“Jesus Said”
What Jesus said about the Father
“His Will”
Michael Wiley
February 08, 2009
John 6:37-40
Introduction:
This Is Good The story is told of a king in Africa who had a close friend with whom he grew up. The friend had a habit of looking at every situation that ever occurred in his life (positive or negative) and remarking, "This is good!" One day the king and his friend were out on a hunting expedition. The friend would load and prepare the guns for the king. The friend had apparently done something wrong in preparing one of the guns, for after taking the gun from his friend, the king fired it and his thumb was blown off. Examining the situation, the friend remarked as usual, "This is good!" To which the king replied, "No, this is not good!" and proceeded to send his friend to jail. About a year later, the king was hunting in an area that he should have known to stay clear of. Cannibals captured him and took him to their village. They tied his hands, stacked some wood, set up a stake and bound him to the stake. As they came near to set fire to the wood, they noticed that the king was missing a thumb. Being superstitious, they never ate anyone who was less than whole. So untying the king, they sent him on his way. As he returned home, he was reminded of the event that had taken his thumb and felt remorse for his treatment of his friend. He went immediately to the jail to speak with his friend. "You were right," he said, "it was good that my thumb was blown off." And he proceeded to tell the friend all that had just happened. "And so, I am very sorry for sending you to jail for so long. It was bad for me to do this." "No," his friend replied, "This is good!" "What do you mean, ’This is good’? How could it be good that I sent my friend to jail for a year?" "If I had not been in jail, I would have been with you." (Sermon central)
Transition:
When we speak of finding God’s will in our lives, we are looking for the good, right?
When we give our life completely over to God, Rom 12:2 says we will “…be able to test and approve what God’s will is-- his good, pleasing and perfect will. (NIV)
The point I want to get to is in the midst of a very serious teaching of Christ. I say it’s serious because Jesus lost a few disciples from this (John 6:66). So I don’t want to miss the context of what Jesus said.
I am the Bread of Life
Jesus was calling the people to believe in Him and in 6:30 they ask…READ
A little diversion before we get to where we are going:
Some people have the tendency to follow the glamor and hype, but when things get serious, they bail. Or, as long as the preacher says all the right things, and “all the right things” are the things I agree with, then I’ll be there every Sunday. But when I disagree, I’m gone!
We in church leadership call folks like that “church hoppers.”
Now, if your church and or pastor are not teaching the truth, that’s one thing.
But here is what I want you to do—I implore you to do, when you listen to me or any other pastor, be of noble character, check us out. How?
Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. (Acts 17:11 NIV)
I tell people all the time, don’t take my word for it. Check me out. I teach what the Bible says, not my own opinions, and, when I throw my opinion in there, I will always tell you with a disclaimer.
Examine the Scriptures – Four things:
Bring your Bible on Sunday – I will always tell you to open your Bible to follow me.
Bring a pen so you can use the point guide and stay with me.
Prepare each week, by reading the suggested Scripture in your Point Guide.
After all of that, IF you think I’m wrong, it is your duty to the body of Christ to talk with me and set me straight.
Take me out to dinner (I like Olive Garden) :’).
Jesus was teaching an unpopular message, and many disciples left Him.
Transition to verse:
I chose this passage because, in our series, “Jesus Said” we are talking about What Jesus said about the Father, and this week I want to show you what He said about “God’s Will.”
First, another diversion: Before we talk about what Jesus said about God’s will n this text, I want to speak a moment about
God’s will in general.
The term, “God’s Will”, is often used to describe different things. We must examine the surrounding context to help us determine the author’s original message.
