Aligning Our Lives with God's Sovereign Will
Summary
### Summary
Tonight, we gathered to explore the profound topic of God's will, focusing on the theme "God's Will: Nothing More, Nothing Less, Nothing Else." We delved into James 4:13-17, where James provides three compelling reasons to seek and do God's will: the uncertainty of tomorrow, the brevity of life, and the sovereignty of God. Life is fleeting, like a vapor, and our plans are often based on limited knowledge, whereas God's will is rooted in His infinite wisdom and eternal perspective.
James also describes three reactions to God's will: ignoring it, disguising our will as His, and obeying it. Ignoring God's will can manifest as a complete disregard for His guidance or as a subtle manipulation where we label our desires as His will. True obedience, however, requires a heart of surrender and a commitment to follow His guidance as revealed in Scripture and through the Holy Spirit.
We discussed practical steps to align ourselves with God's will: praying daily for His guidance, obeying the general principles outlined in Scripture, and seeking His specific direction for our lives. Prayer is the foundation, beginning with a heart of surrender, as modeled by Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Obedience to God's general will includes living a surrendered life, being filled with the Spirit, and pursuing sanctification. Seeking God's specific will involves making decisions with a heart attuned to His guidance, often through a process of prayer, reflection, and seeking counsel from His Word and Spirit.
We concluded with the inspiring example of George Mueller, who demonstrated how a life of faith and seeking God's will can lead to extraordinary outcomes. Mueller's method of discerning God's will—surrendering personal desires, seeking guidance through Scripture and the Spirit, and considering providential circumstances—serves as a practical model for us.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Uncertainty and Brevity of Life: Life is unpredictable and fleeting, like a vapor. We must seek God's will because our plans are based on limited knowledge, whereas God's will is rooted in His infinite wisdom. This perspective should humble us and drive us to depend on God's guidance daily. [39:25]
2. The Sovereignty of God: God's will is perfect and sovereign, transcending our finite understanding. While we may have plans and desires, God's will is ultimately superior and designed for our good. Trusting in His sovereignty means surrendering our flawed will to His perfect plan. [42:13]
3. Daily Surrender in Prayer: Aligning with God's will begins with daily prayer, surrendering our desires, and seeking His guidance. This practice, modeled by Jesus, ensures that our hearts are continually attuned to God's direction, making it easier to discern His will in both major and minor decisions. [47:02]
4. Obeying General Principles: God's will is revealed through Scripture, which provides general principles for living a surrendered, Spirit-filled, and sanctified life. Obeying these principles lays the foundation for discerning God's specific will in our lives. [49:10]
5. Seeking Specific Guidance: When faced with specific decisions, we must seek God's guidance through prayer, reflection, and the counsel of His Word and Spirit. This process, exemplified by George Mueller, involves surrendering personal desires, considering providential circumstances, and patiently waiting for God's direction. [55:00]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[34:25] - Introduction to Judgment House
[35:10] - Excitement for God's Work
[35:46] - Introduction to God's Will
[36:43] - Misconceptions About God's Will
[37:29] - The Golf Ball Story
[38:22] - James 4:13-17 Reading
[39:25] - The Uncertainty of Tomorrow
[40:16] - The Brevity of Life
[41:09] - The Sovereignty of God
[42:13] - Reactions to God's Will
[44:18] - Disguising Our Will as God's Will
[45:29] - Obeying God's Will
[46:34] - Three Responses to God's Will
[47:02] - Pray Daily
[48:37] - Obey Generally
[49:10] - General Principles of God's Will
[55:00] - Seek Specifically
[57:03] - Example of George Mueller
[59:17] - Steps to Discern God's Will
[01:04:12] - Final Prayer and Challenge
[01:09:31] - Closing Remarks
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- James 4:13-17
#### Observation Questions
1. What are the three reasons James gives for seeking and doing God's will according to James 4:13-17? ([39:25])
2. How does James describe the uncertainty and brevity of life in this passage? ([39:25])
3. What are the three reactions to God's will that James outlines in the sermon? ([42:13])
4. What practical steps are suggested in the sermon for aligning ourselves with God's will? ([46:34])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does James emphasize the uncertainty of tomorrow and the brevity of life as reasons to seek God's will? How does this perspective affect our daily decisions? ([39:25])
