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HOW TO KNOW GOD’S WILL

Inspired by “Found: God’s Will”

By John MacArthur, Jr.

Intro: Knowing or finding God’s will has always been a mystery. Since the first man (Adam) was put on this earth, men and women both great and common have asked:

“What is God’s will for me?

What does He want?

Why is what He wants different from what I want?”

Some are afraid of God’s will. “I’m afraid that if I know His will, He will ask me to do something I really hate or fear.”

“I’m afraid of bugs! What if He wants me to go to a bug infested place to minister?”

“I’m a total computer geek! What if He wants me to be involved in a surfing ministry where I will be made fun of, and rightfully so!?”

“I want to be mildly wealthy! What if He wants me to be a poor, underpaid missionary?”

Some feel that “seeking” God’s will might disappoint them or their families, and perhaps it is “safer” to just do the best they can without knowing.

John MacArthur teases: Some people think that God’s will is like a hidden Easter egg, and our job is to find it. Look here, look there, is it this? Is it that? Is it here? Is it there? Does this person know? Will I stumble across it in my search like a lost coin?

Biblical examples: Gideon put a fleece (sheep’s skin) out and asked God to show him His will. (BTW – God was NOT happy with Gideon!)

King Saul once hired a Psychic Reader to try and learn God’s will – God killed him for doing that!

Is God like a “Cosmic Kill Joy” hiding His will for us to find? (NO) If He HAS a will for us, wouldn’t He want us to KNOW it?

I don’t think there is a formula, or a “trick” to knowing God’s will. I am convinced however that there is a way to find God’s will for our lives and I would like to share it with you. It works for me, and it might work for some of you.

I believe that there are five conditions - when met – that will help you to know God’s will for your life, for situations that come up and for making important decisions.

To know God’s will you must 1. Be Saved. 2. Spirit Filled. 3. Sanctified. 4. Submitted. 5. (Willing to be)Suffering

  1. In order to know God’s will you must be “SAVED.”
  2. John 10:1-5 illustrates this for us:
  3. "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.2But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.3To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.4And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.5Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers."
  1. To behonest, if you are not a Child of God, He owes you nothing.
  2. I paid for my kid’s education!
  3. But not EVERY kid’s education.

If you want to know God’s will… Get to know God well!

  1. In order to know God’s will you must be “Spirit-filled.”
  1. The Bible says that if we don’t know God’s will we are: Unwise.

Listen…

  1. Ephesians 5:17–“Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”
  • Unwise = (Strong’s) “mindless, that is, stupid, (by implication) ignorant, (specifically) egotistic, (practically) rash, or (morally) unbelieving: - fool (-ish)

Let’s look at more of Ephesians 5 – 14Therefore He says: "Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light." 15 See then that you walk circumspectly,(Diligently)not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be unwise, (Ignorant)but understand what the will of the Lord is.18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.

  1. What is being filled with the Spirit mean?Simply, letting Him into every space of your life.
  1. Every thought, every desire, every emotion, every plan, every moment, every act, every word.
  1. All day… Everyday… Anywhere we go…
  1. Listen, accepting Jesus as my Lord isn’t like a band aid on a cut, it is letting Him into every pore and aspect of my life!
  1. Are you holding back part of your life from Jesus? If you want to know His will, give Him, LET Him into every part of your life! Let Him fill you with His Holy Spirit.
  1. In order to know God’s will you must be sanctified.
  • 1 Thes. 4:3-7 - For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; 4that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. 7For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness.
  • If my wife came home and found me kissing another woman out in front of our house – do you think that might adversely affect our communication for a while?
  1. Sexual sin builds a wall between us and God that is thick, and dense and hard to communicate through.
  1. But, it is our culture to be sexual. God MADE us sexual creatures. And if He didn’t want us to be sexual, why is it so fun?!?
  1. Listen, every relationship requires discipline. Family, friends, work, marriage, and even our relationship with God.
  2. It is (without doubt) God’s will for us to discipline our sexuality. It’s in black and white!
  1. Bottom Line: If you want God to reveal His will to you, SANCTIFY your life for Him!
  1. In order to know God’s will you must be submitted.

1 Peter 2:3-15

  • 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 4Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 5you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
  • 6 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, "BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHIEF CORNERSTONE, ELECT, PRECIOUS, AND HE WHO BELIEVES ON HIM WILL BY NO MEANS BE PUT TO SHAME." 7Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, "THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED HAS BECOME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE," 8and "A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE." They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.
  • 9But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. 11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Submission to Authority

  • 13Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, 14or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men—
  1. This is a tall order for anyone, but especially to people who are just beginning to “call the shots” in their own lives – YOUNG PEOPLE!
  2. You are choosing your own clothes.
  3. You are choosing your own “do’s.”
  4. You are choosing your own friends.
  5. You are choosing your own music (is rap really music?!?!)
  6. Like never before, your tastes are becoming different from those old people who live in your house.
  7. You are having strong feelings about the state of the world you live in – the war – the environment – the government –school – parents – siblings – God – Church –
  8. Like never before you are resenting all of these people telling you what you should do, what you should think, how you should behave and look, and plan for the future.
  9. The thought of being “submissive” is offensive to you – BUT…
  10. 1 Peter 2:15 – “. For such is the will of God, doing good to silence the ignorance of foolish men.”
  11. Can I be “submissive” and still be my own self?
  12. Jesus was!
  13. You can be too!
  1. Lastly, In order to know God’s will you must be (willing to) suffer.
  2. 1 Peter 4:12-19–Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people's matters. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. 17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 Now "IF THE RIGHTEOUS ONE IS SCARCELY SAVED, WHERE WILL THE UNGODLY AND THE SINNER APPEAR?" 19 Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.
  1. “I’d like the non-suffering plan please.”
  2. There isn’t one.
  3. Remember, “No pain – No gain?” (It’s true!)
  1. It has always been true, and God is looking for people who are willing to suffer for Him.
  2. Do you REALLY want to know His will?
  3. Then be willing to suffer “according to the will of God.”

Conclusion: Okay, I am Saved, Spirit Filled, Sanctified, Submitted and I’m willing to Suffer. What’s next?

Do whatever you want!

Psalm 37:4-5 – Do whatever you want!

  • Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. 5Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.
  1. “Delight” - to be soft or pliable.
  2. IE – Allow Him to mold you.
  1. THIS IS SO SIMPLE – (But not easy!)
  2. When you are Saved, Spirit filled, Sanctified, Submitted and willing to Suffer . . .
  3. God can and WILL make your desires His desires, then? Do what you want, because He will have made you to WANT to do His will.

HINT: Watch for a change in Your heart…. That will be the Lord at work!