Principles for Knowing the Will Of God (Acts 9)
Notes
Transcript
in all your ways know him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Intro:
Intro:
Every Humans greatest desire should be to know the will of God.
The Greatest Delight is to do His Will.
The Greatest Danger is to refuse His Will.
Nothing will be right for you if it is not God’s Will.
Will means God’s purpose or reason(s) for your life.
There are several errors that people discuss when they talk about God’s will for our lives.
The Map- God does not give you a map (You would possibly reject it)
The Misery- God’s will is painful
The Missionary- Its only for a certain group of people (like pastors and missionaries). Report for Duty whatever you are.
The Miracle- You need to have something dramatic happen in your life to know the will of God.
The Missed it belief- I missed His will when I was young. God has a will for every age and stage.
The Mystery- God will is hard to find and you are on a hunt to find it. God wants you to know His will!
Clarity on the Will of God
Clarity on the Will of God
If you met Jesus one on one face to face, you would probably ask him, “Lord, what do you want me to do?”
Acts 9 gives us some great principles on how to know the will of God for our lives.
Background
Background
Saul was a Pharisee who hated Christians.
Pharisees were religious but the Goal was not God, it was only being Right or traditional.
Christians were imprisoned and killed because of Paul and his hate for them.
Saul meets the Lord and ask two key questions.
“Who are you, Lord?”
“Lord, what do you want me to do?”
These two questions will be the basis for the message today!
Paul would learn the answer to these two questions for the rest of his life.
I know, Lord,
that a person’s way of life is not his own;
no one who walks determines his own steps.
You cant know God’s will without God.
A person’s steps are established by the Lord,
and he takes pleasure in his way.
The Lord guides his people
We enjoy his purposes
Principle 1. God Guides
Principle 1. God Guides
“But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
“You will be told what you must do”
Direct principle to all believers is found in Ephesians.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.
God has a promised plan for us before it happens.
I will instruct you and show you the way to go;
with my eye on you, I will give counsel.
My mom would give me a look.
My wife gives me a look.
That look from my mom or wife shows the closeness of the relationship.
God guides us with his eye because we have an intimate relationship.
God promises to guide us.
The Lord will always lead you,
satisfy you in a parched land,
and strengthen your bones.
You will be like a watered garden
and like a spring whose water never runs dry.
in all your ways know him,
and he will make your paths straight.
We have a Father who controls all things
A Savior who directs our footsteps
The Holy Spirit within us to give us energy, endurance, and correction.
God’s Will and its Types
God’s Will and its Types
Prevailing Will
Prevailing Will
His overall will can not be foiled.
Everything that happens is under his control.
Many plans are in a person’s heart,
but the Lord’s decree will prevail.
God’s Permissive Will
God’s Permissive Will
God’s general will
example passages:
For this is God’s will, your sanctification: that you keep away from sexual immorality,
The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.
Therefore, I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or argument.
Not Everybody will do God’s permissive will.
God has given man free will that He might disobey God.
I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live,
God’s Personal Will
God’s Personal Will
God has a will for each one of us.
God is interested in each individual.
But even the hairs of your head have all been counted.
God has a plan for you!
Summary of the Wills
Summary of the Wills
It is God’s Prevailing Will that the kingdoms of the world become the kingdoms of God.
God’s Permissive Will that we make the right choices.
God’s Personal Will that I married my wife.
The Word of God teaches that God has
A Special Plan
A Specific Plan
A Personal Plan
Advice for Knowing God’s Will
Advice for Knowing God’s Will
Fall in love with Jesus.
He is the Head of the Church
We are the Body
Ask, “Lord What do You want me to do?”
Imagine youe hand being autonomus to your body.
Your Head is in charge of your whole body.
Conclusion
Conclusion
God’s will is for your benefit.
The Will of God will never take you where the power of God and the Grace of God cannot enable you and keep you.
You are free to choose.
God does not force.
You are free to choose his will.
You are not free not to choose.
You say” Well I won't choose.” You made a choice not to choose.
You are not free to choose the consequences of your choice. The Choice chooses for you.
You are the sum total of your choices.