Tag Archives: God’s will

In God’s Will

05 Saturday Dec 2015

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Some say you cannot absolutely know whether or not you are in God's will. My experience is the only people who do not find God's will are not looking for it.

Some say you cannot absolutely know whether or not you are in God’s will. My experience is the only people who do not find God’s will are not looking for it.

It is difficult at times, but the truth is when you are living in God’s will there is no better place to be. It is not absent of persecution, God’s will can even be dangerous. We should never forget doing God’s will cost Jesus His ministry, His family and His life.

  • One cannot claim to be within God’s will while actively participating in sin.
  • One cannot claim to be within God’s will while devoted to the world.
  • One can only claim to be within God’s will while dedicated to His service in obedience to Him and implementing the scriptures in their lives.

That service may be many things. Service may be as simple as at your workplace. It may be as serious, complicated even deadly as being a missionary in Iraq, Afghanistan or Somalia.

In John 10 verses 31 through 39 the Jews were trying to say that Jesus could not be working God’s will because He claimed to be God, that is blasphemous, it is the height of pride. That is a sin equal to Satan’s sin in Isaiah 14:13-14, that he will lift himself above God and sit on God’s throne. Man should not make an island of himself (Rom 14:7). It is true, if Jesus was making himself God, He cannot be in the Father’s will. As noted above, one cannot be in the will of the Father while making a practice of sin. However, Jesus is God, He is the Messiah. To any other man claiming to be God it would be sin.

Not only was He God, He quoted scripture to them to say if they were in God’s will, they too could be god, they would have God in them and they would be in Him. In Psalm 82:6 we find the Psalmists message:

“Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.”

Jesus was trying to tell them they too could do God’s work, they could please God and work His will. They could have God in them to work His will through them. The problem with many is that they want to claim God’s will, claim to know Him, claim to know His will or to want His will, unfortunately most are not willing to forfeit what they think is His will in order to accomplish what truly is His will.

Are you walking in God’s will? Be it father to your children, husband to your wife, servant in the church or ministering in the name of the Lord, have you given up all your sin to fulfill His will in your life? Push past your will and enter into His will. There are very difficult choices ahead. But with His Son you have the power to make them.

Knowing God’s Way

02 Monday Mar 2015

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Knowing God is best depicted in one's life when they follow His word (1 John 2:3-6), grow in his grace (2 Peter 3:8) and ultimately have a testimony of purity for His glory by following His commandments.

Knowing God is best depicted in one’s life when they follow His word (1 John 2:3-6), grow in his grace (2 Peter 3:8) and ultimately have a testimony of purity for His glory by following His commandments.

It is very true. The intolerance of those decrying tolerance is almost intolerable. Proverbs 30:12 provides salient truths here. It says, “There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.”  This week a crucial vote took place in our Wyoming congress. As a voter and constituent of their representation, I communicated with them. The responses were judgmental, hypocritical, bigoted and in all ways representative of the attitude of unbelievers toward Christians in our world today. I was judged from a position of ignorance concerning my person, our ministry or my faith in Christ. Most didn’t even read what I said.

However, there is a lesson in this. Just as Jesus told the Pharisees (who claim to know God) in John 8:19 that they did not know Him or His Father, believers must understand that people who claim Christ do not really know us or our Father in Heaven. Many are swayed by the waves of the worlds media at work and stereotype Christians the way they blame Christians for stereotyping others. How will we ever get past this my group your group stuff and redirect our passions to a proper and more beneficial activity.

I believe it is through grace and mercy. Those two things must be given to one another and shared with one another regularly. The people of God must set the pace for this because the people of the world only see grace from their relative perspective. Proverbs 30:12 tells us about those in the world that desire their flavor of tolerance. Judges 17:6 tells us that when there is no leadership everyone does what they personally think is the right thing. Proverbs 12:15 tells us that those doing what’s right in their own eyes are fools.

