HOW DOES GOD REVEAL HIS WILL?
PHILIPPIANS 3:15 LET US THEREFORE, AS MANY AS ARE PERFECT, HAVE THIS ATTITUDE; AND IF IN ANYTHING YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT ATTITUDE, GOD WILL REVEAL THAT ALSO TO YOU;
INTRODUCTION: INTERACTING WITH GOD’S WILL HAS ALWAYS BEEN A POINT OF CONSIDERATION, CAUTION, AND CONCERN FOR EVERY FOLLOWER OF CHRIST. IT OFTEN COMES DOWN TO THE QUESTION, “HOW CAN I KNOW GOD’S WILL?”, AND THEN IT IS FOLLOWED WITH SOMETHING LIKE, “FOR MY LIFE”, “IF I SHOULD GET MARRIED”, “IF I SHOULD _____________” (YOU FILL IN THE BLANK).
FUNDAMENTALLY, THIS IS THE WRONG DIRECTION TO DISCERNING THE WILL OF GOD, SPECIFICALLY IN THE PRESENT TENSE. WE SHOULD BE ASKING HOW DOES GOD REVEAL HIS WILL AND THEN PLACE OURSELVES IN POSITION TO SEE WHAT GOD IS REVEALING.
PROPOSITION: GOD WANTS TO REVEAL HIS WILL
I. PRELIMINARY THOUGHTS
a. THE SPIRITUAL TENSION
i. GOD IS INFINITE AND HOLY
ii. WE ARE FINITE AND SINFUL
b. IT IS IN THE NATURE OF GOD TO WANT TO REVEAL HIMSELF
i. GOD REVEALS HIMSELF IN CREATION
ii. GOD REVEALED HIMSELF TO DIFFERENT MEN AT DIFFERENT TIMES IN THE SCRIPTURES
iii. GOD REVEALED HIMSELF IN THE PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST
iv. GOD REVEALS HIMSELF THROUGH OUR BIBLES
ROMANS 1:20 FOR HIS INVISIBLE ATTRIBUTES, NAMELY, HIS ETERNAL POWER AND DIVINE NATURE, HAVE BEEN CLEARLY PERCEIVED, EVER SINCE THE CREATION OF THE WORLD, IN THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE. SO THEY ARE WITHOUT EXCUSE.
JOHN 14:9 JESUS SAID TO HIM, “HAVE I BEEN WITH YOU SO LONG, AND YOU STILL DO NOT KNOW ME, PHILIP? WHOEVER HAS SEEN ME HAS SEEN THE FATHER. HOW CAN YOU SAY, ‘SHOW US THE FATHER’?
WE MAY NOT ALWAYS BE ABLE TO DISCERN OR SEE GOD’S PLAN FOR OUR LIVES, BUT WE CAN REST ASSURED THAT GOD HAS A PLAN.
c. WHAT PAUL HAS WRITTEN ABOUT PREVIOUSLY WAS MEANT TO PREPARE US TO BE IN THE PLACE OF SEEING GOD’S WILL
i. KNOWING CHRIST
1. THROUGH THE POWER OF THE RESURRECTION
2. THROUGH HIS SUFFERINGS
3. THROUGH STRIVING FOR A RESURRECTION MINDSET
ii. REACHING FORWARD FOR THE PRIZE AND FORGETTING WHAT WOULD KEEP ME FROM IT.
THE NORMAL CHRISTIAN IS A GROWING CHRISTIAN!
1 CORINTHIANS 15:58 (ESV)
58 THEREFORE, MY BELOVED BROTHERS, BE STEADFAST, IMMOVABLE, ALWAYS ABOUNDING IN THE WORK OF THE LORD, KNOWING THAT IN THE LORD YOUR LABOR IS NOT IN VAIN.
II. THOUGHTS TO CONSIDER WHEN PURSUING THE WILL OF GOD
a. KNOWING THE WILL OF GOD BEGINS WITH BEING WILLING TO DO IT
JOHN 7:17 IF ANYONE’S WILL IS TO DO GOD’S WILL, HE WILL KNOW WHETHER THE TEACHING IS FROM GOD OR WHETHER I AM SPEAKING ON MY OWN AUTHORITY.
i. IF MY WILL IS TO DO GOD’S WILL, THEN I WILL KNOW WHAT GOD’S WILL IS
ii. BEING OPEN TO DO GOD’S WILL PROVIDES DISCERNMENT
iii. REASON FOR NOT DISCERNING GOD’S WILL
1. PRIDE – I WANT TO DO WHAT I WANT TO DO
2. FEAR – GOD MAY MAKE ME DO SOMETHING I DO NOT WANT TO DO
3. OUTSIDE PRESSURE – PRESSURE FROM OTHERS
4. PRIORITIES – THERE ARE OTHER THINGS I WANT TO DO
iv. IF THERE IS NOT WILLINGNESS TO DO GOD’S WILL, DISCERNING GOD’S WILL IS NOT ATTAINABLE
b. KNOWING THAT IN AND OF MYSELF, I DO NOT WANT TO DO GOD’S WILL
ROMANS 8:7 FOR THE MIND THAT IS SET ON THE FLESH IS HOSTILE TO GOD, FOR IT DOES NOT SUBMIT TO GOD’S LAW; INDEED, IT CANNOT.
i. EVEN THOUGH WE KNOW CHRIST AS OUR SAVIOR, WE STILL STRUGGLE AND ALWAYS WILL STRUGGLE WITH OUR FLESH
ii. VICTORY OVER THE FLESH COMES THROUGH CONSISTENT IMMERSION IN THE PERSON, AND WORD OF GOD.
