their hearts and prayers more closely with God's perfect will.

Week 1: Introduction to God's Will in Prayer Key Texts: Matthew 6:9-10, 1 John 5:14-15

Historical Context and Background: Matthew 6:9-10: Jesus teaches the Lord’s Prayer as part of the Sermon on the Mount around AD 28-29. This was a time when Jewish people were focused on their ritual prayers but often lacked the understanding of God’s heart.1 John 5:14-15: Written by the Apostle John, around AD 85-95, this letter speaks to the early Christian community, encouraging them to pray confidently according to God's will.

Passage Analysis: Matthew 6:9-10 shows that prayer is about aligning ourselves with God’s perfect will: "Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." This teaches us that prayer is less about getting what we want and more about seeking God’s perfect desires.1 John 5:14-15 emphasizes that prayers answered by God must be aligned with His will, not just our desires.

Text and Analysis: Matthew 6:9-10: Jesus uses the word “will” (Greek: thelēma) to reflect both God’s perfect and permissive will. While God's permissive will allows certain things to happen (like sin), His perfect will reflects what He truly desires for humanity (righteousness, holiness). Practical Application: When we pray for God’s will, we must let go of our own desires and submit to His better plans. Ask God to reveal His perfect will in your life, even if it challenges your preferences.1 John 5:14-15: The confidence we have in approaching God comes when our prayers are aligned with His perfect will, showing a deeper understanding of His desires. Practical Application: Practice asking God to help you understand His will before you present your requests in prayer. Seek wisdom and discernment.

Preaching and Teaching Points: God’s Will in Prayer (Matthew 6:9-10): Prayer begins with surrendering our will to God’s.Application: Let prayer be a daily practice of aligning your desires with God's.

Confidence in Prayer (1 John 5:14-15): We can have confidence when we pray in accordance with His will.Application: Ask the Holy Spirit for guidance in aligning your prayers with God's will.

Permissive vs. Perfect Will: God may allow things in His permissive will, but we should always seek His perfect will.Application: Reflect on past prayers that may have been more about what you wanted, rather than what God desired for you.

Discerning God's Will: Prayer is as much about listening as it is asking.Application: Take time to listen in prayer for what God is speaking to your heart.

Week 2: Understanding God’s Permissive Will Key Texts: Romans 1:21-28, Acts 14:16

Historical Context and Background: Romans 1: Written by Paul around AD 57, this passage describes how people who reject God are given over to their sinful desires (permissive will).Acts 14: Written by Luke, this recounts Paul's first missionary journey, where he explains how God allowed nations to go their own way (permissive will) in order to eventually reveal His perfect plan.

Passage Analysis: Romans 1: God allows people to follow their own sinful desires when they reject Him, showing His permissive will in action.Acts 14: God permits people to go their own way, but ultimately desires to bring them back to Himself.

Text and Analysis: Romans 1:21-28: Paul explains how, when humanity rejects God, He "gives them over" (Greek: paradidomi) to their sinful choices. This is God allowing permissive will, but it’s not what He desires for them.Practical Application: Reflect on areas of life where God may have allowed you to go your own way, but now calls you back to His perfect will.Acts 14:16: God’s permissive will allows temporary freedom, but it’s designed to lead people back to Him.Practical Application: In your prayers, ask God to guide you back to His perfect will when you’ve strayed.

Preaching and Teaching Points: Permissive Will Leads to Consequences (Romans 1:21-28): God allows people to choose sin, but there are consequences.Application: Examine areas where following your own desires led you away from God’s best.

God’s Grace in Permissive Will (Acts 14:16): Even in permissive will, God’s grace calls us back.Application: Seek God's grace and realignment in your prayer life.

The Danger of Self-Will: Choosing our own way leads to spiritual distance from God.Application: Pray for a heart of surrender, asking God to reveal areas of self-will.

Redemption of Permissive Choices: God can redeem choices made in permissive will for His perfect plan.Application: Look for where God has turned a past mistake into something for your growth.

Week 3: God's Perfect Will in Scripture Key Texts: Jeremiah 29:11, Romans 12:1-2

Historical Context and Background: Jeremiah 29: Written to the exiles in Babylon (around 597 BC), Jeremiah reveals God’s perfect will for His people—to prosper them and give them hope.Romans 12: Paul encourages the Roman Christians to renew their minds to know God’s perfect will.

Passage Analysis: Jeremiah 29:11 shows God’s perfect will is always for the good of His people, even when they face discipline.Romans 12:1-2 emphasizes transformation and renewal of the mind to discern God’s perfect will.

