Our Prayer

Our Prayer

Heavenly Father, I know that I have sinned against You and that my sins separate me from You. I am truly sorry. I now want to turn away from my sinful past and turn to You for forgiveness. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that Your Son, Jesus Christ, died for my sins, that He was raised from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become my Savior and the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send Your Holy Spirit to help me obey You and to convict me when I sin. I pledge to grow in grace and knowledge of You. My greatest purpose in life is to follow Your example and do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Monday, November 18, 2019

New Series: HOW TO KNOW GOD'S WILL - PART I


How to Know God’s Will

Everybody naturally wants to live well, but what does that look like? And how do we get there? If we choose “Door #1,” how do we know “Door #2” wouldn’t have been the better choice?

Life is full of choices. Without knowing the future, it is often difficult to know what the best decision is. What if we make a mistake?

God wants us to live well. Thankfully, He knows the future. He knows the best way for us to experience abundant life in Christ – and He wants us to know it too!

God doesn’t hide His will or make it difficult to find. It is readily available to those who want to know and follow Him.


The best life to live is the one lived according to God’s plan for us, but how do we know what that plan is? What if I have the best intentions but still miss the mark on following God’s plan for me? Thankfully, God does not leave us alone to try and figure out how to live life. Nor does He simply leave it in our hands to hope we get it right in finding His specific plan for us. We can know God’s will, and as we seek to follow Him, He graciously provides avenues for us to know and follow His will.




Seeking God. Spiritual transformation occurs as we get to know God more deeply and experience His work more fully. Central to that is the ability to discern what He desires to do in us and through us. As we seek Him, He gives us the guidance we need to live in conformity to His will.

This will probably be a two (2) week teaching lesson of the six lessons! 


So, START READING... 









THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE

“We think you’re extremely qualified,” the executive headhunter pronounced. He had told me about a wonderful job opportunity. But there were complications. My wife and I were happy in our current life. The job would entail moving to a different state. I lived close to my aging parents. How would this affect them? How would this impact my children? Was a move financially prudent? My head was swimming with questions. 

I wanted to do God’s will—but what was it? I didn’t want to make a mistake with my life! How could I be certain which choice was God’s best for my future?

Have you been there? Some decisions are painless, like what we’ll wear or where we’ll go for lunch. But many other decisions are life-altering. Should I apply to this college or that one? Should I marry this person? Should I apply for that position? Should I buy this house? 

Our life is the sum of the choices we make. Let’s consider how involved God desires to be in those decisions—the big ones and the little ones.





WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY



READ Ephesians 1:4-6

4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

God knew what you would do today. He has known for a long time. He not only sees everything that is happening at this moment, but He knows everything that has ever occurred or will take place in the future. God is actively involved in His creation, working out His purposes, day by day, year by year, and century by century. Every plan God has for His creation enjoys the full backing of heaven to ensure its success.

God knew you before the earth was formed or time began. Meditate upon that! You are no accident. Not only was He planning for you, He chose you.

The theological term for this is predestination, but what exactly does that mean? Christians have long debated the meaning of predestination; it is taught in Scripture, as is the idea of our free will. (See John 3:16-18; Romans 10:9-10;13.) So how do we balance these? Do I have any choice, or is every aspect of my life predetermined by God? For the moment, let’s focus on key phrases Paul used in this passage.


  • Chosen in Christ. God chose us “in him.” We are not chosen apart from Christ. We are not chosen by God for anything we have done or would contribute to His kingdom. Being chosen by God is wrapped up in our relationship with Christ.
  • Chosen to be holy and blameless in love. Christ is holy and blameless, and because we are in Him, we are holy and blameless. We still falter and sin, but we are forgiven in Christ.
  • Adopted as His sons. God adopted us “for himself,” that is, for a relationship with Him. God did not choose us simply so we could be religious, keep commandments, or renounce worldly pleasures. He claimed us so we could spend an eternity enjoying fellowship with our loving, heavenly Father.
  • Chosen according to the pleasure of God’s will. God’s focus is on ensuring that His good and perfect will comes to pass. When it does, we experience the full measure of God’s boundless love, and we bring praise and glory to God. God selected us so our lives would bring glory to Him. A life that is not glorifying God is missing its eternal purpose.

