A Voyage in the Will of God
Notes
Transcript
The Appalachian Trail is described by many as one of the more grueling physical and mental feats here in the US. Over 2,000 miles stretching from Georgia all the way to Maine, the hike usually takes between 5 and 7 months and, while thousands attempt to tackle the trail, only around 1 in 4 hikers complete the trek. There is a great deal of preparation that goes into this process as well as. Beginners who attempt to hike the Appalachian Trail seek out resources of experienced hikers for advice. There is much preparation that takes place because those hiking understand the long-term commitment that is necessary to complete the full hike.
If we think of the Christian’s duty in following Jesus, there is much to learn from those who hike the Appalachian Trail. We must learn from those who have come before us. There is a rule book to rely on. We are in it for the long haul and understand that it is not an easy task.
This is our final message on the voyage of a disciple of Christ. Beginning on Monday we talked about various ways of walking. I don’t want you to think back on these different voyages all as options on how to walk as a Christian. Instead, think of these things as a combined command
Read Ephesians 5:15-17.
How would God have for us to walk?
Walk With Care
Walk With Care
It is helpful for us to understand that when a person walks, they do not just do so with their feet. Instead, you also keep careful watch of where your feet are going in the future. You look at where you are stepping to be sure that you are not going to step in a hole or trip over a stick.
As you think of your walk when we think of the will of God, it is important that we are in a constant state of evaluation. One of the things that I love about camp is that we are able to, for the most part, put the rest of life on pause and put away distractions so that we can have our eyes set on the things of God first and foremost. We deeply need something like camp in our lives from time to time so that we can touch base with the Lord. We dig into scripture and then hold our lives up next to scripture to decide whether or not we are meeting the mark that God has set for our lives.
It takes a lot of attentiveness in order to walk with care
Walk With wisdom
Walk With wisdom
I’ve already made reference to this when we talk about walking with care but we should utilize the ultimate source of wisdom when we determine if we are walking the right way: God’s word. Don’t just walk to do the things that God forbids that we do. Also walk to do the things that He says we should do. To walk with wisdom is to walk in obedience.
Leviticus 26:3-4 makes mention of this sort of walking:
“If you walk in my statutes and observe my commandments and do them, then I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.
Notice the word observe. A follower of Jesus is wise to understand the word of God and do it. There are great advantages when we take into account what it is that He has said and then doing it. We haven’t been called just to sleep and walk into life. Rather, we take into account everything that is going on around us and filter it through the word of God. This is the wise thing to do. But the manner of walking doesn’t just stop with wisdom gained. We also must walk
Walk With Urgency
Walk With Urgency
These verses are tied together because if you are looking carefully at all at the world that we live in, you will know that the days are evil, just as they were when Paul penned these words. This means that we ought to cash in on the opportunities that we have to do right and live according to God’s word. Using time best is actually an economic term that is translated as redeeming in other places. Be a good steward of the opportunities that come your way. Paul communicates this same concept in Colossians 4:5
Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.
Do you make the best use of time with your unsaved friends and family? Maybe tonight you are burdened by those around you on a regular basis who don’t know God and realize that you’re spending more time talking with friends about sports or school rather than things that matter the most in eternity.
Consider opportunities that you are given, since these are a gift, to share the gospel with others. This reference ties both verses 15 and 16 together. Be wise, be good stewards. But also want to say that this is a call against laziness when the gospel is concerned! This life is but a vapor and we must not forego an opportunity, saying, well maybe next time. Rather, take advantage of the opportunity. Doing so will cause us to walk well and thus also walk
Walk In God’s Will
Walk In God’s Will
We speak often of God’s will because it is often mentioned in God’s word. Simply put, knowing what God’s word says and doing it ensures that disciples are in the will of God. It is a foolish thing to know what to do and not to do it.
If a sign along a hiking trail warns against bears, it would be foolish to ignore this sign and leave food out. Serious consequences take place if such a warning is ignored.
Proverbs 9:10 says,
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
There is a coming a day where we will stand before God and He will say, “You knew my commandments and my will. Why did you fail to keep them?” A healthy fear of God is a good thing. We obey the Lord because we love Him but we keep His wrath in mind. To know the Lord is to have wisdom and insight. This is important for the follower of Jesus.
But how do we know His will? How do we do the wise thing? How do we recognize the time that needs to be redeemed?
We rely on the Holy Spirit. The rest of this passage centers on the comforter that has been sent by the Father.
We are able to discern, to walk carefully with wisdom when we are filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit aides in all of these areas that are vital to the walk of a Christian.
Tonight, I want to focus on the will of God in your life. And I want to separate God’s will into two categories: the day to day and the lifelong.
When we consider the day to day will of God, this is where we rely on God’s will. Do I cheat on this test? Do I pull up that one website? Do I talk back to my parents? When we consider the will of God we should think about the seemingly little things that God still cares about.
At the same time, there are significant life decisions coming for some of you. In the next few years many of you will make steps toward college or whatever you will do after you finish high school? Have you considered what God would have for you to do with that? For some of you, the Lord wants you to go to Austin Peay and be a light for Him on that campus? Others of you he wants to go into vocational school, learn a trade, and win your coworkers and clients to the Lord. Then there may be some guys in this room who God is calling to be a pastor. You heard Jack talk about Welch College and there couldn’t be a better place for you if that is the case.
Whatever the case is, we should surrender ourselves to that. In every moment, we should desire to walk in the will of the Lord.
Condensed milk. 16 years old, trip around the world. Committed himself to sharing the gospel with the lost in the east. No Reserves.
Attended Yale. Was a leader as a student. Deeply desired to see his classmates saved. Still wanted to be a missionary in China. Many in this position would have stayed in the family business. His father told him he would never have a position in the company if became a missionary and left on this missionary journey. No retreats.
Left for Egypt to learn Arabic. Just after being there a short time he contracted spinal meningitis and died shortly after at the age of 25. No regrets.
This is the story of a man who was following God’s will on His life. And though he died at a young age, he walked in a wise way, made the best use of his time and understood what the will of the Lord was on His own life.
Will you seek out what the will of the Lord is for your life? Will you walk into that will?
