#3 -- Introduction to Will of God
Colossians 1:9, 10
Proposition: To introduce the criteria for a Christian to discern the will of God for himself as revealed in Scripture. We will look at four of the things that God identifies as His will in Scripture and further explain how a believer can be living in the will of God.
Introduction
A. The Divine Expectation That a Believer Understand the Will of God -- Eph. 5:17
B. The Divine Adjustment of the Believer to Be Doing His Will -- Heb. 13:20, 21
C. The Divine Revelation of His Will Designed to Affect One's Walk -- Col. 1:9, 10
D. The Distinct Relationship to God's Will in Scripture
TRANS: We have considered four of the twelve things that God identified as His will in His Word to this point. Today we will be looking at more of these. These are filled with some wonderful truths that can easily be studied for many hours. These truths are most practical. the next element of the will of God relates to a believer and his or her employer.
I. GOD DESIRES YOU TO SERVE AS A BONDSLAVE
BELONGING TO CHRIST -- RECOGNITION OF A SPECIAL SERVICE DOING THE WILL OF GOD
AS TO THE LORD [originally as slaves] -- Ephesians 6:6, 7
A. Christian Slaves Living in the
B. Slaves of Men Who Are Slaves Belonging to God -- Vs. 6
1. Not with Eye service as Men pleasers
2. As Bondslaves Belonging to Christ
C. Simplicity of Doing the Will of God in Employment from the Heart
D. Serving as Saints with a Good Mental Attitude -- Vs. 7
1. As to the Lord
2. Not to Man
E. The Sharing of the Responsibility Whether a Slave or Free -- Vs. 8
TRANS: God gives revelation concerning practical sanctification and its relationship to fornication. He desires his saints to act like saints as set apart to God.
II. GOD DESIRES YOU TO BE SANCTIFIED AND TO
ABSTAIN FROM FORNICATION -- A SEPARATION TO GOD AND FROM FORNICATION -- 1
Thessalonians 4:3
A. The Importance of Walking Properly and Pleasing God -- Vs. 1
B. Injunctions That the Thessalonians Know -- Vs. 2
C. The Identification of What the Will of God Is -- Vs. 3
1. Your Sanctification = Result of Being Sanctified
a. To God
b. "From" Taken Care of
2. Abstain from Fornication for Yourself
TRANS: Thanksgiving is something that God desires from a believer. This is only possible for a believer who is spiritual. It is a mark of Spirit filling in Ephesians 5:18, 20).
III. GOD DESIRES YOU TO BE THANKFUL FOR OR IN EVERYTHING -- AN EXPRESSION OF APPRECIATION FOR THE BENEFIT/S THAT GOD HAS PROVIDED BY HIS GRACE -- 1 Thessalonians 5:18
A. All Circumstances = In Everything
B. Continued Communication of Appreciation for Benefits
C. The Certainty of This Being God's Desirous Will
D. The Connection of the Believer in Christ Jesus
E. The Core Concepts for Thanksgiving
1. In Everything -- 1 Thess. 5:18
2. At All Times = "Always" -- Eph. 5:20
3. For All Things -- Eph. 5:20
4 For All Men -- 1 Tim. 2:1
TRANS: The next realm of the will of God is most blessed yet very little understood by Christians. Few really understand the significance of the mystery of the indwelling of Jesus Christ in the believer. There are riches that accrue to the believer because of his or her being indwelt by Christ, the Glorified Resurrected One.
IV. GOD
DESIRES YOU TO EXPERIENTIALLY KNOW THE RICHES OF THE GLORY OF THE INDWELLING
CHRIST -- AN INTENTION THAT A BELIEVER EXPERIENTIALLY KNOW THE GLORY OF THE WAY
THE INDWELLING CHRIST IS IN YOU -- Col. 1:27
A. God's Provision of Information for His Saints Revealing a Mystery
B. God's Program for Revealing His Will in Making Known the Mystery
C. The Plan for God's Glory Through the Mystery
1. A New Testament Mystery Is Not to Be Solved but to be Shown
2. By the Gentiles (the instrument)
D. The Presentation of the Mystery = "Which Is"
1. Christ in You
2. The Hope Coming from the Glory
E. The Potential for Participating in Glory
1. Glory = God's Opinion of Himself and His Program
2. God's Opinion of What He Designed for You to Be and What You Will Be
TRANS: There is no question that God expects the Christian to know what His will is. Willful ignorance of the will of God is actually an act of rebellion against God. The will of God provides the very best for the believer and will not deprive the believer of anything that will give God glory.
V. GOD EXPECTS YOU TO BE FILLED WITH THE EXPERIENTIAL KNOWLEDGE OF HIS DESIROUS WILL -- A FULL COMPREHENSION OF THE WILL OF GOD IS THE BASIS FOR A CHRISTIAN WALK IN BALANCE WITH THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST -- Colossians 1:9, 10
A. Paul's Communication with the Father
1. While Worshipping
2. While Asking for Oneself
B. Paul's Concern for the Saint's Relationship to the Will of God
1. Be Filled with Full Experiential Knowledge of His Will
2. In All Wisdom and Spiritual Understanding
C. The Believer's Conduct in Relationship to the Lordship of Christ -- Vs. 10
1. Purpose = To Walk in Balance with God's Provisions
2. Of Lord = Head of the Body Functioning
3. Bearing Fruit and Growing in the Full Experiential Knowledge of God the Father
TRANS: Before the believer can really relate to the will of God, it is necessary to use ones mind and to function in the realm of the human spirit. We learn these things from Scripture knowing that God expects us to know what His will is and to understand it with spiritual understanding and to have wisdom so that the believer can live his or her life in balance with the divine provisions for walk, bearing fruit and spiritual growth.
Conclusion
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