It’s breathtaking to consider that almighty God would choose us!




READ Romans 11:33-36

33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! 34 “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” 35 “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?” 36 For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.



While the truth that God chose us to have a relationship with Him in Christ is amazing, it does raise questions. Does God choose us even if we don’t want Him to? Does God choose some people but not others? How can we know what God’s will and purposes are?
In Romans 9–11, Paul went deeper into the subject of God’s purposes. He presented God’s divine election in terms of both Israel’s unbelief and God’s mercy to those outside Israel. He raised the issue of God’s seeming injustice because He shows mercy to some but not to others. Admittedly, this is a difficult section of God’s Word, and Paul himself called the topic “this mystery” (Rom.11:25).
Even today, Christians want to fully understand and explain the relationship between God’s sovereign will and our own free will. And while it is a worthwhile endeavor to study, keep in mind that the apostle Paul was a brilliant man. He had received the best education available; nevertheless, he stood in awe of God’s knowledge and wisdom.
When it comes to the wisdom of God and the ways He works among us, we must end the discussion with the same declaration Paul made at the end of Romans 11: “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!” (v.33).




 

Paul didn’t shout this with a voice of resignation, but with a humble awareness of God’s greatness.

Since there is an infinite disparity between our knowledge and God’s, how should we mere mortals relate to our almighty Creator? God has an answer to our most difficult questions. He knows the future. He knows the purpose for which He created us.










We may not fully understand what God is doing in our lives, but certain things about God can be known. Scripture is clear that God is love; He is full of grace and mercy toward us. So in those moments when we do not understand, we can trust He will work out those moments with grace and love.




READ Romans 12:1-2

1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.


Paul began this section by saying “therefore.” What he was about to write is based on all he had written in the first eleven chapters of Romans. Christ saved us and made us free. God adopted us as His children and made us fellow heirs with Christ. In light of the magnificent gifts God freely gives us, Paul urged us “to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice.”

The language Paul used reminds us of an Old Testament sacrifice. The difference is the sacrifice he called us to make is a “living sacrifice.” Of course, the challenge of offering a living sacrifice is keeping it on the altar!

Many Christians struggle with surrender. As with all sacrifices offered to God, the sacrifice of our lives must be holy and acceptable to Him—and that means not just any sacrifice will do! We are called to a total surrender of everything.

Paul urged us not only to surrender ourselves to God, but to resist the corrupting influence of sin in our world. Our culture is permeated with ungodly, evil, self-centered messaging that bombards our hearts and minds. The world constantly tells us that we deserve to be happy and to do whatever we desire. Such thinking leads to self-centered, destructive, and immoral living. It certainly does not glorify God. Therefore, Paul urged us not to allow the world to shape us into its mold with its values and perspectives. Rather, we are to allow the Holy Spirit to renew our minds so we see people as God views them and we value what God esteems.

It is tragic that, too often, Christians act and think just like non-Christians. They approach money, material possessions, politics, and social issues the same way unbelievers do. This is because, though they may have become Christians, they have never allowed the Holy Spirit to transform the way they think.

We must allow our thinking to be transformed and set free by the Holy Spirit who knows what is good and holy and pleasing to God. It is only when God renews our minds, enabling us to have the mind of Christ so we think as He does, that we are able to know, appreciate, and embrace God’s perfect will for our lives.

This, then, is our challenge. We must daily choose to reject the world’s thinking and values and to allow God to continually transform our thinking until we view life through His eyes. Surrendering our will to God’s will is not a one-time decision. When we choose to surrender to God’s will, we will discover just how “good, pleasing, and perfect” it is!
















LIVE IT OUT

When we base our life on our best thinking, we short-change ourselves. Consider the following applications.

  • Review. Sometimes it’s easier to see the purposes of God by looking in the rear view mirror. Look back on key moments in your life and consider how God was at work in each of those situations. Make a list of your findings as a reminder that God is at work even though you may not fully understand how.
  • Praise. Praise God for His love and mercy. Thank Him for working in your life to accomplish His will.
  • Share. Share with your group or close Christian friends’ ways that the world is trying to conform your thinking. Pray together that your minds would be renewed in the ways of God.



