Finding The Lord's Will

A Christian is one who has renounced his own will and submits to the will of God for his life. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; this was true of Paul when he said, “Lord, what will thou have me to do?” The same should be true of us. When we are saved, we make as unconditional surrender to God.

The problem that faces every Christian is how to ascertain the will of God. The life of Jesus Christ on earth is a perfect illustration of absolute conformity to the will of God. Hebrews 10:7-10; John 17:4

Just as Jesus was assigned a specific task to perform on earth, so each Christian is assigned a special task. God has a job for you to do, people to witness to, that no one else can, only you.

I want us to look at five different aspects concerning God’s will for our lives.

I. God Has a Plan for Every Life

1. There is a divine blueprint for each one of God’s people. This plan is suited to our personalities, talents, needs, potentials.

a. Ephesians 2:10

b. We are His workmanship

2. God has ordained certain specific task, works, for each individual Christian. Isaiah 30:21

a. Hebrews 12:1; run with patience

b. 2 Timothy 4:7; I have finished my course.

3. God’s plan is personal, just for you. Psalm 32:8

4. God’s plan is detailed. Psalm 37:23

a. God doesn’t always reveal the distant future.

b. He does it step by step

5. God’s plan is continuous. Isaiah 58:11

6. The will of God is always good, acceptable, and perfect for that particular believer. Romans 12:1-2

II. God’s Plan is Very Important for Every Life

1. It is a sad fact that it is possible to miss the plan of God for our lives, by our own selfish and stubborn ways.

2. We are incapable of planning our own lives.

a. Jeremiah 10:23 – 11:6; it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps

3. Only God knows the future and he is the one capable of choosing our vocation or path. You can trust him.

III. God’s Plan Always Includes Certain Features

1. Separation from sin and to holiness; 1 Thessalonians 4:3

2. Prayer and Thanksgiving are always God's will for us. 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18

3. Doing good is God's will. 1 Peter 2:15

IV. Conditions of Guidance

1. Psalm 37:1-11

2. Trust

3. Delight

4. Commit

5. Rest

V. Methods of Guidance

1. Good question, how does God reveal His will to me?

a. God does not have a set pattern.

b. He deals with each person differently

2. Sometimes God reveals his will through opportunities, circumstances, the wishes of parents, personal inclination, the needs of the day, and your conscience.

3. God often guides through verses of scripture that speak loudly to you.

a. Verses God has used in my life, Colossians 3

b. If there are some verses you can't escape.

c. Caution: don't close your eyes and point in a random verse. God does not act haphazardly. Our God is a God of order.

4. Saturate yourself with the word of God that the Lord can bring certain portions to your mind.

5. Inner conviction that is given by the Holy Spirit of God. Romans 8:19

a. Caution: is it the voice of my own desires, or is it’s what God wants me to do?

b. The Holy Spirit was given for the purpose of guiding, Acts 13:2, John 16:13

6. Circumstances, God closes and opens doors by circumstances

a. Nothing happens to the child of God by accident.

b. We are to accept the circumstances as guidelines in the direction of His leadership

c. In driving, the red lights are equally valuable for guidance as the green lights.

d. If the circumstance is the red light, wait patiently on Him.

VI. Conclusion

1. Remember often in guidance, it is a combination of several factors.

2. We only need light for one step at a time. Obey the light God has already given.

3. Never go back on guidance. Never perform autopsies on guidance.

a. Abraham did not. He obeyed, God blessed, and today Abraham is known as the father of our faith.

4. Tonight, in obeying God's will for our lives, we are performing what God wants us to do. If we are not obeying, we are doing what self wants to do. There's no way of mixing. God does not have a compromise. If you will let him, the Holy Spirit of God will lead you into the path of obedience.