All right, 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 verses 1 through 8.
It says,
Not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God.
That no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter,
because the Lord is an avenger in all these things,
as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you.
For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness.
Therefore, whoever disregards this,
disregards not man, but God,
who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
Let's pray.
Heavenly Father, we are so grateful, God,
that you have not left us alone,
that you have given us instruction,
that you've given us the very instruction
of how you would have us to live life,
and how you would have us to walk in your will.
God, you revealed that to us.
And today as we discuss this,
I pray that you would give us eyes of understanding
and speak to our hearts.
And Lord, we just want to enjoy this time in your word.
It's in your name I pray.
Amen.
So this is, I want to talk about the idea of God's will,
and specifically in life as we walk in his will.
I know that, I know you all well enough,
pretty much most of you,
to know that these things come up on a regular basis, right?
There's big questions all the time,
especially depending on where we are in age.
Those questions sort of change, you know.
How many Tylenol do I take when I get up in the morning?
As my age, that's something that's important,
you know, those kind of things.
Maybe yours are different.
Maybe the things you think about.
But I know that these issues in life are daily.
The questions that we have to answer
in terms of how does God want me to live
and behave and act are every day.
Even right now,
how many of these decisions did you make
just coming here to this point this morning?
The good thing is the Lord leads in the small
and he leads in the great.
And to him, there really is no difference.
A day is like a thousand years.
God is way different than us.
His ways are way higher than ours.
We can get caught up in things very, very easily
that trip us up and may cause us anxiety
or to worry or whatever the case might be.
Not to God.
The decisions are very clear
because he makes his will clear to us.
And if we follow that,
whether the decision is a small one or a big one,
he is leading us in it.
And so that's what I want to talk about this morning.
I realized that in this conversation
and in my study,
one of the things that I want to do
is start with a concept of the terms
that we're talking about.
Because I even, just thinking this through,
there are terms that sometimes we can get confused
or mistaken in different ways.
So the first thing I want to talk about
is just this term of God's will.
Essentially, there are two parts to God's will.
There is the first part we'll talk about,
which is his will of decree
or his sovereign will.
Daniel chapter 4, 34 and 35.
This is Nebuchadnezzar's praise.
And in that he says,
for his gods, for his dominion
is an everlasting dominion.
And his kingdom endures from generation to generation.
All the inhabitants of the earth
are accounted as nothing.
And he does according to his will
among the host of heaven
and among the inhabitants of the earth.
And none can stay his hand
or say to him,
what have you done?
Nobody can do that.
It's,
his will of decree is sovereign.
So what God decides to do,
he will do.
And nothing will change that.
From the very largest things,
creation itself,
to the very smallest things,
Jesus talks about the flowers
and the birds of the air
and how he cares for them.
So all of that
is,
is part of God's will of decree
as he chooses.
This cannot be broken.
It will always come to pass.
What God says that will happen,
will happen.
Whether we believe that or not,
it will happen.
The second part of God's will
is his will of command or decision.
You might also hear this
as his moral will.
This is what we read
in the first Thessalonians four verses.
Finally,
then brothers,
we ask you,
we ask and urge you
in the Lord Jesus
that as you receive from us
how you ought to walk
and to please God
just as you're doing.
Received that word
from them
how you ought to walk
just as you're doing
that you do so
more and more.
For you know
what instructions
we gave you
through the Lord Jesus.
For this is the will of God,
your sanctification,
your growth,
your Christ-likeness.
That's God's will
for you as a believer
in Jesus.
God's will of command
is what we are instructed
to follow
and it is in his word.
We have it.
He revealed it to us.
Unfortunately,
this part of God's will
is broken
on a daily basis.
by each one of us.
When we sin,
we break
his will
of command.
But
the command
is his will.
But he allows us
to walk that out.
God's revealed will
in a word
is the Bible.
That's what he gives us.
He reveals this to us.
He tells us
exactly what it is
and then
prints it.
And we can read that
and understand that
and dive into that.
Hebrews chapter 4
verse 12.
For the word of God
is living
and active,
sharper than any
two-edged sword,
piercing to the division
of soul
and of spirit,
of joints
and of marrow,
and discerning
the thoughts
and intentions
of the heart.
And no creature
is hidden
from his sight,
but all are naked
and exposed
to the eyes
of him
to whom
we must give account.
that's his word.