Aligning our will to God’s will is a challenge due to the many distractions and temptations around us and our own desire for the flesh. But thankfully God has given us His Holy Spirit to lead us forward in His will.







THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE

I’m not mechanically inclined. I once bought an assemble-it-yourself bedside table. As I began the assembly process, I discovered the back panel was too small. Frustrated, I returned to the store and exchanged it for another. I started the assembly process again, and to my dismay, the second table also had a back panel that was too small. My frustration morphed into anger.

I was cramming everything back into the box and rehearsing the speech I was going to give customer service about their second-rate product when it dawned on me that maybe I should glance at the instructions. Lo and behold, the back panel had to be unfolded. It was bent in two for shipping. When I unfolded it, it fit perfectly! Oh the grief I could have saved myself if only I had read the instructions!

The Bible is life’s instruction manual. It teaches us how to live in every major issue we face in life. It provides a sure guide to success and joy. Unfortunately, too many people fail to read the instructions! The first step to knowing God’s will is to read the owner’s manual: His Word.





WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY


READ Psalm 19:7-10

7 The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. 8 The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. 9 The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. 10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb.


Have you ever watched a sunrise, gazed across the Grand Canyon, watched the waves rolling in from the ocean, or stared at the stars in the night sky and declared, “What further evidence is needed to believe in God’s existence?” God’s fingerprints are all over creation! David surely felt that way.



In the opening verses of Psalm 19, the psalmist David described the nature of creation’s witness. “Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech; they use no words; no sound is heard from them” (19:2-3). Though creation delivers a message about the Creator, it does not speak in detail about what the Creator is like or what He expects of His creatures. For that, additional revelation is required.

Thankfully, God has given us that revelation about Himself. The pages of Scripture are God’s revelation to us about Himself, who we are, and how we are to live in relation to Him. Psalm 19:7-9 mentions six aspects of God’s Word that provide everything needed for us to know how to live life to its fullest. These descriptions reveal the breadth and depth of God’s Word.

  1. “The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul.” Scripture has been guiding people to have successful, joyful, meaningful lives for over two thousand years. Medical books, encyclopedias, and even weight-loss books have value for a season, but they rapidly become obsolete.  The instruction found in the Bible does not grow out of date nor is it any less effective from one generation or culture to another. It continues to have the ability to renew our lives, restore us when we’ve failed, and empower us to face difficulties.                                                                                                                           
  2. “The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.” Heeding God’s instruction makes us wise. God offers wise counsel for every major challenge and responsibility of life. You may never have had children before, but the Bible can guide you to make wise parenting decisions. You may never have led before, but the Bible provides wise counsel for leaders of any organization. You may never have dealt with major pressure or temptation before, but the Bible can astutely guide you to overcome any challenge.                                                                                                                                 
  3. “The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.” Rather than being a burden, God’s Word brings joy, for it protects us from sin, failure, and guilt. Righteous living leads to joy, not legalism.                                                                                                       
  4. “The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.” The world compares us to others, leaving us envious. Scripture compares us to Jesus and gives us hope we can be like Him. Incorporating Scripture into our lives makes us come alive!                                              
  5. “The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever.” Every time we open a Bible, we have the opportunity to encounter Almighty God. That ought to take our breath away! When we approach God’s Word, we come face to face with His unadulterated truth that does not change.                                                                                                                                                                     
  6. “The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous.” You can stake your life on the Bible! Its instruction is entirely reliable at any time, in any place, for any person. It is righteous, so it will never lead you astray.


The psalmist concluded by declaring that God’s Word is like gold and honey. Gold is extremely valuable and represents success for the one who possesses it. Honey brings joy and pleasure! God’s Word not only leads to success, it also fills us with joy!













READ Psalm 19:11-14

11 By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward. 12 But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults. 13 Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression. 14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.


Most people have regrets. There are things we wish we had said—or not said. There are actions we regret taking—or not taking. There may be sins from our past that oppress us with guilt and shame. The psalmist David certainly had regrets. Yet his most grievous mistakes were not the result of ignorance, but because he ignored God’s clear instruction. Had David always followed God’s directives, he would have avoided most of the mistakes that plagued his life. 