God’s way is the only way that is consistent in all things. God’s way is that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).God’s way is to send His Son to die for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2). God’s way is not politically driven, it is purity driven (1 Peter 1:16). God’s way is for us to share the gospel (Luke 10:2).

God’s way is not through government or politics. Those leaders are always improperly influenced by their peers, pressured in the world they serve. God’s way is through His Son. God’s way is in Heaven. Knowing the Son we know the Father (John 14:9).

Timing is Everything

17 Monday Nov 2014

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God's timingHave you ever been talking with someone, wanted to give them the gospel, but it just would not come out of your mouth? We all know that if we try to steer a conversation, it normally goes bad because WE are DIRECTING things. Often, this tactic is noticed by the other person and frequently develops a negative or defensive response. Some have a more challenging complication in that they are not naturally evangelists.

God has to prepare hearts for the reception of the gospel. Remember, we are saved BY grace THROUGH faith (Ephesians 2:8). God’s grace is projected to us through the preparation of our hearts for the gospel, then represented in the person who shares the gospel. What a joy we can experience to be the embodiment of God’s grace as we share the gospel.

A challenge we have is to rush to do this. The lost heart is always on guard to protect its wickedness (John 8:44). Unless God has prepared that heart, broken the bonds of the evil one on that soul, opened that persons mind to the truth our efforts may be futile. Granted, we can be used for pure conviction, that may be our purpose in some witness. However, we want to be a blessing, an encouragement, we want to share God’s loving salvation. We want to be a positive not a negative. Unfortunately that is not our choice if we are given to serving God’s will, God’s purposes.

Witness, that is what we are commanded to do. We cannot hold back, but we must recognize the right times regardless what God might use it for. In John 7:1-9, Jesus knew what the disciples were going to use Him for if he were to attend the Feast of Tabernacles. He knew they would use it for their own purposes, not to glorify the Father. We too must be sensitive to the motivations of others to misuse the gospel witness, your presence, your words and your time.

Wait on the timing of the Father just as Christ waited for the appropirate time. Wait on the direction of the Father just as Christ waited on His direction. This does not mean we sit back on our haunches, but that we must be that much more in touch with the Father and the Son. Do you wonder why your pastor encourages you to be in the Word? Why he encourages you to pray regularly? Those exercises keep us close to the Father and the Son. That is where we need to be if we are to accomplish His will and witness for His kingdom.

God’s glory, man’s desires

27 Sunday Jul 2014

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God's way is always a completely different path than what man would choose (Isaiah 55:8).

God’s way is always a completely different path than what man would choose (Isaiah 55:8).

How often these two things live in contrast one to another. Man wants to be led by man (Exodus 20:18-21; 1 Samuel 8:6-9). Even if for supposedly good reasons (the men of Israel wanting to be free from Roman bondage). He can control other men through a variety of means and he knows it.

In the world today, politicians are controlled by the funding they receive.  In business the customer drives policy because they are always right. In health care government control competes with individual choice.

In religion one man gathers men unto himself and calls it success. Another teaches platitudes and homilies to please the masses. Others promote a health and wealth gospel. Another teaches the word of God without apology.

In John 6:15 we find Jesus confronting man’s desires for Him and His ministry. Jesus had a simple response to what He knew man was planning. The Jews who wanted to get out from under the religious tyranny and hypocrisy as well as the government corruption and oppression wanted a king new king. Sounds familiar doesn’t it? In the world today many have simply given up and gone to live their lives without God. So disgusted with the deception many  focus instead upon maintaining their liberty thinking that is the best they can do.

What freedom we have in Christ though! Looking upon the things of Heaven and God’s kingdom instead of the things of this world for pleasure and success provides mankind with freedom and liberty unparalleled! Jesus simply departed those who would make Him a worldly king favoring His heavenly position, desiring only to please the Father. Learning from Jesus, we too should shun the worlds false teachers and flock to biblical expositors, teachers of God’s word. If we detect sinfulness, a false teacher, or some other pressure by mankind to submit to His will, simply leave the room. That is what Jesus did in John 6:15.

