In order to find purpose and meaning in life, we must learn to recognize God’s will. The Bible identifies six principles that are explicitly the will of God for us. When these are in place, we can learn the specifics of God’s will for our lives with some practical how-to’s: responding in obedience, humbling our hearts, searching the Scriptures, gathering pertinent facts, seeking wise counsel, prayer and listening for God to speak.
“R U RUNNING?”
S-1769
Funny Skit on priorities and the things in life we are chasing
BUMPER VIDEO:
●SLIDE #1: Are You Thirsty? Jesus’ Living water
I have chosen four things that can stem the living waters that Jesus’ promised from flowing out through our souls.
●SLIDE #2: ●We began three Sundays ago with “R U Stressing?
●SLIDE #3: ●Two Sundays ago “R U Pretending?”
●SLIDE #4: ●Last Sunday “R U Bitter and Unforgiving?”
Preach it Teach It sermons and CDs on sale.
●SLIDE #5: ●Are You Running Aimlessly?”
A lot of people don’t have life figured out.
Most can’t define success beyond paying the bills or whether or not my favorite football team made it to the super bowl.
Some of us have no idea what is the clear-cut purpose of our lives. We haven’t thought much past next month.
Want to tell grandchildren what your life was really all about. Here is what I set out to do. What I am all about—what will you say?
Mom: My purpose in life is to raise you boys with proper character and values for life.”
Some of us are still struggling with the basic questions: Why am I here? What is my purpose in life?”
●SLIDE #6: What is God’s will for my life?
●SLIDE #7: Rhonda Sprunger: “To give Him glory in whatever way He chooses for me.”
They told Jesus, you mom and brothers and sisters are waiting out side to see you.
·SLIDE #8: MATTHEW 12:50: “For whoever does the will of my Father in Heaven is my brother and sister and mother.
The Bible Identifies Six Things That Are Explicitly The Will Of God For Us.
·SLIDE #9: 1. IT IS GOD’S WILL THAT WE TRUST IN JESUS CHRIST AS OUR SAVIOR AND LORD.
READ 2 PETER 3:9: The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
SWITCH TO ROGER’S COMPUTER
DRAW SLIDE #10: three circles and darkened spirit which is cleaned up at conversion. Spiritual radio receiver ready to hear from God.
In order to fine purpose and meaning for life we must include God in the equation.
We cannot find the will of God or the purpose of life alone.
●DRAW SLIDE #11: Godel’s Incompleteness Theory:
There are limits to what we can know in any system. There will always be truth outside of the system. Need the truth outside of the system to figure out the system.
Transcendance:
Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle: Quantum level: Can know position or velocity but never both: Limits to quantum mechanics. Something has to come from outside the system to solve the problems—can’t solve the problem.
Entanglement issues and transfer of information tell us the limits of relativity theory.
Touring Computers: Theory of incomplete computation: Feed computer unsolvable problem and it will run forever and never solve the problem. Needs help outside the system to solve.
We are in Box System: Theory of incompleteness applies here as well.
·SLIDE #12: Colossians 2:8-9: See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. 9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and you are complete in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.
Story of 80 year old man so excited about coming to Christ at Casas. Wife was overjoyed—first person I have ever helped lead to Christ.
·SLIDE #13: 2. IT IS GOD’S WILL THAT WE KEEP ON BEING FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT.
READ EPHESIANS 5:17-18: Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
“Foolish” So if you don’t understand what His will is, what are you? Ah, that’s hard to say.
Well, what is the will of the Lord? Read the next verse.
DRAW on title slide: draw circles and filling of spirit fill middle circle
Contrast: When drunk with wine, in control of an inside agent. As Christians, must yield control of life to inside agent. Only this agent is not alcohol – it is the Holy Spirit.
Like take glove and say “Glove, go play piano.” What is it going to do? Nothing. Gloves can’t play the piano. Have 5 fingers and are flexible – but it needs a hand.
Now if I pick up glove and put my hand in it and try to play piano, what happens? Chaos.
Julie plays
Point is, if put hand in glove, it just goes. Doesn’t get pious and say “Oh fingers, I’ll follow you forever. I’ll do your commands.” If just goes.