So when speaking of “God’s will” we may be speaking of one of three “types”
Sometimes we’re speaking of the
Sovereign Will of God - God’s predetermined, often secret, plan for everything that happens in the universe. Characteristics of God’s Sovereign Will: ( Based on Garry Friesen, Decision Making and the Will of God, 38, 201-208, which I disagree with but he saved me some research time)
Ø A detailed plan for all events in the universe- it is exhaustive
Ø It always comes to pass- it is certain
Ø It is hidden and cannot be known until it happens- it is secret (with exceptions)
Ø Believers are not expected to “find it” as part of the Christian life
Ø It includes both good and evil
Ø It will ultimately lead to God’s glory- it is perfect
Some things are directly attributable to God’s Sovereign will like the creation of the universe (something wonderful) or like Judas betraying Jesus (something that seemed horrible but carried out his wonderful plan).
Moral Will of God - The commands and prohibitions revealed in the Bible.
God supernaturally revealed his moral will to the writers of our scriptures. The
Bible contains principles and commands that we are all expected to discover, understand, and follow. God’s moral will is not optional. But unlike His Sovereign will we can rebel against it.
Individual Will of God - God’s plan for each individual.
God’s individual will includes things like what college I should attend, what job I should take, who I should marry, where I should live etc.
Illustration: In the opening pages of his autobiography, “An American Life,” Ronald Reagan writes, I was raised to believe that God had a plan for everyone and that seemingly random twists of fate are all a part of His plan. My mother - a small woman with auburn hair and a sense of optimism that ran as deep as the cosmos - told me that everything in life happened for a purpose. She said all things were part of God’s plan, even the most disheartening setbacks, and in the end, everything worked out for the best. If something went wrong, she said, you didn’t let it get you down: You stepped away from it, stepped over it, and moved on. Later on, she added, something good will happen and you’ll find yourself thinking – ‘If I hadn’t had that problem back then, then this better thing that did happen wouldn’t have happened to me.’ After I lost the job at Montgomery Ward, I left home again in search of work. Although I didn’t know it then, I was beginning a journey that would take me a long way from Dixon and fulfill all my dreams and then some. My mother, as usual, was right. (An American Life by Ronald Reagan)
In our text, Jesus is talking about God’s Sovereign will
Into Text:
35-38 – Remember Jesus’ model prayer in Matt 6:9-10, "This, then, is how you should pray: "’Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. (NIV)
This was Jesus’ prayer too. He pointed out more than once in Scripture that He was not here to do His will but, His father’s will.
39-40 – All of life, from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21 Show’s us that God loves us in spite of us. He lost His people in the garden and He wants His people back!
Hone in on verse 40 --- all who believe…
Matthew 18:12-14 – the story of the shepherd with 100 sheep. One wonders off, and he leaves the flock to go find it, and celebrates when he does, Matt 18:14 In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost. (NIV) stop here
Worship team does 1st. verse and chorus, of “My Savior, My God, Aaron Schust – guitar and two vocals
The Problem?
Part of God’s sovereign will is that mankind would have “free will.” Using our free will, we rebelled against God. Man was created to have fellowship with God; but, because of his stubborn self-will, he chose to go his own independent way, and fellowship with God was broken. This self-will, characterized by an attitude of active rebellion or passive indifference, is an evidence of what the Bible calls sin.
Worship team does 2nd. verse and chorus, of “My Savior, My God, Aaron Schust – guitar and two vocals - stop here
Conclusion:
People often accuse God of SENDING people to hell but that is as far from the truth as you can get. God didn’t even make hell for you, He made it for Satan, but if you decide to follow Satan’s path, you’ll follow him all the way to hell. God has given people a choice. He has thrown the doors of heaven wide open and shouted COME ALL. All who answer the call are welcome. But if you do not want to enter God will not force you. So, if you refuse to spend eternity with God by your own choice, it is you, not God who has determined your eternal future. So won’t you answer God’s call and spend eternity in heaven.
Through Moses, God gave the Israelites bread from heaven. Jesus said: I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever…For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life…" (John 6:51a, 40 NIV) - stop here, invite congregation to stand.
Worship team does 3rd.. verse and chorus, of “My Savior, My God, Aaron Schust – Whole team with congregation participating
Prayer