When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.

Doing His Will

31 Monday Mar 2014

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Those whom do not find God's will are normally not truly seeking His will. It is found in His word and through deep prayer. Also, sometimes we are not ready for the truth.

Those whom do not find God’s will are normally not truly seeking His will. It is found in His word and through deep prayer. Also, sometimes we are not ready for the truth.

Imagine for a moment you are in a courtroom. A man is on trial for theft. All the facts are in, you have made your decision but one thing nags you. You know God’s standards are quite simple. If we break one law, we have broken them all (James 2:10). Out of the blue, the Judge who has full authority in his courtroom points to you and says, “you will judge this man.” What will you sentence him too? Have you stolen before? That is not necessarily the whole point, have you broken God’s law at all before? If you have, according to James 2:10, you are equally guilty with this man. Can you judge him?

Did you know saints will judge the world? 1 Corinthians 6:2 says, “Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?” Is your life right enough with God that you can complete His will in judgment? Is your soul so in line with His desires that you could judge as effectively and justly as He can? The judge in a courtroom does not have to be pure to judge others. Many are not just judges. In Heaven though, God sees your heart. Are you ready?

There is more. You will judge angels. 1 Corinthians 6:3 says, “Know ye know that we shall judge angels?” Judging the world is one thing. We know all the sins here. Some we are not guilty of. Judging angelic beings though? They qualified for Heaven and we, who need Jesus, do not.

There is only one way to be just, to accept Jesus the Savior and emulate Him. Strive every day to be more like Him, the righteous. His righteousness is given to you for salvation, but you work to become as righteous as He is through sanctification. Are you a worthy judge? Can you rightly and justly carry out the Father’s will in judgment?

Jesus Omniscience

03 Sunday Nov 2013

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In John 3:1-4 Jesus knew what the Pharisees and scribes were thinking. In Christian circles, the word “omniscience” is seldom used. We normally say God is “all knowing,” or even more frequently “knows everything.”  Further, we seldom live or worship with this fact fresh in our mind. Our lives could have greater contentedness if we did so. (Psalm 139:1-6)

Depicting omniscience is difficult. It is an intangible thing. It is far more difficult to depict than love because people on earth can love selflessly like God when they know Jesus. No one is omniscient except God. There is no real illustration except His creation.

Depicting omniscience is difficult. It is an intangible thing. It is far more difficult to depict than love because people on earth can love selflessly like God when they know Jesus. No one is omniscient except God. There is no real illustration except His creation.

Think about prayer for instance. Many decline to pray openly in company because they fear they may sound foolish, they may not speak eloquently, their words may not make sense. If God knows everything, He knows how, when, why and what you are going to pray. Prayer is an act of obedience to the scripture toward God, not for those around you. Be instant in prayer; pray without ceasing even in public (Romans 12:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; John 14:15).

There is a problem connected to omniscience that man experiences when logically carried to its end. We can become lackadaisical in our attitude. If God already knows, why bother. Demonstrated faith and submission are active elements of the Christian life. By submitting all things to God in prayer, praising God for all things and knowing that, regardless the outcome His will is our glory we demonstrate faith and submit to Him. Unlike man on earth, God is not going to hold you accountable for what you didn’t think about. He is going to hold you accountable for what occurred to you and your reaction. He knows your intellectual abilities better than you do. To me that is a great comfort. (Jeremiah 1:5; 1 John 3:20)

God will accomplish His will. Many then believe when they lose a loved one to illness that God gave up or worse wanted to kill their beloved. Praying for their healing becomes a straw man, an empty basket, a waste, but it is not. If that person knew Jesus as their personal savior and they went to glory they were healed – perfectly. God answered the prayer. He may not have answered it in the temporal world (our desire) but He did in His Kingdom (His will). (1 John 4:10)

Jesus is gracious. Jesus is love. Jesus is omniscient. Jesus is God.