That's the book
or the representation
digitally
in your hand.
It's his word.
That's what he's
talking about there.
That's the thing
that divides
and exposes
and shows us
how we're to live life.
His word,
one thing there
it says
is it exposes.
It gets to our motives
and our thoughts.
Nothing is hidden.
When we go
to the scripture
and let's take
this idea
of having to make
a decision
of some kind.
When we go
to the scripture
and we apply
what God says
to our motives
through his word,
we let
that double-edged sword
divide
our wrong thinking
from his right thinking.
when we let that happen
decisions then
are much easier
and his will
is discerned
much more clearly.
His word is active.
This is not just
an abstract principle.
This book
is not just
stories
and things
that are interesting
to just go over
or whatever.
It is active.
It's dynamic
and effective
and we must believe
the inerrant word
of God
is more
than simply
a text.
It's active
in our life
and we apply it
as such.
And when we don't
that's when
we result
in our own thinking
in our own ways
and fall
into trouble.
Third thing
is
the word
combats
self-deception.
In other words
truth
when applied
exposes
heartless
self-deceived
obedience.
A lot of times
in
decision making
or as we go
about life
it is easy
for us
to
become
self-deceived
to see
or
in other words
we want
to do
what we want
to do
and so
we'll make
provision
for that.
If we
open heartedly
go to the word
that will
destroy
our self-deception
because
we'll either
have to choose
to continue
to lie
to ourselves
or
we will
accept
what God
is saying
and let that
apply to our
hearts
and repent
and change
confess that.
That's what
the Bible
will do.
When a person
says this
to themselves
that they are
doing the right
thing
but the Bible
actually says
something
different
that's when
our self-deception
goes by the wayside
when we recognize
that.
We bend to him
we change
to his
word
that's the way
that that should go.
The second term
I want to talk about
is God's plan.
His plan.
This is when we talk
about his will
or praying for things
or things like that.
A lot of times
we'll talk about
God's plan
and praying for God's plan
and those kind of things.
Well,
God's plan
is basically
the same thing
as God's
will
or decree.
It's his
eternal purposes.
God's plan
will come to pass.
His will
of decree
will come
to pass.
John Calvin
characterizes
his plan
as
whatsoever
comes to pass.
He uses those
good words.
So his plan
though
is his.
His plan
is his.
Not ours.
It's how
he exercises
his will
of decree
or command.
it's not
for us
to know
unless he
chooses
to share
something
which is really
weird.
But he has
done them
through prophets.
Here's the word
on these two
wills.
If there's a
verse that we
could use
that really
describes
both of these
wills together.
It's Deuteronomy
29 29.
That verse
says
the secret
things belong
to the Lord
our God
but the things
that are revealed
and what was
revealed
his word
the will
of command
but the things
that are revealed
belong to us
and to our
children forever
that we may
do all the
words of this
law.
And there's
the obedience
to that
will
of command.
But the
secret things
belong to
the Lord.
So there's
a distinction
here in
God's plan.
This is
something that
we don't
reach into
and try to
figure out
God's plan.
That's his
plan.
He has
told us
right here
the things
that are
revealed to
us.
That's
how we
walk in
his will
by being
obedient in
the things
that he's
revealed to
us.
Third
thing is
wisdom.
This
concept of
wisdom.
Okay.
Well if
God reveals
things to
us, how
do we
discern?
How do
we move
in that?
How do
we go
about that?
Wisdom.
Wisdom is
the God
given
ability to
apply the
truth of
his revealed
word to
the practical
situations of
life.
Discerning
the right
course of
action in
the fear
of the
Lord.
God
is
a
good
text.
I've
got a
couple
quotes from
Kevin
DeYoung.
In the
book it's
called Just
Do
Something.
He really
breaks this
down if
you're
interested in
studying more.
Here's a
quote from
that book.
Wisdom is
what we need
to live a
godly life.
God does
not tell us
the future
nor does
he expect
us to
figure it
out.
When we
don't know
which way
to turn
and are
faced with
tough decisions
in life
God doesn't
expect us
to grope
in the
dark for
some hidden
will of
directions.
He expects
us to
trust him
and be
wise.
To take
his word
to grow
in wisdom
to apply
his truth
revealed
and then
apply that
to life
and walk
in it.
Wisdom
is also
described
in Proverbs
chapter 2
verse 1
through 6.
