Targeting God’s Will October 10, 2010
Romans 12:1-2 Sunday AM
Intro: Good AM. Well here we are. It’s hard to believe this day has arrived, and my family is thrilled to be here to meet you. I want to talk to you this AM about an appropriate topic in light of the occasion – how to know God’s will.
Insert: I need a volunteer. Have person hold a target. Who thinks I’ll hit the bulls-eye at least 1 of 3 times? How many think I’ll hit the person? What if I’m blindfolded?
Note: We use crazy methods to barter for God to reveal His will. We say, “God, if I hit the bulls-eye then…” But if we miss, we say, “God, if I hit the target, then…” all the while taking risks w/ our lives and others.
Insert: Seeking and doing God’s will shouldn’t looks like this or some spiritual form of pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey. I’s like we’ve been blind-folded, spun in circles until we’re disoriented, and left to find our way in the pursuit of pinning our lives precisely to His prefect plan for us.
Insert: For many years, this is the way I felt when I tried to decipher God’s will for my life? I felt blindfolded trying to hit a moving target. But what I’ve discovered in my journey is that God isn’t playing games w/ us, He wants us to know His will, but we have to do it His way.
Trans: In Romans 12, the apostle Paul penned an intriguing statement concerning God’s will that I’d like for us to talk about this AM.
Read: Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Rm. 12:1-2
Note: Test and approve what God’s will is. Did you know God has a plan for everything including your life? He says it is a plan to prosper and not to harm, a plan to give hope and a future. He has a plan for His creation, for your life, and for this church. In fact, many of you are here today checking out this new guy who is possibly going to become your next pastor. And we all need to know if this is man’s plan or God’s plan.
Trans: But before we go further… let me let you in on a little secret… Shhhh!
Quote: It’s God’s will to reveal His will to anyone who is willing to do his will.
Idea: God wants you to know His will more than you want to know His will – and He wants you to experience your life in the center of His will.
I The SCOPE of God’s Will
Trans: Before we can dive into how to discover God’s will, we need to realize the scope of His will and plan. God’s will has (3) distinctive aspects:
A The PROVIDENTIAL Will of God
Note: This is God’s sovereign will that certain things have happened and are going to happen and nothing anyone says or does is going to stop it.
Note: This includes things like the creation and the plan of salvation. No one has influence over these events and we can’t alter His providential will. Take the 2nd Coming of Christ – it is God’s will His son will return in the future. When don’t know when but no matter what we do or don’t do will alter His return b/c it’s w/in the scope of His sovereignty.
B The PRESCRIPTIVE Will of God
Note: This involves the general will of God outlined in Scripture. Think about the 10 Commandments, the great commands of Jesus, or passages like, “You will reap what you sow.”
Trans: This is the most crucial aspect of God’s will to get b/c His personal will for our lives is conditional on how we respond to His prescriptive will.
Note: When God reveals His will thru His Word outlining the principles we need to know Him, honor Him, follow Him, and serve Him, He expects obedience so that we might put ourselves into a position for Christ to live and move through our lives. So when the Scriptures say “DON’T” we DON’T, when they say “DO” we DO!
Mean: Basically, it is God’s will that our will be surrendered to His will.
Verse: Trust the Lord w/ all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your steps. Pr. 3:5-6
Catch: Until we’re willing to surrender and follow God’s general will we’ll never discover His personal will. Why would God show His specific will for our lives if we’re unwilling to follow His general will?
C The PERSONAL Will of God
Insert: A recent USA Today survey asked the question – If you could ask God one question what would you ask? 80% of the Americans survey said they’d want to ask God – What is Your will and purpose for my life?
Note: The personal will of God is where we live every day asking God to answer the burning question w/in our soul – what’s God’s will for the decisions I need and have to make today? What is Your plan for me?
Insert: Should I marry this person or not? Should I take that job or not? Should I make this move or not? Should I buy this house or not? Should we call this pastor and should he accept the call if offered?
Trans: I good news and bad news. The good news is God isn’t playing hide-n-go seek w/ you and He wants you to know and abide in the center of His will. The bad news is that it doesn’t come by osmosis or church attending. It requires that you’re willing to follow His provision.
II The SEEKING of God’s Will
Verse: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Mt. 7:7-8
Verse: Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all this will be added unto you. Mt. 6:33
Note: I made the comment earlier that – It is God’s will to reveal His will to anyone who is willing to do his will. And while this is true, there is a small caveat. It is God’s will to reveal His will, but…
Quote: If we operate outside of God’s will, He is obligated to allow us to fail.
Trans: If God wants you to know His will, then why would He encourage you to live apart from it? So what must we do to find His will?
A ACCEPT God’s Plan to SURRENDER IDENTIFY
Verse: Brothers and sisters, I plead w/ you to give your bodies to God b/c of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs (don’t be shaped into its mold) of this world (age), but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. NLT
1 SUBMIT Your Life
Word: give – (active) to offer or present your whole life as a living sacrifice.