1. A SET HABIT
2. A SET TIME
3. A SET ROUTINE
4. A SET REMINDER
c. KNOWING GOD’S WILL IS KNOWING THAT GOD’S WILL IS NEVER CONTRARY GOD’S WORD
i. THE FIRST WILL OF GOD IS TO ACCEPT HIS SON
JOHN 6:40 FOR THIS IS THE WILL OF MY FATHER, THAT EVERYONE WHO LOOKS ON THE SON AND BELIEVES IN HIM SHOULD HAVE ETERNAL LIFE, AND I WILL RAISE HIM UP ON THE LAST DAY.”
1. ONE CAN NEVER HOPE TO DISCERN OR KNOW THE WILL OF GOD WITHOUT FIRST SUBMITTING YOUR LIFE TO CHRIST AS SAVIOR AND LORD.
2. THE PERSON WHO DOES NOT KNOW THE LORD CANNOT KNOW THE WILL OF GOD EVEN THOUGH GOD IS WORKING OUT HIS WILL IN THEIR LIFE.
ii. ANYTHING THAT CONTRIBUTES TO YOUR GROWTH AS A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST IS THE WILL OF GOD
ROMANS 12:1-2 I APPEAL TO YOU THEREFORE, BROTHERS, BY THE MERCIES OF GOD, TO PRESENT YOUR BODIES AS A LIVING SACRIFICE, HOLY AND ACCEPTABLE TO GOD, WHICH IS YOUR SPIRITUAL WORSHIP. 2 DO NOT BE CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD, BUT BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWAL OF YOUR MIND, THAT BY TESTING YOU MAY DISCERN WHAT IS THE WILL OF GOD, WHAT IS GOOD AND ACCEPTABLE AND PERFECT.
iii. GOD’S WILL IS THAT IN EVERYTHING YOU DO, YOU DO FOR HIM, AND YOU ARE TO DO IT WELL.
COLOSSIANS 3:23 WHATEVER YOU DO, WORK HEARTILY, AS FOR THE LORD AND NOT FOR MEN,
1. OUR GREATEST CHALLENGE IS TO LIVE IN THE WILL OF GOD WE HAVE ALREADY ATTAINED
2. STRIVING TO KNOW GOD AND BECOME MORE LIKE HIM THROUGH HIS WILL IS THE SIGN OF A MATURE CHRISTIAN.
d. KNOWING GOD WILL IS KNOWING THAT WE ARE TO PURSUE THE BEST THINGS
PHILIPPIANS 4:8 FINALLY, BROTHERS, WHATEVER IS TRUE, WHATEVER IS HONORABLE, WHATEVER IS JUST, WHATEVER IS PURE, WHATEVER IS LOVELY, WHATEVER IS COMMENDABLE, IF THERE IS ANY EXCELLENCE, IF THERE IS ANYTHING WORTHY OF PRAISE, THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS.
i. WE NEED TO BE ASKING OURSELVES THESE QUESTIONS
1. IS IT TRUE
2. IS IT HONORABLE
3. IS IT JUST
4. IS IT PURE
5. IS IT LOVELY
6. IS IT COMMENDABLE
ii. IF NOT – IT IS NOT GOD’S WILL TO DO THEM
iii. IF IT IS – IT IS GOD’S WILL TO DO THEM AND TO DO IT TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY
e. IT IS GOD’S WILL THAT WE SEEK HIS FELLOWSHIP
i. CLOSENESS TO GOD PERMITS HIM TO GUIDE AND DIRECT US
PSALM 32:8 I WILL INSTRUCT YOU AND TEACH YOU IN THE WAY YOU SHOULD GO; I WILL COUNSEL YOU WITH MY EYE UPON YOU.
