The Will of God
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Announcements:
Announcements:
Summer Schedule out soon
Camp is July 16-19th
Scholarships Available
New Series: What’s Next
I know we have a lot of seniors, and in a few months you’ll be graduated and moving forward into the unknown
And even for those who are not seniors—one day (soon) you’ll be in the same boat
And my heart for each of you is that your time in HSM you would be prepared (as best as you are able) for whatever is next
So we have a short 4 week series as the school year is winding down… focusing on What’s Next
I’ll be teaching tonight on the Will of God—How do we know and walk in it
Bianka, Kory, and I are going to be sharing about our journey stepping into Vocational Ministry (Working at a church) and opening up for questions
Anaiah and Josh are going tot be sharing about working in the ‘secular world’ and their call to be a light where God has them and continuing to serve their local church
I’ll finish by teaching on what it means to be Waiting on the Lord
Any questions?
I encourage you to think of some questions to ask us in the middle two weeks and press in!
Introduction
Introduction
So tonight, I’m teaching on Knowing and Walking in the Will of God
I want to start with our typical understanding of what it means—and hopefully expand it by looking at what Scripture has to say
So typically we think the following truths:
God has a plan for my life
11 For I know the plans I have for you”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
I must discover it to be blessed
10 those who seek the Lord
will not lack any good thing.
If I miss it, I’m in trouble
47 And that servant who knew his master’s will and didn’t prepare himself or do it will be severely beaten.
4. I pray for guidance
5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him.
5. I seek wise counsel
20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction
so that you may be wise later in life.
And then you try and decide
Hopefully you made the right choice
But it’s not always that simple, lets look at a familiar Bible story: David and Goliath
17 One day Jesse had told his son David, “Take this half-bushel of roasted grain along with these ten loaves of bread for your brothers and hurry to their camp. 18 Also take these ten portions of cheese to the field commander. Check on the well-being of your brothers and bring a confirmation from them. 19 They are with Saul and all the men of Israel in the Valley of Elah fighting with the Philistines.”
23 While he was speaking with them, suddenly the champion named Goliath, the Philistine from Gath, came forward from the Philistine battle line and shouted his usual words, which David heard. 24 When all the Israelite men saw Goliath, they retreated from him terrified.
32 David said to Saul, “Don’t let anyone be discouraged by him; your servant will go and fight this Philistine!”
33 But Saul replied, “You can’t go fight this Philistine. You’re just a youth, and he’s been a warrior since he was young.”
36 Your servant has killed lions and bears; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.” 37 Then David said, “The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”
38 Then Saul had his own military clothes put on David. He put a bronze helmet on David’s head and had him put on armor. 39 David strapped his sword on over the military clothes and tried to walk, but he was not used to them. “I can’t walk in these,” David said to Saul, “I’m not used to them.” So David took them off. 40 Instead, he took his staff in his hand and chose five smooth stones from the wadi and put them in the pouch, in his shepherd’s bag. Then, with his sling in his hand, he approached the Philistine.
We know the end of the story
Overview:
Voice of God: No
Sought Counsel: Yes
Followed Counsel: No — Didn’t take Saul’s Armor
Followed His Desire: Yes
Did God’s Will: Yes
Hmm…
Even in Scripture it’s not as easy as praying — hearing — and doing — Burning Bush Moment
That’s a story from the Bible—but I think a diagram can also help show how we typically think of discovering the Will of God…
Drawing — Circles
( Mad ( Disappointed (Blessed) Disappointed ) Mad )
Drawing — Branches
Is it here? here? or here? Wrong picture
So if walking in the Will of God isn’t a specific set of circumstances—what is it?
Walking in the Will of God
Walking in the Will of God
Cultivating a Christlike Heart
The most important commandment is love
30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.
Walking in the will of God looks like loving God and others with everything that we are
We read this explicitly in 1 Thessalonians 5:14-18:
14 And we exhort you, brothers and sisters: warn those who are idle, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 See to it that no one repays evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray constantly, 18 give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
The will of God is:
Warning those who are idle
Comforting the discouraged
Helping the weak
Being patient with everyone
Not repaying evil for evil
Pursuing the good for one another
Rejoicing
Praying constantly
Giving thanks in everything
Or Again in 1 Thessalonians 4:3
3 For this is God’s will, your sanctification: that you keep away from sexual immorality,
Specifically that we keep away from sexual immorality
We honor the bodies God has given us
But it doesn’t get more straightforward than this:
This is God’s Will: Your Sanctification
Does anyone know what sanctification means?
