Living In The Will Of God Series

Intro: The centerpiece of the gospel is the crusifixion. It stands between life for ourselves and life surrendered to God. If we are to follow Jesus we must be crucified with Him. In this daily crucifixion that Paul talks about our will, emotions, and mind are no longer our own we were bought with a price. If we are truly crucified with Christ then a new creation is born. Jesus Himself clearly tells us of one of the most significant birthmarks of the new creation is in,

Matthew 12:50 “For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven, that person is My brother and sister and mother.”

Romans 8:29 God’s will is for us to be conformed to the image of Jesus.

Ephesians 2.10 God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works.

God’s primary will is His glory and our being transformed into the image of Jesus. The gospel is never meant to make us better it is supposed to reveal that we need to die.

John 4:34 Jesus told us that His food is to do the will of the one who sent Him.

If you are born again you are the house of the Holy Spirit. Jesus driving desire was to obey the father. If the Holy Spirit lives and we have been crucified with Christ then His desires should dominate our life.

Jesus Himself Matthew 7.21 “Not all who say Lord Lord will enter the kingdom. But all who do the will of My Father.”

Jesus brother James spoke to this as well in James chapter 1.

James 1.22-25 “Do what God’s word says. Don’t merely listen to it, or you will fool yourselves. 23If someone listens to God’s word but doesn’t do what it says, he is like a person who looks at his face in a mirror, 24studies his features, goes away, and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25However, the person who continues to study God’s perfect teachings that make people free and who remains committed to them will be blessed. People like that don’t merely listen and forget; they actually do what God’s teachings say.”

Any response to the gospel that does not include obedience is self-deception. If a profession of faith in Christ does not result in a changed life that hungers and thirsts for God’s Word and desires to obey that Word, the profession is only that - a mere profession. Satan, of course, loves such professions, because they give church members the damning notion that they are saved when they are not! They still belong to him, not God.

That does not mean obedience saves you. However if the Spirit of Christ lives in you then your character will be dominated by a desire to obey the Word and will of God.

What is the most important thing in learning, discovering, doing the will of God?

I. Be a part of the family of God

Romans 8.14 “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God those are the sons of God.” It is the Holy Spirit of God living in you that reveals the will of God to you. I have discovered as continue my journey of faith with Jesus that He will not do anything with you until He first does something in you.

II. Be willing to please God

Philippians 2.13 “For it is God who is working in you, enabling you both to desire and to work out His good purpose.”

F F Bruce writes that...

When the Spirit takes the initiative in imparting to believers the desire and the power to do the will of God, then that desire and power becomes theirs by His gift, and they do His will ‘from your heart’

Jesus calls us to obey what He says, commands, directs then places these commands in our heart and provides the desire to do them.

2 Peter 1.3 His divine power has granted (perfect tense = speaks of the permanence of this grant) to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.

So if there is no drive or desire to do what God says or His will then you are most likely not born again. Because the only way we desire God’s will is if we are God’s children.

Pleasing people, comfort, reputation, recognition, pleasure, fun, and many other things melt before the heat of God’s will.

Hebrews 11.6 “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” Without our surrender to His direction it is impossible for us to be in God’s will.

Work out. Let the love of God move changes your desires and motivate your actions. The present tense indicates that God’s grace and Spirit continually work effectually and productively, providing the necessary power for supernatural living.