Finding God's Will

[0:00] Music Talking about God's will.

[0:13] People live an average of 25,520 days. There's a good pair in Psalm 90. it says, So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

[0:26] Teach us to number our days, to apply our hearts unto wisdom. 25,520 days. Now there's no guarantee you're going to get that many, but that's an average.

[0:40] We're living in uncertain times. We want to make sure that our days are wisely spent, wisely invested. It says in Ephesians 5, verse 15 through 17, See then that you walk circumspectly, in other words, having your wits about you, looking about you and around about you, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the times, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

[1:06] Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

[1:19] What is His will? What is God's will? Will we redeem the time in these evil days? Will we make the most of the time allotted to us? Will we yearn after God's best?

[1:30] After God's will for our lives? Will we fulfil His purpose for us? Or will we miss it? Will we miss it? Will we miss God's best? Will we settle for God's permissive will, where it wasn't His ideal will for us?

[1:44] Will we miss the boat? God's will. It's something that's very important for every person to know. The will of God. What is God's purpose for my life?

[1:54] Why am I here? Rather than fulfilling my own wishes and ambitions, my own selfish ways, will my life accomplish God's purpose? Why He has placed me here?

[2:06] Will I fulfil God's will? God's will for me. God is looking for Christians who will live life on godly purpose. Who will find the will of God for their lives and do it.

[2:17] Who will consecrate themselves to do His will. There's a familiar saying, only one life will soon be passed. Only what's done for Christ will last.

[2:29] You've only got one chance at life. Only one chance at life. What is the purpose of your life? Why are you here? What is God's will? What does God want you to do with the rest of your days on planet Earth?

[2:41] Have you ever asked yourself that question? What is God's plan for my life? What does it mean for me to be in the centre of God's will for me? How do I find out what that is?

[2:53] How do I discern between self-will and God's will? What He really wants? I want to share with you some practical keys that will guide you as to how to discern the will of God.

[3:05] And I'm going to test you on this. So pay attention. Practical keys. How to discern the will of God. Number one, the Bible.

[3:16] The Bible is the fundamental place to start. To find God's will for your life. To find what God says to you to do. To know God's will. Psalm 119, 105.

[3:28] That familiar one. Thy word is a lamb unto my feet and a light unto my path. A lamp to my feet. A light to my path. So a lamp in the present, in the present sense and a light to the future ahead.

[3:44] To the pathway ahead. Apply Bible truth to discern the will of God for your life. Know God's word. Put it into your heart, into your mind, into your life, into your living.

[3:56] When we will do that, we will find a delight in God's will. As David did in Psalm 40, verse 8. I delight to do thy will, O God. Yea, thy law is within my heart.

[4:09] I delight to do thy will, O God. Thy law is within my heart. When God's word is in our heart, we'll delight to do God's will.

[4:20] A second one is, seek to know God's will by prayer. Seek to pray. And pray according to God's will. Pray as God guides you to, as would please Him.

[4:34] And this is the confidence, 1 John 5, 14 to 15. And this is the confidence that we have in Him. That if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us.

[4:48] And if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desire of Him. If we ask anything according to His will, it says He will hear you.

[5:03] He will hear you. Ask according to His will. Get to know what God's will for you is. Years ago, in the old-fashioned days, there was an old model T Ford.

[5:16] An old model T Ford by the side of the road. And there was a young man there, sweating and fussing. He couldn't get it to run. He didn't know what on earth was wrong. Desperately trying to get this car started.

[5:27] And after he'd been there for a long time, this limousine, this limousine poured up. And it was chauffeur driven. And a well-dressed man got out and stood watching him for a while.

[5:38] And he suggested to the young man, make this minor adjustment just here. Just adjust this one part. And the young man was skeptical. What would this fellow know about cars?

[5:51] He doesn't even look like he knows anything about them. And the man said, Now, your car will run. Crank it up. He did what he was told, even though he was skeptical. And so the young man cranked it once.

[6:04] And sure enough, the engine started running. As if it was brand new. And the young man was amazed. What kind of a man would know so much about cars.

[6:14] That this kind of man would know what to do. How did you know exactly what to do? Well, the other man said, I'm Henry Ford. I made the car. So I know all about it, how it works.

[6:27] Now, we don't have Henry Ford anymore, if you've got a Ford. But, you know, he was the one who knew how the car worked. And it's the same with our almighty God, isn't it?

[6:39] It's the same with our creator. He's given us the manual to know and to do his will. Our Lord God, the creator of your life and mine, he has given us the manual. And he knows the way that we should go.

[6:52] And to know and to do his will, read the manual. Read his word. Speak to him. Pray. As Paul did in Acts 9, verse 6, he says, Lord, what will they have me to do?