David observed that God’s Word warned people of danger and offered rewards. For example, Proverbs 16:18 cautions, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” 

There are rewards that come to those who heed God’s Word. Perhaps you were offered a new job opportunity. It pays more money than you currently make and you are eager to accept it, but the next morning you read Proverbs 11:14: “For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers.” You feel convicted that you have not sought counsel from anyone before you make this major decision, so you call upon three mature Christian friends and ask their advice. They all point out problems with the job and how it could adversely affect your family. You heed their counsel and decline the job. Soon after, you receive an unexpected promotion at work. You realize it would have been disastrous to accept the earlier offer. Your family is blessed because you heeded God’s Word.

David noted in verses 12-13 two kinds of sins.
  • Unintentional sins. We might not be aware that what we are doing is wrong. In such cases, Scripture will highlight those areas of our life and show us the right way.
  • Willful sins. We know full well we are sinning and we stubbornly choose to do so anyway. This reflects a rebellious heart that needs to be transformed.


When we live our lives by Scripture’s guidance, we can avoid committing either type of transgression. As a result, we can live a life that is blameless. Being blameless produces a life that is free from guilt, shame, and regret. It represents the path to freedom and joy.

The psalmist prayed that his words and thoughts would be acceptable to God. It is one thing to guard our words; it is quite another to guard our thoughts! Our thoughts are generally far more evil and uncontrolled than our actions! Yet God’s Word can do far more than merely police our actions; it can go deep into our minds, hearts, and souls, to change the way we think. God’s Word “judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Heb. 4:12).
David concluded by calling God “my Rock and my Redeemer.” Rocks provide a solid foundation. When a house is built upon a rock foundation, life’s storms cannot bring it down. Likewise, a redeemer restores what has been lost; he frees another from bondage. When we build our lives on God’s Word, we are building a life on the One who gave us that Word, our Rock. His Word leads us to Christ, our Redeemer, who sets us free.
How then should you use God’s Word? As you read it, place your life up against it. Anywhere your life falls short of God’s standard, repent and ask God to cleanse and change you. Meditate upon God’s Word. Let its truths soak deep into the depths of your soul so it conforms you into the image of Christ. Trust that as you read Scripture, the Holy Spirit will highlight anything that needs to be adjusted in your life. God wants to guide you daily as He makes you like Jesus.

 


LIVE IT OUT

How is God seeking to guide you through His Word this week? Consider the following applications.

  • Read. Make Bible reading a daily habit. If this is a new discipline for you, start with five minutes. As you read a passage, pray for God to help you understand and apply His truth to your life.
  • Meditate. Reflect deeply on what you read daily. It may just be one verse that grabs you, but meditate on its truth. Journal and write down your thoughts, reactions, and plans based on what God has said in His Word.
  • Pass it on. Let others know how God is growing you through His Word. Join with others in a Bible study group and discuss His Word. As you grow, God may be calling you to lead a Bible study group. Help others to grow through God’s Word even as you have.


It’s mind-boggling that the Almighty God has given us an instruction manual for life. The next time you open your Bible, do so prayerfully, submissively, expectantly, and with a pen in hand; He will surely give you the direction you need!








THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE

My wife Lisa and I once led a marriage enrichment weekend. As we walked to the podium to speak on the first evening, I wiped my nose with a tissue. Somehow, a piece of tissue came loose and stuck to the end of my nose! Mortified, Lisa tried to alert me to my ridiculous appearance. She muttered under her breath, “Wipe your nose!” But I didn’t hear her. She scribbled on my notes, “Wipe your nose!” But I didn’t notice.
The irony is that we were teaching on communication in marriage! Standing beside me was someone who knows and loves me more than anyone, yet she could not get my attention. It was the last marriage enrichment weekend we ever led.
To a far greater degree, the Holy Spirit loves us unlike anyone else. He knows all of God’s plans and purposes for our lives, and He desires for us to know God’s will. Since we cannot see Him, how does He communicate God’s plan? In the Book of 1 Corinthians, Paul spoke on the role of the Holy Spirit in helping us know God’s will.



WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY


READ 1 Corinthians 2:6-8

6 We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.


Are you ever surprised or even offended by the opinions of people at your workplace or in the media? You shouldn’t be. The worldview of a Christian is considerably different from that of the world.

In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus repeatedly said, “You have heard that it was said . . . But I tell you . . .” (For example, see Matt. 5:21-22.) Jesus was constantly correcting common assumptions and attitudes of His day.

  • People store treasures in this life; Jesus urged us to invest in the next (6:19-20).
  • People assume it is best to be served; Jesus said it is better to serve (20:26).
  • People want to be first; Jesus said it is better to be last (19:30). 


Even as we read this, we might struggle to fully agree with Jesus! We are constantly being bombarded with the world’s values and perspectives while we often spend inadequate time allowing God to impart His thoughts to our hearts and minds.

Paul said he was speaking words of wisdom for those who were spiritually mature; however, those who think like the world would be unable to comprehend what he was saying. The more mature we are in Christ, the more God’s Word makes sense to us. The writer of Hebrews compared this process with the difference between drinking milk and eating meat.
This helps explain why people respond differently to the same sermon. Some people are worldly minded and the message is incomprehensible to them. Others are spiritual infants. They can only digest “milk” truths. Those, however, who are spiritually mature will eagerly grasp the “meaty” words being shared and will receive significant nourishment for their souls.

God’s wisdom is a “hidden wisdom.” This means God’s truth cannot be discovered apart from God revealing it. God’s truth cannot be understood, unless the Holy Spirit opens our hearts and minds to comprehend and receive it. That’s why skeptical atheists can read the Bible a thousand times and yet remain unmoved by it. They can analyze the Hebrew and Greek text and debate with the most brilliant Bible scholars on earth, but unless the Holy Spirit opens their understanding to the truths in God’s Word, it appears as foolishness to them.

God’s ultimate wisdom is connected to the person and work of Christ. When we understand God’s wisdom, we see Jesus Christ for who He truly is. This summarizes God’s eternal purposes and work for humanity.

Even as we embrace God’s wisdom and walk in the truth of who Jesus is, we should never assume we have “arrived” spiritually. Those who are spiritually mature never assume such a position; instead, they humble themselves before God, acknowledge the lordship of Christ, and surrender themselves to the Holy Spirit’s guidance. By His wisdom He leads us deeper into spiritual growth.


READ 1 Corinthians 2:9-11

9 However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”—the things God has prepared for those who love him—10 these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.


Some world religions portray God as a distant, unknowable deity who cannot be approached or conversed with by mere mortals. Others view Him as a mysterious god who remains hidden. It’s only Christianity that understands God as a Trinity.

  • God the Father, who plans and purposes His will for all creation.
  • God the Son, who carries out that will and who came down to humanity so people could know what God is like.
  • God the Holy Spirit, who reveals God’s will and implements into our lives all that the Father intends and the Son has wrought.

No one can know what’s in a person’s mind. Only the person’s spirit knows what that individual thinks or intends to do. Likewise, only the Holy Spirit knows what God thinks and intends for His creation. When the Holy Spirit dwells within us, we have Someone within us who knows all of God’s intentions.

Tragically, many Christians don’t know what to do with the Holy Spirit who indwells them. Yet Jesus said the Holy Spirit would work in our lives in the same way the Holy Spirit related to His twelve disciples. Just as Jesus had to teach His disciples to have faith, so the Spirit will teach us to trust Him, so we can believe God for all He wants to give us.

The Spirit reveals the will of God and seeks to work in our lives. The key is to not resist the Holy Spirit as He works. He will not force God’s best upon us. We must cooperate with the Spirit as He reveals and seeks to implement the Father’s will in our lives. We must learn to recognize the Holy Spirit’s guidance in our lives and make any adjustments He calls for.





