Utilizing Biblical Principles to know the will of God

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

Knowing God's will

 

We want God's help regarding major decisions. But is this the extent of God's will for our lives?

 

 

 

The Basis for seeking God's Will

Our desire to obey

 

 

 

Obedience is really at the heart of all this. Doing God's will is the key.

 

God has revealed his will

 

 

The Spirit's effectiveness is related to how much you are getting of the word.

 

God's promise

 

If we fail to find his will, something is wrong. Do we always wait for his leading?

 

Our Attitude

God reveals his truth to those who choose to do God's will (John 7:17). This makes sense. Why would God give us his will if we won't obey it? In fact, There can be trouble when he reveals his will to the disobedient (Jeremiah 42)

 

The Nature of God's will

Sovereign Will

God's master plan for all that happens in the universe, revealed or not.

We must trust that God's will is good, though we may suffer (1 Peter 4:19)

 

 

Moral Will

God's commands to all of us. His guidelines for everyone to become like him in holiness.

 

All of God's moral law is found in the bible (2 Timothy 3:16-17, 1 Peter 1:2-4).

God's moral will always comes first and sets the stage for his individual will (Romans 12:2).

If you have to make a mistake

Which is worse: walking in close fellowship with the spirit but making a mistake about picking a job, or working at the perfect job while you ignore God? Which is more likely? (Hint: If we're open to his moral will, we'll probably be open to other aspects of his will as well.)

 

Individual Will

God's desires for a person's life. His plan for us in particular. His way to fulfill our purpose

 

Note all the ways that people fulfilled God's purposes in Hebrews 11.

Is faith important to following God's will?

 

Principles of Decision Making

Consider

 

 

 

 

 

The Ambivalent Heart

"I seek to get my heart into such a state that it has no will of its own in a given matter. When we are ready to do the Lord's will-- whatever it may be-- nine tenths of the difficulties are overcome." -George Muller

 

Scriptural Objectives

Principle YES NO Neutral

Matthew 6:33:

2 Peter 3:18

Matthew 22:37-39

1 Peter 1:15

Matthew 28:18-20

Scriptural Questions

Question YES NO Neutral

1 Corinthians 6:12

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

1 Corinthians 8:9

1 Corinthians 10:31

Add other principles/questions as they apply

 

Ingredients to finding God's Individual Will

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No single ingredient is enough, yet often one of these ingredients will stand out as being the "key" factor that helps us make our decision.

 

References

 

Design For Discipleship, Book Three. Navpress. P.O. Box 6000, Colorado Springs,
CO 80934

 

Experiencing God. Henry T. Blackaby and Claude T. King. Life Way Press, 1990, 127 Ninth Ave., N. Nashville TN, 37234.

 

How To Know The Will Of God For Your Life (seminar). Robert Reehm.

 

Know the Will of God (Tract). Good News Publishers. 1300 Crescent St., Wheaton IL 60187

 

 

Workshop

 

Do one of these assignments. For assignments one and two, answer:

 

  1. Pick one or two of the references below and chart it out in terms of the decision-making principles we discussed
  2.  

    Genesis chap 24

    Exodus chap 18

    Numbers chap 22

    Nehemiah 2:1-9

    Esther chap 4

    Acts 16:1-10

     

     

  3. Do the same, as above, but focus on a decision that you made.
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  5. Use the guidelines on page three to investigate a decision you have yet to make