How will we know God’s will?
By the renewing of our mind…
Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
By practicing discernment…
Hebrews 5:14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.
Do good without expectation of reward…
1Peter 2:15, 19-20 For such is the will of God, that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men. For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.
The Bible’s list of THREE…
rejoice always… pray without ceasing… in EVERYTHING give thanks…
1Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
He knows our frustration; He bottles our tears; tells us not to look back and makes PROMISES!
Psalm 56:8 You have taken account of my wanderings; put my tears in Your bottle. Are they not in Your book?
Isaiah 43:18-19 Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder the things of the past; Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
He will make a way
He knows the future.
We have a reason to trust.
He teaches us and directs us.
He holds our hand and picks us up when we fall.
He intercedes for us.
TRUST HIS DIRECTION.
Jeremiah 29:11-14 For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me, and you will pray to Me, and I will hearken unto you. And you will seek Me, and find Me, when you search for Me with all of your heart. And I will be found of you, says the Lord: and I will turn away your captivity…
Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
Psalm 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.
Psalm 37:23-24 The steps of a man are established by the Lord, and He delights in his way. When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, because the Lord is the One who holds his hand.
Romans 8:27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path.
What do we acquire when we do the will of God?
1John 2:16-17 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.
Now let’s look at… FAITH
What is faith?
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen.
Without faith it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God.
Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Some examples of faith…
Noah: Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household… and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
Abraham: Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.
Sarah: Hebrews 11:11 By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him (God) faithful who had promised.
Abraham: Hebrews 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son.
Moses: Hebrews 11:24-27 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen.
JESUS is the author and finisher of our faith. Look to Jesus as an example… if you do, then you will NOT GROW WEARY and NOT BE FAINT IN YOUR MIND!
How do we know?
Hebrews 12:1-3 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, LOOKING TO JESUS THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the same, and is sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
And remember….
Faith comes by hearing
and hearing
by the Word of God.
-Romans 10:17