Text and Analysis: Jeremiah 29:11: God’s perfect will is to give His people “a future and a hope” (Hebrew: tikvah), even in difficult circumstances.

Practical Application: Pray for God’s perfect will even when circumstances seem bleak. Trust in His greater plan.Romans 12:1-2: By renewing our minds, we can test and approve God’s perfect will. The Greek word for "perfect" here (teleios) means complete or mature.

Practical Application: Regularly renew your mind through Scripture, prayer, and surrender to discern God’s perfect will.

Preaching and Teaching Points: God's Good Plans (Jeremiah 29:11): Even in exile, God’s perfect will is for our ultimate good.Application: Trust God’s plan, even when you can’t see the outcome.

Renewing the Mind (Romans 12:1-2): Align your thoughts with God’s through Scripture and prayer.

Application: Set aside time daily for mind renewal through God’s Word.

Knowing God's Will: God’s perfect will is not mysterious; it's revealed in His Word and through prayer.Application: Reflect on how well you know God’s will, and ask Him for clearer understanding.

Transformation Through Surrender: Surrendering to God allows for transformation into His perfect will.Application: Pray for a deeper level of surrender to God’s plans.Continue with Weeks 4-6 by focusing on practical application, further distinctions between permissive and perfect will, and how to mature in prayer through listening and discernment. Week 4: Aligning Our Desires with God's Perfect Will Key Texts: Psalm 37:4, James 4:2-3 Historical Context and Background: Psalm 37: Written by David during his later years, around 1000 BC. David encourages believers to trust in the Lord, patiently waiting for His justice and mercy, and to find joy in aligning with God’s will

.James 4: James, written around AD 45-50, addresses the early Christian church, confronting their conflicts and desires that stem from worldly motivations rather than seeking God's will.

Passage Analysis: Psalm 37:4 teaches that when we delight ourselves in the Lord, He shapes our desires to match His perfect will. It reveals that true satisfaction is found in submitting to God's plan.James 4:2-3 exposes the dangers of selfish prayers. When we ask with wrong motives, seeking only to fulfill our own desires, we miss God's perfect will for us.

Text and Analysis: Psalm 37:4: The Hebrew word for “delight” (anag) means to take great pleasure in, suggesting that aligning our hearts with God’s will begins with finding joy in Him. When we delight in the Lord, our desires become His desires.

Practical Application: Regularly examine your desires in prayer. Ask: "Are my prayers focused on what pleases God, or am I seeking my own wants?" Shift your focus to delight in God's presence, trusting that He will provide according to His perfect will.

James 4:2-3: James points out that many prayers go unanswered because they are driven by selfish motives. The Greek word for “ask” (aiteo) implies a request or demand, but James clarifies that asking without alignment to God's will results in failure.

Practical Application: When praying, consider your motives. Are you asking for things that glorify God and align with His purpose for your life? Begin praying with the mindset of seeking God's kingdom first (Matthew 6:33).Preaching and Teaching Points:

Delighting in God (Psalm 37:4): When our greatest joy is in God, our desires naturally align with His will.Application: Challenge your congregation to cultivate a deeper love for God in their daily walk.

The Dangers of Selfish Prayer (James 4:2-3): Prayers focused on self-centered desires are often left unanswered.Application: Lead in a prayer of repentance for any selfish motives in prayers, asking for a heart that seeks God’s glory.

God-Shaped Desires: As we grow in relationship with God, He reshapes our desires to fit His perfect will.Application: Encourage reflection on how God might be reshaping desires in this season of life.

Asking with Pure Motives: Effective prayers are those in line with God’s purpose and His kingdom.Application: Teach how to pray with motives that glorify God, aligning prayers with His greater purposes.

Week 5: Learning to Discern God's Perfect Will Key Texts: Proverbs 3:5-6, Colossians 1:9-10 Historical Context and Background: Proverbs 3: This book, traditionally attributed to Solomon (around 950 BC), offers wisdom on how to live a life that honors God.

Proverbs 3 teaches the importance of trusting God and leaning on His understanding rather than our own.

Colossians 1: Written by Paul around AD 60-62 during his imprisonment, this passage includes a prayer for the Colossian believers to be filled with the knowledge of God's will and to live lives worthy of Him.

Passage Analysis: Proverbs 3:5-6 emphasizes the importance of trust and submission to God’s wisdom in discerning His perfect will. It teaches that we should not rely on our limited understanding, but fully trust God to guide us.