1. IN ORDER TO GUIDE US WITH HIS EYE, HE MUST FIRST CATCH OUR EYE
JAMES BOICE TOLD THIS STORY ABOUT A FRIEND, -- I HAVE A FRIEND WHO IS A GOSPEL SINGER AND WHO FOR MANY YEARS WAS A BACHELOR. HE ONCE SAID, "YOU KNOW, JIM, IT IS ALWAYS EASY TO FIND A CHRISTIAN GIRL TO MARRY, AND IT IS ALWAYS EASY TO FIND A BEAUTIFUL GIRL TO MARRY. BUT IT IS NOT ALWAYS SO EASY TO FIND A BEAUTIFUL, CHRISTIAN GIRL TO MARRY." HE EVENTUALLY FOUND A BEAUTIFUL, CHRISTIAN GIRL AND MARRIED HER. SHE WAS "PERFECT IN EVERY WAY" BUT ONE. THE ONE IMPERFECTION LAY IN THE FACT THAT AT TIMES SHE TALKED WITH A VERY SHRILL VOICE, ESPECIALLY IN THE PRESENCE OF COMPANY. BECAUSE HE WAS A BARITONE, HER VOICE OFTEN GRATED ON HIS EARS. THIS WAS THE MAKING OF A SERIOUS PROBLEM IN THEIR MARRIAGE.
THE LORD HAD GIVEN HIM A GREAT DEAL OF TACT, ALONG WITH HIS MANY OTHER TALENTS, AND HE USED HIS TACT TO GO ABOUT THE PROBLEM IN THIS WAY. ONE DAY HE CAME TO HIS WIFE AND SAID TO HER, "DEAR, DID YOU KNOW THAT THE FIRST THING THAT A DRAMA COACH TEACHES AN ACTRESS IS TO LOWER HER VOICE? BY NATURE A WOMAN'S VOICE IS SHRILL, BUT IT BECOMES WARM AND PLEASING WHEN IT IS LOWERED ABOUT AN OCTAVE. A DRAMA COACH WILL TEACH AN ACTRESS TO SAY A PHRASE, COUNT DOWN EIGHT NOTES, REPEAT IT AGAIN, AND THEN PRACTICE THAT REPEATEDLY. I THINK YOUR VOICE WOULD BE IMPROVED IF YOU WOULD DO THAT." WHEN MY FRIEND'S WIFE AGREED, THEY ARRANGED A SIGNAL BY WHICH SHE WOULD BE REMINDED TO LOWER HER VOICE IN THE PRESENCE OF COMPANY. THE SIGNAL WAS FOR HIM TO TUCK IN HIS CHIN.
MY FRIEND TOLD ME THAT THERE WERE TIMES WHEN THIS PRODUCED THE FUNNIEST EFFECT YOU COULD IMAGINE. THEY WOULD BE SITTING AROUND THE DINING ROOM TABLE TALKING, AND HIS WIFE'S VOICE WOULD BE RISING HIGHER AND HIGHER. HE WOULD TUCK IN HIS CHIN AND LOOK AT HER. THEN, OFTEN RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF ONE OF HER SENTENCES, SHE WOULD CATCH HIS EYE. SHE WOULD NOTICE HIS CHIN, AND HER VOICE WOULD DROP LIKE A LEAD MARSHMALLOW AND THEN GO ON AT A PITCH ONE OCTAVE LOWER.
SHE SAW THE SIGN WHEN SHE LOOKED AT HER HUSBAND.
2. THE ONLY WAY TO KEEP FROM GOING ASTRAY IS TO LOOK TO HIM OFTEN.
f. WHEN WE ARE COMMITTED TO FOLLOW GOD IN WAYS HE HAS ALREADY SHOWN US, THEN HE WILL LEAD US IN NEW WAYS
1. WE NEED TO SEEK TO DO WHAT GOD HAS ALREADY DIRECTED
2. WE NEED TO BE OPEN TO CATCH HIS NEW DIRECTION
3. WE NEED TO BE WILLING NOW TO DO WHAT HE IS WILLING.
DAVID WILKERSON, THE AUTHOR OF THE CROSS AND THE SWITCHBLADE AND A MINISTER WHO HAS BEEN GREATLY BLESSED IN A UNIQUE MINISTRY TO TEENAGERS IN NEW YORK CITY, TELLS IN THE OPENING CHAPTER OF HIS BOOK HOW HE WAS LED IN NEW PATHS IN HIS MINISTRY. HE HAD BEEN A PENTECOSTAL PREACHER IN CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA, AND BY HIS PERSONAL STANDARDS HE WAS DOING QUITE WELL. THE CHURCH HAD GROWN AND THERE WERE SEVERAL NEW BUILDINGS. YET HE WAS DISCONTENTED. ONE DAY HE DECIDED TO SPEND THE LATE EVENING HOURS PRAYING INSTEAD OF WATCHING TELEVISION. HE SOLD THE TELEVISION SET AFTER MUCH HESITATION AND BEGAN TO SPEND TIME WITH THE LORD. EVENTUALLY, OUT OF THESE TIMES OF PRAYER HE WAS LED TO BEGIN HIS WORK HELPING THE YOUTH CAUGHT UP IN DRUG ADDICTION AND DELINQUENCY IN MANHATTAN. GOD'S WILL FOR DAVID WILKERSON MEANT LEADING A COUNTRY PREACHER INTO THE HEART AND HEARTBREAK OF THE CITY.