Proverbs
chapter 2
and we
know this
we're
familiar
with it
from
wisdom
studies
and so
forth.
Proverbs
chapter 2
verse 1
My son
if you
receive
my words
and treasure
up my
commands
with you
making
your ear
attentive
to wisdom
and
inclining
your heart
to understanding
yes if you
call out
for insight
and raise
your voice
for understanding
if you
seek it
like silver
and search
for it
as for
hidden
treasures
then you
will understand
the fear
of the
Lord
and find
the knowledge
of God
for the
Lord
gives wisdom
from his
mouth
for the
Lord
gives
wisdom
from his
mouth
come
knowledge
and
understanding
in that
passage
number one
we're told
to receive
his words
which
description
which is
his revealed
word to us
receive his
words
to listen
to wisdom
wisdom
so
what about
brothers
and sisters
who are
also
going to
that revealed
word
and studying
that
and looking
for God's
guidance
I bet you
they give
good counsel
ah they do
yes
and that's
what we share
with one
another
is good
counsel
so we listen
to wisdom
and three
call out
for wisdom
we pray
for it
we ask
God for
wisdom
and as
James says
if you
lack
ask for
more
and he
gives
liberally
this
wisdom
and wisdom
begins with
the fear
of the Lord
looking to
him for
all things
so there's
our terms
that's the
terms I
want to
use
God's
will
his plan
and the
wisdom
so we'll
continue
our study
but it's
good to
understand
how those
interact
a little bit
so what
I want to
talk about
now
is his
will
in our
lives
so what
practically
what is
this to
walk out
what does
it look
like
how do
we
operate
in it
well
if we
continue
in 1st
Thessalonians
4
3
through 8
verse 3
he says
for this
is the
will of
God
your
sanctification
that you
abstain
from sexual
immorality
that each
of you
know how
to control
his own
body
and holiness
and honor
not in the
passion
of lust
like the
Gentiles
who do
not know
God
that no
one
transgress
and wrong
his brother
in this
matter
because the
Lord is
an avenger
in all
these things
as we
told you
beforehand
and solemnly
warned you
verse 7
for God
has not
called us
for impurity
but in
holiness
there's that
separating
out
so we
hear his
will in
that
calling
to holiness
8
therefore
whoever
disregards
this
disregards
not man
but God
so
just to
be clear
the
will
comes
from
God
not
from
man
it
doesn't
come
from
man
it
comes
from
God
who
gives
you
who
gives
the
Holy
Spirit
to
you
so
God
has
called
us
to
holiness
or
sanctification
all
of
our
decisions
should
point
to
this
holiness
all
of
our
decisions
should
point
to
his
will
what
do
you
hold
as
important
in
life
what
do
you
what
do
you
personally
what
do
you
base
your
comings
and
goings
on
what
drives
you
what
your
motivation
we
can
understand
our
thinking
by
looking
at
what
guides
our
decision
me
is
it
somebody
is
it
a
spouse
is
it
a
friend
is
it
a
self-help
book
on and
on
there's
things
that can
sort of
guide us
in
different
ways
my
first
job
was in
1987
at
the
Burger
King
in
Belton
has
anybody
been
to
that
was
my
first
job
I
closed
at
night
and
I
had
German
Shepherd
and
I
would
take
home
patties
and
she
loved
me
for
it
like
the
ones
that
someone
didn't
eat
that
we
bring
her
home
to
burgers
at
night
she
loved
it
but
when I
first
started
there
they gave
me a
uniform
that
little
you know
the blue
and the
maroon
or what
you know
back in the
day
I don't know
they gave
me a
uniform
I
sat down
I
watched
the
videos
that
told
me
how
to
be
a
burger
king
employee
and
all
the
wonderful
things
there
and
then
they
brought
me
to
the
line
and
they
told
me
how many
pickles
to put
on a
whopper
versus
on the
little
single
and
so
I
had
to
learn
all
these
things
and
understand
it
and
then
there
was
this
screen
so
they
give
me
everything
I
got
my
tongs
I
got
what
I
need
there
and
I
am
standing
here
and
there
is
this
screen
and
it
pops
up
says
make
a
whopper
or
whoever
it
was
who
just
ordered
this
and
drop
the
fries
or
whatever
it
was
and
so
I
would
stand
there
and
okay
so
it
comes
up
on
the
screen
and
I
go
about
making
the
whopper
well
if
it
came
up
on
the
screen
and
I
was
like
okay
they
gave
me
all
these
things
they
equipped
me
with
all
that
I
need
to
do
this
job
and
it
comes
up
on
the
screen
but
and
then
I
go
back
in
the
back
and
I
go
into
the
little
office
and
I
call
the
owner
of
that
Whopper
or
that
Burger
King
and
I
call
him
up
and
I
say
hey
you gave
me
everything
that I
need
to
operate
this
and
do
this
and
make
this
burger
and
it
just
came
up
on
the
screen
do
you
want
me
to
make
that
he
would
say
what's
the
bad
with
you
right
get
in
there
and
make
that
I'm
paying
you
to
get
in
there
and
make
that
this
is
a
sort
of
rough
analogy
but
the
thing
is
think
about
this
with
me
!
