The “Perfect” Will of God
Romans 12:1-2
INTRODUCTION: God gives us abundant prayer promises that are tied into his will.
For example: 1 John 5:14: "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:"
Tragically the Christian experience seems to be a constant struggle between God’s will and My will. This struggle will always be complicated as long as our focus is more on “Denying Self” than “Delighting in the Savior”. If we see ourselves as “Living like a Martyr” instead of “Living like the Master” we will know little of the Joy of the Lord which is to be our strength. (Neh. 8:10)
1. GOD HAS A WILL FOR EVERY DIMENSION OF OUR LIVES.
A. OUR FAMILIES (Deut. 6; Eph. 5, 6; 1 Peter 3; 1 Cor. 7; 1 Cor. 11)
"For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment;." (Gen 18:19)
B. OUR FINANCES (Mal. 3; Mt. 6; 1 Cor. 16:2; 2 Cor. 8,9; 1 Cor. 4)
"Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:" (Prov 3:9)
C. OUR FRIENDS (Rom. 16:17; Phil 3:17; 2 Cor. 6)
"He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed." (Prov 13:20)
D. OUR FEELINGS (Phil 4:6-8; 1 Pet 5:7)
"And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Th 5:23)
2. GOD TAKES THE INITIATIVE TO REVEAL THAT WILL. (Heb. 1)
A. THE PRIMARY WAYS HE REVEALS HIS WILL:
1) HIS PRINCIPLES (PRECEPTS)
" Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." (Psa 119:105)
We place God’s word in our mind through discipline, in our hearts through desire. “Thy word have I hid in mine heart…” Ps 119:11
2) PRAYER
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep (literally guard or direct) your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Phil 4:6,7
3) PEOPLE The word “counsel or Counselors” is found 194 times in scripture. (Pr 15:22)
Just be sure your counsel doesn’t contradict the Wonderful Counselor.
“A wise man seeks much counsel. A fool listens to all of it.” -- Larry Burkett
A man was on the golf practice course, when the club pro, Maury, brought an important-looking man out for a lesson. Maury watched the guy swing several times and started making suggestions for improvement, but each time the pupil interrupted with his own versions of what was wrong and how to correct it. After a few minutes of this interference, Maury began nodding his head in agreement. At the end of the lesson, the man paid Maury, congratulated him on his expertise as a teacher and left in an obviously pleased frame of mind. The observer was so astonished by the performance, that he had to ask, "Why did you go along with him?"
"Son," the old pro said with a grin as he carefully pocketed his fee, "I learned long ago that it's a waste of time to sell answers to a man who wants to buy echoes."
4) PROVIDENCE
B. THE PROBLEMS THAT KEEP US FROM RECOGNIZING / RESPONDING TO HIS WILL.
1) APATHY toward the Principles of God and prayer. (James 1:5-7)
"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Rom 10:17)
2) ANGER toward the People of God. (Eph. 4:26-32)
3) ANXIETY toward the Providence of God. (Phil 4:6)
This is due to a basic lack of intimacy with God which Apathy and Anger produce.
4) Our AGENDA takes precedent over God’s:
This is a basic “over-intimacy” with self. (Phil 2:3) “let nothing be done through strife…”
> "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." (Exo 20:3)
> "whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things." (Phil 3:19)
"O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!" (Psa 119:5)
3. GOD’S REVELATION (of his will) IS OUR INVITATION (to join him).
A. GOD IS AT WORK AROUND US. “My Father worketh hitherto, and I work." (John 5:17)
1) The Closer our walk with God, the more we recognize when He is at work.
"The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise." (John 5:19)
B. GOD INVITES US TO PARTNER WITH HIM IN HIS WORK. 1 Cor. 3:9
"For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building."
APPLICATION:
> DO YOU KNOW GOD’S WILL IN YOUR FAMILY, FINANCES, FRIENDS, AND FEELINGS?
> ARE YOU ATTENTIVE AND AVAILABLE TO GOD’S PRINCIPLES, PRAYER, PEOPLE AND PROVIDENCE?
> ARE YOU HINDERED BY SPIRITUAL APATHY, ANGER, ANXIETY, OR YOUR OWN AGENDA?
> HAS GOD REVEALED THE NEXT STEP TO YOU?
> WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO HIM?
“Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts,” Heb 3:7
Trust the past to the Mercy of God; the Present to the Grace of God; and the Future to the Promises of God.
The Ice can hold:
In the early days of our country a weary traveler came to the banks of the Mississippi River for the first time. There was no bridge. It was early winter, and the surface of the mighty stream was covered with ice. Could he dare cross over? Would the uncertain ice be able to bear his weight?
Night was falling, and it was urgent that he reach the other side. Finally, after much hesitation and with many fears, he began to creep cautiously across the surface of the ice on his hands and knees. He thought that he might distribute his weight as much as possible and keep the ice from breaking beneath him.
About halfway over he heard the sound of singing behind him. Out of the dusk there came a man, driving a horse-drawn load of coal across the ice and singing merrily as he went his way.
Here he was--on his hands and knees, trembling lest the ice be not strong enough to bear him up! And there, as if whisked away by the winter's wind, went the man, his horses, his sleigh, and his load of coal, upheld by the same ice on which he was creeping!
Like this weary traveler, some of us have learned only to creep upon the promises of God. Cautiously, timidly, tremblingly we venture forth upon His promises, as though the lightness of our step might make His promises more secure. As though we could contribute even in the slightest to the strength of His assurances!
He has promised to be with us. Let us believe that promise! He has promised to uphold us. Let us believe Him when He says so. He has promised to grant us victory over all our spiritual enemies. Let us trust His truthfulness. Above all, He has promised to grant us full and free forgiveness of all our sins because of Jesus Christ, our Savior. And He has promised to come and take us to His heavenly home. Let us take Him at His word.
We are not to creep upon these promises as though they were too fragile to uphold us. We are to stand upon them--confident that God is as good as His word and that He will do what He has pledged.
The Bread Line, Newsletter of the Colby Presbyterian Church, Colby, Kansas