[7:04] That's a good prayer to pray. Very short and sweet. Lord, what would you have me to do? I want to know your will. I want to know your plan. Another way that you can be led in knowing God's will is circumstances.

[7:20] Circumstances. Really, there's no such thing as a coincidence for a child of God. God can show you his will by open doors. He can open doors to you.

[7:32] And he can close them. In Acts 16, verses 6 through 7, we see Paul was guided where he should not go before he was guided where he should go.

[7:43] As he was on the second missionary journey, God closed the door to the south, to Ephesus. Because Paul would go there on his third missionary journey.

[7:56] And God closed the door to go north to Bithynia because Peter would go there later. And God opened the door to Paul to go west to take the gospel into Europe.

[8:06] So God opens doors and God shuts doors. Sometimes that can be God's leading for you to know God's will. What doors or opportunities has God opened to you?

[8:18] It may indicate God's will for your life. Of course, we know sometimes it can be in unusual ways that God can reveal his will. Such as with Moses, the burning bush, and with others, the visions, and so on.

[8:33] But circumstances, even just those open doors and closed doors, can be God's guidance for you. Another way is godly counsel. Godly counsel. God can direct your path through the godly advice of others.

[8:47] Others. In Proverbs, we read twice, it says, In the multitude of counselors there is safety. I'm glad I've got some people who give me some counsel. You know, who give me some advice and sharpen me.

[9:01] Make me think. And question. Sometimes it can be people who give you objective wisdom. Like Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, told Moses to delegate some work.

[9:16] Because it was unwise for him to carry the workload that he did. That was good advice. We need to seek the advice of other Christians, don't we? Find out what another brother or sister will tell you.

[9:28] Find wise and brave friends. Friends who sometimes might rub you up the wrong way. But they'll be honest with you. They'll give you honest advice. And listen to them. You may not always follow their advice, but it will be wise to listen.

[9:43] And make sure before you take someone's advice that they're living a righteous life. What you think the Word of God says I should do is something you can ask them. Another means of guidance is your conscience.

[9:56] Your conscience is, as Christians, you've got a conscience. I think non-Christians have got a conscience too. I think sometimes they try to switch it off, but there's a conscience in everybody.

[10:08] It's built in. But you as a Christian, you've got that moral filter in your life. There's a moral filter. There's a right and wrong. There's a line you draw.

[10:18] And as God's people, we want to develop a godly conscience. A conscience that's in tune with our God. A mind that's like His mind.

[10:30] The mind of Christ. That our decisions will be more like what He wants for us. More Christ-like choices. In Psalm 37 it says, Delight thyself also in the Lord, and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

[10:45] Notice the order there. Delight thyself also in the Lord, then He shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Sometimes we say, Oh, God will give you the desires of your heart.

[10:56] But firstly, delight yourself in the Lord. Put Him first. Commit thy way unto the Lord. Trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. They're good verses to lock into the great matter.

[11:08] Psalm 37, 4-5. Delight, and He will give you the desires of your heart. And notice that the one follows the other. The delighting in the Lord will help us desire God's will.

[11:25] In Philippians 2.13 it says, For it is God who works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure. God wants to work in you both to will, like, decide, make the decision, and to do the action.

[11:39] To do what He wants you to do. To do His good pleasure. And friends, it's really important that we're guideable people. Guideable people. I read this song, put it this way, whether we're a guideable Christian or not.

[11:52] There's some Christians who are not guideable. They won't be guided. Guideable people will look to God. They'll seek His face. They'll yearn to be in the place that He wants them to be.

[12:03] They'll want to be fulfilling the Lord's purpose for their lives. They'll be like Samuel who says, Lord, speak for your servant, hear it. Speak, Lord, for your servant, hear it.

[12:15] They'll have that hard attitude of Samuel. They'll be like Isaiah who says, Here am I, Lord, send me. They'll be like the Lord Jesus who prayed, Not my will, but thine be done.

[12:26] Not my will, but thine be done. Guidable people. We need to be guidable. Not gullible, but guidable. Guidable, led by God, receiving His guidance.

[12:38] And God will always speak loud enough to the willing ear. The willing ear to hear. Sometimes we can be impressed in our conscience by a restless spirit. We can be restless and not at peace because God is trying to get our attention.

[12:56] It's wise to wake up when you're feeling restless and ask God, What are you saying to me? Are you a guidable Christian? Let Him have the driver's seat. Here's a couple of suggested simple prayers.

[13:09] Lord, let your will be done even if it means that my will is not done. That's a tough prayer, isn't it? Let your will be done even if it means that my will is not done.

[13:23] And another one, Lord, right now I'm not sure I want to do your will, but I'm willing to be made willing. I'm willing to be made willing. Do whatever is necessary to change my heart.

[13:36] In John 6, verse 13, it says, He will guide you into all truth. He will guide you, but we must be guidable Christians. And there's another one to answer the list is common sense.

