WEBVTT

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 This evening, as we dive into our question, I want us to have a little think over our lives.

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 And I'm sure that each of us will remember a time where we've asked that question,

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 God, what is your will for my life?

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 You know, those excruciating times where you have no idea what to do.

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 You're looking for direction, you have no idea and you feel lost at sea.

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 You've got questions, you've got decisions, all these factors running through your mind at 100 miles an hour.

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 Should I make that radical career change?

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 Should I quit my job and go to Bible college?

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 Which university should I apply to?

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 Which course should I go on?

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 Is that person really the one that God wants me to marry?

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 And with all of these questions racing through our minds,

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 you're running through all the potential outcomes and you feel as if you're going crazy.

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 You're pulling at your hair and in absolute desperation, you crash to the floor

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 and you cry out at the top of your lungs,

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 God, what is your will for my life?

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 And yet there's no answer.

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 And so you keep on asking.

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 And you wait for some kind of peaceful feeling that never really comes.

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 You search scripture day and night and with every single prayer,

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 you're asking God, what is your will for my life?

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 Help me decide, lead me in the right direction.

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 Now I know that I'm not the only one who's been there before.

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 This is a question that many people want to know the answer to.

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 What is the will of God for my life?

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 And this is a massive question.

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 And so in the 25 to 30 minutes we have together,

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 we will only be able to skim the surface of it.

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 So please do ask questions later on.

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 We'll have a Q&A session together.

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 But also please speak to the people next to you and pray together.

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 So to answer that question, what is God's or how do I know God's will for my life?

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 We need to ask two questions.

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 What is the will of God?

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 And then how do I live it out?

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 So the first question we need to ask is what is the will of God?

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 And the Bible speaks of two wills of God.

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 We have his sovereign will and his moral will.

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 So God's sovereign will.

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 And we see this in many different passages in the Bible.

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 But tonight we're going to focus on two verses from Ephesians chapter 1.

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 They're on the screen behind me.

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 But if you have a Bible, please do turn to them.

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 And God's sovereign will basically means that God is in control.

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 So look at Ephesians 1 verses 11 and 12.

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 It says,

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 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.

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 In order that we who were the first to put our hope in Christ might be for the praise of his glory.

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 God's sovereign will can be defined as God's eternal decree set out before the foundation of the world.

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 And that is what Paul is explaining to the Christians in Ephesus.

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 That they were chosen before the creation of the world.

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 Called to be holy.

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 Set apart before they were even born.

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 God's sovereign will means that he knows who his people are.

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 That he has called them to repentance and to belief in the gospel.

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 And they have responded in accordance with the will of God.

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 So God's sovereign will stretches right from Genesis chapter 1.

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 And goes all the way through to Revelation 22.

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 Which is the future that awaits us that has not yet come to pass.

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 God is sovereign.

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 His plan will happen.

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 People will repent and put their trust in Jesus.

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 There will be a day where God will judge the world.

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 And those who follow him.

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 He will take to an eternal glory in his presence in the new creation.

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 And those who reject him.

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 He will send to an eternal punishment.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Those are a few of the elements of this grand sovereign plan of God that we know.

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 But maybe you're like many others in the world.

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 And you're outraged.

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 At this thought that God can be in control of all things.

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 And you're thinking, well, if God is in control, why did he let that happen?

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 Why did he let this happen to me and my family?

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 And those are good, good questions that we will be thinking about in this series.

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 We think that no sovereign God would allow suffering.

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 But just imagine for a moment what the disciples felt as their promised Messiah and friend Jesus Christ nailed to a cross in the most brutal form of murder and execution that exists.

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 You can imagine them asking the same question, can't you?

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 God, why is this happening?

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 How can this really be part of your good plan?

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 God, why is this?

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 God, why is this?

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 Now they didn't know it at the time.

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 But because of our point in history, we can know that the cross, which was the greatest event of suffering that this earth has ever seen,

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 brought about the greatest event of forgiveness that this earth has ever seen.

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 That sinners like you and me can be called, can be forgiven,

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 can be set free from the punishment of sin that we rightfully deserve.

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 God's sovereign will isn't always apparent,

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 but scripture tells us that the God behind that sovereign will is good

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 and he is in control.

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 Now I personally find this to be one of the most comforting truths

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 because regardless of what is happening in my life

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 or how difficult it is,

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 God is using it to serve his sovereign will.

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 And the alternative to this, friends, is that God is not in control

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 and that both good and bad things happen to us by coincidence.

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 That everything is just random and that there is no justice in the end

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 because who is God?

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 That is not what God has promised.

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 God is in control.

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 He knows all things.

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 He sees all things.

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 And there will be a day when every wrong will be made right in his presence.

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 God's sovereign will means that we can have absolute assurance

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 that he is working out our good, as Romans 8, 28 tells us,

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 and that nothing, absolutely nothing in this world can thwart his plan.

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 And it means that our suffering is not meaningless.

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 We just don't see the whole picture as he does.

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 One of the reasons that many people don't like this teaching

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 is because it leaves us in the passenger seat

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 and it leaves God behind the wheel.

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 And whilst we know the destination of an eternity with him,

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 we don't know all the stops on the way.

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 We don't know the details of his plan.

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 And if we're honest, I think that scares us

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 because we like to be in control.

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 We like to know what is happening.

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 We don't know God's sovereign will until we look back over our lives

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 and we might still look back and not understand any of it.

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 But the freedom is that we don't need to understand.

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 Because our creator, our sustainer, our heavenly father,

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 he knows the plan.

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 And his wisdom is far greater than mine.

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 His power and his plan are far greater

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 than we can even begin to comprehend.

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 Scripture calls us to trust God

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 because only he is all-knowing and sovereign.

