KNOWING GOD'S WILL

 LESSON IV – KNOWING GOD’S WILL

I.    IT IS GOD’S WILL TO GUIDE EVERY BELIEVER

1.  GOD HAS A SPECIFIC PLAN FOR YOU   (2 Tim. 1:9)

1. He saved us for a purpose:  “…  His own purpose”.

2. He has a calling for us: “…  called us with a holy calling”.

3. This plan for us was made before time began.

Your life is not an accident.  God loves you and He has a specific plan for your life.

2.  THE GOOD WORKS OF EVERY BELIEVER WERE PREPARED BEFOREHAND   

        BY GOD   (Eph. 2:10)

1. Every believer is born twice and God owns the believer’s life twice.

2. The good works that a believer must do were prepared beforehand by God.

3. The believer simply discovers these good works and “walks in them.”  He does not plan the good works he will do.

4. The believer walks step by step.  As he obeys one step, God reveals the next.

3.  SALVATION PLAN OF GOD

Example:  A Father who took his child from the mud and gave him a bath and dressed him.  They were going to a certain place but the child was too busy playing.

II.   THE BELIEVER AS SHEEP WILL SURELY HEAR THE SHEPHERD’S VOICE

        (John 10:3-5, 11, 14, 27)

1. The sheep knows, hears, follows His voice and will not obey the stranger’s voice.

2. Sheep are dumb and the shepherd knows this.  So He guides His sheep daily and leads them out to feed.

3. The Shepherd will speak and act according to:

1. His love for me (see the cross).

2. My capacity to hear and obey Him.

III.   HINDRANCES TO HEARING AND OBEYING HIS WILL

1. YOU ARE LIVING IN SIN.    (Isa. 59:1-2)

Example:  A Christian having a non-Christian boyfriend.  Remedy:  Repent.

2. EMOTIONS    (Matt. 16:21-23)

1. Do not try to reach a decision when your emotions are stirred up.

2. Surrender your emotions to Jesus.

3. PROBLEMS SEEM TO BECOME BIGGER THAN GOD (Psalms 46:10)

1.   What it means to “Be still”. (1 Pet. 5:7;  Phil. 4:6)

2.   Worrying about or fearing the future shows lack of faith.

4. YOU ARE NOT WILING TO OBEY.   (John 7:17)

Example:  Experience.

5. YOU ARE MINDING THE THINGS OF THE WORLD.  (see Col. 3:1-3)

1. When you conform to the world, you will not know God’s will.   (Rom. 12:1-2)

2. Friendship with the world is enmity with God.

Anything that hinders you from obeying God becomes your idol.

IV.    MOST OF HIS GUIDANCE ARE FOUND IN HIS WORD

A.   EXAMPLE:   Tithes and offerings   (Mal. 3:8-11;  Luke 6:38)  

                       Bearing fruit    (John 15:16)

Not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers   (2 Cor. 6:14)

Etc.

B.     GOD’S LEADING WILL NEVER CONTRADICT HIS WORD.

V.     WE NEED TO PRACTICE HEARING AND OBEYING GOD   (Matt. 7:24)

1. IMPORTANCE OF A DAILY QUIET TIME.

2. THE PEACE OF GOD IN YOUR HEART   (Col. 3:15)

Let God’s peace be the referee or umpire in your heart.

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GUIDE QUESTIONS

1. Is it God’s will to guide us?  Why?According to Eph. 2:10, the good works we are to do was prepared beforehand by God. 
2. How can we know these good works?How can we hear from the Lord?
3. Are you having your daily quiet time?  If not, why not?  
4. Jesus guarantees to guide every Christian daily. Name five hindrances why a Christian can’t receive guidance from the Lord and give the remedy for each.

Source:

Christ, the Living Stone Fellowship

MINISTRY TRAINING SCHOOL – INTERMEDIATE

School of Worker Module 2