The Fast Tracks Of Faith - God's Will

Verse: Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore, I do not run like a man running aimlessly, I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. 1 Cr. 9:24-27

Trans: We have been talking about those five essential elements every Christian must employ to accomplish God’s will and win the upward call of Jesus – worship, Bible study, prayer, evangelism, and stewardship.

Note: It is God’s heart that His children know Him and know Him intimately.

It is God’s passion that His disciples live according to His Word.

It is God’s yearning that His children communicate w/ Him in prayer.

It is God’s desire that His children love one another and share His gospel.

It is God’s mandate that His children are faithful stewards of His blessings.

Define: God’s will is nothing more than God’s way – It just so happens to be a way beyond our understanding…

Funny: Farmer who longed to be an evangelist was sitting under a tree after a hard day. He looked up into the sky and saw the clouds in the shape of the letters “P” and “C” and immediately hopped up, sold his farm and went out to P-reach C-hrist. But he was a terrible. After one sermon, a neighbor asked him, “Are you sure God wasn’t trying to tell you to P-lant C-orn.

Truth: We often miss God’s will b/c we have a misconception of God’s will.

Truth: God’s will is that we live and look just like Jesus!

Quote: He is the potter; we are the clay. He is the shepherd; we are the sheep. He is the Master; we are the servant. No matter how educated we are, no matter how much power and influence we may think we possess, no matter how long we have walked w/ Him, no matter how significant we may imagine ourselves to be in His plans, none of that qualifies us to grasp why He does what He does when He does it and how He chooses to do it.

Truth: God’s will is a way beyond our understanding, yet it is a way in which we are called to think and live.

Truth: This can only happen if I know God in worship; take Him at His Word; seek His will in prayer; tell others of Him; and give as He has given to me.

Trans: We must remember that to eliminate any of these elements will disqualify us from winning the prize God has reserved for those who love Him.

Trans: So where do we begin? We begin w/ what God has given us

1 His Presence (Spirit)

2 His Precepts (Word)

3 His Priority (Call)

Verse: It is God himself who makes us, together with you, sure of our life in union with Christ; it is God himself who has set us apart, who has placed his mark of ownership upon us, and who has given us the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the guarantee of all that he has in store for us. 2 Cr. 1:21-22

Verse: May grace and peace be yours in full measure through your knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. God’s divine power has given us everything we need to live a truly godly life through our knowledge of the one who called us to share in his own glory and goodness. 1 Pt. 1:2-3

Verse: Looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him who has endured such opposition from sinners against himself, that you would not grow weary fainting in your souls. Heb. 12:2-3

Verse: Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above and not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Col. 3:1-4

Lesson: We are to set out hearts affection and minds attention fully on the Lord.

Our external walk and internal compass should point in God’s direction.