The Will of God for You
The Will of God • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Introduction: Review
Introduction: Review
The Will of God: Secret and Revealed
The Will of God: Secret and Revealed
29 The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, so that we may follow all the words of this law.
1. The will of God sometimes refers to his will of decree - planning all things, the course of history & your life
For example, James 4:13-15 expresses the need to submit ourselves to God’s plan, His will of providence. “If the Lord is willing, we will live and do this or that.”
This aspect of God’s will is not for us to know, but to trust in His good providence (Romans 8:28-29)
2. The will of God sometimes refers to his will of command - the moral regulations he has given us to live by
Doing God’s Will
Doing God’s Will
There are many verses which speak to us of doing the will of God - which clearly means obeying the commands He has given us
For example,
17 The world is passing away, along with its desires; but whoever does the will of God remains forever.
Clearly doing the will of God is an important thing in Scripture - obeying His revealed will of the commands and instructions He has given us for our lives.
We Owe God our Obedience
We Owe God our Obedience
It is our duty to do God’s will because He is our Creator and our Redeemer
But in order to do his will, we need to know His will.
Knowing God’s Will
Knowing God’s Will
It is important for us to learn what God wants us to do.
We renew our minds through God’s Word.
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
We ask for God’s wisdom through prayer.
10 Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. May Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
PRAY
The Will of God for You, message 2:
The Will of God for You, message 2:
God Wants You to Be Joyful, Prayerful, and Thankful
16 Rejoice at all times.
17 Pray without ceasing.
18 Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
The phrase “this is God’s will for you” in Greek seems to apply to all 3 of these commands, so we’ll look at each one, and we’ll see that there’s some overlap.
Rejoice
Rejoice
What is joy?
Let’s start by talking about happiness, because while joy is more than happiness, it is not less.
Do you want to be happy? What if I told you that happiness is a good thing? It is good to be happy.
Quote from Pascal: “All men seek happiness. This is without exception. Whatever different means they employ, they all tend to this end. The cause of some going to war, and of others avoiding it, is the same desire in both, attended with different views. This is the motive of every action of every man, even of those who hang themselves.”
Everything we do, we do out of a desire to be happy, whether we’re consciously thinking about it or not.
· We begin and end relationships for our happiness.
· We start and quit jobs for our happiness.
· We eat food or we avoid food for our happiness.
· We gather with other believers or we avoid church gatherings for our happiness.
Happiness is not a bad thing in itself. It can become bad when we seek for it apart from God. If we seek happiness in our own way on our own terms it is a very bad thing, because God is not glorified and our quest for happiness will not be satisfied apart from him. We will always be left wanting more.
The kind of happiness that we long for – an eternal, unending happiness, is only found in the presence of God. Psalm 16:11: “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” The name we have for that kind of happiness is “joy.”
“[Joy is] commanded because what is at stake is not just our joy but the glory of God, the honor and reputation of God. If we do not rejoice in God—if God is not our treasure and our delight and our satisfaction, then he is dishonored. His glory is belittled. His reputation is tarnished. Therefore God commands our joy both for our good and for his glory.” - John Piper
My definition: “Joy is an ongoing inward state of intense happiness produced by the Holy Spirit through God’s Word for God’s glory.”
Ongoing — not just a momentary experience or something that lasts just a short time, but a prolonged, continuous experience in our souls.
Inward — joy is something that happens inside of us, in our souls. There are certainly outward expressions of joy, as we show it with the expressions on our faces, with our words and actions; but ultimately it is internal.
Intense happiness – it is an emotion; we cannot separate happiness from joy. Joy is the fullest experience of happiness.
Produced by the Holy Spirit – temporal happiness can be produced by any number of circumstances, but joy is the kind of happiness that only God’s Spirit can produce. Galatians 5:22-23 tells us joy is part of the fruit of the Spirit, that is, the Spirit produces joy in the life of the believer. We are dependent on God’s work for our joy. And yet he commands us so many times, “Rejoice in the Lord!”
