Aligning Our Will with God's Purpose
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound significance of the third petition in the Lord's Prayer: "Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." This prayer is central to our spiritual lives, challenging us to surrender our own desires and align ourselves with God's will. The acronym HEB was introduced as a mnemonic device to help us remember this crucial aspect of the Lord's Prayer. The "H" stands for the hardest prayer, as it requires us to relinquish control and trust in God's plan, even when it leads us into unknown and uncomfortable territories. Jesus himself exemplified this struggle in the Garden of Gethsemane, where he prayed for God's will to be done despite the immense personal cost.
The "E" in HEB represents the essential nature of this prayer. It reminds us that the purpose of prayer is not to impose our will on heaven but to bring God's will to fruition on earth. This perspective shifts our focus from self-centered desires to a life of stewardship, recognizing that everything we have is entrusted to us by God. The parable of the vineyard tenants illustrates the danger of confusing stewardship with ownership, a common pitfall in our consumer-driven society.
Finally, the "B" stands for the best prayer we can offer. Aligning ourselves with God's will is the greatest achievement, as it leads to true success and fulfillment. To pray this prayer sincerely, we must trust God, know His word, and be willing to act as His instruments in the world. This requires a deep relationship with God, cultivated through regular worship and engagement with His word. As we strive to live out God's will, we find true freedom and purpose, echoing the wisdom of spiritual leaders like Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who emphasized the active pursuit of God's will over mere avoidance of sin.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Hardest Prayer: Praying "Your will be done" is challenging because it demands the surrender of our own will to God's. Even Jesus struggled with this in Gethsemane, showing us that it's a profound act of faith and trust. This prayer requires us to step out of our comfort zones and into God's unknown plans, where we are no longer in control. [07:14]
2. Essential Prayer for Earthly Life: The purpose of prayer is to align our lives with God's will, not to impose our desires on heaven. This perspective helps us recognize our role as stewards of God's creation, avoiding the confusion of ownership that leads to self-centered living. [15:49]
3. The Best Prayer: Aligning with God's will is the greatest achievement, as it leads to true success and fulfillment. This requires trust in God, knowledge of His word, and willingness to act as His instruments. True freedom is found in doing God's will, not in pursuing our own desires. [30:02]
4. Trust and Knowledge of God: To sincerely pray for God's will, we must trust Him and know His word. This relationship is cultivated through regular worship and engagement with scripture, allowing us to discern and follow God's will in our lives. [30:54]
5. Active Pursuit of God's Will: Being a Christian involves courageously and actively doing God's will, rather than merely avoiding sin. This commitment to God's will is central to our identity as followers of Christ, leading to a life of purpose and fulfillment. [37:16]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[07:14] - The Hardest Prayer
[08:02] - Jesus' Struggle in Gethsemane
[09:33] - Personal Testimony of Trust
[10:34] - Assurance of God's Presence
[14:28] - Sweetness of God's Will
[15:49] - Essential Prayer for Earthly Life
[16:43] - Parable of the Vineyard Tenants
[18:15] - Confusion of Stewardship and Ownership
[19:14] - Consumer Culture and Spiritual Confusion
[22:19] - Importance of Sunday Worship
[23:15] - Spiritual COVID and Church Attendance
[24:15] - State of the Church
[26:14] - Aligning with God's Will
[27:03] - Crying Out for God's Will
[28:32] - Make Abba Father Great Again
[30:02] - The Best Prayer
[30:54] - Trust and Knowledge of God
[31:48] - God's Will Revealed in His Word
[33:00] - Accomplishing God's Will Through Us
[35:08] - False Stories and God's Work
[35:47] - Eulogy and Trust in God
[37:16] - Active Pursuit of God's Will
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 6:9-13 (The Lord's Prayer)
2. Matthew 26:36-46 (Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane)
3. Matthew 21:33-46 (Parable of the Vineyard Tenants)
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Observation Questions:
1. What does the third petition of the Lord's Prayer, "Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven," emphasize about our relationship with God? [07:14]
2. How did Jesus exemplify the struggle of surrendering to God's will in the Garden of Gethsemane? What was His prayer during this time? [08:02]
3. In the parable of the vineyard tenants, what mistake did the tenants make regarding their role and ownership? [16:43]
