Aligning with God's Will Through Prayer and Obedience

Devotional

Day 1: Aligning with God's Sovereign and Individual Will

God's sovereign will is always accomplished, as He is supremely over all things. However, His individual will for our lives involves our free will and obedience. We must discern and align with both aspects through prayer and obedience. God's sovereign will, like the birth of Jesus, is unchangeable and will come to pass regardless of human actions. On the other hand, His individual will for us requires our active participation and obedience. This means we must seek His guidance and be willing to follow His directives, even when they challenge our personal desires or plans. Understanding and aligning with both aspects of God's will is crucial for living a life that honors Him and fulfills His purposes. [24:59]

Ephesians 1:11 (ESV): "In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to seek God's individual will more earnestly? How can you begin to align your daily decisions with His sovereign and individual will?

Day 2: The Ripple Effect of Disobedience

Jonah's story illustrates that disobedience to God's individual will can lead to severe consequences, not just for ourselves but for others around us. When Jonah initially refused to go to Nineveh, his disobedience resulted in a storm that endangered the lives of the ship's crew and led to his own harrowing experience inside a great fish. This story serves as a powerful reminder that our actions have a ripple effect, impacting those in our sphere of influence. Disobedience can bring about unnecessary hardship and suffering, not only for ourselves but also for those around us. Therefore, it is essential to heed God's call and follow His directives to avoid these negative consequences. [37:43]

Jonah 1:12 (ESV): "He said to them, 'Pick me up and hurl me into the sea; then the sea will quiet down for you, for I know it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you.'"

Reflection: Think of a time when your disobedience affected others. How can you seek God's forgiveness and make amends to those impacted by your actions?

Day 3: Seeing with Eyes of Faith

The story of the twelve spies shows the importance of viewing situations with eyes of faith rather than just eyes on facts. While facts are important, faith allows us to see God's promises and power beyond the immediate circumstances. The ten spies who focused solely on the formidable facts missed God's promise, leading to 40 years of wandering in the wilderness for the Israelites. In contrast, Joshua and Caleb, who viewed the situation with eyes of faith, believed in God's power to conquer the land. This teaches us that faith enables us to trust in God's promises and see beyond the obstacles that may seem insurmountable. [46:35]

Numbers 14:8-9 (ESV): "If the Lord delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them."

Reflection: Are there areas in your life where you are focusing more on the facts than on God's promises? How can you shift your perspective to see with eyes of faith?

Day 4: The Power of Persistent Prayer

Daniel's persistent prayer for 21 days, despite spiritual resistance, highlights the necessity of persevering in prayer. Spiritual opposition can delay answers, but unwavering prayer can break through these barriers. Daniel's unwavering commitment to prayer, even in the face of resistance from the prince of the kingdom of Persia, resulted in an angelic breakthrough. This story underscores the importance of persistent prayer, especially when facing spiritual opposition. It reminds us that perseverance in prayer can lead to divine intervention and the fulfillment of God's purposes in our lives. [53:32]

Daniel 10:12-13 (ESV): "Then he said to me, 'Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words. The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia.'"

Reflection: What is one area in your life where you need to persist in prayer despite not seeing immediate results? How can you commit to praying through this situation?

Day 5: The Importance of Obedience and Avoiding Understudies

Esther's story warns us that if we refuse God's individual ask, He may use an understudy to accomplish His sovereign will. Our obedience is crucial to fulfilling God's purposes and avoiding the activation of an understudy. Esther was placed in a position of influence for a specific purpose, and her obedience was critical in saving her people. This story serves as a reminder that God has specific assignments for each of us, and our willingness to obey is essential in fulfilling His plans. If we refuse, God may raise someone else to accomplish His will, but we will miss out on the blessings and opportunities He has for us. [58:01]

Esther 4:14 (ESV): "For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"

Reflection: Is there an area in your life where you feel God is calling you to act, but you have been hesitant? What steps can you take today to obey His call and avoid the risk of being replaced by an understudy?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Good morning, everyone. Today, we explored the profound significance of the Lord's Prayer, particularly focusing on the phrase, "Your will be done on earth." This phrase encapsulates our need to align with God's will, both His sovereign will and His individual will for our lives. We began by understanding that God's sovereign will is always accomplished, as He is supremely over all things. Examples like the birth of Jesus illustrate that no human action can thwart God's sovereign plans.

However, God's individual will for our lives involves our free will and obedience to His commands and directives. We examined three key biblical stories to illustrate the complexities and challenges of aligning with God's will. First, Jonah's story showed how disobedience can lead to severe consequences, not just for ourselves but for others around us. Jonah's initial refusal to go to Nineveh resulted in a storm that endangered the lives of the ship's crew and led to his own harrowing experience inside a great fish.