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 And if we don't or can't believe this,

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 then I think we need to question ourselves

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 whether we have a problem in our own hearts

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 because we're not willing to acknowledge God as Lord of our lives

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 and acknowledge that he has control of all things

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 because he is all-powerful.

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 God's sovereignty doesn't mean that we are mindless robots,

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 but it means that we are beloved children

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 who've been called and adopted into his family.

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 Part of God's sovereign will

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 is that we have been made disciples of Jesus Christ,

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 that we have been forgiven,

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 but it also means that we have to play our part

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 in what we read in Matthew 28,

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 the Great Commission,

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 that we are to be disciples that make disciples.

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 We are to extend that same call to the world

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 to repent and believe the gospel.

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 That is the call to every single human being that is alive.

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 And we are to be ambassadors of Christ wherever we go.

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 That is God's sovereign will.

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 But the Bible also speaks about God's moral will.

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 God's moral will can be defined

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 as the way God wants or wills his people to live.

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 God's moral will is revealed to us in Scripture.

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 And part of that is Matthew 28,

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 that we as Christians have been called

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 from darkness, death, to light and life.

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 And we have responded to the gospel

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 and now we are to take that message to the world.

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 But we still want to know God's specific will

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 for our individual lives, don't we?

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 That's the desire of every heart.

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 But do we really?

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 Or do we actually just pick and choose

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 where we think God can have a say?

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 We say we want to know God's will.

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 Yet all too often we act like hypocrites

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 because we only want to know God's will

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 and involve him in situations that

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 we find ourselves at a loss in.

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 We don't know what to do.

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 Then we cry out for God's will.

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 How many of us ask God

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 if we should accept a promotion at work?

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 Or which school to send our kids to?

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 Or when and where to go on holiday?

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 Or which model of a car we should buy?

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 More often than not, we exclude God

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 and we are very selective in where we want

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 a specific will for our lives and where we don't.

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 When it comes to grasping the will of God,

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 we can often have some misconceptions

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 that go beyond what Scripture teaches us.

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 For example, there's the idea

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 that God has a specific marriage partner

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 out there for you

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 and you must be careful not to marry the wrong person.

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 But the Bible doesn't teach us that.

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 Maybe God won't tell you to go and marry

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 Harry or Sally or Joe

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 or any of these other names that come to mind.

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 But do you know what God does tell you to do?

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 He makes it crystal clear

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 that as a Christian,

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 you are to marry someone of the opposite sex.

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 That you are to marry someone who is godly.

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 But God also says that singleness is good.

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 And that is God's moral will

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 for marriage and singleness.

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 God probably won't tell you

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 the address of the new house you should buy

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 or necessarily the neighborhood

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 that you should move to.

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 But what he does tell us in his word

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 is that we are called to be a community

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 that worships God.

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 And so if you're thinking of moving house,

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 you need to think about

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 how far away am I from a Bible-believing church?

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 That is God's revealed moral will.

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 Or we need to make a conscious effort

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 to make the trip in on a Sunday

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 to gather with our church family.

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 God probably won't tell you

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 which job to apply for.

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 But he does tell you

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 to be the best employee

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 you can be for his glory.

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 And to honor your boss.

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 Now maybe you're sitting there thinking

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 what on earth has gotten into Alistair?

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 Why is he telling us all of this

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 as if it is good news?

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 Well friends, because it is.

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 It means that we're not constantly

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 having to worry or question ourselves

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 if we're in the will of God.

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 And it means that we follow

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 or it means that we have God's moral will

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 revealed to us in Scripture.

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 We need to be obedient to it.

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 So how do we know God's moral will?

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 Well we turn to Scripture.

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 As Psalm 19 says in verses 7 to 9.

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 The law of the Lord is perfect,

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 refreshing the soul.

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 The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,

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 making wise the simple.

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 The precepts of the Lord are right,

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 giving joy to the heart.

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 The commands of the Lord are radiant,

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 giving light to the eyes.

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 The fear of the Lord is pure

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 and enduring forever.

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 The decrees of the Lord are firm

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 and all of them are righteous.

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 So if you want to know God's will,

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 turn to his word.

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 Because it is right there

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 in black and white for us.

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 We're not left guessing.

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 But God's commandments

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 give light to our eyes,

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 meaning that we know where we're going.

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 God's sovereign will

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 might be a mystery to us

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 and we only see it as we look back.

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 But God's moral will

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 is revealed in the pages of Scripture.

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 It is clear and we cannot ignore it.

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 Even if it makes us feel uncomfortable.

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 Christians aren't called to comfort.

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 We're called to be uncomfortable

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 for our great God.

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 God's moral will tells us

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 how we are to live,

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 why we are to live that way,

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 but it doesn't always give us

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 the answer of what.

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 And by that I mean

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 that God's moral will

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 doesn't tell us to choose

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 a specific job,

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 but it tells us to be good employees.

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 It doesn't give us

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 the exact details of our lives,

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 but it tells us

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 how God wants his people to live.

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 Now I'm the kind of person

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 where I like to know the rules.

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 I like to know the boundaries,

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 the do's and don'ts of life

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 or a given task or whatever.

00:16:24.200 --> 00:16:27.000
 But God's moral will

00:16:27.000 --> 00:16:28.940
 cannot be reduced to things like

00:16:28.940 --> 00:16:29.720
 do not murder,

00:16:29.860 --> 00:16:30.520
 do not steal,

00:16:30.640 --> 00:16:31.340
 do not lie.

00:16:32.080 --> 00:16:33.860
 It is much more than that

00:16:33.860 --> 00:16:34.879
 because it is about

00:16:34.879 --> 00:16:36.700
 a whole heart attitude.

00:16:38.759 --> 00:16:40.660
 Because following rules is easy.