As Christians, we’re like a glove. A lot of gloves are lying around groaning and wondering why they haven’t gone anywhere – and I’ll tell you why – it’s because they’ve never been filled with H.S.
Notice – it’s one thing to have the Holy Spirit. It’s quite another thing to keep on being filled with the Spirit.
●DRAW SLIDE #14: three circles with Sin and Self clog the pipeline
Draw Picture of Bucket being filled up: potatoes—gold balls—marbles—grave.
At what stage of filling are you?
DUI: Breath analyzer: breath out alcohol—or breathe out Jesus into people’s lives.
·SLIDE #15: 3. IT IS GOD’S WILL THAT WE BE PURE AND HOLY—SANCTIFIED = SEET APART FROM WHAT DIRTIES UP OUR LIVES.
READ 1 THESSALONIANS 4:3-7: “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, …. The Lord will punish men for all such sins … For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you His Holy Spirit.”
“Sexual sin is any sexual perversion from adultery to homosexuality to bestiality to pornography to indecent exposure to …
Here some young person saying “How far?” – now that’s a good question – very practical.
Stay far enough away to be what? 99 44/100% pure? – Well – no – far enough away to be pure.
Now, some people never indulge in sex sins but they certainly don’t mind watching other people do it. It is one thing to do it and another thing to be entertained by it! NO! As far as your Christian purity is concerned, it is the same thing.
Hidden dirt: Julie doing laundry: No napkin: wiped mouth on sleeve: Wiped chocolate under arms.
STORY: Anatomy of Lust: Have God or have luscious Cheryl Teiggs (Heidi Klum; Angelia Jolie)
·SLIDE #16: 4. IT IS GOD’S WILL THAT WE SUBMIT TO EVERY AUTHORITY—EVEN WHEN SUBMITTING BRINGS PAIN OR SUFFERING.
READ 1 PETER 2:13-15: Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.
Obey speed laws. Ouch!
To Chip Brigham, “If you caught me speeding, would you give me a ticket?” “If you caught me sinning, would you confront me about it?”
It’s God’s will that we submit to government! What if government comes out with law I don’t agree with – Doesn’t matter – obey.
Obey your boss. “Yeah but you don’t know boss that I have.” Doesn’t matter – Submit. You have a perverse one. Obey him.
“Put to silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.”
Where is first contact which people have with Christianity? Not at church – but on job or in neighborhood.
Must be submissive to state & employer because this shows true character of the believer.
Chaplain in state prison tells of interviewing a new prisoner.
Prisoner: “Say, I’m a minister, too. I was a preacher before I came here.”
Chaplain: “Then what are you doing with that number?”
Prisoner: “Man, that’s a long story.”
Chaplain: “Well do me a favor, tell me a little of it and then don’t tell anyone else that you were a preacher…you’re bad advertisement
Dr. Harold Fickett, 1st Bapt. of Van Nuys, California tells of seeing this happen in a traffic jam.
Guy pulled up behind Christian in traffic jam. Began to honk: BEEP BEEP BEEP, Christian was just fuming, you know how you get – BEEP BEEP BEEP. Finally Christian got out of his car, fuming mad and came around: “Why don’t you stop that!”
“Why I just saw your bumper sticker “Honk if you love Jesus.'”
·SLIDE #17: 5. IT IS GOD’S WILL THAT WE SUFFER FOR DOING SOMETHING GOOD—NOT SOMETHING BAD.
You say, “Well, I finally qualify. Boy do I suffer. I suffer like crazy.”
1 PETER 3:17: It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
1 PETER 4:19: So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.
·SLIDE #18: Randa leading woman’s meeting in country I can’t mention. She is at podium.
She has a ministry to girls raped and thrown out of family.
72 Muslim women so stifled and confined are surrendering to the freedom of life in Christ—facing rejection when they get home. Possible death.
It’s God’s will that we suffer for well being. Rest assured that when you live a godly life in an ungodly society that you’re going to suffer. That’s His will.
·SLIDE #19: 6. IT IS GOD’S WILL THAT WE BE JOYFUL, PRAYFUL AND THANKFUL ALWAYS.
READ 1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18: Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Attitude: follow an old sour-puss
Person others like to be around
Eric Army Children Moms: Kids who are forced ot move often have two extreme. Life is a great adventure or Angry at bitter.
