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UNDERSTANDING AND DOING THE WILL OF GOD

PART 1--WHICH WAY SHOULD WE GO

INTRODUCTION 

Every Christian has the responsibility to know and do the will of God.

The Bible clearly teaches that the Lord’s will can be known, understood, and proven in life.

The believer’s duty is to seek it and do it.

But who really cares about obeying God? The trend is to settle for the ease and comforts of the lives we already have.

The complacent Christian asks, “Why should I change my lifestyle?”

Some may argue that it is tough enough to live life as it is and take care of the problems they already have, let alone trying to do what God wants.

If this reflects our thinking , then we need a new perspective–a new attitude if you will.

We must renew our minds, adjusting it to God’s thinking as revealed in His Word.

I.         THREE BASIC FUNDAMENTALS ABOUT GOD’S WILL.

As a starting point for knowing and obeying the will of God, every Christian must take three basic steps:

            We Must First Acknowledge The Fact Of God’s Will.

We Must Give Attention To The Example Of Christ, Who Came To Do The Father’s Will.

We Must Accept The Work Of The Holy Spirit, Who Enables Us To Perceive And Do God’ Will.

            The entire Godhead is at work for us in this crucial area of Christian experience.

An in-depth study of the Scripture reveals the absolute necessity of God’s help if we are to obey his commands as we should.

            Take the command in Acts 1:8 for example:

            We receive power from on high; then we are told to be witnesses.

            We have the help and encouragement of the Lord Himself for our entire Christian life.

            Remember, every command of Scripture directed to the believer can be obeyed.

God gives us the light of understanding and the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit to accomplish this.

            A.        We Must First Acknowledge The Fact Of God’s Will.

                        1.         Women are here because it was God’s will.

                                    Genesis 2:18–“I will make him an help meet for him.”

                        2.         Satan will be ultimately defeated because it is God’s will.

                                    Genesis 3:15–“I will put enmity between thee and the woman.”

                        3.         God’s purpose in the nation of Israel is because of His will.

                                    Genesis 12:2–“I will make of thee a great nation.”

                        4.         God’s will concerns each member of His family.

Ephesians 1:11–“In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:”

                        God performs what He promises. His will is immutable.

            B.        We Must Give Attention To The Example Of Christ, Who Came To Do The Father’s Will.

In His incarnation, the Lord Jesus both exemplified and fulfilled the will of His Father.

The will of the Son was not contrary to the Father’s; rather, He set the example of complete obedience.

Hebrews 10:7–“Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.”

John 6:38–“For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.”

Christ came to do what the Father directed. He set the pattern that we should follow.

If the very Son of God was careful to observe every minute detail of the Father’s will, how much more should we obey it!

Even to the final days of His earthly existence, Christ’s intention remained the same.

When He faced the cross, sweating great drops of blood in the garden, the will of God was paramount in His thinking.

                        Luke 22:42–“Nevertheless, not My will, but Thine, be done.”

And the Lord Jesus succeeded in His purpose, for He was able to say to the Father in John 17:4, “ I have glorified thee on the earth.”

The pattern He established should be an encouragement to every Christian, for as the sons of God we are “brought to glory” through His suffering.

            C.        We Must Accept The Work Of The Holy Spirit, Who Enables Us To Perceive And Do God’ Will.

To analyze the ministry of the Holy Spirit as it relates to the will of God, lets look at three crucial observations:

                        1.         Because the Holy Spirit knows the mind of God, He is able to intercede for us according to the will of God.

Romans 8:27–“And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”

Remember the context of this is just before Romans 8:28–“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

                        2.         The Spirit helps us to understand the will of God and there for to redeem the time.

Ephesians 5:17–“Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.”

Remember the context of this is just before Ephesians 5:18–“And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;”

                        3.         The Holy Spirit directs our placement in the Church, the body of Christ, and leads us to a particular place of service according to the will of the Father.

1 Corinthians 12:11–“But all these (gifts) worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.”

1 Corinthians 12:13–“For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”

To summarize then, the Holy Spirit helps us know and understand the Lord’s will. He particularly helps us in the area of Christian service, showing us what to do and giving us the power to do it.

II.       FIVE FACTS ABOUT GOD’S WILL.

            A.        When we pray after the pattern that Jesus gave His Disciples, “Thy will be done on earth,” we should recognize that we have a part in reaching that goal.

                        It should remind us of our commitment to understand and do what God desires.

            B.        The general tenor of the Bible indicates that God has a specific purpose for you and me as an individual members of the body of Christ. We are in this world to “do the will of God.”

                         Remember, the real Biblical directive about God’s will is to do it!

            C.        God’s will should take the place of priority in our earthly journey. It is not just an option, it is a necessity!

            D.        Because Christ said, “Thy will be done, “ we know there is the definite possibility of its fulfillment.

We are not to construe God’s will as something mysterious or unattainable, but as intensely personal, highly meaningful, and fully possible.

Christians who have followed the way of Christ will testify of the blessings and rewards they have received through obedience.

            E.        We must strive to merge our wills with God’s will. We must submit, not resist.

                        An inner desire, a genuine willing ness to obey the Lord, must be in our hearts.

                        Unconditional surrender to the Lord is essential.

                        This is the area of greatest difficulty for many strong-willed believers.

                        We must “turn this corner” so to speak in our pursuit of God’s will.

                        Some may argue that God’s will is not such a simple matter.

                        After all, it requires effort, time, diligence, and prayer!

                        Yes, it requires all of that and much more even.

But we must begin by agreeing that God does reveal His will, and that obeying it is within the range of performance of each and every believer.

III.      HINDRANCES IN OUR THOUGHTS ON THE WILL OF GOD.

            A.        Our Wills Dominate Our Actions.

                        We are all naturally self-inclined and self-indulgent.

                        Philippians 2:21–“For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.”

                        Is your thinking God-centered or self-centered?

            B.         Our Goals Are Often Temporal And Shortsighted.

                        We relate to earthly values and to material things.

But in proving the will of God, we are not to be conformed to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. (Romans 12:1-2)

                        We need to rethink our directions and goals regularly.

            C.        Many Have A Mistaken View Of The Will Of God.

They perceive it as a rugged road, a life of unpleasantness, an unrealistic approach to living.

Because they have accepted this inaccurate representation, they have backed off from their desire to honor and serve Christ.

                        Flesh dominates their living and the will of the Lord is relegated to mothballs.

                        Many of God’s children are not even willing to rethink or review their lifestyles.

Many others have a selfish spirit toward God which says, “Thanks, but no thanks.”

Every Christian needs to deliberate, decide, and respond–we dare not just sit in our rut and let months and years go by.

            D.        Many Have Taken The Road Of Going With The Flow.

Their lives have become entrapped by the useless, indifferent, casual syndrome of our day.

They are making their decisions by comparing themselves with others.

Conclusion

Honestly review your attitudes toward the will of the Lord.

Have you been simply neglecting it? Ignoring it? Refusing to obey it because of faulty thinking?

Are you sincere in your faith and its expression in the world?

Do you really want to be committed to doing the will of God?

Be totally honest in answering these questions.

Home Page   Contact Us    Service Times   Sermons   Are You Going To Heaven?

NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!