Hearing God’s Voice - 4
“How to Find God's Will For Your Life?”
John 7:17
We have been on the subject of “Hearing God’s Voice” for a few weeks now. The first part of this message is directed towards young people and the rest is directed towards all of us. This is a very important question for all ages. I have been saved all my life and I am still seeking for God's perfect will and direction in my life. This morning I spend some extensive time on sharing with you my journey and Denise and I’s journey throughout the years when it comes to God’s will in our lives. But as far as teenagers go, I remember sitting where you sit like it was yesterday. I remember the emotions and questions running through my mind. "Lord, where do you want me to go to college? Do you really want me to Pastor all my life?" I remember dating Denise and asking the Lord over and over again, "Is she the one, Lord? I don't want to get attached to this girl if she is not the perfect one for my life."
I asked this question, "How do you find God's will for your life?" to everyone I came in contact with. A very important question that needs answering. So, I am going to attempt to answer this question tonight.
John 7:17 "If anyone wants to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority."
Another translation says, "Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether my teaching is from God or is merely my own."
Another translation says, "If any man desires to do His will (God's pleasure), he will know (have the needed illumination to recognize, and can tell for himself) whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking from myself and of my own accord and on my own authority."
From about 15-16 on through to the end of your teen years, you will face some of the most crucial decisions and questions of your life. They are questions that will literally shape the rest of your life. Should I go to college? Which college should I attend? What career should I pursue? Whom shall I marry? How can you know what to do? How can you be sure of God's will? I am going to give you just a few suggestions on how to be sure of God's will for your life. Are you ready?
I. BE SURE YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO
"The one who wills to do His will gets to know it." A lot of times we want to know God's will for our lives, but it is not our main purpose. We need to be determined to know Him. The one who is determined to do His will, will know what that will is. In other words, in order to know God's will for your life, complete surrender is a must. We must be completely surrendered to Jesus Christ. If you want to know Him, you must be surrendered to Him.
II. LOOK FIRST TO YOUR AUTHORITIES
This part is for everyone, but especially teens. God has set up authorities in your life for a reason. So, you first have to determine who is in authority in your life. You are under authority until you are married, so who is that authority. (Parents, pastor, teacher) God will then mediate His will through your authorities. Listen to those in authority over you, even if you completely disagree with them. Unless your authority completely violates the Bible, you must listen to your authority. Most of the time God's will comes through those set in authority over you.
Denise and I wanted to get married before she graduated from college. I was two years ahead of her in college and we wanted to get married after I graduated and then have her finish after we were married. We talked to our parents. My parents were ok with it; her parents were totally against it. We could have gotten married anyway, I was 21, she was 19, and we could have done it. We decided to honor parents and took that as God's will for our lives so we waited. We have never regretted that decision. Look first to your authority:
III. THEN LOOK TO OTHER AREAS
What other areas? Word of God, Prayer, your circumstances that are surrounding your decision. Such as, what are my desires? What am I good at? What do I want to do? If my decision violates God’s Word, we don’t need to ask what His will is concerning your situation. You should be grown and mature enough to know that if God’s Word says it’s wrong, it doesn’t matter what your circumstances say, it is wrong.
IV. A FEW TIPS OF KNOWING GOD'S WILL
1. WHEN IN DOUBT, DON’T DO IT!
Play it safe, don't just jump into things. (Do not do what you are not sure you should do). As we said in a previous week, “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts.” (Colossians 3:15)
2. DO NOT EXPECT TO KNOW MORE THAN YOU NEED TO KNOW
You do not need to know today what you are going to be doing 10 years from now. Good planning is always important, but don't get frustrated because you don't know yet. Be patient. Trust in the Lord!
3. THE CLOSER YOU WALK TO GOD, THE MORE LIKELY YOU ARE TO KNOW WHAT HE WANTS FOR YOU.
Remember this morning’s text: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding but in all your way acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.”
4. THE WILL OF GOD NEVER CONFLICTS WITH THE WORD OF GOD
5. DO WHAT YOU KNOW TO DO NOW; THE REST WILL OPEN UP LATER.
We often miss the will of God for today because we are so worried about what the will of God is for the future. God's will is not some great mystery. It can be known by you! The wisest man ever said, “The steps of a righteous man are ordered of the Lord.”