4. How does the sermon describe the difference between stewardship and ownership in the context of our earthly lives? [18:15]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. Why is the prayer "Your will be done" described as the hardest prayer, and how does it challenge our personal desires and control? [07:14]
2. How does the parable of the vineyard tenants illustrate the dangers of confusing stewardship with ownership, and what implications does this have for our lives today? [16:43]
3. What does it mean to align our lives with God's will, and how does this lead to true success and fulfillment according to the sermon? [30:02]
4. How does the sermon suggest we cultivate a deep relationship with God to better understand and follow His will? [30:54]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you struggled to surrender your will to God's. What steps can you take to trust in God's plan more fully, even when it leads to uncomfortable situations? [07:14]
2. In what areas of your life might you be confusing stewardship with ownership? How can you shift your perspective to see yourself as a steward of God's creation? [18:15]
3. How can you actively pursue God's will in your daily life, rather than merely avoiding sin? What specific actions can you take this week to align more closely with God's desires for you? [37:16]
4. Consider your current prayer life. How can you incorporate the essence of the "essential prayer" into your daily prayers, focusing on God's will rather than your own desires? [15:49]
5. Identify one area where you need to trust God more deeply. What practical steps can you take to strengthen your trust in Him and His word? [30:54]
6. How can you encourage others in your community to recognize their roles as stewards rather than owners? What conversations or actions can you initiate to promote this understanding? [19:14]
7. Reflect on the role of Sunday worship in your life. How can you ensure that it remains a priority and a time to realign your heart and mind with God's will? [23:15]
Devotional
Day 1: Surrendering Control to God's Will
The hardest prayer we can offer is "Your will be done," as it requires us to relinquish our own desires and trust in God's plan, even when it leads us into unknown and uncomfortable territories. This act of surrender is a profound demonstration of faith, as it involves stepping out of our comfort zones and into God's unknown plans, where we are no longer in control. Jesus himself exemplified this struggle in the Garden of Gethsemane, where he prayed for God's will to be done despite the immense personal cost. This prayer challenges us to trust that God's plans are greater than our own, even when we cannot see the outcome. [07:14]
Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV): "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to God's will? What would it look like to trust Him fully in this area today?
Day 2: Aligning Our Lives with God's Purpose
The essential nature of the prayer "Your will be done" is to align our lives with God's will, not to impose our desires on heaven. This perspective shifts our focus from self-centered desires to a life of stewardship, recognizing that everything we have is entrusted to us by God. The parable of the vineyard tenants illustrates the danger of confusing stewardship with ownership, a common pitfall in our consumer-driven society. By understanding our role as stewards, we can avoid the confusion of ownership that leads to self-centered living and instead live a life that reflects God's purpose on earth. [15:49]
1 Peter 4:10 (ESV): "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace."
Reflection: In what ways can you shift your perspective from ownership to stewardship in your daily life? How can this change impact your relationship with God and others?
Day 3: Finding Fulfillment in God's Will
Aligning ourselves with God's will is the greatest achievement, as it leads to true success and fulfillment. This requires trust in God, knowledge of His word, and a willingness to act as His instruments in the world. True freedom is found in doing God's will, not in pursuing our own desires. By sincerely praying for God's will, we open ourselves to the possibility of being used by Him to accomplish His purposes on earth. This alignment with God's will brings about a sense of fulfillment and purpose that cannot be found in the pursuit of our own desires. [30:02]
Psalm 37:4-5 (ESV): "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act."
Reflection: What is one desire you have that you can commit to God today, trusting that He will align it with His will for your life?
Day 4: Cultivating Trust and Knowledge of God
To sincerely pray for God's will, we must trust Him and know His word. This relationship is cultivated through regular worship and engagement with scripture, allowing us to discern and follow God's will in our lives. By deepening our understanding of God's character and His promises, we can develop a trust that enables us to confidently seek His will in all aspects of our lives. This trust is not passive but requires active engagement with God's word and a commitment to living out His teachings. [30:54]
Colossians 1:9-10 (ESV): "And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God."