Eric: My observation is that it all depends on the mother! If she looks at it as an adventure so will they. If she is angry and bitter about always moving, so will they.
If you are doing these 6 things, – you just do whatever you want. That is right, do whatever you want.
·SLIDE #20: PSALM 37:4 “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.”
“Delighting in the Lord” is following His will for your life—these six things!
Hear this verse so misused. People say “Just Praise God and He’ll give you whatever you want?” NO! NO! Hebrew construction reveals differently!
It’s not that He gives you what you want, He gives you the correct wants.
He puts the right desires in your heart!
“You mean, if I do these 6 things and I want a new car then it’s God’s will for me to buy the new car?” Yes, but just remember, when you’re doing these things God may change your priorities and you may not want that car after all.
None of us do these six things perfectly.
We are working in partnership with God to get his will
·SLIDE #21: PRACTICAL “HOW TOs” FOR KNOWING GOD’S WILL
·SLIDE #22: 1. Commit To Doing God’s Will Whatever It May Be (John 7:17).
Otherwise, don’t bother with the rest of the suggestions below.
READ John 7:17: Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether my teaching is from God or is merely my own.
Man in my office: “Will you commit to do God’s will whatever It might be.
“First, I want to see what it is.
Prior to their wedding, David and Susan met with the minister to discuss their marriage ceremony and various traditions, such as the lighting of the unity candle from two individual candles. Couples usually blow out the two candles as a sign of becoming one. Their minister said that many people were now leaving their individual candles lit to signify independence and personal freedom. He asked if they wanted to extinguish the candles or leave them burning. After thinking about it, David replied, “How about if we leave mine lit and blow hers out?”
·SLIDE #23: 2. Humble Your Heart In Trust Before The Lord
A little boy walked down the beach, and as he did, he spied a matronly woman sitting under a beach umbrella on the sand. He walked up to her and said, “Are you a Christian?”
“Yes.”
“Do you read your Bible every day?”
She nodded her head. “Yes.”
“Do you pray often?” the boy asked next, and again she answered, “Yes.”
With that he asked his final question. “Will you hold my quarter while I go swimming?”
·SLIDE #24: 3. Search The Scriptures To Find Passages Applicable To Your Situation And Then Interact With The Holy Spirit In Discerning How They Apply.
Most of the situations, opportunities, and decisions the average person encounters in life are already dealt with in the Word of God.
A girl once asked me to pray with her for her life’s mate. Said, “I’ve prayed and agonized and can’t find out for sure. I want to marry a fellow who’s not a Christian and I want to know whether or not that is His will.”
You can stop praying. God’s already revealed it!” “Really? Where?” “in the Bible – Be not equally yoked with unbelievers.” – Don’t even need to waste time with that one. God says, “No.”
Well she went ahead—and she shouldn’t have.
·Slide #25: 4. Gather Pertinent Facts And Make A List Of Pros And Cons.
As we seek to know God’s will, we must gather all the facts we can and assess them, because our decision must be based on knowledge and not hearsay.
·SLIDE #26: 5. Seek Wise Counsel
Proverb 15:22: Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.
A loving and wise friend can often see dangers and detours that are hidden from us.
Buck and measuring tape.
Not every friend is a good counselor, so we must choose wisely.
Three men were marooned on an island. Suddenly a genie appeared and said, “What would you like to have? Any wish is yours.”
One man said, “I miss my family in L.A.” Whoosh – and he was gone. Another said, “I miss my brokerage in Boston. I wish I were back at my desk. I wish I were at work.” Whoosh – and he was gone.
Then the third man said, “I’m lonely. I wish my friends were back here.”
·SLIDE #27: 6. Pray for God to make the plan so clear that we can’t miss it.
·SLIDE #28: 7. Listen And Wait Quietly For God To Speak
a. In Bible Verses
B. Through God’s People
C. By Providential Circumstances
D. During Worship And/Or Prayer
E. Through Trials And/Or Sufferings
F. By laying out “Fleeces” (Judges 6:17-40) (Only If God Invites You To Lay One Out)
G. Through Inner Promptings In The Human Spirit
We are back to where we started.
So, when we have a decision to make,
·SLIDE #29: Do Whatever Your Heart Leads You To Do
PSALM 37:4 “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.”