[13:49] Common sense. God's given you a brain to think and reason and make wise decisions.

[13:59] So, all these things can work in combination. A combination of these things that will help us to discern God helping us, His way for our life.

[14:11] To seek His will, His leading, His direction for our lives. I love that scripture, Proverbs 3, 5-6. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding.

[14:25] In all thine ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths. There was a harbour that had a particularly treacherous entrance.

[14:39] And there was lots of reefs and rocks that made it dangerous for boats. And the ship's captain had to line up three lights to enter the harbour safely.

[14:54] When he could see that the three lights were in alignment, he knew he could safely proceed. And as we seek God's guidance, sometimes it's getting their lights in alignment.

[15:05] It's seeing if we can align those things, those various things that we talked about, to see if there is a confirmation, a confirmation of those things.

[15:18] And for example, three things we could use is the Word of God, outward circumstances, and inner conviction. Those three can go in alignment, and help us to have that sense of assurance that we're heading in God's direction.

[15:33] There's a saying that says, the will of God will never lead you where the grace of God cannot keep you. Amen? The will of God will never lead you where the grace of God cannot keep you.

[15:50] Your Word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path. Sometimes it's a dark road. Things are confusing.

[16:00] I know when it's dark, I sometimes get confused. I sometimes get confused when it's light as well. But when it's dark, when it's dark, you sometimes cannot discern your way.

[16:12] You can get confused. You need light. We need light on that path. And that's what the Bible gives to us. It gives us light. Helps us to know, especially number one, how to be saved.

[16:23] I'm talking to Christians today. If you're not saved, this might be double dutch to you. But friends, the ultimate will of God is for a soul to be saved.

[16:34] For one, to trust Him. Friends, I trust you will trust Him. And then, to live a life that's pleasing to Him. In all the decisions that you make.

[16:46] And, we might ask the question, well, how do I know what to do? I know that's a question we all ask. And, sometimes the Bible doesn't tell you in detail what to do.

[16:58] But, it gives you the general guideline. For example, in the home, what should the husband do? Love your wife. Love your wife as Christ loved the church.

[17:11] That's God's will for your husbands. And all the women said, at home, it's God's will for the husband to love his wife as Christ loved the church.

[17:22] I won't get the women to say amen to this one. And, for the women it says, submit to your husband as unto the Lord. Amen. Now, there's lots of things the Bible tells us God's will in the home.

[17:34] Amen. It tells us what to do. It tells children, obey your parents in the Lord. Amen. It says, it says to the fathers, don't provoke your children to wrath.

[17:47] But to parents, bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Nurture your children. Instruct them. Counsel them. Guide them. Now, does these instructions cover every circumstance in detail?

[18:00] Of course not. But it gives us that general will of God in terms of the home. And so, whilst it doesn't tell you exactly what to do, men here today, if I'm supposed to love my wife, for example, I've got to pay attention to her.

[18:21] I've got to make a living for her. I can't belittle her, and I should give her no reason for jealousy. At work, the Bible tells the employee to work hard, in the sense of the master and the servant relationship.

[18:41] We could translate that today, in a way, into the workplace. Even if the boss doesn't deserve it, we're supposed to work well. Even if the boss is unfair to his workers.

[18:57] We're to be a hard worker. And it tells bosses to be fair to their workers too. To be merciful, remembering that they have a master in heaven too.

[19:11] So, it doesn't tell you exactly what kind of work you should do, or all the particulars of your employment. But it does indicate, if we're to work hard, it means that we are to be respectful, cooperative, to be just and kind, to have work ethic, in our employment.

[19:30] So, in doing these things, we'll please the Lord, in our workplace. It's the will of God. In the church. What about in the church?

[19:41] It says, endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit, in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4, verse 3. There's the will of God for us, in the church place, in the assembling of ourselves.

[19:53] So, what does that mean? Keeping the unity of the Spirit, and the bond of peace. It means we don't, quickly take offence. We are generous, with one another, with our love, and our prayers, and our giving.

[20:09] It doesn't tell you what church to attend, or when to leave it, or whether you should take up, a particular ministry or not, but it shows you how to participate, in your church.

[20:20] It's God's will, how we should be in the church. What about God's will, with our neighbours? You know that, that neighbour you have a bit of trouble with. Who's got one of those?

[20:33] Hopefully I'm, hopefully I'm not one of them. But, what is God's will, for you, and your neighbour? Love your neighbour, as yourself. So what does that mean?

[20:44] It means we're not the kind of neighbour, who, who eavesdrops on the people next door, who makes a lot of, unnecessary noises, who leaves this yard, a bit of an eyesore, who, a neighbour who is courteous, and helpful, when opportunity presents itself.