2. How does the sovereignty of God provide comfort and guidance when our own plans fail? ([41:09])
3. What does it mean to disguise our will as God's will, and why is this dangerous? ([44:18])
4. How does the example of George Mueller illustrate the process of discerning God's will? What can we learn from his approach? ([57:03])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a recent decision you made. Did you seek God's will in that decision? How might the outcome have been different if you had? ([46:34])
2. In what ways can you incorporate daily surrender in prayer into your routine? What specific time of day or method might work best for you? ([47:02])
3. Identify one general principle from Scripture that you struggle to obey. What steps can you take this week to align your actions with this principle? ([49:10])
4. Think of a specific decision you are currently facing. How can you apply the steps of prayer, reflection, and seeking counsel to discern God's will in this situation? ([55:00])
5. Have you ever ignored God's will or disguised your own will as His? How did that impact your life? What changes can you make to avoid this in the future? ([44:18])
6. How can you use the example of George Mueller to inspire your faith and trust in God's guidance? What specific aspect of his approach can you adopt in your own life? ([57:03])
7. Consider the concept of life being a vapor. How does this perspective change the way you view your daily activities and long-term goals? ([39:25])
Devotional
Day 1: The Fleeting Nature of Life
Description:
Life is unpredictable and fleeting, much like a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes. This reality should humble us and drive us to depend on God's guidance daily. Our plans are often based on limited knowledge and understanding, whereas God's will is rooted in His infinite wisdom and eternal perspective. Recognizing the uncertainty of tomorrow should lead us to seek God's will earnestly, knowing that He alone holds the future and understands what is best for us. [39:25]
Bible Passage:
"Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit'—yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes." (James 4:13-14, ESV)
Reflection:
Think about a recent plan or goal you have set for yourself. How can you invite God into that plan today, acknowledging His wisdom and seeking His guidance?
Day 2: Trusting in God's Sovereignty
Description:
God's will is perfect and sovereign, transcending our finite understanding. While we may have our own plans and desires, God's will is ultimately superior and designed for our good. Trusting in His sovereignty means surrendering our flawed will to His perfect plan, even when we do not fully understand it. This trust is built on the belief that God is in control and that His purposes are always for our ultimate benefit. Embracing God's sovereignty requires a heart of surrender and a commitment to follow His guidance as revealed in Scripture and through the Holy Spirit. [42:13]
Bible Passage:
"The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps." (Proverbs 16:9, ESV)
Reflection:
Identify an area in your life where you struggle to trust God's plan. What steps can you take today to surrender this area to His sovereign will?
Day 3: The Power of Daily Prayer
Description:
Aligning with God's will begins with daily prayer, surrendering our desires, and seeking His guidance. This practice, modeled by Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, ensures that our hearts are continually attuned to God's direction. Daily prayer is not just about presenting our requests to God but also about listening to His voice and aligning our hearts with His purposes. It is through this ongoing conversation with God that we become more sensitive to His leading in both major and minor decisions. [47:02]
Bible Passage:
"Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving." (Colossians 4:2, ESV)
Reflection:
Set aside a specific time today to pray and surrender your plans to God. How can you make this a daily habit to ensure you are continually seeking His guidance?
Day 4: Obeying God's General Principles
Description:
God's will is revealed through Scripture, which provides general principles for living a surrendered, Spirit-filled, and sanctified life. Obeying these principles lays the foundation for discerning God's specific will in our lives. The Bible offers clear guidance on how to live in a way that honors God, including being filled with the Spirit, pursuing sanctification, and living a life of surrender. By committing to these general principles, we position ourselves to better understand and follow God's specific direction for our lives. [49:10]
Bible Passage:
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2, ESV)
Reflection:
Reflect on one general principle from Scripture that you find challenging to obey. What practical steps can you take today to align your life more closely with this principle?