READ 1 Corinthians 2:12-16

12 What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. 14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. 15 The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, 16 for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

Christians just don’t make sense to non-Christians oftentimes. There may be times when the Holy Spirit will lead you to do something that bewilders unbelievers. The Spirit might convict you to start tithing your income to your church. Giving away ten percent of your hard-earned money will make no sense to most unbelievers! Or the Spirit may lead you to spend significant money to go on a mission trip. Your non-Christian colleagues at work may be bewildered why you would spend your vacation time ministering to the homeless in Haiti.
Don’t be surprised when your obedience to God’s promptings causes others to question you; for if they’re not led by the Spirit themselves, they have no ability to comprehend spiritual matters in your life.

Paul concluded this chapter by declaring, “But we have the mind of Christ.” This is the ultimate spiritual maturity the Holy Spirit is leading us toward: To think the same way Christ does; to view problems the same way Christ does; and to view success as well as suffering from Christ’s perspective. Unfortunately, this does not happen automatically the moment you become a Christian. The work of the Spirit is to free us from the world’s sinful approach to view life more and more from Christ’s perspective.

As we grow in our ability to think with the mind of Christ, we more readily discern the voice of the Spirit.






LIVE IT OUT

How can you know what the Holy Spirit is leading you to do next? Choose one of the following applications.

  • Pray. Thank God for the presence of His Holy Spirit in your life. Express a desire to let Him lead you in what you think and do.
  • Evaluate. Take an inventory of your current thinking on important subjects such as politics, marriage, work, church, family, and social issues. Evaluate your views in light of what Scripture teaches. Ask God to grow you in thinking with the mind of Christ in these matters.
  • Obey. Act on what the Holy Spirit is leading you to do. It is as simple as that. Delayed obedience is disobedience, so trust God to empower you in what He leads you to do.

When you have the Holy Spirit dwelling within you, you have every resource of heaven at your disposal. Remember, He knows all of God’s plans and purposes for our lives, and He desires for us to know God’s will. 


Hope to see you on Sunday!

In His Love,

David & Susan

Teacher's Notes:




HOW TO KNOW GOD’S WILL

With the title to this series being “How to Know God’s Will, I want to ask this opening question: Why would you want to know God’s will?


The title to our first lesson is God’s Will and My Will. So, right from the beginning we are told that there are two distinct “wills” at play here – God’s will and My will.

READ Ephesians 1:4-6

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

What is the first thing we learn here about God’s will?

I. We are chosen by God’s will.

Our lesson said:
  • God knew what you would do today. He not only sees everything that is happening at this moment, but He knows everything that has ever occurred or will take place in the future. God is actively involved in His creation, working out His purposes, day by day, year by year, and century by century.
  • God knew you before the earth was formed or time began. Not only was He planning for you, He chose you.

While the truth that God chose us to have a relationship with Him in Christ is amazing, it does raise questions.

Does God choose us even if we don’t want Him to?
Does God choose some people but not others?


The theological term for this is predestination, but what exactly does that mean?

·   Christians have long debated the meaning of predestination; it is taught in Scripture, as is the idea of our free will. (See John 3:16-18; Romans 10:9-10;13.) So how do we balance these? Do I have any choice, or is every aspect of my life predetermined by God? For the moment, let’s focus on key phrases Paul used in this passage.

By and large, the recent worship wars have died off, but they’ve been replaced by a debate over Calvinism and reformed theology. Calvinism is nothing new. It can be summed up with these five points:
  1. Total Depravity. We are completely sinful.
  2. Unconditional Election. God chooses those who are saved without any thought to their merit or worthiness.
  3. Limited Atonement. Jesus died only for the elect. His death was sufficient for everyone, but it does not apply to everyone.
  4. Irresistible Grace. Those whom God calls cannot resist Him. God issues an external call to all people, but He issues an internal call to the elect, and they find His grace and call irresistible.
  5. Perseverance of the Saints. Those whom God calls cannot lose their salvation.

Whether you consider yourself a Calvinist or not—whether you call yourself reformed or not—you likely believe one or more of these tenets to some degree. Why? Because the heart of Calvinism is the sovereignty of God. And the divisiveness that has entered the church has to do with how much sovereignty God has at the expense of our free will. Where we differ is how much we believe God’s sovereignty controls everything. There is no question God is sovereign over the universe He created. There is nothing He cannot do if He so chooses. But where does He limit His sovereign control and allow us to choose freely? Or does He limit His sovereign control?