the
is
God
gave
us
everything
for
holiness
and
righteousness
and
his
will
and
there's
sometimes
that
we
will
go
back
to
him
and
ask
him
are
you
sure
you
want
me
to
do
this
yes
I'm
sure
now
maybe
there's
times
that
I
go
back
to
him
and
I
share
in
the
joy
that
he
gave
me
his
will
and
that
I
can
walk
in
his
will
that's
a
good
thing
it
would
be
like
you
know
at
the
company
party
when
I
go
to
the
owner
I
say
I
love
making
these
burgers
it's
so
great
and
when
he
comes
up
on
the
screen
I
make
it
so
wonderful
he
would
think
I
was
crazy
but
he
would
be
okay
I'm
glad
to
have
an
employee
like
that
you
know
but
this
do
I
need
to
go
back
to
him
to
make
that
decision
or
do
I
operate
in
righteousness
that
he
gave
me
that's
why
he
gave
me
his
will
so
I
can
operate
in
it
and
I
can
move
in
that
and
I
can
choose
holiness
do
you
use
it
for
your
life
do
you
apply
it
to
your
life
in
all
facets
!
of
your
life
do
you
listen
to
his
will
or
do
you
argue
with
the
things
that
he
says
when
he
says
four
pickles
do
you
say
no
I
think
it's
three
we'll
save
a lot
of
money
it
should
be
three
no
you
do
what
God
says
to
do
that's
why
he
gave
us
his
will
are
you
willing
to
change
when
you
see
that
his
word
says
something
different
from
what
you're
doing
when
he
makes
it
clear
and
you
don't
have
to
go
to
pray
to
him
in
the
respect
that
do
you
really
mean
this
yes
he
really
means
that
that's
what
he
said
that's
why
he
put
it
there
we
don't
have
to
go
back
and
argue
with
him
about
it
or
try
to
figure
out
some
way
out
of
it
it's
clear
what
he
says
is
what
he
says
that's
what
he
wants
!
that
we
look
more
like
Jesus
all
the
time
that's
his
will
for
us
is
that
we
look
more
like
Christ
all
the
time
is
for
sanctification
it's
his
will
that
we
are
sanctified
to
walk
in
God's
will
be
holy
like
Jesus
by
the
power
of
the
spirit
for
the
glory
of
God
that's
his
will
right
there
this
means
I
look
to
his
revealed
will
and
scripture
for
my
decision
making
all
of
it
and
so
how
do
we
discern
that
through
wisdom
Piper
outlines
three
stages
basically
of how
we would
actually
discern
so
in
any
given
situation
whatever
my
life
is
whatever
is
in
front
of
me
and
there's
a lot
of
things
many
of
you
know
for
Stacey
and
I
there's
a lot
of
things
in
front
of
us
right
now
so
and
as
I
mentioned
I
look
around
the
room
I
know
a lot
of
other
folks
there's
a lot
of
things
in
front
of
you
so
how
do
we
discern
how
do
we
walk
through
this
how
do
we
walk
through
the
tough
decisions
or
even
the
daily
ones
number
one
search
the
scriptures
search
the
scriptures
with
a
renewed
mind
in
other
words
the
spirit
has
quickened
us
and
is
indwelling
and
will
bring
to
mind
conviction
will
bring
to
mind
his
verses
and
scriptures
and
so
we
search
those
God's
authoritative
will of
command
is
found
only
in
the
Bible
that's
where
it's
found
the
inspired
scriptures
of
God
the
second
thing
so
we
search
them
then
two
how
do
we
discern
the
will
of
God
we
apply
the
scriptures
with
a
renewed
mind
in
Christ
using
the
scriptures
to
apply
to
life
situations
what
is it
that's
going
on
okay
now
how
do
I
apply
what
God
says
to
what
is
going
on
right
there
God
speaks
through
his
word
God
revealed
his
will
to
us
in
the
Bible
all
we
need
for
holiness
is
there
third
so
search
the
scriptures
apply
them
and
then
live
the
scriptures
do
not
depart
from
what
you
have
heard
so
one
thing
that
we're
looking
at
going
to
the
Oregon
well
actually
Washington
coast
we're
sort of
honing
this
down
and
so
we
said
okay
well
to
get
from
here
to
there
what
do
we
need
to
start
to
prepare
for
what
do
we
need
