Decision Making and the Will of God

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Decision Making and the Will of God
Twin City Fellowship www.twincityfellowship.com
Part 2 What is Gods will?
Presented by Carl Johnson
September 9, 2007
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Decision Making and the Will of God
September 9, 2007
Twin City Fellowship www.twincityfellowship.com
What is Gods will?
1) Sovereign Will
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Decision Making and the Will of God
September 9, 2007
Twin City Fellowship www.twincityfellowship.com
Ephesians 111
also we have obtained an inheritance, having
been predestined according to His purpose who
works all things after the counsel of His will.
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Decision Making and the Will of God
September 9, 2007
Twin City Fellowship www.twincityfellowship.com
Romans 917-19
For the scripture says to Pharaoh, For this
very purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate My
power in you and that My name might be proclaimed
throughout the whole earth. So then He has
mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He
desires. You will say to me then, Why does He
still find fault? For who resists His will?
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Decision Making and the Will of God
September 9, 2007
Twin City Fellowship www.twincityfellowship.com
Acts 222-23
Men of Israel, listen to these words Jesus the
Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with
miracles and wonders and signs which God
performed through Him in your midst, just as you
yourselves know this man, delivered over by the
predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you
nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and
put Him to death.
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Decision Making and the Will of God
September 9, 2007
Twin City Fellowship www.twincityfellowship.com
1Thessalonians 43
For this is the will of God, your
sanctification that is, that you abstain from
sexual immorality
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Decision Making and the Will of God
September 9, 2007
Twin City Fellowship www.twincityfellowship.com
Ephesians 515-18
Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise
men but as wise, making the most of your time,
because the days are evil. So then do not be
foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord
is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is
dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit
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Decision Making and the Will of God
September 9, 2007
Twin City Fellowship www.twincityfellowship.com
1Peter 213-15
Submit yourselves for the Lords sake to every
human institution, whether to a king as the one
in authority, or to governors as sent by him for
the punishment of evildoers and the praise of
those who do right. For such is the will of God
that by doing right you may silence the ignorance
of foolish men.
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Decision Making and the Will of God
September 9, 2007
Twin City Fellowship www.twincityfellowship.com
1Thessalonians 515-18
See that no one repays another with evil for
evil, but always seek after that which is good
for one another and for all people. Rejoice
always pray without ceasing in everything give
thanks for this is God's will for you in Christ
Jesus.
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Decision Making and the Will of God
September 9, 2007
Twin City Fellowship www.twincityfellowship.com
1Peter 317
For it is better, if God should will it so, that
you suffer for doing what is right rather than
for doing what is wrong.
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Decision Making and the Will of God
September 9, 2007
Twin City Fellowship www.twincityfellowship.com
Romans 828
And we know that God causes all things to work
together for good to those who love God, to those
who are called according to His purpose.
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Decision Making and the Will of God
September 9, 2007
Twin City Fellowship www.twincityfellowship.com
Romans 829
For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined
to become conformed to the image of His Son
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Decision Making and the Will of God
September 9, 2007
Twin City Fellowship www.twincityfellowship.com
Acts 223
this Man, delivered over by the predetermined
plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a
cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to
death.
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Decision Making and the Will of God
September 9, 2007
Twin City Fellowship www.twincityfellowship.com
Then How Do I Make Decisions in Accordance With
Gods Will?
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Decision Making and the Will of God
September 9, 2007
Twin City Fellowship www.twincityfellowship.com
1) Understand and obey Gods moral will
What does Gods word say about this issue?
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Decision Making and the Will of God
September 9, 2007
Twin City Fellowship www.twincityfellowship.com
How do we learn Gods moral will?
1) Reading the Word 1Tim 413 2) Careful
consideration of the Word 2Tim 27 3) Diligent
study of the Word 2Tim 215 4) Meditation of
the Word Ps. 12 5) Memorization of the Word
Ps. 11911 6) Teaching of the Word from others
Eph 411-12
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Decision Making and the Will of God
September 9, 2007
Twin City Fellowship www.twincityfellowship.com
Marriage
1) Must be a Christian 2 Cor. 614 2) Member
of the opposite sex Matt. 194-6 3) Biblically
free to marry if divorced 1 Cor. 7
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Decision Making and the Will of God
September 9, 2007
Twin City Fellowship www.twincityfellowship.com
2) The application of wisdom
Wisdom is the right use of the knowledge of Gods
Word and knowledge in general, which gives us
understanding and using reason skillfully.