What are some lasting truths from Ephesians 1:4-6?
  • Chosen in Christ. Being chosen by God is wrapped up in our relationship with Christ.
  • Chosen to be holy and blameless in love. Christ is holy and blameless, and because we are in Him, we are holy and blameless. We still falter and sin, but we are forgiven in Christ. 
  • Predestined and adoption do not mean God arbitrarily chooses some and rejects others, for God desires everyone to be saved.
  • God has acted by His will, according to His purpose, to provide salvation.


READ Romans 12:1-2

1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Paul urged us “to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice.” What does that mean to you? And how does this help you know God’s will?

II. God reveals what we need to know as we surrender to Him.
  •      The difference is the sacrifice he called us to make is a “living sacrifice.” Of course, the challenge of offering a living sacrifice is keeping it on the altar!
  •    Many Christians struggle with surrender. As with all sacrifices offered to God, the sacrifice of our lives must be holy and acceptable to Him—and that means not just any sacrifice will do! We are called to a total surrender of everything.
  •    Paul urged us not only to surrender ourselves to God, but to resist the corrupting influence of sin in our world. Paul urged us not to allow the world to shape us into its mold with its values and perspectives. Rather, we are to allow the Holy Spirit to renew our minds so we see people as God views them and we value what God esteems.


We must allow our thinking to be transformed and set free by the Holy Spirit who knows what is good and holy and pleasing to God. It is only when God renews our minds, enabling us to have the mind of Christ so we think as He does, that we are able to know, appreciate, and embrace God’s perfect will for our lives. This, then, is our challenge. We must daily choose to reject the world’s thinking and values and to allow God to continually transform our thinking until we view life through His eyes. Surrendering our will to God’s will is not a one-time decision. When we choose to surrender to God’s will, we will discover just how “good, pleasing, and perfect” it is!

One way to know God’s will is to seek to align our will with His.

MAIN POINT: Seek to align your will with God’s will.

At its most basic, the will of God is to repent of our sin and trust in Christ.


GOD’S WILL and THE BIBLE

The Bible is life’s instruction manual. It teaches us how to live in every major issue we face in life. It provides a sure guide to success and joy. Unfortunately, too many people fail to read the instructions! The first step to knowing God’s will is to read the owner’s manual: His Word.

READ Psalm 19:7-10

7 The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. 8 The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. 9 The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. 10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb.

What do we learn about God’s Word and God’s Will in these verses?

I. God’s Word can be fully trusted to reveal God’s will.

  • The Lord has revealed Himself through His spoken/written Word.
  • His Word is perfect in every way, completely reliable, true and right, pure and clean.
  • His Word brings renewal, refreshment, right-thinking, and rejoicing in the heart to one who interacts with it.
  • His Word is valuable for knowing how to live and satisfying to those seeking peace of mind and heart, the essence of His will.



READ Psalm 19:11-14

11 By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward. 12 But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults. 13 Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression. 14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

What do we learn about God’s Word and God’s Will in these verses?


II. Obedience to God’s Word leads to right living.


How does the Bible act as a spiritual GPS for us?
  • Do we have a “spiritual GPS” that will give us accurate, trustworthy direction? Well, in a sense we do. God has given us directions for living, for understanding His will, for becoming what He desires us to be. We look to His Word wherein He makes Himself known to us. As we get to know Him more and more, we learn more and more about His will for our lives. We can follow His directions all the way “home.”


MAIN POINT: God gives us direction through His Word.

God is not trying to hide His will from us; He wants to reveal it. In fact, He has already given us many, many directions in His Word. We are to “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). We are to do good works (1 Peter 2:15). And “it is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality” (1 Thessalonians 4:3).

Conclusion: At the beginning of spring each year, I always take the blades off my lawn mower and sharpen them. I hate doing that job, because the blades are very difficult to remove. I have a riding mower, so I have to reach underneath it to get to the blades. The bolts that hold the blades in place are very tight, and it’s always been a struggle to loosen them. This year it finally dawned on me that maybe I was using the wrong tool. All of my wrenches are fairly small, and they don’t put much torque on the bolts. This year I bought a wrench with a longer handle, and it made all the difference in the world. Now that I was using the right tool, a horribly difficult task became relatively simple.