00:16:42.259 --> 00:16:44.379
 Having clear black and white boundaries

00:16:44.379 --> 00:16:46.620
 is simple and requires no effort.

00:16:46.620 --> 00:16:49.820
 But the moral will of God

00:16:49.820 --> 00:16:51.419
 is about our hearts.

00:16:52.980 --> 00:16:56.060
 It's described in 1 Thessalonians 4, 3

00:16:56.060 --> 00:16:57.759
 where it says this,

00:16:58.299 --> 00:16:59.560
 it is God's will,

00:17:00.039 --> 00:17:01.139
 God's moral will,

00:17:01.820 --> 00:17:03.779
 that you should be sanctified.

00:17:05.480 --> 00:17:06.400
 And Paul goes on

00:17:06.400 --> 00:17:07.680
 in the following verses

00:17:07.680 --> 00:17:08.599
 to give examples

00:17:08.599 --> 00:17:10.000
 of what that would look like

00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:11.099
 in a person's life.

00:17:12.640 --> 00:17:13.900
 Sanctification means

00:17:13.900 --> 00:17:14.720
 that a Christian

00:17:14.720 --> 00:17:17.200
 is being constantly changed

00:17:17.200 --> 00:17:18.120
 and transformed

00:17:18.120 --> 00:17:19.880
 by the power of the Holy Spirit

00:17:19.880 --> 00:17:21.300
 into the likeness

00:17:21.300 --> 00:17:22.420
 of Jesus Christ.

00:17:24.500 --> 00:17:26.060
 So God's moral will

00:17:26.060 --> 00:17:27.519
 means that we take our cues

00:17:27.519 --> 00:17:28.240
 from Scripture,

00:17:29.560 --> 00:17:30.660
 that we seek to live

00:17:30.660 --> 00:17:32.640
 in a way that glorifies God

00:17:32.640 --> 00:17:33.860
 and it boils down

00:17:33.860 --> 00:17:35.420
 to godly decision making.

00:17:37.180 --> 00:17:38.759
 The Bible enables us

00:17:38.759 --> 00:17:39.300
 to do that.

00:17:39.299 --> 00:17:42.339
 God has given us brains

00:17:42.339 --> 00:17:43.460
 and common sense

00:17:43.460 --> 00:17:44.460
 to make decisions.

00:17:45.740 --> 00:17:46.819
 But we always need

00:17:46.819 --> 00:17:47.440
 to make sure

00:17:47.440 --> 00:17:48.419
 that our motivations

00:17:48.419 --> 00:17:49.460
 are pure

00:17:49.460 --> 00:17:51.659
 and that the end goal

00:17:51.659 --> 00:17:53.680
 is always God's glory.

00:17:55.139 --> 00:17:56.480
 Now God has gifted

00:17:56.480 --> 00:17:58.539
 each and every one of us

00:17:58.539 --> 00:17:59.359
 here this evening

00:17:59.359 --> 00:18:00.200
 with skills,

00:18:00.720 --> 00:18:01.480
 with talents,

00:18:01.639 --> 00:18:02.319
 with passions,

00:18:02.839 --> 00:18:03.599
 and with abilities

00:18:03.599 --> 00:18:04.539
 that we can use

00:18:04.539 --> 00:18:05.319
 for His glory.

00:18:06.879 --> 00:18:08.700
 The Bible doesn't tell us

00:18:08.700 --> 00:18:09.900
 to try and find out

00:18:09.900 --> 00:18:11.019
 some kind of grand

00:18:11.019 --> 00:18:12.019
 master plan

00:18:12.019 --> 00:18:13.019
 of God's

00:18:13.019 --> 00:18:14.480
 for our individual lives.

00:18:14.980 --> 00:18:16.039
 But it tells us

00:18:16.039 --> 00:18:17.160
 to recognize the gifts

00:18:17.160 --> 00:18:18.160
 that He has given us

00:18:18.160 --> 00:18:20.200
 and to put them to use

00:18:20.200 --> 00:18:21.240
 for His kingdom.

00:18:22.319 --> 00:18:23.940
 To search His word

00:18:23.940 --> 00:18:25.960
 and make godly decisions.

00:18:27.920 --> 00:18:29.380
 Now I am more than happy

00:18:29.380 --> 00:18:30.460
 to focus on that

00:18:30.460 --> 00:18:31.740
 general plan of God

00:18:31.740 --> 00:18:33.240
 and live obediently

00:18:33.240 --> 00:18:34.720
 than to demand

00:18:34.720 --> 00:18:36.559
 a specific will

00:18:36.559 --> 00:18:37.559
 for my life.

00:18:37.559 --> 00:18:39.139
 because we are still

00:18:39.139 --> 00:18:39.919
 nowhere near

00:18:39.919 --> 00:18:41.399
 finishing the great commission

00:18:41.399 --> 00:18:42.980
 that Jesus gave us

00:18:42.980 --> 00:18:43.879
 in Matthew 28.

00:18:43.980 --> 00:18:44.899
 So why should we worry

00:18:44.899 --> 00:18:45.799
 about anything else?

00:18:48.440 --> 00:18:50.279
 The call on your life

00:18:50.279 --> 00:18:51.720
 is to go into the world

00:18:51.720 --> 00:18:52.960
 and to share the gospel.

00:18:54.639 --> 00:18:55.819
 To be ambassadors

00:18:55.819 --> 00:18:56.659
 for Christ.

00:18:57.759 --> 00:18:58.679
 And the way we live

00:18:58.679 --> 00:18:59.579
 out that calling

00:18:59.579 --> 00:19:01.359
 will be very different

00:19:01.359 --> 00:19:02.299
 for different people.

00:19:03.019 --> 00:19:03.879
 For some,

00:19:03.940 --> 00:19:04.980
 it will mean living it out

00:19:04.980 --> 00:19:05.720
 in the workplace.

