Knowing Gods Will

1
Knowing Gods Will

• finding Gods guidance

2
the basis for knowing Gods will

• two meanings
• moral decisions as to what is right or wrong (how
  I should live)
• matters of direction (which job I should take
  what house should I buy, etc)

3
the basis for knowing Gods will

• the foundation of our faith
• I appeal to you therefore, brethren,
• by the mercies of God,
• to present your bodies as a living sacrifice,
• holy and acceptable to God,
• which is your spiritual worship.
• Do not be conformed to this world (this
  imperfect, transient age),
• but be transformed by the renewal (the Spirits
  supernatural work in the Christian) of your mind
  (way of thinking, attitude, total mental and
  moral state of being),
• that you may prove (learn, discover, prove by
  doing)
• what is the will of God, what is good and
  acceptable and perfect. Romans 121,2

4
the basis for knowing Gods will

• will good pleasure
• not so much a legalistic purpose or plan, but
  that in which one delights.
• And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the
  glory of the Lord, are being changed into his
  likeness from one degree of glory to another for
  this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit 2
  Corinthians 318
• conformed to this world (Rom. 121,2) and
  changed into his likeness
• the world molding you or you being transformed by
  the Spirit

5
discovering Gods direction

• 7 signposts
• the Bible
• inner peace
• personal desires
• specific direction
• circumstances
• godly counsel
• common sense

6
Gods will and the Bible

• 1 Thessalonians 516-18
• 1 Thessalonians 43
• Ephesians 515-20
• from these verses, what things do we know are
  Gods will?

7
Gods will and the Bible

• And so, from the day we heard of it, we have not
  ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be
  filled with the knowledge of his will in all
  spiritual wisdom and understanding, to lead a
  life worthy of the Lord, full pleasing to him,
  bearing fruit in every good work and increasing
  in the knowledge of God Colossians 19,10.

8
Gods will and the unknown

• But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills
  1 Cor. 419
• I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord
  permits. 1 Cor. 167
• I will return to you if God wills. Acts 1821
• I mention you always in my prayers, asking that
  somehow by Gods will I may now at last succeed
  in coming to you. Romans 19,10

9
Gods will and the unknown

• Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans
  will be established. Prov. 163
• A mans mind plans his way, but the Lord directs
  his steps. Prov. 169
• Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it
  is the purpose of the Lord that will be
  established. Prov. 1921
• What principles do you discover in these verses
  which you can apply in your own planning?

10
The Holy Spirits Guidance

• Walking in the Spirit
• Galatians 516-26
• What must you do for the Holy Spirit to enable
  you to walk in Gods ways, producing His fruit?
• Inner peace
• Philippians 44-7
• By what steps may we overcome anxiety?

11
The Holy Spirits Guidance

• supernatural guidance
• Pauls experience (Acts 2217-21)
• Commissioning the first missionaries (Acts
  131-4)
• Second missionary journey (Acts 166-10)
• Should you seek unusual guidance today?
• Should you expect it?

12
Gods guidance personal preference

• Therefore, my beloved, as you have always
  obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but
  much more in my absence, work out your own
  salvation with fear and trembling for God is at
  work in you, both to will and to work (to be able
  to accomplish) for his good pleasure
  Philippians 212,13

13
Gods guidance personal preference

• Why are we so often afraid we will not want what
  God wants for us?
• Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you
  the desires of your heart. Psalm 374
• How far can you trust your own desires as an
  indication of Gods will?

14
Gods guidance good sense

• using reason
• Acts 1538
• 1 Timothy 314,15
• 1 Corinthians 168,9
• 1 Corinthians 164
• What place did intelligence and logic have in
  these decisions or actions of Pauls?
• How much importance do you attach to your
  reasoning facilities?
• Have you been using them enough?

15
Gods guidance good sense

• We find Paul trusting God, walking in the Spirit,
  and using all the resources at hand, including
  his human intelligence, to accomplish the job God
  had given him. As a result there was boldness
  and freedom in Pauls planning and working to do
  Gods will.

16
Gods guidance good sense

• Related to the concept of reason is wisdom.
• James 15-8
• What kind of doubting do you think James is
  referring to?

17
Gods guidance circumstances

• during Pauls 3rd missionary journey
• somehow by Gods will
• Romans 19-13
• during Pauls imprisonment in Rome
• Acts 2830,31
• served to advance the gospel
• Philippians 112-14
• How did Paul make use of circumstances?
• How did God overrule Pauls difficult
  circumstances for good?

18
Gods guidance circumstances

• What kinds of circumstances are automatically
  Gods will for you because of the circumstances
  of your life?
• What things are not Gods will, regardless of
  your circumstances?
• What things are Gods will, regardless of your
  circumstances?
• Philippians 411-13 I have learned, in
  whatever state I am, to be content.

19
Gods guidance human counsel

• Acts 15 it has seemed good to us in
  assemblyit has seemed good to the Holy Spirit
  and to us
• By what steps or means did the groups of
  Christians come to conclusions?
• How was the Holy Spirit involved in their
  decisions?

20
Gods guidance sovereignty

• How does a realization of Gods sovereignty help
  you to develop a proper concept of Gods
  guidance?
• Acts 423-31
• Nehemiah 21-8
• Looking back, how do you see the good hand of
  God active in your life?

21
Trusting God for guidance

• Proverbs 35-8
• acknowledge know
• What does it mean to know God in all your ways?
• According to this passage, what results show up
  in a life that is lived in childlike trust? Are
  these results evident in your life? Why or why
  not?

22
Trusting God for guidance

• Psalm 328 I will instruct you nad teach you
  the way you should go I will counsel you with my
  eye upon you.
• John 102-5 the sheep hear his voice, and he
  calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
  When he has brought out all his own, he goes
  before them, and the sheep will follow him, for
  they know his voice.