Tinkering is good in building, but not in Decisions
Waiting for God’s will is not an excuse for doing nothing.
“Sometimes knowing, I don’t know is part of getting through” – (Better than I song)
God’s ‘will’ has three meanings.
1. Gods will of Decree-Settled
• God knows every detail
2. God’s will of Desire. – Command p, 19
• Say no to the desires of others p, 21 -last thoughts
3. God’s will of Direction. -Who, What, etc.
FAITH p,23 Seek ye First the kingdom of God.
Five reasons we might fret about God’s will:
1. We want to please God
• Good, but not how it works p, 26
2. Some of us are timid.
• Downright scared. Have faith.
3. We want perfect fulfillment.
• Life isn’t always fun, we shouldn’t expect it to be. We want it all. If you are following God’s word and keeping busy- you won’t think “is this right”. You will have wisdom.
4. We have too many choices
• Take a grocery store for example.
5. We are cowards.
• Think of Esther. Be Brave in the Lord.
Five Problems with the conventional approach to the Will of God.
1. We tend to focus on nonmoral decisions.
2. Do we have a sneaky God? (No)
3. I need to know the future.
4. Don’t blame me! – Don’t use God’s will wrongly.
5. It’s subjective.
God will help you, but it is your decision. God leads, not drags.
Don’t make God the bad guy.
P,50-52
God’s will for you/me to be for Christ-like. If you/me are seeking first the kingdom of God -you/me will be in God’s will. Live for Christ, die to self. God guides us in decision making.
Five statements to help understand God’s guidance.
1. God guides us by His invisible providence at all times.
2. God can speak to His people in many different ways, guiding them with their conscious cooperation. = Behind the scenes.
3. In these last days, God has spoken to us by His son. Jesus is the example.
4. God continues to speak to us by His son through His spirit in the scriptures.
5. Apart from the Spirit working through scripture, God does not promise to use any other means to guide us, nor should we expect Him to.
Paul made decision many time often alone.
Four tools Christians have made that can be used wisely.
1. Open doors. (Don’t be afraid to knock)
• Jonah’s boat. Think about it.
2. Flee the Fleece
• Don’t expect God to do ‘tricks’.
3. Random is as random does.
• I do this one often…
4. Impressions as impression.
Where information has increased, Wisdom has decreased.
Proverbs 2.
Would you/me choose Wisdom like Solomon did?
How do we get Wisdom?
1. Store up God’s commands. (Read the Bible)
2. Turn your ear towards Wisdom. (Listen to sound counsel)
3. Call out for insight. (Pray to God)
Romans 12:1-2 Three commands:
1. Present your bodies as living Sacrifices.
2. Do not conform to the world
3. “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
Ask for Wisdom.
Getting a Job.
Step 1. Search the scriptures.
• Is it Righteous?
• Does it Provide?
• Church?
Step 2. Get wise counsel.
Step 3. Pray. Pray for wisdom, and honesty.
Step 4. Make a decision.
Getting Hitched
Step 1. Search the scriptures.
Step 2. Get wise counsel.
Step 3. Pray. Pray for wisdom, and honesty.
Step 4. Make a decision.
Grow up in FAITH!
JUST GO DO SOMETHING, AND START MAKING DECISIONS.