Second, the story of the twelve spies sent by Moses to scout the Promised Land highlighted the difference between viewing situations with "eyes on facts" versus "eyes of faith." The ten spies who focused solely on the formidable facts missed God's promise, leading to 40 years of wandering in the wilderness for the Israelites. In contrast, Joshua and Caleb, who viewed the situation with eyes of faith, believed in God's power to conquer the land.

Lastly, we looked at Daniel's persistent prayer and fasting for understanding a vision. Despite spiritual resistance from the prince of the kingdom of Persia, Daniel's unwavering prayer for 21 days resulted in an angelic breakthrough. This story underscores the importance of persistent prayer, especially when facing spiritual opposition.

In conclusion, we must recognize our critical need to pray for God's individual will to be done in our lives. Whether we face the temptation to disobey, the risk of missing God's direction, or spiritual resistance, prayer is our lifeline to align with God's perfect plan. Let us commit to seeking God's will with fervent and persistent prayer, trusting that He will supply all we need to fulfill His purposes.

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Key Takeaways

1. **God's Sovereign Will vs. Individual Will**: God's sovereign will is always accomplished, as He is supremely over all things. However, His individual will for our lives involves our free will and obedience. We must discern and align with both aspects through prayer and obedience. [24:59]
2. The Consequences of Disobedience: Jonah's story illustrates that disobedience to God's individual will can lead to severe consequences, not just for ourselves but for others around us. Our actions have a ripple effect, impacting those in our sphere of influence. [37:43]
3. **Eyes on Facts vs. Eyes of Faith**: The story of the twelve spies shows the importance of viewing situations with eyes of faith rather than just eyes on facts. While facts are important, faith allows us to see God's promises and power beyond the immediate circumstances. [46:35]
4. Persistent Prayer Against Spiritual Resistance: Daniel's persistent prayer for 21 days, despite spiritual resistance, highlights the necessity of persevering in prayer. Spiritual opposition can delay answers, but unwavering prayer can break through these barriers. [53:32]
5. The Importance of Obedience and Avoiding Understudies: Esther's story warns us that if we refuse God's individual ask, He may use an understudy to accomplish His sovereign will. Our obedience is crucial to fulfilling God's purposes and avoiding the activation of an understudy. [58:01]
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Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[20:39] - Introduction to the Lord's Prayer
[21:37] - The Critical Lens: Matthew 6:8
[22:37] - Understanding "Need" in the Lord's Prayer
[23:57] - The Challenge of God's Will
[24:59] - God's Sovereign Will vs. Individual Will
[25:54] - God's Sovereignty Explained
[26:49] - God's Sovereign Will: What God Wants Done
[27:45] - Example of God's Sovereign Will: Birth of Jesus
[28:41] - God's Individual Will: Commands and Free Will
[29:40] - The Importance of Obedience
[30:23] - God's Individual Will: Directives and Assignments
[30:57] - The God Ask: Serving in Ministry
[31:42] - The Complexity of God's Will
[32:15] - The Bombardment of Thoughts and Decisions
[33:02] - Biblical Examples of God's Will
[33:40] - Story of Jonah: Messing It Up
[34:28] - Jonah's Disobedience and Consequences
[35:46] - The Map of Jonah's Journey
[36:27] - The Storm and Jonah's Confession
[37:02] - God's Sovereign Will and Jonah's Assignment
[37:43] - Sin's Consequences and Multiplication Effect
[38:58] - Story of the Ten vs. Two Spies: Missing It
[39:40] - Eyes on Facts vs. Eyes of Faith
[40:09] - Jesus' Affirmation of Rational Thinking
[41:06] - Eyes of Faith and the Holy Spirit
[42:18] - The Twelve Spies' Report
[43:43] - The Nephilim and the Giants
[45:01] - The King of Og and Perspective on Giants
[46:35] - Different Interpretations: Eyes of Faith
[47:53] - The Impact of Unfaithfulness on Future Generations
[49:09] - Story of Daniel: Spiritual Resistance
[50:33] - Daniel's Persistent Prayer and Fasting
[52:02] - The Importance of Praying Through
[53:32] - Jesus' Parable on Persistent Prayer
[55:03] - Testimony of Persistent Prayer
[56:31] - The Warning of Understudies
[58:01] - Esther's Story: The Understudy Principle
[59:32] - The Call to Pray for God's Will
[60:58] - Closing and Announcements

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What does Matthew 6:8-13 teach us about our needs and how we should pray for them?
In Jonah 1:1-3, what was Jonah's initial reaction to God's command, and what were the consequences of his disobedience? [34:28]
According to Daniel 10:10-14, what was the result of Daniel's persistent prayer despite spiritual resistance? [49:09]

Interpretation Questions

How does the concept of God's sovereign will differ from His individual will for our lives, as explained in the sermon? [24:59]
What can we learn from Jonah's story about the ripple effects of our disobedience on others? [37:43]
How does the story of the twelve spies illustrate the difference between viewing situations with "eyes on facts" versus "eyes of faith"? [46:35]

