How to Know God's Will

INTRO

The current average lifespan in the U.S. is 78.5 years. That’s 28,667 days. That’s a lot of days, with a lot of opportunities of how to spend those days. I’m asking for 40 of them.

Last Sunday, our Vision Casting Sunday, I, along with your other FBC pastors laid out a vision of where we think God is taking us. I won’t rehash everything, but let’s look once again at the overall goal we set up

Show 8G:23 goal

After presenting this goal, I asked all of you to commit to 40 days of prayer. 40 days of seeking God. 40 days of seeing how you might fit in this plan. Why did I ask for 40 days? While it’s not some magical number, it does seem to carry some amount of significance in the Bible. Let’s consider a few examples.

Noah’s life was transformed by 40 days of rain. Moses’ life was transformed by 40 days on Mt. Sinai. The spied were transformed by 40 days in the Promised Land. David was transformed by Goliath’s 40-day challenge. Elijah was transformed when God gave him 40 days of strength from a single meal. The entire city of Nineveh was transformed when God gave the people 40 days to change. Jesus was empowered by 40 days in the wilderness. The disciples were transformed by 40 days with Jesus after his resurrection. - Rick Warren from “The Purpose Driven Life”

One of the main purposes to this 40 days of prayer campaign is for you to be able to discern the will of God.

3 Steps to Know the Will of God

Let’s consider a couple of things that I think every believer can readily accept

1 - God has a will. Would a creator have no plan?

2 - His will is perfect, and good, and for our us. If your world view is that God is the angry kid with a magnifying glass on the anthill, you have a poor view of God and one that doesn’t line us with Scripture.

3 - Just because God has a perfect and pleasing will, doesn’t mean that you will either know it or live by it. This one’s the bad news. God has will, but He doesn’t force His will upon us, nor is our understanding of His will guaranteed.

4 - You can know His will. Back to the good news. God WANTS you to know and live by His will. What’s even more awesome is that he shows us how to know his will. Let’s look at 3 steps.

Step 1: Be a living sacrifice

What does it mean to be a living sacrifice?

First, a sacrifice is something that is given up to the use of someone use. It’s denial of self.

Second, it means you go on living. Which is actually the opposite of what a sacrifice was in the O.T. Back then, the animal would be killed. Life over. I’m called to be a sacrifice, but a living one. My life keeps going.

I am a living sacrifice every day I wake up and say, today my life belongs to you. My time, my talents, my money, and thoughts, all belong to you.

This is a struggle for many. Why? B/c we want to live for ourselves. That’s why it is so important to

Step 2: Be watchful over what influences you

“Do not be conformed” - what an important statement! We could say it this way - don’t be molded into believing what the world says is right.

Illus - how many influences are flying at you every day?

Step 3: Renew Your Mind

I know this sounds “new-age” and of the “self-help” variety, but let’s look closer.

The renewal of your mind is everything opposite of what happens when you are being conformed or influences by the world.

Simply put, renewing your mind means giving your mental attention, your focus, on the things of God. The best way to “renew your mind” is by putting your mind of “God word.”

We’re actually focusing on the wrong word here. It’s not so much about “renewal” as it is “transform.” The word here is “metamorpho” and it’s where we get the scientific term, metamorphosis. It means a true change in nature. The caterpillar become the butterfly. The old self becomes the new self.

When we are continually avoiding the “conforming” influences, and intentionally seeking putting our attention on Godly things, we begin to change.

CONCLUSION

It’s is through a renewed heart that we begin to discern the will of God.