to
do
well
we're
going
to
live
somewhere
how
are we
going
to
live
somewhere
well
we
need
to
be
close
to
a
body
of
believers
and
find
that
community
so
that's
going
to
be
important
so
one
of
our
first
ideas
we
had
was
well
if
we
lived
in
one
spot
we
can
visit
some
churches
we
can
see
where
the
Lord
would
have
us
to
serve
and
what
body
to
get
into
so
that's
it
that was
okay
so
we're
kind
of
running
this
out
and
so
we
started
looking
at
campers
and
it's
really
cool
we've
not
had
a
camper
that
sounds
like
an
exciting
thing
so
we
ended
up
a
couple
weeks
ago
and
or
I
guess
so
we
walked
all
through
wow
this
is
great
and
Stacy
figured
out
the
music
and
actually
play
a little
bit
of
dark
side
as we
stood
out
in front
of
the
campers
so
the
sound
system
worked
great
which
is
probably
the
main
thing
anyway
and
so
we
just
this
one
is
perfect
so
we
go
inside
and
we
kind
of
talk
to
him
a
little
bit
more
and
so
and
then
the
finance
guy
says
hey
guys
so
hey
what's
going
on
so
we
go
and
sit
down
with
him
so
I'm
like
okay
well
let's
kind
of
figure
this
out
you
know
we
can
take
a
couple
of
steps
and
see
what
we
so
right
then
both
of
us
are
like
so
we
listened
to
the
rest
of
the
spiel
and
then
we
walked
out
and
as
we're
walking
out
the
building
we
were
both
like
we're
not
going
to
lie
about
what
we
need
to
do
what
we
need
to
live
in
this
full
time
so
I
so
clearly
we're
not
going
to
do
this
because
we
can't
lie
about
it
you
that
wouldn't
the
scriptures
okay
right
there
we
have
all
these
decisions
to
make
we
have
all
these
different
things
that
we
need
to
think
through
and
we
come
to
a
point
where
we're
completely
going
against
the
word
of
God
then
that's
not
the
way
you
go
it's
different
you
do
something
different
and
you
follow
his
will
his
will
in
our
lives
it
brings
him
glory
to
make
a
decision
like
that
when
you
were
immediately
at
the
same
mind
understanding
this
you
think
that
brought
God
glory
in
how
this
little
couple
was
thinking
about
a
camper
a
very
simple
thing
but it
brings
him
glory
why
seek
his
will
and
obey
him
Jesus
says
if you
love
me
you
will
keep
my
commandments
in
John
14
15
we
love
him
we
love
him
it's
the
overflow
of a
grateful
heart
it's
not a
works
based
thing
it's
not a
trying
to
meet
the
law
thing
it's
not
those
kind
of
things
we
obey
because
we
love
him
because
he
saved
us
and
then
he
gives
us
this
will
and
he
gives
us
it
doesn't
leave
us
alone
we're
not
just
out
there
fending
for
ourselves
he
tells
us
exactly
how
to
go
about
life
it's
obedience
to his
commands
it's
resting
in his
provision
and in
his
care
we
can
disobey
his
revealed
will of
command
we can
and we
do
unfortunately
but it
pleases
him when
we're
obedient
to it
when we
read
what he
says
and then
we
submit
to it
and we
follow
that
with our
lives
and it
goes
well for
us
when we're
obedient
it brings
him
glory
well now
I want
to contrast
I want
to take
one of our
other terms
this plan
this
the
God's
plan
and the
plan
versus
his
will
I want
to look
at those
that
concept
so God's
plan or
that will
of decree
sometimes
when we
talk about
wanting to
know
God's
will
this is
why the
terms
are
important
why I'm
geeking out
on this
with you
guys
but the
terms are
important
of what
we're
talking
about
sometimes
when we
talk about
wanting to
know
God's
will
or praying
for God's
will
or something
like that
it's
actually
in our
mind
it's
the
plan
we
want
we
want
to know
everything's
going to
be
okay
we
want
to
know
that
so I
can
prepare
or I
can
this
or that
we
want to
reach
behind
what
he's
given
to us
the
revealed
will