Word: living sacrifice – oxymoron – like pretty ugly, friendly fire, auto pilot, definite maybe, rap music, or boomer sooner – b/c it says to live dead.
Point: How can we be alive and dead at the same time? We’re to be dead to self and alive to Christ. But this is not easy.
Quote: The problem w/ living sacrifices is they keep getting up off the altar.
Truth: This is no easy task b/c it is counter-intuitive to our human nature and our culture. In our “survival of the fittest” mindset, we think we have to make a way for ourselves, but upon close inspection of this text, if my life is going to prove the good, pleasing, and perfect will and glorify God, then it’ll require that I lay down my plans for His calling.
Verse: He must increase and I must decrease. John the Baptist (John 3:30)
Note: He must live and I must die. His will must become greater and my will must become less. He must rule and reign and I must live surrendered.
Point: It’s God’s will we live surrendered and abandoned to Him – meaning that I’m either in the process of dying to Christ or I’m in the process of putting Christ to death.
2 SHUN the World
Word: don’t copy – (passive) don’t be squeezed into the world’s mold
Insert: I think of my kids playing w/ Play-do – they have all the gadgets where they stuff the Play-do in and it squirts out or is molded into a form.
Note: The world is constantly trying to force us into its image by squeezing us into its mold. It wants us to buy into their beliefs, morals, and activities. But we have to make a conscience decision to surrender to Christ or else we will find ourselves forced into the world’s mold.
3 SEEK the Truth
Word: be transform – (passive) referring to a metamorphosis. Instead of being pressed by the ideologies of this world, God wants to shape us into His image. The image is of a potter shaping and crafting something of beauty/usefulness; God is shaping us into His image for His glory.
B ALLOW God’s Word to GUIDE INSTRUCTION
Note: transformed by the renewing of the mind – the mind can only be renewed by God’s Word and His Spirit.
Verse: Your Word I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin against God.
Verse: Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Ps. 119:105
Note: God’s will is found in His Word. His guidance will never contradict His Word. His Word gives specific instructions on how and why to live a righteous God-fearing life. It sets the boundaries we need for living this life and the direction we need to abide in His will.
Quote: If you’re trying to find God’s will without consulting His Word – you are like a blind man trying to find a hidden door in a dark room.
C ASK God’s People to ADVISE INSIGHT
Verse: Plans fail for lack of counsel, but w/ many advisers they succeed. Pr. 15:22
Verse: A fool’s way seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice. Pr. 12:15
Trans: We often turn to people for advice, but in reality, we shouldn’t turn to others until we’ve turned to Christ and His Word first. But once we’ve search our hearts and His word, it is wise to seek the counsel of Godly, wise people. Here are a few items to consider of your counselors.
1 Are they GODLY
Note: Do they have an intimate personal relationship w/ God? If a person is not walking w/ God, then they will give you their opinion and not His counsel. Carnal and lost people are incapable of hearing from God.
Insert: Ungodly counsel, no matter how many times you take it to church and baptize it, is just wet, church-going ungodly counsel.
2 Are they TRUSTWORTHY
Note: Are they confidential? Can you trust what they say? Can you trust they’ve taken it before God? Can you trust that they will not tell?
3 Are they OBJECTIVE
Note: Do they have all the facts and can they refrain from being subjective? Do they have the ability to weigh the facts w/out bias?
4 Are they MISSIONAL
Note: Does their counsel lead you towards God, his will, and ministry? Are they truly concerned that you are drawing closer to Christ and His will?
5 Are they ENCOURAGING
Note: Are they willing to walk w/ you and give you the accountability you need to succeed? Are they 1 hit wonders or will they go the distance?
Idea: Never turn to someone who doesn’t have the ability to help you b/c they only have the ability to hurt you.
D ANTICIPATE God’s Spirit to PROMPT INFLUENCE
Verse: In his heart a man plans his course but God determines his steps. Pr. 16:9
Note: One of the great things about the H.S. is His function to affirm in our hearts God’s Word and will. Often God will put ideas in our thoughts and affirmations in our spirit to direct our steps. Sometimes it is an open door and at other times it is like a spiritual speed bump or stop sign to slow us down. Bottom-line is God’s Spirit prompts us.
Insert: Being prompted to write a letter to Christy Cairns while in Norway.
E AWAIT God’s Peace to AFFIRM INSPIRATION
Note: God’s peace is one of the greatest comforts to sensing His guidance. But His peace isn’t an emotional consent; it is a certainty of conviction. It comes from a heart that’s in tune w/ God’s Word and His Spirit.
Verse: Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. Col. 3:15
Note: The will of God will never lead you where the peace of God will not keep you.
End: Review points – each time taking a step closer to the target until you hand place the dart into the bull’s-eye.
Invite: But before you can experience God’s will in your daily life, you must experience God’s will in salvation. So for some of you today, it is God’s will that you finally accept the fact that you are a sinner in need of a Savior – and understanding that God wishes no one to perish, but all to come to repentance, today you need to surrender to Christ and give Him your life.