Through God’s Word – the means by which the Holy Spirit produces joy in our hearts is the Word of God. Consider what Jesus says to his disciples in John 15:11: “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” The words of God-in-the-flesh were designed to produce joy in his disciples—full joy. It is through the Word of God that the Spirit of God produces this supernatural joy, because God’s Word reveals to us who God is and what he has done, which is the basis for our joy.
For God’s glory – everything exists for the glory of God. Joy is for the glory of God because as we rejoice in who he is and what he has done, our joy shows him to be the most desirable, supremely valuable treasure of the universe, which he is. So our joy in God glorifies God.
Joyful at All Times
Joyful at All Times
There is never a moment that we should not feel joy. Many different times in Scripture we’re commanded to rejoice, to feel joy, but in these 2 we’re commanded to do so all the time.
16 Rejoice at all times.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
This means regardless of our circumstances, we must be joyful.
Joyful Even in Suffering
Joyful Even in Suffering
Consider Paul’s circumstances when he wrote Philippians. While he is rejoicing and calling them to rejoice, he’s in prison.
James tells us that we can consider trials an occasion for great joy, knowing that they are the means that God will use to develop Christlike character in our lives.
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds,
There is something about suffering that also helps us know Jesus Christ better, identifying with him in his suffering.
13 But rejoice that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed at the revelation of His glory.
Joy is the Right Response for those who Know God
Joy is the Right Response for those who Know God
1 Rejoice in the LORD, O righteous ones; it is fitting for the upright to praise Him.
Ultimately the basis of our joy is our confidence that He reigns supreme. He is in control of all things and does all things well, and He has promised us as believers that He is working all things for our good.
1 The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the distant shores be glad.
Joy is the fruit of faith in God - who He is, what He has done, and what He’s promised to do.
20 Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield. 21 For our hearts rejoice in Him, since we trust in His holy name.
So let us obey the will of God for us and be joyful at all times.
Secondly,
Prayerful at All Times
Prayerful at All Times
17 Pray without ceasing.
Parables about Prayer
Parables about Prayer
2 stories about persistent prayer
1 Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart: 2 “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected men. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept appealing to him, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 4 For a while he refused, but later he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect men, 5 yet because this widow keeps pestering me, I will give her justice. Then she will stop wearing me out with her perpetual requests.’ ” 6 And the Lord said, “Listen to the words of the unjust judge. 7 Will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry out to Him day and night? Will He continue to defer their help? 8 I tell you, He will promptly carry out justice on their behalf. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?”
5 Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose one of you goes to his friend at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 6 because a friend of mine has come to me on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him.’ 7 And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Do not bother me. My door is already shut, and my children and I are in bed. I cannot get up to give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up to provide for him because of his friendship, yet because of the man’s persistence, he will get up and give him as much as he needs.
Both of these stories speak to us of the need for persistence in prayer. Part of God’s plan for us in our spiritual growth is our endurance or perseverance, and one primary way we grow in this area is through persistent prayer. Prayer is part of God’s process of changing us and molding us into the kind of people He wants us to be.
Examples of Persistent Prayer
Examples of Persistent Prayer
Jesus
12 In those days Jesus went out to the mountain to pray, and He spent the night in prayer to God.
Paul
10 Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking from your faith.
Jacob
24 So Jacob was left all alone, and there a man wrestled with him until daybreak.
25 When the man saw that he could not overpower Jacob, he struck the socket of Jacob’s hip and dislocated it as they wrestled.
26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
Other commands to Pray
Other commands to Pray
12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, persistent in prayer.
18 Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints.
2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful,
Praying without ceasing doesn’t mean that prayer is the only thing you do. Most of us probably aren’t doing it right now.
What it does mean is that we live all of life in a humble attitude of dependence on God, trusting Him rather than leaning on our own understanding, and acknowledging Him in all our ways.
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
To acknowledge Him in all your ways means living all of life with God on your mind. Always aware of His presence with you, always seeking His will above your own, depending on His wisdom and understand rather than your own. This is the life of praying without ceasing.
So let’s work to obey this command - God’s will for you is that you would pray without ceasing.
And finally,
Give Thanks in Everything
Give Thanks in Everything
18 Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Give Thanks in Everything Because You Are in Christ Jesus
Give Thanks in Everything Because You Are in Christ Jesus
Thanksgiving is due to God from all people everywhere. (Romans 1:21)
21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts.
