Hebrews 13:20-21 (NIV) May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, & may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever & ever. Amen.
1 John 2:17 (NIV) The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.
Matthew 6:10 (NIV) Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
James 4:13–16 (NLT) 13 Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” 14 How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. 15 What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” 16 Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil.
“To fulfill God’s will, you need to know Gods will.”
We desire to fulfill the will of God in our direction and in every situation. 1. Directional- direction of our life. The big picture. 2. Situational- How to respond in situations, daily details.
3 core beliefs to understanding God’s will: #1. The universal will of God.
We were created for dominion(Genesis 1:28)
We are commanded to Love God (Matthew 22:37)
We are called to believe & follow Christ.(John 6:29)
We are commissioned to advance the gospel.(Matthew 28:19&20)
#2. He designed us for His purposes. “God isn’t going to fit into your plan; He is shaping you into his!” Colossians 1:16 (NIV) For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.
“God’s will for your life is not about you.”
“We are most fulfilled in fulfilling his will!”
Psalm 139:13–18 (NLT) 13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. 15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. 16 You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. 17 How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! 18 I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!
“God’s plan for my life is My life for God’s plan.”
#3. The Great Adventure begins with Trust. Proverbs 3:5–6 (NIV) 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
God’s plan is not hard to discover; at times it’s hard to follow.
A. Trust Him “His path is the best path!” Romans 10:11 (AMP), No man who believes in Him [who adheres to, relies on, and trusts in Him] will [ever] be put to shame or be disappointed.
B. Don’t get caught up in the why’s of life.
Romans 8:28 (NIV) And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
C. Acknowledge him always.
D. He will make your path straight & right.
Direct: “Make plain and clear the path.”
Ephesians 2:4–10 (NIV) 4 Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