00:19:06.900 --> 00:19:07.660
 For some,

00:19:07.740 --> 00:19:08.819
 it will mean living it out

00:19:08.819 --> 00:19:09.400
 at home

00:19:09.400 --> 00:19:10.200
 as you look after

00:19:10.200 --> 00:19:11.279
 the kids full time.

00:19:11.660 --> 00:19:12.160
 For some,

00:19:12.240 --> 00:19:12.920
 it will mean

00:19:12.920 --> 00:19:13.900
 in retirement

00:19:13.900 --> 00:19:16.299
 meeting up with people

00:19:16.299 --> 00:19:16.940
 for coffee.

00:19:17.900 --> 00:19:18.700
 And for some of us,

00:19:18.740 --> 00:19:19.140
 it will mean

00:19:19.140 --> 00:19:20.120
 full time ministry.

00:19:22.880 --> 00:19:24.000
 But the truth is

00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:24.900
 that Matthew 28

00:19:24.900 --> 00:19:25.700
 is God's will.

00:19:26.440 --> 00:19:27.339
 And the question is,

00:19:27.400 --> 00:19:28.440
 are you living it out?

00:19:28.440 --> 00:19:32.740
 some people want

00:19:32.740 --> 00:19:34.500
 to have a Damascus road,

00:19:34.700 --> 00:19:35.700
 a burning bush,

00:19:35.960 --> 00:19:37.960
 a Mount Sinai experience

00:19:37.960 --> 00:19:40.799
 where God miraculously

00:19:40.799 --> 00:19:43.059
 intervenes and calls people.

00:19:44.980 --> 00:19:46.420
 But those things happen

00:19:46.420 --> 00:19:48.019
 to very specific people

00:19:48.019 --> 00:19:50.600
 for very specific tasks

00:19:50.600 --> 00:19:51.940
 at a very specific time

00:19:51.940 --> 00:19:53.320
 in history for God's people.

00:19:55.080 --> 00:19:56.500
 The task that we've been

00:19:56.500 --> 00:19:57.480
 called to is to live

00:19:57.480 --> 00:19:58.279
 holy lives

00:19:58.279 --> 00:19:58.839
 that are built

00:19:58.839 --> 00:19:59.740
 on the foundation

00:19:59.740 --> 00:20:00.420
 of Scripture.

00:20:01.120 --> 00:20:02.620
 To live intentionally

00:20:02.620 --> 00:20:03.980
 as we put the Bible

00:20:03.980 --> 00:20:05.000
 into practice

00:20:05.000 --> 00:20:06.319
 and live lives

00:20:06.319 --> 00:20:07.500
 which glorify God.

00:20:09.839 --> 00:20:10.360
 Practically,

00:20:10.460 --> 00:20:10.980
 this means

00:20:10.980 --> 00:20:12.000
 asking yourself,

00:20:13.079 --> 00:20:14.240
 am I loving God

00:20:14.240 --> 00:20:15.339
 with all of my heart

00:20:15.339 --> 00:20:16.140
 with this decision?

00:20:19.019 --> 00:20:20.180
 Am I loving

00:20:20.180 --> 00:20:21.539
 or hurting others

00:20:21.539 --> 00:20:22.400
 with this decision?

00:20:23.819 --> 00:20:25.220
 Am I standing up

00:20:25.220 --> 00:20:26.200
 for God's truth

00:20:26.200 --> 00:20:27.160
 if I take this

00:20:27.160 --> 00:20:28.100
 or that action?

00:20:29.840 --> 00:20:30.319
 Friends,

00:20:30.400 --> 00:20:31.259
 if you want to know

00:20:31.259 --> 00:20:32.559
 God's will for your life,

00:20:33.460 --> 00:20:34.779
 turn to the wonderful

00:20:34.779 --> 00:20:35.900
 word of the Lord

00:20:35.900 --> 00:20:37.080
 because that is where

00:20:37.080 --> 00:20:39.019
 you find the radiant light

00:20:39.019 --> 00:20:40.539
 which gives light

00:20:40.539 --> 00:20:41.480
 to our eyes.

00:20:43.840 --> 00:20:45.420
 Once we understand that,

00:20:46.220 --> 00:20:47.940
 then every single decision

00:20:47.940 --> 00:20:49.940
 we make in our life

00:20:49.940 --> 00:20:50.559
 will be weighed

00:20:50.559 --> 00:20:52.220
 by asking the following

00:20:52.220 --> 00:20:53.019
 two questions.

00:20:53.019 --> 00:20:55.059
 does this decision

00:20:55.059 --> 00:20:56.160
 glorify God?

00:20:57.920 --> 00:20:59.259
 And is it me

00:20:59.259 --> 00:21:00.160
 being faithful

00:21:00.160 --> 00:21:01.339
 to God's

00:21:01.339 --> 00:21:02.599
 revealed moral

00:21:02.599 --> 00:21:03.740
 will in Scripture?

00:21:03.740 --> 00:21:07.160
 So that is what

00:21:07.160 --> 00:21:08.200
 the Bible says

00:21:08.200 --> 00:21:09.079
 about the will

00:21:09.079 --> 00:21:09.740
 of God.

00:21:10.940 --> 00:21:11.960
 But the question

00:21:11.960 --> 00:21:12.640
 remains,

00:21:12.920 --> 00:21:14.940
 how do we live it out?

00:21:15.539 --> 00:21:16.700
 We see God's

00:21:16.700 --> 00:21:17.259
 sovereign will,

00:21:17.339 --> 00:21:18.120
 we see God's

00:21:18.120 --> 00:21:18.599
 moral will,

00:21:18.680 --> 00:21:19.279
 but what does it

00:21:19.279 --> 00:21:20.099
 mean for us?