[20:59] I heard of some good neighbours, actually, lately. I wouldn't mind them being my neighbours. Maybe in glory, they'll be my next door neighbour. Wouldn't that be a blessing? They help clean up their neighbour's yard.

[21:11] Whoa, that's a good neighbour, isn't it? That's putting the word of God, into action. Amen? Love your neighbour, as yourself. That's a good thing to do. And I commend, that. Maybe we can learn to be a good neighbour, just like that too.

[21:25] And what about God's will, about citizenship? About citizenship. The Bible doesn't tell you, who to vote for, or even to vote, necessarily. But it does tell you, to respect your leaders, to pray for the government, to pray for the king, to pay your taxes, to obey the law, to do what is legal, and right, and honest.

[21:47] As long as it doesn't contradict, the law of God, we will do, what a good citizen, would do. And what about, in your private life? What's the will of God? In your private life, the Bible, tells you, what to think about, and what not to think about.

[22:03] It doesn't tell you, it doesn't tell you in detail of that, but it gives you those general principles, of life. It tells you, what to look at, when you're alone, and what to turn your eyes away from.

[22:17] It doesn't tell you details exactly, but it gives you the principles, how we can occupy, our time well. It tells, you and me, what kind of husband to be, what kind of father, and son, what kind of wife, and mother, what kind of church member, what kind of worker, what kind of neighbour, what kind of citizen, what kind of person, when no one's around, but the Lord.

[22:40] So the great majority of life, is covered in God's word. It tells us God's will. It tells us very clearly, whilst not in detail, the core teaching, of God's word, shows us, what we are to do, with the great majority, of our lives.

[22:57] So there's already a whole lot, of God's will, that you already know. It's here. It tells you, how to conduct yourself, in those most important, things of life.

[23:09] And there's a clear example, of what God's will is. For example, 1 Thessalonians 4 verse 3, For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that you should abstain, from fornication.

[23:21] This is the will of God, even your sanctification, that you should abstain, from fornication, or immorality. The will of God, is your sanctification. Someone has put it, holification, is another way of putting it.

[23:34] Because this word, sanctify, comes from the word, holy. God wants us, to be holified, to be made holy, to be made saints. It's God's will for us, that we become, more and more like, our Lord and Saviour.

[23:47] That we'll come, more faithfully, to live for him, for him to have, control, that we would, surrender, our lives to him. Micah says, some vital truth, for us today.

[24:01] It says in, Micah 6, verse 8, He has showed thee, O man, what is good, and what doth the Lord, require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly, with thy God.

[24:15] It's a walk, brother, it's a walk, sister, it's a walk, it's a walk, one step after the other. God leading you, as the light's on your path, as the lamp's on your feet, that you'll see the way, that God is calling you to walk, the life that he's calling you to live, the will that he's made known to you, it's clear, in the general sense, it's clear, and we can learn, to trust him, and be content, with God's will for you today.

[24:43] Don't fret, and worry about, what God's will is for tomorrow. Be satisfied with knowing, and doing God's will today. How we need to be a church, that is in the will of God.

[24:55] A church, that is in the will of God. I read this message, it spoke to me, I'll quote this in part. Isn't it staggering, where you think, that Peter preached one sermon, on the day of Pentecost, and 3,000 people got saved.

[25:13] And we have some cities, on this day, where 3,000 sermons, are preached, and nobody gets saved. We've got a church, that should be a battleship, that's becoming a cruise ship.

[25:29] We're not marching to Zion, we're at ease there. In the old time church, people were amazed, at what God was doing. Now people want to be amused, when they come to church.

[25:42] The church began, in the upper room, with a bunch of men, agonising, and it's ending, in the supper room, with a bunch of people, organising. What is the will of God, for his church?

[25:55] What is the will of God, for us as a corporate body, today? What is the will of God, for you today, you are lost? If you are lost today, you are, one heartbeat, from hell, forever.

[26:08] One heartbeat, one step, one bleep. Friends, please, if you are not saved today, I urge you, to trust him.

[26:22] We've been glad, to see, some three people, commit, in profession of faith, to trust him. And we thank God, one of them is here, this morning. And we thank God, the people will say, I want to follow Jesus.

[26:34] I want to, I don't know, all the details of it, I don't know, all the, all the technicalities of it, I don't need to know. I just need to trust him, trust him, trust him.

[26:45] Do something, that he wants you to do. Trust him. The glory of God, can come and, work in human lives, still today, in your life and mine.

[27:04] And it would be a shame, to miss God's will, to miss God's will. We want to find and do, God's will. Let's just wrap up, shall we? The word says, for we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus, unto good works, that God hath before ordained, that we should walk in them.

[27:22] So find and do, the will of God, the Bible, prayer, circumstances, godly counsel, and your conscience, and common sense. Let's pray. Let's pray.