Friday, June 23, 2017

I Have To Confess, I've Found That As Long As It's His Will, There's Always A Way.

HOW DO WE KNOW THE WILL OF GOD?


How often has each of us struggled with an important decision?  We’ve considered the alternatives, and often discussed the decision with family and friends.  Sometimes we’ve prayed over it and sought God's direction.  We ask ourselves, "What does God want me to do?"  Unfortunately, there’s some confusion about the subject of the will of God.  Even among believers.  

The words, "It’s God’s will," are sometimes used too freely I think.  God gets credit for a whole lot of things that have more to do with human will than God’s.  A catastrophe happens and people say glibly, "It's his will."  We sometimes do inappropriate things and pass them off by saying God willed that we did it, mainly because it’s something we really wanted to do.  Beyond that, we often talk about searching for the will of God as if it were somehow lost and needs to be found.

So how do we know the will of God?  I mean REALLY know…

Well, there are 3 basic principles that I have found that help me out in that area.  Reminders that help me to discern if a choice is God’s direction, or just my desire.  I thought I might share them with others who may need some help in the same area.

First and foremost, we need to remember that God's will is that ALL people be saved

Christ’s sacrifice… his death, resurrection, and ascension… are an open gift for all who choose to accept it.  Not everybody will, but the offer is on the table for anyone.  God won’t will us to do things to negate that gift.  (Matthew 7: 21-27)  The Bible tells us that God desires that all people to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.  To be lovingly rescued from the ravages of sin in our existence.  To not have Jesus is to be firmly in sin's control.  Conversely, to have faith in the Son of God is to be alive to our full creative potential as he controls our lives.  

A cross and a vacant grave have secured our salvation.  And Jesus, unlike any of the gods in other religions, is the God who wants actual relationship with us.  Those who know him personally will be well on their way to knowing His will.  If you’ve said, "I believe in Jesus Christ as my Savior," you’ve taken the first step.  Remembering that he wants to hear that from others as well, will guide choices that might influence their decision to accept the gift of Grace too.  But He won’t ever contradict himself...

The second step in knowing the will of God is to live Spirit-filled.

In Ephesians 5:17-18 we read, "Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit."  More than a few of us are fairly well qualified to discuss what it's like to be filled with wine or some other substance or attitudinal addiction.  It lowers inhibitions, impairs judgement, and impacts reactions.  Not being sober, is opening ourselves to be controlled by a sin nature within.  How do we avoid that?

We also act differently when we have the Spirit within us.  When we’re filled with the Holy Spirit, we open ourselves to being controlled God’s nature within us.  We may have no more control over ourselves than we would have if we were drunk on alcohol, but it is without the horrific outcomes and consequences.  To be filled in the Spirit is to be dominated and guided by the Spirit as it moves within us… being directed by His will.

The third step is to do whatever you want to do.

That's right, I said it.  Do what you want when you have a decision to make.  But only after you’ve managed steps one and two!  In the Book of Psalms (37: 3-5) we read, "Delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart."  Notice that it says the desires of our hearts are given to us by God when we delight in him. If our only delight is God… if our hearts are filled with joy by God’s presence in them… then it stands to reason that our desires will be for whatever God desires.  His will becomes our will, and our desires are inspired by that.

Again, the third step is only possible when we have taken the steps of believing and being filled by the Holy Spirit.  In growing in Faith and increasing our time reading the Scriptures, we can begin to trust following our desires; because they’re really God's anyway!  


Will we make mistakes?  Probably.  But that’s okay.  God will be there every step along the way, giving corrections when needed, strength when yours falters, and joy when everything seems to be falling apart.  With this insight, I’m renewed for the journey of faith. I am able to move along on the road ahead even when I don’t know where it will end. I can realize that the fact that I think I am following God’s will, doesn’t always mean that I am actually doing so. But I can also know that my desire to follow Jesus does in fact please Him… and if I desire only to please Him in all that I do, He will lead me back to the right road even when I don’t know which road I’m on.  And of course He'll always remind us to...

Love in Christ always,

Chris

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