As Christians, we have more reasons than anyone else to give thanks. (Colossians 2:6–7) Because of our experience of God’s love and grace in the gospel, we ought to overflow with gratitude.
6 Therefore, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him, established in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
Give Thanks in Everything Because You Know That God Is Always Good
Give Thanks in Everything Because You Know That God Is Always Good
Remember the character of God: God is perfectly sovereign, wise, and good
Whether we believe it or not, God is who He says He is, and He does what He says He does.
God is perfectly sovereign, He is always in control of all things (nothing is outside His control);
God is perfectly wise, always choosing the best goals and the best means of reaching His goals;
God is perfectly good, always doing what brings the greatest good to His people and the greatest glory to Himself
God is sovereign, wise, and good
Because of our confidence in the character and work of God, we can give thanks in every circumstance - no matter what we’re going through, whether life is great and everything’s going well, or if life is terrible and everything’s falling apart - no matter our situation or circumstances we can and must give thanks to God, because though our circumstances change, He does not. He is always the same. And He is always good!
Give Thanks in Times of Blessing
Maybe it’s obvious, but we ought to give thanks to God in times of blessing.
In times of financial prosperity
In times of loving family relationships
In times of deep and close friendships
In times of success at work
In times of good physical health
In times of mental health and clarity
And in every other positive circumstance in life, when things are going well according to our perspective, give thanks to God. Remember that all these good things come from His good hand and are demonstrations of His grace and kindness to you.
Give Thanks in Times of Suffering
What about when things aren’t going well? When everything seems to be falling apart? We are still commanded to give thanks during times of suffering.
In times of financial hardship
In times of broken family relationships
In times of loneliness and broken friendships
In times of failure at work
In times of poor health or disease
In times of discouragement or mental confusion
And in every other negative circumstance in life, when things are not going well from our point of view, when life is falling apart, give thanks to God. Remember that in all things God is working for the good of His people.
Remember the words of Job: “The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.” (Job 1:21)
Whether God gives or takes away we must give thanks and praise His name.
Remember the Promises of God
He promises to work everything for our good
28 And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.
God works ALL THINGS together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose - All things, both the good and the bad, the positive and the negative, when life is great and when it’s awful, in all these things God is working for our good.
And specifically, the good that God has in mind is in v. 29: that we would be conformed to the image of His Son - Jesus Christ. That is, God’s purpose for our lives as believers is that we would grow to look more and more like Jesus in the way that we act, speak, think, and desire. He wants us to look like His Son! And He brings together all the different circumstances of our lives - the good, the bad, and the ugly - to shape us into the kind of people that He wants us to be.
Knowing this, we can give thanks in all circumstances - because we know that God is good, and He is working all things for our good as His children.
He is good and He doesn’t change
17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow.
It all comes from God, and for this reason, we must give thanks.
So let us commit ourselves along with the Psalmist to give thanks to God with all our heart at all times.
1 I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart; I will recount all Your wonders. 2 I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.
1 I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise will always be on my lips.
God has made known His will to us here in His Word.
16 Rejoice at all times. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
After a time of teaching his disciples about their need for humble service and loving each other, He gives them these words which apply to us now as well.
17 If you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
Now you know God’s will for you. The question for you right now is this: will you obey? Will you commit yourself to practicing these things we’ve looked at here, rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks always and in every circumstance?
This is what God wants for you. Will you obey Him?
The blessing is in the obedience.
25 But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom, and continues to do so—not being a forgetful hearer, but an effective doer—he will be blessed in what he does.
May God help each of us to be doers of the Word and not hearers only, for His glory.
Questions for Application:
Are you always joyful?
Are you living all of life in humble dependence on Christ?
Are you a thankful person?
If you’re struggling in any of these areas, the answer is to turn your eyes once again to the Gospel - remember who God is, what He has done for you in Christ, and believe His promises to you. As you do this, you will become more joyful, prayerful, and thankful. The key is just keep going back to the Gospel. It is the gospel that has the power to save and transform your life so that you are the kind of person that does the will of God from the heart.
PRAY