00:21:22.660 --> 00:21:24.019
 How do we live it out?

00:21:24.519 --> 00:21:25.579
 And this boils down

00:21:25.579 --> 00:21:27.220
 to godly decision making.

00:21:27.620 --> 00:21:29.019
 How do we make decisions

00:21:29.019 --> 00:21:30.220
 that consciously

00:21:30.220 --> 00:21:32.440
 glorify God

00:21:32.440 --> 00:21:33.360
 and live according

00:21:33.360 --> 00:21:34.680
 to his revealed will?

00:21:35.079 --> 00:21:36.120
 Well, the first thing

00:21:36.120 --> 00:21:37.319
 is that we pray.

00:21:39.240 --> 00:21:40.700
 Prayer is an expression

00:21:40.700 --> 00:21:42.079
 of dependence on God

00:21:42.079 --> 00:21:43.319
 and so we need to pray

00:21:43.319 --> 00:21:43.980
 for wisdom.

00:21:45.339 --> 00:21:46.500
 Pray for the Holy Spirit

00:21:46.500 --> 00:21:48.200
 to help us have strength

00:21:48.200 --> 00:21:49.240
 to make the decision

00:21:49.240 --> 00:21:49.940
 that is in line

00:21:49.940 --> 00:21:50.500
 with Scripture.

00:21:52.819 --> 00:21:54.279
 And that is for the good

00:21:54.279 --> 00:21:55.160
 of God's kingdom.

00:21:57.000 --> 00:21:57.839
 Numerous times

00:21:57.839 --> 00:21:58.380
 in the Bible

00:21:58.380 --> 00:21:59.360
 we're told to bring

00:21:59.360 --> 00:21:59.960
 our prayers

00:21:59.960 --> 00:22:00.920
 before the Lord.

00:22:02.800 --> 00:22:03.560
 And God

00:22:03.560 --> 00:22:04.520
 in his wisdom

00:22:04.520 --> 00:22:05.360
 has given us

00:22:05.360 --> 00:22:06.500
 countless examples

00:22:06.500 --> 00:22:07.460
 of what biblical

00:22:07.460 --> 00:22:09.260
 prayer looks like.

00:22:10.740 --> 00:22:11.220
 And yet,

00:22:11.300 --> 00:22:12.360
 doesn't it still seem

00:22:12.360 --> 00:22:13.320
 to be the last thing

00:22:13.320 --> 00:22:14.160
 that comes to mind

00:22:14.160 --> 00:22:14.960
 when we have a decision

00:22:14.960 --> 00:22:15.460
 to make?

00:22:17.500 --> 00:22:18.580
 We jump to our

00:22:18.580 --> 00:22:19.300
 own resources

00:22:19.300 --> 00:22:20.200
 before we turn

00:22:20.200 --> 00:22:21.140
 to the eternal God

00:22:21.140 --> 00:22:22.100
 who knows and gives

00:22:22.100 --> 00:22:22.820
 us all things.

00:22:24.980 --> 00:22:26.460
 But our first response

00:22:26.460 --> 00:22:27.300
 when it comes to

00:22:27.300 --> 00:22:28.180
 making a decision

00:22:28.180 --> 00:22:29.480
 should be to pray.

00:22:31.660 --> 00:22:32.299
 And maybe you're

00:22:32.299 --> 00:22:32.660
 thinking,

00:22:32.840 --> 00:22:32.980
 well,

00:22:33.039 --> 00:22:33.840
 if God is sovereign,

00:22:33.980 --> 00:22:34.580
 what difference

00:22:34.580 --> 00:22:35.580
 do my prayers make?

00:22:36.480 --> 00:22:37.240
 And that is a great

00:22:37.240 --> 00:22:38.160
 question and I'm not

00:22:38.160 --> 00:22:38.820
 dodging it,

00:22:39.180 --> 00:22:40.420
 but please come back

00:22:40.420 --> 00:22:41.700
 on the 17th of November

00:22:41.700 --> 00:22:42.460
 and we'll be thinking

00:22:42.460 --> 00:22:43.400
 about that question

00:22:43.400 --> 00:22:44.820
 and leave all your

00:22:44.820 --> 00:22:45.519
 hard questions

00:22:45.519 --> 00:22:45.940
 to them.

00:22:47.920 --> 00:22:48.940
 But in prayer,

00:22:49.080 --> 00:22:50.400
 we offer our lives

00:22:50.400 --> 00:22:51.820
 to God

00:22:51.820 --> 00:22:52.700
 and we acknowledge

00:22:52.700 --> 00:22:53.539
 him as King

00:22:53.539 --> 00:22:54.200
 and Lord.

00:22:54.200 --> 00:22:54.259
 God.

00:22:56.259 --> 00:22:57.539
 So we need to pray

00:22:57.539 --> 00:22:58.480
 for our decisions

00:22:58.480 --> 00:23:00.779
 and stop ourselves

00:23:00.779 --> 00:23:01.620
 from being sucked

00:23:01.620 --> 00:23:02.680
 into the rampant

00:23:02.680 --> 00:23:03.960
 individualism that

00:23:03.960 --> 00:23:05.019
 society pushes

00:23:05.019 --> 00:23:05.920
 and remember

00:23:05.920 --> 00:23:07.680
 that we are called

00:23:07.680 --> 00:23:08.319
 to gather with

00:23:08.319 --> 00:23:09.100
 the Lord's people,

00:23:10.100 --> 00:23:10.920
 that we are new

00:23:10.920 --> 00:23:11.900
 creations called

00:23:11.900 --> 00:23:13.059
 to glorify God

00:23:13.059 --> 00:23:14.120
 in every area

00:23:14.120 --> 00:23:14.799
 of our lives.