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you felt God's individual will for your life but chose to disobey. What were the consequences, and how did it affect those around you? [37:43]
Are there areas in your life where you are currently facing a "giant" situation? How can you shift your perspective from "eyes on facts" to "eyes of faith"? [46:35]
Have you ever experienced spiritual resistance in your prayer life? How did you respond, and what can you learn from Daniel's example of persistent prayer? [49:09]
Think about a specific "God ask" in your life right now. What steps can you take to ensure you are aligning with God's individual will and not activating an understudy? [58:01]
How can you incorporate more persistent and fervent prayer into your daily routine to better align with God's will for your life? [53:32]
Identify one area where you need to trust in God's sovereign will. How can you remind yourself that what God wants done will always be accomplished, despite human actions? [27:45]
Reflect on a recent decision you made. Did you rely more on "eyes on facts" or "eyes of faith"? How can you improve your decision-making process to include more faith-based perspectives? [46:35]

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "God is the God of the impossible that's his territory and he invites you and I to experience the impossible becoming possible because all things are possible with God I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength so instead of allowing eyes of fact be the strict determination for how I make my decisions I'm going to have the eyes of faith empower me to see what God sees and that is how I'm going to base my decision." [46:35] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "God is in control. And He is. And where the word sovereignty comes from is the word sovereign. And the sovereign one, that appears 303 times throughout the Bible. And what it means is one who is over all things. I kind of like to add one word because it's God. One who is supremely over all things. God's the one who's created all things." [25:54] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Jesus would put it this way in John 14, 15. Hey, if you love me. Keep my commands. God wants us to obey. He places a premium on obedience. And then just six verses later, Jesus gives us a little bit more information. I think there's a reason for that. He says in verse 21, the one who has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me." [29:40] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "God has given you and I the privilege to operate with free will. He's not programmed us in a pre-programmed fashion to live out in a particular way. God gives us the ability to choose. And in a sense, we need to own our responsibility with the choices we make. If we sin and disobey, we experience unwanted consequences. If we obey, that's when we see ourselves going in the right direction, the right way." [28:41] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "So what ends up happening? Well God creates this storm. This storm is so fierce that the crew is fearful of the ship going under. So they toss the totality of the cargo overboard. And then somehow someone has the idea. Hey let's cast lots. That was a practice back then. To find out who is responsible for this calamity. And the lot fell to Jonah. And then Jonah actually to his credit comes clean. And then in verse 12 we read this. Jonah he answered them. Pick me up and throw me into the sea. So that it will calm down for you. For I know I'm to blame for this great storm that is against you." [37:02] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "So what did Jonah do? I think he did what most of us would do. He ran. As a matter of fact if you look at this map here. Or I guess we're going to show it back here. This is a map of the Mediterranean Sea. And if you can see the bottom red arrow. At the bottom of that arrow is the city of Joppa. And so when the Bible says that Jonah went down to Joppa. We basically believe that he was east. And north of Joppa. The bottom right hand corner there. But notice if Jonah had kept going east and north. What would he have crossed? You might not be able to see it. But it's Nineveh. Right up at the top of that arrow is Nineveh." [36:27] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "But here's the thing. Eyes on facts alone. Is like the first way of viewing information. But there's actually a second way to view information. That's more important. And it only has opened up. To people who become Christians. And I'm talking about the second one being. Eyes of faith. Eyes of faith. This is where when you and I. Ask Jesus to become Savior and Lord of our lives. One of the things that we receive. And we receive a number of things. We are actually given the person of the Holy Spirit. Who now dwells inside of us." [41:06] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "So why did god through jesus say that we have a need to pray for god's will to be done in our life well we can mess it up we can miss it or we experience spiritual resistance well why is this so important i think with what paul writes in ephesians 2 10 this is what weighs in the balance paul writes this for we brothers and sisters in christ who have asked jesus to become savior and lord of our life we are his workmanship brothers and sisters of christ we are his masterpiece and he's given us gifts and abilities and intellects we've been created in christ jesus for good works we've been created for that god asks of our lives to respond which god beforehand has prepared for us to do." [56:31] (50 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "But here's the problem when we strictly use eyes on facts earlier with Jonah I said the multiplication of sins effect on others in this case the others the entire children of the nation of Israel parents listen to this verse numbers 14 verse 33 this is what's recorded God says to the people of Israel your sons your sons shall be shepherds for 40 years in the wilderness and they your children will suffer for your unfaithfulness can you imagine as a parent situationally looking at information and eyes on facts alone you miss God because you didn't pray and somehow that decision that you you went with somehow impacts your family your children grandchildren for the next 40 years." [47:53] (58 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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