Hearing God’s Voice – 3
“Discerning God’s Will”
Proverbs 3:5-6
“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.”
You are going to get to know your Pastor a little better this morning. I want to share a lot of personal stories of my life. I hardly ever talk about myself, so I don’t want you to think that I am boasting at all throughout this message, I just want you to know that it is very possible for you to discern God’s will in your life throughout every stage of your life.
This is one of the staple Scriptures in Bible College. It is quoted all the time. It is probably such an important Scripture because every one in Bible College is there for the same reason and that is to find the will of God for their life.
I remember seeking the Lord for hours for direction. I knew I was called to be a Lead Pastor somewhere. I wasn’t called to be a Youth Pastor, I was never called to be an Evangelist, I was never called to be a Missionary. I knew that for a fact. It wasn’t a desire that God put inside me. I cared for people and I knew God wanted me to be a Lead Pastor somewhere, but I didn’t know how that was ever possible. I didn’t have any connections whatsoever.
I grew up United Pentecostal and I was torn in that direction because that is all I ever knew but I just knew that God didn’t want that for me. I knew I couldn’t join the Assemblies of God like all my classmates were because there were too many differences in our beliefs (growing up UPC). I was like this boy that was lost because everyone knew what direction they were taking and I had no idea. I just knew what God had called me to do. So all through Bible College I had this assurance that God was going to take care of me, but it was difficult at times because I had no idea how!
So, although this Scripture was very common throughout my four years of Bible College, it was extremely meaningful to me because I had to trust the Lord. I couldn’t trust in my own ability because truth be known I didn’t have much ability in preaching. I never received any awards for most improved or best speaker or anything for that matter, so I knew I couldn’t trust in my ability.
I couldn’t trust in my understanding because I really did not understand how I was ever going to make it in ministry. Believe it or not the majority of people that went to Bible College never actually made it in ministry. Out of the 40 that started in our class I believe there is 4 of us in ministry. That statistic is pretty low. Without an organization to find me spots or opportunities, my chances were even lower. Everyone in my family thought I was crazy except for one aunt and my Mom and Dad. The most famous quote I heard was, “You need to make something of yourself and go to a real college.” But I knew that God had put me in FST. I knew that! No one could convince me otherwise. So, I had to trust this Scripture. I had to know that if I acknowledged Jesus first and if I trust Him with all my heart, He would direct me, and He would take care of me. There were two Scriptures that got me through Bible College:
1. Proverbs 3:5-6, “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.”
2. Psalm 17:15, “As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.”
I know that second Scripture doesn’t seem like a very powerful Scripture, but you have to understand that I knew I was so far from where God wanted me to be. All through Bible College and to this day, I know that I can never be satisfied with my relationship with Jesus. I want more! I need more! My prayer throughout this series is that each of us would realize that we need Him more than we ever have before. In order to know His will for our lives, we need Him more!
When I preach a message like this, “Discerning God’s Will,” I really do know what it is like trying to discover God’s will. I have spent an entire lifetime so far trying to discern God’s will and I believe that I have been in the center of God’s will with every decision of my life. Since Denise and I met, God has led us throughout our whole lives.
1. He led us to one another. I believe she is the one that God handpicked for me.
2. I believe that 5 children is the amount that God wants us to have. I heard Him say after Karis was born, “This is the last one. You are done.” We always wanted 6 children, but we believe God said be done after 5 so we followed His instruction.
3. He led us here at Calvary and we have been here for almost 14 years in the center of His will.
4. The first time we walked into the Beesley’s house to visit when Brother Beesley was still living, I felt the Lord say, “You and Denise will live in this house.” It was a God thing moving into our current house.
5. We received a call from another church last summer asking us to come be their Pastor. Only 45 minutes from Mom and Dad. Back home, wonderful location, a great church. We felt the Lord instantly say, “NO.”
It is not difficult to find God’s will in your life. We make it this mysterious thing, but it boils down to knowing His voice when He speaks. Being led by the Spirit, but that all comes back to one thing:
Proverbs 3:5-6, “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.”
Webster definition on trust:
1. “Belief that someone or something is reliable, good, honest, effective.”
2. “Assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something.”
3. One in which confidence is placed.
4. Dependence of something future.
To trust in the Lord means: “I believe He is reliable, good, honest, and effective. I have an assurance and I rely on His character, ability, strength and that He is truth. I place my confidence in Him! I place my future in His hands! I place my hopes in His hands! I give my life entirely to Him!”
Sometimes this is harder than it sounds, but one man comes to my mind in the Bible and it is David:
Psalm 73:28, “But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all Your works.”
Psalm 20:7, “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. 8They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.”
Psalm118:8-9 David says, “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.”
Psalm 56:3: “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.”
Psalm 57:7 David says, “My heart is fixed, oh God, my heart is fixed.”
Psalm 125:1 “They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.”
In order to know God’s will for our life, we must learn to trust Him. I am going to finish this sermon tonight and get more into Scripture and examples of people knowing God’s will for their lives. So, please come back tonight.
For closing this morning, I want all of us to confess this out loud! I pray that it sinks in today and stays with you throughout the week. Write these words down, confess them over your life every day this week. Keep it in front of your eyes.
“I believe Jesus is reliable, good, honest, and effective. I have an assurance and I rely on His character, ability, strength and that He is truth. I place my confidence in Him! I place my future in His hands! I place my hopes in His hands! I give my life entirely to Him! Lord, do what you want with my life!”