00:23:14.860 --> 00:23:15.740
 So the first thing

00:23:15.740 --> 00:23:16.779
 we do

00:23:16.779 --> 00:23:17.980
 when we think

00:23:17.980 --> 00:23:18.880
 of making a decision

00:23:18.880 --> 00:23:19.700
 is we pray.

00:23:19.700 --> 00:23:22.200
 Secondly,

00:23:22.440 --> 00:23:23.059
 we seek

00:23:23.059 --> 00:23:24.220
 godly counsel.

00:23:25.779 --> 00:23:26.759
 God has not

00:23:26.759 --> 00:23:27.460
 called us

00:23:27.460 --> 00:23:28.319
 and saved us

00:23:28.319 --> 00:23:29.700
 to live in isolation.

00:23:30.759 --> 00:23:31.720
 We are called

00:23:31.720 --> 00:23:32.220
 to gather

00:23:32.220 --> 00:23:33.279
 with other believers

00:23:33.279 --> 00:23:35.580
 and thankfully

00:23:35.580 --> 00:23:36.500
 God has given us

00:23:36.500 --> 00:23:37.580
 a spiritual family

00:23:37.580 --> 00:23:38.480
 in the church

00:23:38.480 --> 00:23:39.819
 that has a wealth

00:23:39.819 --> 00:23:41.460
 of real life experience

00:23:41.460 --> 00:23:44.900
 and a place

00:23:44.900 --> 00:23:45.519
 that is full

00:23:45.519 --> 00:23:46.200
 of spiritually

00:23:46.200 --> 00:23:47.240
 mature believers

00:23:47.240 --> 00:23:48.140
 that we can go

00:23:48.140 --> 00:23:49.120
 and learn from.

00:23:50.259 --> 00:23:51.660
 So younger people,

00:23:52.559 --> 00:23:53.700
 seek the wisdom

00:23:53.700 --> 00:23:54.680
 and experience

00:23:54.680 --> 00:23:55.340
 of older,

00:23:55.500 --> 00:23:56.580
 more mature believers.

00:23:58.460 --> 00:23:59.740
 But if you're older,

00:24:00.720 --> 00:24:02.019
 learn from the experience

00:24:02.019 --> 00:24:03.059
 of the younger generation

00:24:03.059 --> 00:24:03.539
 as well.

00:24:05.360 --> 00:24:06.819
 We can all learn

00:24:06.819 --> 00:24:07.860
 something from each other.

00:24:07.960 --> 00:24:08.720
 We are not called

00:24:08.720 --> 00:24:09.779
 to struggle alone.

00:24:09.940 --> 00:24:10.580
 God has given us

00:24:10.580 --> 00:24:11.840
 community for a reason.

00:24:12.720 --> 00:24:13.580
 Let's use it.

00:24:14.440 --> 00:24:15.700
 Let's be disciples

00:24:15.700 --> 00:24:17.319
 that help fellow disciples

00:24:17.319 --> 00:24:18.600
 live according

00:24:18.599 --> 00:24:20.000
 to God's moral will.

00:24:20.559 --> 00:24:21.639
 So here's a challenge

00:24:21.639 --> 00:24:22.159
 for you.

00:24:23.679 --> 00:24:24.579
 Why don't you speak

00:24:24.579 --> 00:24:25.059
 to someone

00:24:25.059 --> 00:24:26.399
 of a different generation

00:24:26.399 --> 00:24:28.019
 and commit to

00:24:28.019 --> 00:24:29.240
 every few months

00:24:29.240 --> 00:24:30.599
 meeting up

00:24:30.599 --> 00:24:31.699
 for a coffee together,

00:24:32.399 --> 00:24:33.439
 praying and reading

00:24:33.439 --> 00:24:34.859
 the Bible together?

00:24:35.579 --> 00:24:37.059
 I've hugely benefited

00:24:37.059 --> 00:24:38.259
 from these times

00:24:38.259 --> 00:24:39.039
 in my life

00:24:39.039 --> 00:24:40.219
 with people

00:24:40.219 --> 00:24:40.939
 who are younger,

00:24:41.699 --> 00:24:42.019
 older,

00:24:42.019 --> 00:24:43.159
 and the same age

00:24:43.159 --> 00:24:43.980
 as myself.

00:24:43.980 --> 00:24:46.920
 seeking God's will

00:24:46.920 --> 00:24:47.500
 doesn't mean

00:24:47.500 --> 00:24:48.380
 that the other person,

00:24:48.819 --> 00:24:49.880
 seeking godly counsel

00:24:49.880 --> 00:24:50.539
 doesn't mean

00:24:50.539 --> 00:24:51.380
 that the other person

00:24:51.380 --> 00:24:52.279
 will have the answer

00:24:52.279 --> 00:24:53.299
 that you're looking for.

00:24:54.140 --> 00:24:55.059
 But it means

00:24:55.059 --> 00:24:55.640
 that you have

00:24:55.640 --> 00:24:56.539
 a fellow Christian

00:24:56.539 --> 00:24:58.400
 who comes alongside you,

00:24:58.500 --> 00:24:59.319
 supports you,

00:24:59.579 --> 00:25:00.519
 and upholds you

00:25:00.519 --> 00:25:01.180
 in prayer

00:25:01.180 --> 00:25:02.680
 as you both

00:25:02.680 --> 00:25:03.519
 seek to live

00:25:03.519 --> 00:25:04.279
 faithfully

00:25:04.279 --> 00:25:06.079
 for our great God.

00:25:08.079 --> 00:25:08.599
 Thirdly,

00:25:09.079 --> 00:25:10.200
 how do I live out

00:25:10.200 --> 00:25:12.440
 God's will?

00:25:13.039 --> 00:25:13.299
 Well,

00:25:13.360 --> 00:25:14.160
 we obey Scripture.