Reflection: How can you intentionally engage with God's word this week to deepen your trust and knowledge of Him? What specific steps will you take to make this a regular practice?
Day 5: Actively Pursuing God's Will
Being a Christian involves courageously and actively doing God's will, rather than merely avoiding sin. This commitment to God's will is central to our identity as followers of Christ, leading to a life of purpose and fulfillment. By actively pursuing God's will, we demonstrate our faith and trust in His plans, allowing Him to work through us to accomplish His purposes on earth. This active pursuit requires courage and a willingness to step out in faith, trusting that God will guide and equip us for the journey ahead. [37:16]
James 1:22-25 (ESV): "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing."
Reflection: What is one specific action you can take today to actively pursue God's will in your life? How can you overcome any fears or obstacles that may be holding you back?
Quotes
Praying for God's will is the hardest prayer Jesus did, and you and I have done or will do. So, when you pray, this is the hardest prayer. Note this, Jesus understands your struggle. So, you are not alone. Jesus is right there with you, cheering for you at the right hand of our Father as our High Priest and Champion of our faith. [00:06:27] (28 seconds)
Your will be done on earth is an essential prayer for, especially for our earthly life. Now, very often, we forget the purpose of a prayer is not to get our will to be done in heaven, but to get God's will done in heaven. To get God's will done on earth. But we kind of reverse that. [00:15:26] (24 seconds)
It was so tempting for tenants to think that they were the owners. They were the owners. Notice here, the tenants are not the slaves, but they are the stewards. They are the stewards of the landlord's vineyard. In its absence, and under contract, they operated on the vineyard, hiring, probably hiring some workers, and perhaps even using slaves. [00:17:57] (30 seconds)
We too often pray and seek all non-essential things. Once again, we pray my will be done more than God's will be done. So how would we protect our essential life perspective and calling? This is a one reason why we gather together on Sunday and tell stories to one another, stories of our history, stories of our history. [00:22:06] (29 seconds)
Earth and everything in it belongs to the Lord and Lord alone. We call Sunday the Lord's Day, the true Sabbath, because our risen Lord gave us the rest beyond the sin and death. Sunday is not just another weekend day. Without Holy Sabbath, Lord's Day Sunday, we forget essential reality of life. [00:22:56] (27 seconds)
To know the will of God is the greatest knowledge. To do the will of God is the greatest knowledge. To do the will of God is the greatest achievement. There is no failure in God's will and no success outside of God's will. I hope you remember this statement. There is no failure in God's will. [00:30:02] (16 seconds)
To pray God's will be done above my will and everything else, we must trust God. You cannot pray this prayer without trusting God. And to trust God or someone, you must know that person. Right? You really must know that person. So in order to pray this prayer of God's will with a trust, you must know his word. [00:30:54] (25 seconds)
God's will is so full of his love and best wishes. With the highest wisdom. For you and me. Because we are his children. Parents, what kind of will do you have for your children? Not just good will? No. The best, the greatest will. Don't we? God's will comes from his heart. [00:31:48] (23 seconds)
People often ask me, Pastor Paul, how can I know will of God for my life? Let me tell you. Because it's not that difficult. You don't have to, you know, fast a lot or have some kind of spiritual, mystical experience to know will of God for your life. Let me tell you. There are already enough will of God written and revealed in the scripture. [00:32:30] (22 seconds)
Dietrich Bonhoeffer said this, being a Christian is less about cautiously avoiding sin than about courageously and actively doing God's will. Being Christian is not just about, you know, doing God's will. Being Christian is not just, you know, managing my life in my, my way. [00:37:16] (16 seconds)
Being a follower of Christ, we are serious about the will of God. Because our sin is our will. Savior gave his life for the will of God. And that's how you and I are here today. For us, it's nothing more important, nothing better, and nothing more precious than the will of God. Amen? [00:37:56] (19 seconds)
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