and try
to get
something
else
from him
to help
me
somehow
we want
to see
ahead
or maybe
we want
to eliminate
anxiety
or worry
about
something
maybe
trying to
gain
control
of your
life
or the
situations
in your
life
God
if you
just
told me
what
this
was
going
to be
or how
this
was
going
to work
out
I'd
be
fine
where's
faith
where's
faith
in that
there's
a problem
here
of
leapfrogging
the
sanctification
in our
life
if you
will
so let's
say I
have a
choice
on the
horizon
buying a
car
and I'm
down to
two choices
I'm down
to the
2009
Ford Ranger
that's
running well
and is
clean
and is
good
and all
those
kind of
things
or the
2026
F-150
trimmer
that's my
two decisions
that's what I
need to
decide
between
so if
I'm
praying
for God's
perfect
will
for my
life
just the
perfect
target
if I'm
praying
for that
I would
probably be
asking him
things like
which truck
should I
get
right
if I'm
looking for
exactly
what he
wants for
my life
in some
kind of
weird
will of
direction
way
God
which
one do
you only
get
so what
happens
then
is
do you
think
there's
some
things
that I
need to
talk
about
with
my
own
heart
regarding
the
Ford
Ranger
and
the
2026
trimmer
do you
think
there's
a big
difference
there
and maybe
some
things
internally
that I'm
sort of
just
jumping
over
and then
hoping for
the answer
I want
from God
maybe I
should think
about greed
maybe I
should think
about
our budget
maybe I
should think
about
you know
normal
things
like this
instead of
just jumping
right to
whatever
you know
skipping
all that
have you
guys ever
done
back in
the day
experiencing
God
you know
we ever
do that
experiencing
God
study
back in
the day
yeah
it is
we're going
back like
30 years
there maybe
I think
anyway
so in
that study
though
he talked
about
circumventing
the relationship
so I
can just
try to
go straight
to God
and ask
him
okay
A or B
tell me
God
A or B
well I'm
totally
missing
the
relationship
the relationship
is in me
getting into
the word
God speaking
to me
in his
will
me
confessing
repenting
understanding
what he
actually wants
for my
life
and then
I get
to the
A and
B
and it's
simple
I pick
the tremor
you know
no
just teasing
but you
understand
what I'm
saying
you're
bypassing
so much
in that
skipping
out
on what
it is
to walk
with God
in his
will
in his
revealed
will
God's
plans
are his
own
they're
not
ours
and we
walk
by faith
we walk
by faith
in whatever
is beyond
he gives
us
how to
walk
in
faith
here
and
whatever
happens
post
that
is
his
plan
Kevin
DeYoung
this another
quote from
that text
isn't it
interesting
that we're
never told
in scripture
to ask
God
to reveal
the future
or to
show us
his plan
for our
lives
but we're
told in
no uncertain
terms
to call
out for
insight
and to
cry
aloud
for
understanding
in that
Proverbs 2
in other
words
God
says
don't
ask
to
see
all
the
plans
I've
made
for
you
ask
me
for
wisdom
so
you'll
know
how
to
live
according
to
my
book
that's
a great
quote
that's
a great
quote
1st
Corinthians
16
5
through
9
if you
have
your
Bible
this
is
kind of
the
second
text
that I
really
appreciate
it's
kind of
what
started
me
thinking
through
a lot
of this
a few
weeks
ago
1st
Corinthians
16
5
through
9
this
was
at
the
end
of
the
letter
to
the
Corinthians
and
Paul's
kind of
wrapping
things
up
and
just
giving
practicals
of
which
is
what
we're
talking
about
in
God's
will
and
life
and
those
kind
of
we're
talking
practicals
and
this
is
what
he's
talking
about
he
says
starting
with
verse
5
I'll
visit
you
after
passing
through
Macedonia
for
I
intend
to
pass
through
Macedonia
perhaps
I
will