Day 5: Seeking Specific Guidance from God
Description:
When faced with specific decisions, we must seek God's guidance through prayer, reflection, and the counsel of His Word and Spirit. This process, exemplified by George Mueller, involves surrendering personal desires, considering providential circumstances, and patiently waiting for God's direction. Seeking specific guidance requires a heart attuned to God's leading and a willingness to follow His direction, even when it may not align with our initial desires. By faithfully seeking God's specific will, we can make decisions that honor Him and align with His purposes for our lives. [55:00]
Bible Passage:
"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him." (James 1:5, ESV)
Reflection:
Think of a specific decision you are currently facing. How can you seek God's guidance through prayer, reflection, and counsel today to ensure your decision aligns with His will?
Quotes
1. "There are times where we think we know what we want to do. We think we know the plans. We think we know what is best for us. And what God has for us is so vastly superior that we can't even imagine it. Then there's three reactions that James describes to God's will. One is those who ignore God. They don't care about it at all." [42:13] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "God's plan and God's will is based on his iniquity. Infinite knowledge. He knows how much time you have. I promise you that there are people in this world today that have entered into eternity today, and it completely caught them by surprise. They were not prepared. They were not ready because they did not know that their life was simply a vapor." [39:25] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "God's will. Nothing more. Nothing less. Nothing else. I want you to look with me tonight in James chapter 4. I'm going to begin reading in verse 13. And I want you to see several truths that God gives us in this passage about his will. Go to now, ye that say, today or tomorrow we will go into such a city and continue there a year, and buy and sell and get gain." [38:22] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Sometimes we make God's will a lot more complicated than it actually is. We can sometimes make it seem like an unfathomable mystery. But I love, and I've made this my title tonight, the prayer that was prayed by Bobby Richardson, the former New York Yankees second baseman who was speaking at the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. And that was his prayer. God's will. Nothing more. Nothing less. Nothing else." [37:29] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "We may live what in human years seems like a great deal of time. But in God's existence, it is nothing. How do you compare a finite amount of time to that that is infinite? You simply can't do it. And so because of God's existence, our life is short. So God's existence transcends. It transcends our time, what God is doing. So our will tends to focus on what's going to happen in our lifetime and what's going to happen when we do the things we want to do." [40:16] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "I believe it begins with the daily prayer. That Jesus prayed in the garden. Thy will be done. It's the prayer that he taught us to pray. In the model prayer. Matthew chapter 6. Pray. Our father which art in heaven. Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done. Not my will. But thine be done. It begins by praying. God's will. Always begins from a heart of surrender." [47:02] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "It is. God's will. For us. To begin. With that surrender. That I said. God's will. Starts with. That's God's will. Well. But. Preacher. I really need to know about this. Start with surrender. Start. With obedience. To surrender. It is. God's will. For us. To be filled. With the spirit. And the wise. Living. That accompanies it. Is God's will. Ephesians 5. From verse 15. Through 21. Be not. Unwise. But. The will. Of the Lord. Is. And he lists. Being filled. With the spirit. And the wise." [49:30] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "I struggle. To. This. Prayer. If. I've. Not. Already. Been. Doing. The. Other. Two. Things. If. I've. Not. Been. Daily. Praying. Thy. Will. Be. Done. Does. It. Really. Seem. Genuine. For. To. Now. Say. God. I. Want. To. Do. Your. Will. In. This. Situation. Well. You. Hadn't. Been. Doing. It. For. The. Rest. Of. Your. Life. Why. Start. Now. If. Not. Obeying. What. I. Already. Know. To. Do. The. Clear. Commands. Of. Scripture." [54:12] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "There are times we throw the stick up. And we impose our will on God's will. And we call it God's will. But we're really ignoring what God wants us to do. And then verse 17 says. There are those who disobey God's will. To him that knows to do good. What God wants us to do. And does it not. To him it is a sin. When we choose to not do what God wills." [45:29] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "There are times when God does not reveal His will to us immediately. He wants to take us through the process. He wants to take us through an experience of seeking after Him so that we can learn and we can grow." [36:43] (14 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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