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Decision Making and the Will of God
September 9, 2007
Twin City Fellowship www.twincityfellowship.com
Ephesians 515
Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise
men but as wise
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Decision Making and the Will of God
September 9, 2007
Twin City Fellowship www.twincityfellowship.com
Colossians 45
Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders,
making the most of the opportunity.
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Decision Making and the Will of God
September 9, 2007
Twin City Fellowship www.twincityfellowship.com
Where do we get wisdom from?
1) Pray for it James 15 2) Counsel,
instruction Prov. 15 3) Research and
experience
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Decision Making and the Will of God
September 9, 2007
Twin City Fellowship www.twincityfellowship.com
3) Personal factors
These are things like personal preferences,
desires, likes or dislikes, circumstances,
opportunities and conscience.
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Decision Making and the Will of God
September 9, 2007
Twin City Fellowship www.twincityfellowship.com
1Corinthians 740
But in my opinion she is happier if she remains
as she is and I think that I also have the
Spirit of God.
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Decision Making and the Will of God
September 9, 2007
Twin City Fellowship www.twincityfellowship.com
2Corinthians 97
Each one must do just as he has purposed in his
heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for
God loves a cheerful giver.
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Decision Making and the Will of God
September 9, 2007
Twin City Fellowship www.twincityfellowship.com
Romans 1422-23
The faith which you have, have as your own
conviction before God. Happy is he who does not
condemn himself in what he approves. But he who
doubts is condemned if he eats, because his
eating is not from faith and whatever is not
from faith is sin.
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Decision Making and the Will of God
September 9, 2007
Twin City Fellowship www.twincityfellowship.com
1Timothy 31
It is a trustworthy statement if any man
aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine
work he desires to do.
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Decision Making and the Will of God
September 9, 2007
Twin City Fellowship www.twincityfellowship.com
4) Gods Sovereign Will
The sovereignty of God circumscribes all other
issues. Gods sovereignty doesnt directly affect
our decisions, it affects our attitudes.
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Decision Making and the Will of God
September 9, 2007
Twin City Fellowship www.twincityfellowship.com
James 413-16
Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we
will go to such and such a city, and spend a year
there and engage in business and make a
profit." Yet you do not know what your life will
be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that
appears for a little while and then vanishes
away. Instead, you ought to say, "If the Lord
wills, we will live and also do this or that."
But as it is, you boast in your arrogance all
such boasting is evil.
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Decision Making and the Will of God
September 9, 2007
Twin City Fellowship www.twincityfellowship.com
The wisdom model in summary
1) In the absence of a clear, definitive,
special command of God, make the wisest and
most expedient choice. 2) Guidance is
simple. If God has not given you a direct
command in Scripture, do the wisest and most
desirable thing.
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Decision Making and the Will of God
September 9, 2007
Twin City Fellowship www.twincityfellowship.com
Romans 19-15
(9) For God, whom I serve in my spirit in the
preaching of the gospel of His Son, is my witness
as to how unceasingly I make mention of you, (10)
always in my prayers making request, if perhaps
now at last by the will of God I may succeed in
coming to you.
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Decision Making and the Will of God
September 9, 2007
Twin City Fellowship www.twincityfellowship.com
Romans 19-15 (cont.)
(11) For I long to see you so that I may impart
some spiritual gift to you, that you may be
established (12) that is, that I may be
encouraged together with you while among you,
each of us by the other's faith, both yours and
mine.
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Decision Making and the Will of God
September 9, 2007
Twin City Fellowship www.twincityfellowship.com
Romans 19-15 (cont.)
(13) I do not want you to be unaware, brethren,
that often I have planned to come to you (and
have been prevented so far) so that I may obtain
some fruit among you also, even as among the rest
of the Gentiles. (14) I am under obligation both
to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and
to the foolish.
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Decision Making and the Will of God
September 9, 2007
Twin City Fellowship www.twincityfellowship.com
Romans 19-15 (cont.)
(15) So, for my part, I am eager to preach the
gospel to you also who are in Rome.