Sanctify—Set apart
Continually set apart—The process of becoming more like Jesus
God’s will for your life has far more to do with the person you are becoming—than the places you are going or things you can accomplish
What God desires for your life isn’t a perfect set of circumstances where you’ve made every right decision
He deeply desires us to reflect his own character
So how do we do this?
Prioritize Love of God with everything you are
Be the most Christlike person you can be
Pray He will reveal anything which keeps us from obeying his will (We often know)
Listen carefully to God’s work—seeking to obey and follow his ways
Live and act wisely
Seek wise counsel
Does this make sense?
Is this in line with who I am?
Have I considered all of the possibilities?
Have I considered the cost and benefits, including my impact on other people?
Is this in line with other commitments I have made?
Inquire of God — Allowing him to change our minds if neccesary
God often speaks through others
Test the spirits
Is it consistent with the Word of God?
Is it consistent with godly character and wisdom?
Do what will make you most deeply happy
4 Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you your heart’s desires.
So instead our lives look more like this:
Be Christlike
Cut out sinful options
Cut out stupid options
There is a ton of room to walk in ‘blessable places’
Don’t ask what if:
That is Satan’s territory
He lives in the ‘what-if’
Analogy: Parents raising their children
To be wise and make their own decisions
Not to ask them for every decision they have to make
Nothing makes a parent more proud than their child making the right decision naturally
As we mature in the Lord—He wants us to make our own decisions
And often we have to live with the consequences—good or bad
But often we try to make God make a decision for us so we can blame him if things don’t go as planned
Before we end I’ll try and answer a few common questions: and then I’ll open it up to you guys—then we’ll discuss in small groups
Questions:
Questions:
Will God tell me what to do if I ask?
Sometimes…
Sometimes not…
2. Is God going to be mad at me if I make the wrong decision?
11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him.
Not unless you persist in sin
3. What am I to think when God is silent?
We remember his character—He is compassionate and gracious
4. Doesn’t God promise wisdom if we ask for it?
5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him.
Again, God’s wisdom is about character more than circumstances—Later in James we read:
17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without pretense.
5. What if I get it wrong?
Talk about it with God and his people
We’ll help (Grace)
Move back to a ‘blessable’ place
6. Doesn’t God have a hidden will?
9 Remember what happened long ago,
for I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and no one is like me.
10 I declare the end from the beginning,
and from long ago what is not yet done,
saying: my plan will take place,
and I will do all my will.
Yes. But He’ll reveal exactly what we need to know
7. Can I count on God closing doors?
Sometimes…
But often not, he lets us disobey and make mistakes
8. I seem to be following God’s will—but why are things messed up?
The will of God isn’t a perfect set of circumstances (we might imagine)
Even if we are doing everything well:
Could be from an enemy of God’s
Could be from a broken world
God’s people throughout history have followed his will but have been faced with trials and difficulty
David, Paul, Jesus
But we have hope
“The confident, active expectation of good, based on the character of God” — Catharine Coon
Conclusion
Conclusion
So in conclusion—there is so much freedom to live out the will of God
God genuinely wants to partner with you—not micromanage you
What are your desires? What do you want to do with your life? And how can your life reflect that of Jesus to those around you?
Calling:
“Our call from God is often where our deep gladness meets the world’s deep need” — Fredrich Buechner
So:
The Will of God consists of a life lived for God right where we are
It is not a set of ideal circumstances we imagine for ourselves
It is the godly course we set for our lives in the circumstances we face — Jerry Sittser
And it’s not just something for you to live out one day
but starts here and now
Any Questions?
Small Group Questions:
Small Group Questions:
Icebreaker: Would you rather make a lot of money at a very difficult job OR work a job you love but make just barely enough money to afford life? Why?
Share your thoughts on the teaching
Reflect on the quote we read:
“Our call from God is often where our deep gladness meets the world’s deep need” — Fredrich Buechner
Where do you see deep need in the world around you?
How do you think you can help meet this need?
3. Have you ever made the ‘wrong’ decision? How did you respond and what did you learn?
OR
Are you afraid of making the wrong decision? Why?