stay
with
you
or
even
spend
the
winter
so
that
you
may
help
me
on
my
journey
wherever
I
go
for
I
do
not
want
to
see
you
now
just
in
passing
I
hope
to
spend
some
time
with
you
if
the
Lord
permits
but
I
will
stay
in
Ephesus
until
Pentecost
for a
wide
door
for
effective
work
has
opened
to
me
and
there
are
many
adversaries
Paul
was
careful
in
this
passage
in
this
letter
in
what
he
was
saying
look
how
many
perhaps
maybe
even
the
winter
wherever
I
go
as
the
Lord
wills
you
hear
his
heart
there
God
has
a
plan
Paul
planned
he's
planning
matter
of
fact
all
this
actually
happened
if
you
look
back
in
the
book
of
Acts
he
did
go
through
these
places
he
did
do
much
of
this
and
it's
okay
and
wise
to
make
plans
Paul
brought
God's
will
of
command
to
bear
even
like
in
loving
the
Corinthians
that
was
does
God
command
us
to
love
one
another
was
that
something
that
would
have
been
in
God's
will
of
command
absolutely
that's
what he
was
operating
in
that's
didn't
want
to
go
just
be
there
in
passing
verse
seven
I
hope
to
spend
some
time
with
you
because
there's
stuff
we
got
to
do
because
God's
called
me
to
do
this
it's
in
his
word
as
such
at
that
time
Paul
understood
that God
was
working
in
Ephesus
and
that
Paul
had
worked
for
him
there
and
so
that's
what
he
was
operating
in
at
that
point
but
Paul
did
not
know
God's
plan
he
was
operating
in
what
God
had
called
him
to
do
which
was
share
to
the
Gentiles
which
was
plant
churches
which
was
strengthen
the
churches
those
things
he
had
been
called
to
that
we
have
that
account
on
the
way
to
Damascus
and
so
what
he
does
in
this
language
is
this
I'm
going
to
do
if
the
Lord
permits
if
that
and
we
hear
the
same
thing
in
James
when
it
says
you
who
are
going
to
do
this
or
that
but
you
don't
know
what's
going
to
happen
so
you
say
if
the
Lord
wills
but
that's
a
heart
posture
there
of
his
plan
it's
giving
that
understanding
to
the
fact
that
his
plan
is
not
our
plan
and
the
faith
that
we
live
to
walk
in
that
understanding
is
very
important
so
knowledge
of his
plan
what
knowledge
do we
have
of it
generally
none
we
don't
know
when we
leave
this
space
by the
end of
this
time
together
what
what's
going
to
happen
what
will
happen
to
us
what
will
happen
in
the
next
week
or
month
or
years
we
don't
know
that's
God's
that's
the
secret
things
of
God
right
so
we
don't
live
in a
way
in
which
the
future
is
spelled
out
for
us
he's
got
that
so
we
walk
according
to
what
he
has
given
to
us
we
walk
according
to
the
will
that
he
has
given
to
us
because
he
said
that's
how
I
want
you
to
operate
is
in
that
will
that
revealed
will
not
scratching
or
trying
or
trying
to
figure
out
everything
else
out
there
God
says
that's
my
job
not
yours
I
gave
you
my
will
faith
allows
us
to
have
no
fear
of
the
future
faith
in
a
God
that
has
all
this
in
his
hand
no
fear
we
have
no
fear
of
what's
to
come
we
have
no
need
to
control
it
or
to
worry
about
it
or
have
anxiety
about
it
because
he's
got
it
I
just
do
what
he
asked
me
to
do
walk
in
his
revealed
will
Proverbs
16
9
the
heart
of man
plans
his
way
but
the
Lord
establishes
his
steps
man
puts
together
his
plans
we
walk
these
things
out
I
plan
on
going
home
and
having
brats
for
lunch
could
change
right
kind of
hold
loosely
to
this
you
know
but
God
guides
and
establishes
and
brings
about
everything
according
to
his
will
of
decree
or
his
plan
that's
his
plan
now
I want
to
note
on
this
on
the
idea
real
quick
God's
plan
is
not
always
without
pain
sometimes
there's
great
pain
with
what
he
chooses
to
do
in
our
lives
and
we
do
know
that
even
so
we
can
be
walking
