What Jesus Said About God's Will Series

“Jesus Said”

What Jesus said about the Father

“His Will”

Michael Wiley

February 08, 2009

John 6:37-40

Introduction:

This Is Good The story is told of a king in Africa who had a close friend with whom he grew up. The friend had a habit of looking at every situation that ever occurred in his life (positive or negative) and remarking, "This is good!" One day the king and his friend were out on a hunting expedition. The friend would load and prepare the guns for the king. The friend had apparently done something wrong in preparing one of the guns, for after taking the gun from his friend, the king fired it and his thumb was blown off. Examining the situation, the friend remarked as usual, "This is good!" To which the king replied, "No, this is not good!" and proceeded to send his friend to jail. About a year later, the king was hunting in an area that he should have known to stay clear of. Cannibals captured him and took him to their village. They tied his hands, stacked some wood, set up a stake and bound him to the stake. As they came near to set fire to the wood, they noticed that the king was missing a thumb. Being superstitious, they never ate anyone who was less than whole. So untying the king, they sent him on his way. As he returned home, he was reminded of the event that had taken his thumb and felt remorse for his treatment of his friend. He went immediately to the jail to speak with his friend. "You were right," he said, "it was good that my thumb was blown off." And he proceeded to tell the friend all that had just happened. "And so, I am very sorry for sending you to jail for so long. It was bad for me to do this." "No," his friend replied, "This is good!" "What do you mean, ’This is good’? How could it be good that I sent my friend to jail for a year?" "If I had not been in jail, I would have been with you." (Sermon central)

Transition:

When we speak of finding God’s will in our lives, we are looking for the good, right?

When we give our life completely over to God, Rom 12:2 says we will “…be able to test and approve what God’s will is-- his good, pleasing and perfect will. (NIV)

The point I want to get to is in the midst of a very serious teaching of Christ. I say it’s serious because Jesus lost a few disciples from this (John 6:66). So I don’t want to miss the context of what Jesus said.

I am the Bread of Life

Jesus was calling the people to believe in Him and in 6:30 they ask…READ

A little diversion before we get to where we are going:

Some people have the tendency to follow the glamor and hype, but when things get serious, they bail. Or, as long as the preacher says all the right things, and “all the right things” are the things I agree with, then I’ll be there every Sunday. But when I disagree, I’m gone!

We in church leadership call folks like that “church hoppers.”

Now, if your church and or pastor are not teaching the truth, that’s one thing.

But here is what I want you to do—I implore you to do, when you listen to me or any other pastor, be of noble character, check us out. How?

Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. (Acts 17:11 NIV)

I tell people all the time, don’t take my word for it. Check me out. I teach what the Bible says, not my own opinions, and, when I throw my opinion in there, I will always tell you with a disclaimer.

Examine the Scriptures – Four things:

Bring your Bible on Sunday – I will always tell you to open your Bible to follow me.

Bring a pen so you can use the point guide and stay with me.

Prepare each week, by reading the suggested Scripture in your Point Guide.

After all of that, IF you think I’m wrong, it is your duty to the body of Christ to talk with me and set me straight.

Take me out to dinner (I like Olive Garden) :’).

Jesus was teaching an unpopular message, and many disciples left Him.

Transition to verse:

I chose this passage because, in our series, “Jesus Said” we are talking about What Jesus said about the Father, and this week I want to show you what He said about “God’s Will.”