The Will of God
Notes
Transcript
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
The Lord is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.
The Lord is righteous in all his ways
and kind in all his works.
Righteous, Kind, Near to us, Saves us.
Righteous - to do what is right - to walk the straight line - according to the law.
The Dominion of Man
The Dominion of Man
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s: But the earth hath he given to the children of men.
Ps 115:
God as the creator gave man to rule over the earth. God is still the owner, but man is the ruler. Hence God in His righteousness seeks man to request His intervention in the affairs of the earth.
The Will of God
The Will of God
Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
we must put God’s business first.
The fact that Jesus tells us to pray for God’s will to be done infers that it is not always done on earth.
gk ‘thelema’ - Permissive Will (Desire). - It relates to an emotional response, hence, it is not so much “God’s intention” as it is “God’s heart’s desire”.
is not so much “God’s intention” as it is “God’s heart’s desire.
gk ‘boule’ - Soverign Will (Plans/Purposes)
This is why God is looking for a man or woman to come into agreement with Him on earth to bring in His will (hearts desire).
The people of the land have practiced extortion and committed robbery. They have oppressed the poor and needy, and have extorted from the sojourner without justice. And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none. Therefore I have poured out my indignation upon them. I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath. I have returned their way upon their heads, declares the Lord God.”
gk ‘boule’ - Soverign Will (Plans/Purposes) - This relates more to a decision/plan that God has made. ()
Truth is lacking, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. The Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice. He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no one to intercede; then his own arm brought him salvation, and his righteousness upheld him.
gk ‘boule’ - Soverign Will (Plans/Purposes) - This relates more to a decision/plan that God has made. ()
Though God has given man jurisdiction over the earth, God still reserves a particular role over all His creation as the creator this role is referred to as that of Judge. He is referred to as the “Judge of the whole earth” ,
Example: Gen 4:6-11
The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.” Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?” And the Lord said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground. And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.
Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?”
Knowing the will of God
Knowing the will of God
We are called therefore to pray God’s will
And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
1 Jn
But how do we know the will of God
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.
Rom 12
In observing the text there are some important things to be highlighted:
Bodies a living sacrifice. - A sacrifice was a tribute to God. It was also slain (killed) and burned.
Chap 8:13 - “Mortify the deeds of…..” - “Bring my body under subjection…”How? - through Fasting and Prayer. - (Food & Pleasure)
Not Conformed to this world - to comply with rules, customs or dictates of this world.
Not Conformed to this world - to comply with rules, customs or dictates of this world.
As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
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Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.
Be Transformed by the renewing of your mind - Changing your thinking.
to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
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