Step Two - Seek and Surrender to God's Will
Notes
Transcript
Sober mind
Pure heart
Courageous spirit
God’s wisdom
Faith
Refuse to trust yourself - action - lean away from our own understanding
2 sides of a coin
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.
A beg you, based upon all that God has done for you - God is not demanding or commanding - appealing on the mercy of God
God lovingly and tenderly invites us - He doesn’t demand our attention
He wants this to be voluntary and come to the place of - who wouldn’t want that
God transforms me
Good, acceptable, perfect - is describers of God’s will
Taking Nathan to Seaworld - rather go to an aquarium
My way is an in home aquarium - His will is Seaworld
Why we resist God’s will
God’s will seems vague and my will seems so concrete
This is a mind game - we don’t know the future
I give them more credit than they deserve - my own imaginations
God is the Author - His is concrete
God’s will seems frustrating to find
Cosmic Easter Egg hunt
The mystery of the will of God
God’s will seems to be a threat to my plan or dreams
My dreams are good, God’s dreams are bad
My plans are what I want to do, and God is going to force to me to do something I don’t want to do
Seaworld
False way
My way of fulfilling my dreams is the biggest threat to those dreams
We overestimate our own plans
We underestimate God’s goodness
We upsell in our heart and dreams that our plans are so much better than God’s and downsize what God means in goodness
We dramatically underestimate the power of God to blow our minds
In reality, we are pretty good at messing up our lives and only God is good at doing that which is fulfilling and perfect for our lives
We doubt that God’s plans are good
We recount a story that God has lead someone to do something that is painful or difficult in someone’s life
We don’t want to do God’s plan because He’s going to require the same thing for me
In reality the things God will entails in our life is good and is fulfills us
How many times do we hear these testimonies, but we hear them from joyous happy Christians
Michael Williams - Africa - snakes, lizards, spiders
It fits you and brings joy and happiness in you
God reshapes my desires
God’s will is something to anticipate
Satan says, “Run for your life, God is coming after you! He is going to rob you and force you to do things that you will hate and ruin your life.”
God’s will should be something that we can anticipate and look forward to.
It should be so anticipated that you are careful not to miss it
There are difficulties in life, but in the midst of it God unfolds more good than we can ever anticipate. His grace is abundant and every good, perfect gift cometh from our Father above!
Jer 24:5-7
Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel; Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good. For I will set mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land: and I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up. And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the Lord: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.
Life involves hardship. God’s will involves joy and blessing in the midst of and in spite of the hardship.
Captives unfolding in Daniel - carried into Babylon
God took His people, carried them out of the land that He promised them, and is bringing them into captivity for their GOOD!
Bad circumstances but bringing good
God knows that He is better than any of your dreams. More than fulfilling your dreams, He wants to fill your heart with Himself. He wants you to know Him!
I want you to know Me!
Their hearts focused upon their heritage, their traditions, their desires, and dreams, and they lost themselves in their own selfishness. God was rescuing them from themselves! He was going to bring them to Himself once again, and do it for their good!
Sometimes God needs to set us free from idols in our own hearts.
God fulfills us like no one else can or ever could!
Your heart was designed for Him
Jer 29:10-14
For thus saith the Lord, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the Lord: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the Lord; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.
Expected end - hopeful end - trust my will
God’s plan is good
Ps 16:11
Thou wilt shew me the path of life: In thy presence is fulness of joy; At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Ps 23:1-3
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
God wants me to know His will
He always reveals His will. It’s one step at a time. It’s never as clearly as you desire, but it’s what is best
Ps 32:8-9
I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. Be ye not as the horse, Or as the mule, which have no understanding: Whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, Lest they come near unto thee.
God wants to be active in communicating to me His will in His timing
God leads lead-able hearts
God’s not going to force us like a dumb animal like an owner forcing animal to do what He wants no matter what
Good decisions require surrender and seeking
Mat 6:33
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Seek the Lordship of Christ in your heart
This beautifully connects us to how God’s purpose and plan
The will of God sets our sights higher than “all these things”, food, raiment, home, and as we set our sights to God’s plan God bring everything we need to us
We focus on these things so readily and quickly, but God sets us free from this means of just survival to a life that knows and understands the power of God!
Heb 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
What seeking and surrendering looks like
This will require a big gulp of courage and faith
I want to do your plan
This happens before we have the information
I trust You implicitly
Your choosing to obey the will of God before you even know or understands what it is
God began to teach me that I am NOT a pastor first, nor a father first, or a husband first. I am first His child!
I am not defined by a title, I am defined by what God tells me that I am!
God calls this reasonable Christianity!
The world looks at this and would call this crazy faith! It’s faith that is willing to trust God in His perfect knowledge and fulfillment of my life.
Good God Who knows everything - He gave Himself for me. God is completely trustworthy and my heart is not!
It appears wreckless to those who don’t know Him, but to us who do know Him realise that this is the safest place
Rom 12:1-2
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.
Surrender -
PRAYER - God—you are you my highest goal! I surrender myself, my future, my dreams, my life, and all that I have to you and your control. Take me and do with me what you desire to do. I choose you over everything else!
Seek -
Unplugging myself from the world’s messaging and plugging myself in to God’s word
Reading, study, meditating, memorizing God’s truth
Prayer
Listening to the Word of God being delivered
Good music
Receiving the Word of God any way I can
GATORLAND - No school! Loaded with fun!
Boys celebrating - what is Gatorland?
They knew my heart and they knew that is must be great!
When we don’t trust His will, it exposes our hearts in mistrust. It shows us that we have not sought the Lord, our heart is not surrendered, and our trust in misplaced in ourselves.
Ps 128:1
Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; That walketh in his ways.