Discovering and Living God's Will in Our Lives
Summary
In this sermon, I explored the concept of knowing and living God's will, a question that I have been asked countless times throughout my pastoral ministry. I began by referencing Proverbs chapter 3 and Ecclesiastes, highlighting the wisdom of Solomon who, despite his wealth, fame, and influence, concluded that all is vanity and a striving after the wind. I emphasized that Solomon's understanding of living God's will was rooted in fearing God and keeping His commandments. I then moved on to discuss the importance of knowing God as the first step to understanding His will. I stressed that one cannot know what God wants for their life if they do not know God Himself.
In the latter part of the sermon, I emphasized that living out God's will starts with glorifying God. I encouraged the congregation to examine their lives and decisions to see if they bring glory to God and make them look more like His son. I concluded the sermon with a pastoral prayer from Hebrews 13:20-21, praying that God would equip the congregation with everything good to do His will. I reiterated that God's will for our lives is not hidden in the dark but is exposed by knowing the light, Jesus Christ.
Key Takeaways:
- Knowing God's will begins with knowing God Himself. We cannot understand what God wants for our lives if we do not have a personal relationship with Him. (#!!11:00!!)
- Living out God's will starts with glorifying God. Our decisions, actions, and the order of our lives should bring glory to God and make us look more like His son. (#!!33:04!!)
- God's will for our lives is not hidden in the dark but is exposed by knowing the light, Jesus Christ. (#!!33:48!!)
- We are made on purpose for a purpose. It's time for us to start living out that purpose because God has great things in store for us. (#!!37:42!!)
- Trusting in God with our whole heart and not leaning on our own understanding will lead us to the path God has for us. (#!!37:42!!)
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Proverbs Chapter 3 #!!00:46!!#
2. Ecclesiastes (no specific chapter mentioned)
3. Hebrews 13:20-21 #!!35:39!!#
Observation Questions:
1. What are the key teachings in Proverbs Chapter 3?
2. How does Hebrews 13:20-21 relate to the concept of doing God's will?
3. What themes are common between Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Hebrews 13:20-21?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Proverbs Chapter 3 guide us in understanding and doing God's will?
2. What does Hebrews 13:20-21 tell us about the role of Jesus in equipping us to do God's will?
3. How can the teachings in Ecclesiastes help us in discerning God's will in our lives?
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent decision you made. Did it glorify God and align with His will as understood from Proverbs Chapter 3?
2. How can you apply the teachings of Hebrews 13:20-21 in your daily life to better align with God's will?
3. Can you identify a situation in your life where you leaned on your own understanding instead of acknowledging God? How can you change this moving forward?
4. What is one specific way you can work towards looking more like God's son as mentioned in the content?
5. How can you better serve others in your community, reflecting the love and service of Jesus as taught in these passages?
Devotional
Day 1: Knowing God's Will Begins with Knowing God
Understanding God's will for our lives starts with a personal relationship with Him. If we don't know the God who gave us life, how can we discern His will for us? It's through surrendering our lives to Jesus Christ, acknowledging our sinfulness, and trusting in Him for our salvation that we begin to comprehend His will for us ([29:51]).
Bible Passage: Romans 10:9-10 - "If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved."
Reflection: Reflect on your personal relationship with God. How does this relationship influence your understanding of His will for your life?
Day 2: Drawing Near to God
The nearness of God translates to knowing His will. If we feel distant from God, it's not because He has moved, but because we have drifted. God is the constant in our lives, and drawing near to Him is the key to understanding His will ([32:21]).
Bible Passage: James 4:8 - "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."
Reflection: How can you draw nearer to God in your daily life? What steps can you take to bridge the perceived distance?
Day 3: Living Out God's Will
Living out God's will starts with glorifying Him in all aspects of our lives. The decisions we make, the order of our family, and the way we structure our lives should all reflect His glory and make us look more like His son each day ([33:04]).
Bible Passage: 1 Corinthians 10:31 - "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."
Reflection: Reflect on your daily decisions. How do they glorify God and make you look more like Jesus?
Day 4: God's Will is Not Hidden
God's will for our lives is not hidden in the dark; it's exposed by knowing the light, and His name is Jesus. Understanding God's will comes from knowing Jesus and walking in His light ([33:48]).
Bible Passage: John 8:12 - "Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'"
Reflection: How does knowing Jesus as the light of the world help you understand God's will for your life?
Day 5: God Equips Us to Do His Will
God equips us with everything good so that we can do His will. He works in us to accomplish what is pleasing in His sight. Trusting in Him and leaning not on our own understanding, we can live out His will for our lives ([35:39]).
Bible Passage: Hebrews 13:20-21 - "Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen."
Reflection: Reflect on how God has equipped you to do His will. How can you use these gifts to live out His will in your daily life?
Quotes
1. "The end of the matter, the summary statement that he makes is fear God and keep his commands. This is the duty of man. That sounds to me like trust God with all your heart, don't lean on your own understanding and in all your ways acknowledge Him and he's going to straighten your path." - 09:44
2. "Knowing God's will begins with knowing God. I would say you cannot know what God wants for your life if you don't know God himself." - 11:00
3. "I'm tired of shanking it in the Christian Life. I'm tired of pulling it this direction and that direction. I'm tired of not knowing where it's going to go as it relates to my full Devotion to God because of my faith in Jesus Christ. I think God wants us to hit the sweet spot. I think he wants us to know and to live the will that he has for our lives." - 10:23
4. "I pray that today is a day where you are growing closer in your relationship to God because you were made on purpose for purpose and my purpose is to tell you that I love you. I'm grateful to God for you and I pray that today you walk more closely with him." - 40:35
5. "Pastor, how do I know and do the will of God? How many of you have ever wondered whether or not you're in the center of God's will? How many of you ever wondered and questioned and thought and wrestled with whether or not you are living out the will of God for your life?" - 02:37
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