00:25:17.039 --> 00:25:18.100
 Living according

00:25:18.100 --> 00:25:19.080
 to the will of God

00:25:19.080 --> 00:25:20.940
 is by obeying Scripture,

00:25:21.019 --> 00:25:21.720
 and that should go

00:25:21.720 --> 00:25:22.380
 without saying,

00:25:22.480 --> 00:25:23.039
 but sadly,

00:25:24.019 --> 00:25:25.180
 because of our sinful

00:25:25.180 --> 00:25:26.519
 and selfish desires,

00:25:26.860 --> 00:25:27.759
 it isn't a given.

00:25:29.319 --> 00:25:30.299
 As Christians,

00:25:30.299 --> 00:25:31.420
 we should be known

00:25:31.420 --> 00:25:32.059
 as people

00:25:32.059 --> 00:25:33.480
 who love the Lord,

00:25:33.700 --> 00:25:35.220
 who love His Word,

00:25:35.660 --> 00:25:37.160
 and who build our lives

00:25:37.160 --> 00:25:38.100
 upon the truths

00:25:38.100 --> 00:25:38.840
 of Scripture,

00:25:38.839 --> 00:25:40.459
 and people

00:25:40.459 --> 00:25:41.319
 who obey it,

00:25:41.379 --> 00:25:41.980
 even though

00:25:41.980 --> 00:25:42.720
 that will mean

00:25:42.720 --> 00:25:43.679
 we deny ourselves

00:25:43.679 --> 00:25:44.559
 certain things.

00:25:48.199 --> 00:25:49.439
 In this book,

00:25:50.019 --> 00:25:51.339
 we have God's

00:25:51.339 --> 00:25:52.539
 revealed will.

00:25:53.299 --> 00:25:54.299
 We're not left guessing.

00:25:55.259 --> 00:25:56.459
 We're not left

00:25:56.459 --> 00:25:57.299
 in the dark,

00:25:57.500 --> 00:25:58.959
 stumbling about blind,

00:25:59.439 --> 00:26:00.699
 but we have been given

00:26:00.699 --> 00:26:02.000
 God's moral will

00:26:02.000 --> 00:26:03.099
 that we need to follow.

00:26:04.799 --> 00:26:05.899
 And if the Bible

00:26:05.899 --> 00:26:06.619
 speaks about

00:26:06.619 --> 00:26:07.459
 our situation,

00:26:07.460 --> 00:26:08.660
 then we need

00:26:08.660 --> 00:26:09.579
 to submit to it.

00:26:10.319 --> 00:26:11.920
 We need to obey it,

00:26:12.420 --> 00:26:14.900
 even if it's difficult.

00:26:16.779 --> 00:26:18.100
 And the wonderful news

00:26:18.100 --> 00:26:19.019
 is that we have not

00:26:19.019 --> 00:26:19.920
 been left to do

00:26:19.920 --> 00:26:21.279
 this task by ourselves,

00:26:21.279 --> 00:26:22.460
 but as Romans 5

00:26:22.460 --> 00:26:22.980
 tells us,

00:26:23.039 --> 00:26:23.740
 please go away

00:26:23.740 --> 00:26:24.240
 and read

00:26:24.240 --> 00:26:26.120
 that wonderful chapter.

00:26:27.519 --> 00:26:28.140
 In it,

00:26:28.220 --> 00:26:29.039
 we see that God

00:26:29.039 --> 00:26:29.700
 has given us

00:26:29.700 --> 00:26:30.779
 the Holy Spirit

00:26:30.779 --> 00:26:33.120
 who is within us

00:26:33.120 --> 00:26:34.000
 and who gives us

00:26:34.000 --> 00:26:35.279
 strength to live

00:26:35.279 --> 00:26:36.519
 according to the Bible.

00:26:36.519 --> 00:26:38.740
 the Holy Spirit

00:26:38.740 --> 00:26:39.400
 is at work

00:26:39.400 --> 00:26:39.980
 in the lives

00:26:39.980 --> 00:26:40.680
 of Christians

00:26:40.680 --> 00:26:42.440
 and he helps us

00:26:42.440 --> 00:26:43.500
 become more and more

00:26:43.500 --> 00:26:44.079
 like Jesus

00:26:44.079 --> 00:26:45.480
 every single day.

00:26:45.559 --> 00:26:46.400
 The process

00:26:46.400 --> 00:26:48.660
 that 1 Thessalonians 4

00:26:48.660 --> 00:26:49.339
 calls

00:26:49.339 --> 00:26:50.559
 sanctification.

00:26:51.859 --> 00:26:52.940
 And lastly,

00:26:53.680 --> 00:26:54.839
 how do I live out

00:26:54.839 --> 00:26:55.460
 God's will?

00:26:55.980 --> 00:26:56.440
 Well,

00:26:56.440 --> 00:26:57.259
 we need to act.

00:26:57.259 --> 00:27:00.740
 we can and should

00:27:00.740 --> 00:27:01.379
 do everything

00:27:01.379 --> 00:27:02.680
 that we can do

00:27:02.680 --> 00:27:04.160
 to live according

00:27:04.160 --> 00:27:05.500
 to God's revealed will,

00:27:05.599 --> 00:27:06.700
 but there will come

00:27:06.700 --> 00:27:07.700
 a time where we have

00:27:07.700 --> 00:27:08.180
 prayed,

00:27:09.099 --> 00:27:10.059
 where we have sought

00:27:10.059 --> 00:27:10.859
 godly counsel,

00:27:10.980 --> 00:27:12.900
 where we have scoured

00:27:12.900 --> 00:27:13.640
 through Scripture

00:27:13.640 --> 00:27:14.460
 and we're living

00:27:14.460 --> 00:27:15.220
 obediently.

