How to Know the Will of God
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Text:
Text:
For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.
Ml 3:35
And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
Text:
Text:
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
Introduction:
Introduction:
The term “the will of God” is found 23 times in our King James Bible. The term sybolizes the idea that God has something for me to do, there is a plan and a purpose for my life a reason for existing.
The question many Christians have is “what is God’s will for my life?”
God has provided salvation through his Son Jesus Christ and he is spreading that message everywhere through the local church. The wonderful truth is that He has called us to participate. Each believer has a responsibility to the “will of God” but we are never commanded to find the will of God.
We need to understand what it is generally (for all believers), what it is specifically (for you) and how we can discern what “it” (the will of God) is.
General Will-
General Will-
1. Salvation-
For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.
And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
2. Baptism-
2. Baptism-
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
3. Church Membership & Attendance-
3. Church Membership & Attendance-
4. Prayer & Bible Reading-
5. Lead our families for God
Specific Will-
Specific Will-
- The specific will of God will not violate the general will of God (nor will it violate scripture)
- We will never understand the specific will of God until we are yielded to the general will of God
-We must be obedient () this is how we get wisdom and having wisdom is necessary!
So many people are trying to discern God’s direction for their life with their own wit and fleshly wisdom.
Declaration: God has a will for his people and we can know it.
Declaration: God has a will for his people and we can know it.
Preposition: Do you desire to know the will of God?
Preposition: Do you desire to know the will of God?
Transition: I want us to notice 3 important aspects of knowing the will of God.
Transition: I want us to notice 3 important aspects of knowing the will of God.
The first aspect of knowing God’s will …is that we must be Surrendered
I. We Must “be” Surrendered
I. We Must “be” Surrendered
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Illustration: Man who told me that he would die for the Lord - God may not ask us to die - but he is asking us to live- to be a living sacrafice
Let’s look at the what, the how and the why of surrender:
A. What we Should Do- Our Body Presented-
A. What we Should Do- Our Body Presented-
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
Illustration: The Temple in the Old Testament was the place where God dwelt. This pictures for us the place God dwells now- in the believer.
Illustration: The Temple in the Old Testament was the place where God dwelt. This pictures for us the place God dwells now- in the believer.
B. How we Should do it- Our Lives Holy & Acceptable-
B. How we Should do it- Our Lives Holy & Acceptable-
i. It should be holy- (means set apart)
“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;” ()
ii. It should be Acceptable
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
Illustration: When I was in school I had an art teacher who really pushed me as a student. There would be times I would turn in a hasty piece of artwork and she would return it to me with one word “unacceptable”.
Illustration: When I was in school I had an art teacher who really pushed me as a student. There would be times I would turn in a hasty piece of artwork and she would return it to me with one word “unacceptable”.
God does not accept any and everything. We must prove what is acceptable to God.
Illustration: Cain’s offering vs Abel’s Offering
And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord. And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
Cain’s offering vs Abel’s offering
C. Why- It is reasonable- considering what He did for me
C. Why- It is reasonable- considering what He did for me
Reasonable- logical or rational
Illustration:
Considering what Christ has done for you and how He dies for you and shed His blood for you – the only reasonable response is to serve him and surrender our lives to Him!
We must be surrendered but we must also be Separated
II. We Must “be” Separated
II. We Must “be” Separated
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Rp 12:2
There are two aspects to thsi verse - the “be not conformed” and the “be ye transformed”
A. Be Not! -we are not to be conformed
A. Be Not! -we are not to be conformed
Illustration - object lesson - sticky sand in the mold-
i. We must separate from the world -
O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged. Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels. Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged. Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
ii. We must separate from worldliness –
ii. We must separate from worldliness –
But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
-Worldly mentality in raising our kids-
-Worldly mentality in raising our kids-
* Direct them- ,
* Discipline them- Pr, 13:24, , ,
-Worldly mentally in business (greed)-, “the love of money”
Illustration: Solomon was a man that had aquired all this world has to offer and look at his remarks on it:
So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom.
,
The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun? One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever. The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose. The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits. All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again. All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us. There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.
B. Be Ye! - we are to be transformed-
B. Be Ye! - we are to be transformed-
We cannot bring our way of thinking into the Christian life
i. Through the Word!-
,
BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word.
We don’t think like God because we do not know how God thinks. We think like the world because that is the mold we are being forced into. If we are to prove what the will of God is we must have our thinking transformed.
We don’t think like God because we do not know how God thinks. We think like the world because that is the mold we are being forced into. If we are to prove what the will of God is we must have our thinking transformed.
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:” ()
()
In order to properly discern the will of God- We must be Surrendered, we must be Separated and lastly… we must be Sober minded
III. We Must “be” Sober Minded
III. We Must “be” Sober Minded
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
A. We must think seriously about our lives for Christ
A. We must think seriously about our lives for Christ
“but to think soberly”
Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.
Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
“Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.” ()
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Quote: It is not so important to be serious as it is to be serious about important things. Robert M. Hutchins.
“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;” ()
“But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.” ()
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” ()
Quote: It is not so important to be serious as it is to be serious about important things. Robert M. Hutchins.
Robert M. Hutchins.
Conclusion
Conclusion
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
In order for us to understand the will of God for our life we must be
In order for us to understand the will of God for our life we must be
1. Surrendered
2. Separated
3. Sober Minded
God’s Leading:
He does not lead me year by year,
Nor even day by day;
But step by step my path unfolds,
My Lord directs my way.
Tomorrow’s plans I do not know;
I only know this minute.
But he will say, “This is the way,
By faith now walk ye in it.”
And I am glad that it is so,
Today’s enough to bear;
And when tomorrow comes, his grace
Shall far exceed its care.
What need to worry then, or fret'
The God who gave his Son
Holds all my moments in his hand
And gives them one by one.
Barbara C. Ryberg