Colossians 1:9-10 reveals Paul’s prayer for the Colossians to grow in knowledge of God's will. This knowledge is not just intellectual but involves living in a way that reflects God's character.T

ext and Analysis: Proverbs 3:5-6: The Hebrew word for "trust" (batach) signifies a deep, unshakable confidence in God. We are called to trust in the Lord fully, surrendering our understanding and allowing God to direct our paths.

Practical Application: In your prayer life, surrender your own plans and desires to God. Actively trust Him, even when you don’t understand the path ahead. Seek guidance in Scripture and through godly counsel.

Colossians 1:9-10: Paul’s prayer is for the Colossians to be filled with the knowledge of God's will (epignosis), which means precise and accurate understanding. This knowledge isn’t just theoretical but is meant to transform how we live.

Practical Application: Ask God to fill you with a clear understanding of His will through daily study of Scripture and reliance on the Holy Spirit. Pray for discernment in both big and small decisions.

Preaching and Teaching Points: Trust in God’s Wisdom (Proverbs 3:5-6): Trusting God leads us to His perfect will, even when we don't fully understand His ways.

Application: Encourage believers to submit their decision-making process to God and trust in His guidance.

The Importance of Surrender: Surrendering our understanding is crucial to walking in God’s perfect will.Application: Lead the congregation in praying for hearts that are willing to surrender control to God.

Living Out God’s Will (Colossians 1:9-10): Discerning God’s will is meant to transform how we live.Application: Challenge believers to consider how knowing God’s will impacts their daily lives, including relationships, work, and service.

Praying for Discernment: Prayer for understanding God's will should be a regular practice.Application: Encourage a habit of asking God for wisdom and discernment in daily prayers (James 1:5).

Week 6: Surrendering to God's Perfect Will in All Circumstances Key Texts: Luke 22:41-42, Philippians 2:13

Historical Context and Background: Luke 22: Written by Luke around AD 60-61, this passage recounts Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, where He surrenders to God’s will before His crucifixion. This moment is pivotal, demonstrating perfect submission to God's plan.

Philippians 2: Paul writes this letter while imprisoned (around AD 60-62), encouraging the believers in Philippi to continue working out their salvation with the knowledge that God is working in them to will and act according to His purpose.

Passage Analysis: Luke 22:41-42 is a powerful demonstration of Jesus’ submission to God’s perfect will, even when it led to immense personal suffering. It teaches that submission to God’s will sometimes requires sacrifice but leads to greater glory.

Philippians 2:13 reminds believers that God is actively working within us, giving us both the desire and ability to do His will.Text and Analysis:

Luke 22:41-42: Jesus’ prayer, "Not my will, but yours be done," reflects total surrender to the Father’s plan. The Greek word for “will” (thelēma) again appears, showing the ultimate fulfillment of God’s perfect will.

Practical Application: In your own life, be willing to surrender completely to God’s will, even when it involves difficulty or sacrifice. Trust that God’s plan is for the greater good.Philippians 2:13: Paul encourages believers by reminding them that God is working in them, aligning their desires with His will. The Greek word for “work” (energeo) shows that God’s power is actively at work in us.

Practical Application: As you pray, ask God to work within you to shape your desires and actions according to His purpose. Trust that He is guiding you even when His will is not immediately clear.Preaching and

Teaching Points:

Jesus’ Surrender (Luke 22:41-42): Jesus models complete submission to the Father's will, even in the face of great suffering.Application: Encourage believers to follow Jesus’ example of surrender, trusting that God’s will is always best.

God’s Work in Us (Philippians 2:13): God is actively at work in shaping our desires and actions according to His will.Application: Remind the congregation that they are not alone in their walk with God—He is working within them.

Surrendering in Difficulty: True submission to God’s will often comes in times of trial or challenge.Application: Teach the congregation that, like Jesus, we must surrender even when God’s will leads us into difficult circumstances.Trusting God’s Plan: Even when we don’t see the full picture, we can trust that God’s perfect will is for our good.Application: Challenge believers to find peace in the knowledge that God’s will is being accomplished, even in times of uncertainty.

Summary of the Series: Throughout this six-week study, we’ve explored the difference between God’s permissive will and His perfect will. We’ve learned that:

God’s permissive will allows for human choice, but it often leads to consequences and struggles.God's perfect will is always for our good, aligning us with His greater purpose.Maturing in prayer means learning to surrender our desires and trust in God’s wisdom, even when His will challenges our comfort.By renewing our minds, aligning our desires, and surrendering fully to His plan, we can live in harmony with God's perfect will.Encourage participants to reflect on how they can apply these lessons in their daily lives, seeking not just what they want, but aligning their prayers and actions with God’s perfect plan for them.