according
to
his
will
best
we
can
right
and
in
his
plan
that
bad
things
may
befall
us
it
happens
all
the
time
it's
happened
to
us
all
of
us
at
different
points
in
this
life
we
will
have
suffering
even
while
walking
in
his
will
and
we
also
know
that
it's
the
suffering
that
matures
us
he
says
yes
walk
according
to
my
will
and
understand
when
these
things
happen
I
am
maturing
you
I
am
growing
perseverance
in you
I'm
turning
you
more
into
looking
like
my
son
more
Christ
likeness
is what
he's
doing
there
just
because
things
are
difficult
or not
coming
together
doesn't
mean
that
it's
not
of
God
seek
his
kingdom
first
seek
his
kingdom
first
the
best
place
to be
in
difficult
situations
is
seeking
him
when
things
don't
go
right
or
they
fall
apart
or
just
horrible
things
happen
seek
him
first
that's
the
first
thing
just
go
to
him
difficult
times
require
submission
to
his
plan
understanding
right
the plan
we
understand
the plan
rightly
that
is
his
the
secret
things
that
plan
is
his
and
so
I
need
to
come
to
a
place
where
I
submit
to
what
it
is
that
he
wants
to
do
and
that's
what
I
seek
I
have
faith
that
he
is
good
even
in
the
worst
circumstances
I
have
faith
that
he
is
good
and
I
trust
in
his
ways
and
obedience
to
his
revealed
will
in
scripture
is how
I
walk
in
that
day
to
day
it's
not a
time
to go
our
own
way
when
suffering
hits
when
difficult
things
happen
that's
not a
time
to
depart
and
act
as
if
he
doesn't
have
this
will
or
this
sense
of
good
for
us
we
would
pray
specifically
for
what
he's
wanting
to
work
in
you
it's
his
will
that
you
be
sanctified
and
sometimes
he
uses
a
tough
situation
and
so
what
is
he
working
in
you
through
difficult
things
well
let me
just
pull
together
a couple
of
these
points
number
one
read
the
word
dive
in
apply
live
search
those
scriptures
apply
them
live
in
them
it's
our
guide
for
the
decisions
for
holiness
of
life
that's
his
will
apply
and
walk
in
God's
precepts
to
ask
for
wisdom
let's
not be
slack
in
that
we
need
the
wisdom
we
need
the
spirit
we
need
!
that
renewed
mind
to
in
any
given
situation
what
is it
that
he
wants
here
what
is
he
calling
me
to
in
this
third
submit
to
wise
counsel
walk
with
others
who
walk
in
the
word
there's
a room
full
of
them
here
and
as
we
all
do
this
together
wise
counsel
comes
from
that
seek
that
out
share
and
listen
to
others
in
their
understanding
of
scripture
and
three
or
four
I'm
sorry
pray
for
sanctification
God's
that's
his
will
and
he
gives
it
to
you
completely
what
needs
to be
confessed
or
repented
of
as
you
think
about
okay
yeah
there's
these
decisions
where
am
I
at
on
that
am
I
off
base
is
the
Lord
telling
me
something
different
than
I
should
be
pursuing
am
I
in
the
light
with
it
or
am
I
being
self
deceived
am
I
wanting
to
do
thus
and
so
I
try
to
arrange
everything
to
where
I
can
do
thus
and
so
or
am
I
actually
going
to
the
word
and
listening
and
saying
this
is
what
God
says
I'm
standing
on
that's
my
encouragement
for you
is to
seek
holiness
in
life's
and
really
as
was
brought
out
when
Sean
did
our
communion
there
is
Jesus
dying
on the
cross
was
God's
plan
that
that's
his
plan
and
there
is
seeking
of him
and
trusting
in that
plan
that
is
salvation
to us
and
that
is
that
newness
of life
is the
first step
in pursuing
God's
will
is the
salvation
that
Jesus
the
grace
and
forgiveness
that
his work
on the
cross
gave to
us
and
that's
where
it
begins
other
than
that
other
than
being
saved
his
will
you
would
be
outside
of it
without
being
saved
by
Jesus
so
that
would
be
the
first
step
but
I
want
to
be
clear
on
that
one
so
let's
pray