Many times, Christians try to discern God’s will with their own instincts and reasoning. They wonder why it’s so hard. Maybe they’re using the wrong tools? God has given us the right tool: His written Word. Make His Word a vital part of your life, and then you will find it much easier to discern His will in your life.


GOD’S WILL and THE HOLY SPIRIT

To a far greater degree, the Holy Spirit loves us unlike anyone else. He knows all of God’s plans and purposes for our lives, and He desires for us to know God’s will. Since we cannot see Him, how does He communicate God’s plan? In the Book of 1 Corinthians, Paul spoke on the role of the Holy Spirit in helping us know God’s will.

READ 1 Corinthians 2:6-8

6 We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

What do we learn about the Holy Spirit and God’s Will in these verses?

I. On our own, we can’t understand God’s wisdom or comprehend His will.

God’s wisdom is a “hidden wisdom.” This means God’s truth cannot be discovered apart from God revealing it. God’s truth cannot be understood, unless the Holy Spirit opens our hearts and minds to comprehend and receive it. That’s why skeptical atheists can read the Bible a thousand times and yet remain unmoved by it. They can analyze the Hebrew and Greek text and debate with the most brilliant Bible scholars on earth, but unless the Holy Spirit opens their understanding to the truths in God’s Word, it appears as foolishness to them.

READ 1 Corinthians 2:9-11

9 However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”—the things God has prepared for those who love him—10 these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.

What do we learn about the Holy Spirit and God’s Will in these verses?

II. The Holy Spirit reveals the mind of God.

Tragically, many Christians don’t know what to do with the Holy Spirit who indwells them. Yet Jesus said the Holy Spirit would work in our lives in the same way the Holy Spirit related to His twelve disciples.
The Spirit reveals the will of God and seeks to work in our lives. The key is to not resist the Holy Spirit as He works. He will not force God’s best upon us. We must cooperate with the Spirit as He reveals and seeks to implement the Father’s will in our lives. We must learn to recognize the Holy Spirit’s guidance in our lives and make any adjustments He calls for.

READ 1 Corinthians 2:12-16

12 What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. 14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. 15 The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, 16 for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

What do we learn about the Holy Spirit and God’s Will in these verses?

III. We must depend on the Holy Spirit in order to distinguish God’s will from human thinking.

Christians just don’t make sense to non-Christians oftentimes. There may be times when the Holy Spirit will lead you to do something that bewilders unbelievers. The Spirit might convict you to start tithing your income to your church. Giving away ten percent of your hard-earned money will make no sense to most unbelievers! Or the Spirit may lead you to spend significant money to go on a mission trip. Your non-Christian colleagues at work may be bewildered why you would spend your vacation time ministering to the homeless in Haiti.
Don’t be surprised when your obedience to God’s promptings causes others to question you; for if they’re not led by the Spirit themselves, they have no ability to comprehend spiritual matters in your life.

When you have the Holy Spirit dwelling within you, you have every resource of heaven at your disposal. Remember, He knows all of God’s plans and purposes for our lives, and He desires for us to know God’s will.

The message of this session is simple to summarize. On our own, we can’t understand God’s wisdom or comprehend His will. However, the Holy Spirit knows and reveals to us the mind of God. Therefore, we must depend on the Holy Spirit in order to distinguish God’s will from our will and human thinking.

MAIN POINT: The Holy Spirit will guide us in knowing God’s will.

The better we get to know a person, the more acquainted we become with his or her desires. For example, a child may look across a busy street at the ball that bounced away, but he doesn’t run after it, because he knows “my dad wouldn’t want me to do that.” He doesn’t have to ask his father for advice on every particular situation; he knows what his father would say because he knows his father. The same is true in our relationship to God. As we walk with the Lord, obeying His Word and relying on His Spirit, we find that we are given the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). We know Him, and that helps us to know His will.

Conclusion:   

If we are walking closely with the Lord and truly desiring His will for our lives, God will place His desires in our hearts. The key is wanting God’s will, not our own. “Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4).






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