Maze Running - Accessing God's Will Series

Series: Accessing God

Sermon #1 - Accessing God through His Word

*Sermon #2 - Accessing God's Will

Sermon #3 - Accessing God's Wisdom

Sermon #2 - Accessing God's Will

Scripture: Ephesians 5:15 - 17 Proverbs 3:5-6

Title: Maze Running? God's Will

Grace and Peace from God our Father and from Jesus Christ who came to take away the sin of the world!

On September 19, 2014 the movie, Maze Runner hit the movies screens. It was a science fiction thriller film that was based on James Dashner's 2009 novel by the same name. It ended up bringing in nearly 350 million dollars worldwide and finished in the top 30 movies for that year. That was pretty good consider that its production budget was only around 34 million dollars. That's not a bad return on your money. It also had to compete that year against such heavy hitters as American Sniper, the Hunger Games, Mocking Jay Vol. 1, Guardians of the Galaxy, Captain American: the Winter Soldier and the Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.

The story plot of the Maze Runner was based on this group of young people trying to find their way to freedom through a series of mazes. None of them could remember how they got trapped behind these huge walls in the first place. All they know is that they are being held captive and that these series of mazes are their only way out. They know that they have to escape if they are to survive.

So, each morning they would send out two of their strongest and fittest runners into the maze in hopes that they would find a find an escape route. Every night the doors to the maze close and these hideous creatures known as the "grievers" would kill anyone who got stuck inside. At the beginning of the movie we are told that no one has ever escaped or survived a night in the maze, but everyone knows that there just has to be a way out. Until it is found the key to survive is to keep running.

Have you ever been in a maze? Perhaps a corn maze during October or just a maze at a park? Mazes can be both exciting and a little frightening. You know that there must be a way out and it should be easy to find but after a few minutes of being unsuccessful you begin to wonder if you are ever going to find your way out.

Have you ever felt that knowing God's Will at times is like running through a bunch of mazes? You know that there has to be an answer. You know that there has to be a way to find the right path that leads to real life but at times you feel like you are being surrounded by these series of twists and turns and more often than not you feel lost, confused and frustrated?

And in the midst of all of that you know that the best place in the world for any person to be is in the center of God's Will. You know that if you can find the center of God's Will then not only will God be pleased but you will hit the sweet spot of human life. You will experience the most genuine human existence that any of us can enjoy on this side of everlasting life.

But is it possible? Is it possible to discover God's Will? Or are we condemned to spend our life going through a series of life mazes never quite sure where the right path is that will lead to abundant life?

Some people believe that is humanities' fate. They are convinced that God's will begins and ends as a mystery. They believe that the Will of God is unknowable. They believe that a life with God is at best a series of twists and turns that will only make you wonder if there is any plan for your life at all.

However, the Bible is full of passages that speak not only about the reality that God has a plan for our lives but that we can know that plan as well.

+Proverbs 3:5-6

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

+Romans 12:1-2 - NRSV

12 I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters,[a] by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual[b] worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world,[c] but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.[d]