00:27:16.279 --> 00:27:16.839
 And sometimes

00:27:16.839 --> 00:27:17.920
 we just need to make

00:27:17.920 --> 00:27:18.440
 a decision

00:27:18.440 --> 00:27:19.220
 and do it.

00:27:19.220 --> 00:27:22.880
 And the motivation

00:27:22.880 --> 00:27:23.779
 for our action

00:27:23.779 --> 00:27:24.980
 should always be

00:27:24.980 --> 00:27:26.420
 to see God glorified,

00:27:26.960 --> 00:27:28.740
 to see His church

00:27:28.740 --> 00:27:29.360
 built up

00:27:29.360 --> 00:27:30.299
 and to see the gospel

00:27:30.299 --> 00:27:31.819
 spread across the world

00:27:31.819 --> 00:27:32.839
 as we are disciples

00:27:32.839 --> 00:27:34.319
 who go into the world

00:27:34.319 --> 00:27:35.160
 and make disciples.

00:27:37.440 --> 00:27:38.380
 And all of that

00:27:38.380 --> 00:27:38.880
 should be done

00:27:38.880 --> 00:27:39.740
 for God's glory,

00:27:39.860 --> 00:27:40.700
 not for our own.

00:27:42.720 --> 00:27:44.140
 So God's moral will

00:27:44.140 --> 00:27:45.019
 has been revealed

00:27:45.019 --> 00:27:45.980
 to us in Scripture

00:27:45.980 --> 00:27:47.339
 and we should seek

00:27:47.339 --> 00:27:48.779
 to live according to it.

00:27:50.220 --> 00:27:51.279
 God's sovereign will

00:27:51.279 --> 00:27:52.799
 has not been revealed

00:27:52.799 --> 00:27:54.459
 to us in all of its detail,

00:27:54.699 --> 00:27:55.799
 but it is unfolding

00:27:55.799 --> 00:27:56.720
 as we speak.

00:27:58.459 --> 00:27:59.319
 And praise the Lord

00:27:59.319 --> 00:27:59.959
 that we don't need

00:27:59.959 --> 00:28:01.199
 to know His sovereign will,

00:28:01.839 --> 00:28:03.199
 but our task

00:28:03.199 --> 00:28:04.939
 is to live obedient lives

00:28:04.939 --> 00:28:06.740
 and to glorify Him

00:28:06.740 --> 00:28:07.500
 in everything.

00:28:08.619 --> 00:28:09.559
 Let's pray together.

00:28:13.500 --> 00:28:14.220
 Heavenly Father,

00:28:14.319 --> 00:28:14.839
 we thank You

00:28:14.839 --> 00:28:15.500
 that You have not

00:28:15.500 --> 00:28:16.279
 left us alone

00:28:16.279 --> 00:28:16.839
 in this world

00:28:16.839 --> 00:28:17.259
 guessing.

00:28:17.339 --> 00:28:20.799
 that we don't have

00:28:20.799 --> 00:28:21.799
 to worry about

00:28:21.799 --> 00:28:22.539
 what Your will

00:28:22.539 --> 00:28:23.379
 for our lives is,

00:28:23.459 --> 00:28:24.119
 but that we can

00:28:24.119 --> 00:28:25.179
 turn to Your Word

00:28:25.179 --> 00:28:26.000
 and see that You

00:28:26.000 --> 00:28:27.299
 have revealed it to us.

00:28:28.439 --> 00:28:29.339
 You've called us

00:28:29.339 --> 00:28:29.980
 to be holy

00:28:29.980 --> 00:28:31.000
 because You are holy.

00:28:32.859 --> 00:28:33.679
 You've called us

00:28:33.679 --> 00:28:34.359
 to be perfect

00:28:34.359 --> 00:28:35.899
 because You are perfect.

00:28:38.119 --> 00:28:39.159
 And Holy Spirit,

00:28:39.279 --> 00:28:39.899
 we pray that You

00:28:39.899 --> 00:28:40.679
 would help us

00:28:40.679 --> 00:28:41.519
 do that.

00:28:42.799 --> 00:28:43.679
 Help us make

00:28:43.679 --> 00:28:44.619
 godly decisions

00:28:44.619 --> 00:28:45.500
 which bring

00:28:45.500 --> 00:28:47.460
 God all of the glory

00:28:47.460 --> 00:28:49.640
 which are for

00:28:49.640 --> 00:28:51.559
 our own spiritual benefit

00:28:51.559 --> 00:28:52.980
 and for the spiritual benefit

00:28:52.980 --> 00:28:53.700
 of the church

00:28:53.700 --> 00:28:55.019
 that You have gathered us in.

00:28:55.960 --> 00:28:56.440
 Father,

00:28:56.519 --> 00:28:57.000
 we thank You

00:28:57.000 --> 00:28:57.500
 that You have not

00:28:57.500 --> 00:28:58.240
 left us alone.

00:29:00.099 --> 00:29:01.559
 In Jesus' name we pray.

00:29:01.559 --> 00:29:02.759
 Amen.

00:29:02.759 --> 00:29:02.819
 Amen.

00:29:02.819 --> 00:29:08.460
 that You have happened and

00:29:08.460 --> 00:29:09.919
 need to feel love and

00:29:09.919 --> 00:29:10.220
 exciting.

00:29:10.220 --> 00:29:10.359
 Thank you.

00:29:10.359 --> 00:29:12.039
 After

00:29:12.039 --> 00:29:15.119
 the reading

00:29:15.159 --> 00:29:15.559
 i have sent you

00:29:16.079 --> 00:29:17.439
 to see thatSP

00:29:17.439 --> 00:29:17.579
 дней

00:29:17.759 --> 00:29:20.279
 that you love