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Decision Making and the Will of God
September 9, 2007
Twin City Fellowship www.twincityfellowship.com
1Corinthians 63-6
(3) Do you not know that we will judge angels?
How much more matters of this life? (4) So if you
have law courts dealing with matters of this
life, do you appoint them as judges who are of no
account in the church?
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Decision Making and the Will of God
September 9, 2007
Twin City Fellowship www.twincityfellowship.com
1Corinthians 63-6 (cont.)
(5) I say this to your shame. Is it so, that
there is not among you one wise man who will be
able to decide between his brethren, (6) but
brother goes to law with brother, and that before
unbelievers?
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Decision Making and the Will of God
September 9, 2007
Twin City Fellowship www.twincityfellowship.com
Acts 15
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Decision Making and the Will of God
September 9, 2007
Twin City Fellowship www.twincityfellowship.com
Acts 1528
"For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us
to lay upon you no greater burden than these
essentials
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Decision Making and the Will of God
September 9, 2007
Twin City Fellowship www.twincityfellowship.com
1Corinthians 7
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Decision Making and the Will of God
September 9, 2007
Twin City Fellowship www.twincityfellowship.com
Proverbs 219
It is better to live in a corner of a roof than
in a house shared with a contentious woman.
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Decision Making and the Will of God
September 9, 2007
Twin City Fellowship www.twincityfellowship.com
Proverbs 1122
As a ring of gold in a swine's snout, so is a
beautiful woman who lacks discretion.
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Decision Making and the Will of God
September 9, 2007
Twin City Fellowship www.twincityfellowship.com
Does God have a plan? Does he have a purpose for
my life? YES!
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Decision Making and the Will of God
September 9, 2007
Twin City Fellowship www.twincityfellowship.com
Ephesians 413-15
until we all attain to the unity of the faith,
and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a
mature man, to the measure of the stature which
belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result,
we are no longer to be children, tossed here and
there by waves and carried about by every wind of
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Decision Making and the Will of God
September 9, 2007
Twin City Fellowship www.twincityfellowship.com
Ephesians 413-15 (cont.)
doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness
in deceitful scheming but speaking the truth in
love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him
who is the head, even Christ.
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Decision Making and the Will of God
September 9, 2007
Twin City Fellowship www.twincityfellowship.com
So how does the Bible use the term the Will of
God?
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Decision Making and the Will of God
September 9, 2007
Twin City Fellowship www.twincityfellowship.com
1) Gods Sovereign Will
a) What God either decrees or allows. He has
total control over the events of the
universe. b) Gods sovereign will is mainly
hidden, it is usually known in hindsight. c)
We dont have access to his sovereign will
for the purpose of making decisions.
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Decision Making and the Will of God
September 9, 2007
Twin City Fellowship www.twincityfellowship.com
2) Gods Moral Will
a) Gods directive how men ought to behave
and act. b) His moral will is completely
revealed in the Bible. c) Its broad and it
applies to all Christians equally. d) It
does not give us individualized guidance.
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Decision Making and the Will of God
September 9, 2007
Twin City Fellowship www.twincityfellowship.com
How do we make Decisions?
1) In submission to Gods revealed moral
will we are not allowed to choose any
alternative that will violate Scripture.
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Decision Making and the Will of God
September 9, 2007
Twin City Fellowship www.twincityfellowship.com
How do we make Decisions?
2) With wisdom ask in prayer, counsel,
instruction, research and experience.
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Decision Making and the Will of God
September 9, 2007
Twin City Fellowship www.twincityfellowship.com
How do we make Decisions?
3) Being sensitive to personal factors
personal preferences, desires, likes or
dislikes, circumstances, opportunities and
conscience.
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Decision Making and the Will of God
September 9, 2007
Twin City Fellowship www.twincityfellowship.com
How do we make Decisions?
4) In humble submission to Gods sovereign
interventions God can intervene in any of
our plans, he uses obstacles, problems and
circumstances to redirect our paths. We
respond by making wise choices as new
factors become evident, with an attitude of
dependence and trust in God. In the process
of making our decisions God fulfills His
sovereign purposes.
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Decision Making and the Will of God
September 9, 2007
Twin City Fellowship www.twincityfellowship.com
For further information
Is That You Lord? Hearing the voice of the
Lord. Gary Gilley Decision Making and the Will
of God. Garry Friesen
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