TIME TO DECIDE: The "Will of God" in Christian language 2-15-26

TIME TO DECIDE: The "Will of God" in Christian language 2-15-26

The seduction of freedom

The satisfaction of searching for “God’s will”

The significance of living the will of God

“Most Christians today perceive God like one person noted: God is a lot like our pastor. I don’t see him through the week, and I don’t understand him on Sunday.”

Mike Hamilton, Sermon Central, June 2, 2004.

"The will of God" is one of the most confusing phrases in the Christian vocabulary.  Sometimes we speak of all things happening according to God's will.  Other times we talk about being obedient and doing the will of God.  And still other times we talk about finding the will of God.  The confusion is due to our using the phrase "the will of God" in at least three different ways, typified in the previous three sentences.  Two of these ways are clearly demonstrated in Scripture; the third is a little more complicated.  So we'll start with the first two. 

Two sides of God's will

I. GOD’S WILL OF DECREE

A. God gets His way in the big and little things of our world.

The Sovereignty of God. What do we mean by this expression? We mean the supremacy of God, the kingship of God, the god-hood of God. To say that God is Sovereign is to declare that God is God. To say that God is Sovereign is to declare that He is the Most High, doing according to His will in the army of Heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth, so that none can stay His hand or say unto Him what doest Thou? (Dan. 4:35). To say that God is Sovereign is to declare that He is the Almighty, the Possessor of all power in Heaven and earth, so that none can defeat His counsels, thwart His purpose, or resist His will (Psa. 115:3). To say that God is Sovereign is to declare that He is "The Governor among the nations" (Psa. 22:28), setting up kingdoms, overthrowing empires, and determining the course of dynasties as pleaseth Him best. To say that God is Sovereign is to declare that He is the "Only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords" (1 Tim. 6:15). Such is the God of the Bible.

Michael Carbaugh, Sermon Central, April 19, 2009.

Ephesians 1:11-12 NIV

“In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Matthew 10:29-30 NIV

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.”

‭‭ Matthew‬ ‭10:29-30‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬

Even the death of God's own son was according to His will.

Acts 4:27-28 NIV

“Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.”

‭‭ Acts‬ ‭4:27-28‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬

B. God sees it all.

Psalm 139:16 NIV

“Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”

‭‭ Psalm‬ ‭139:16‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬

C. God's will of decree is absolute.

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭46:9-10‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬

“Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’”

‭‭ Isaiah‬ ‭46:9-10‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬

II. GOD’S WILL OF DESIRE

A. What God wants from his people

‭‭1 John‬ ‭2:15-17‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬

“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”

‭‭ 1 John‬ ‭2:15-17‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬

B. What is pleasing in His sight

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭13:20-21‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬

“Now 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, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

‭ ‭Hebrews‬ ‭13:20-21‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬

C. Obedience to God's command

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7:21‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

‭‭ Matthew‬ ‭7:21‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬

D. Closest thing to having both views of God's will side by side in Scripture

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭29:29‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬

“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.”

‭‭ Deuteronomy‬ ‭29:29‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬

Sometimes we want things we know is not God's will.

Jay Kesler wrote of a time when he caused an auto accident. He prayed that it did not happen, but it did.

I know how the young Jay Kesler felt. I've done things that I wanted to undo and said things that I wanted to "unsay." Things have happened that I wanted to have happened differently. I suspect many people know that feeling. Otherwise, why would "The Twilight Zone" have had episodes about people going back in time trying to change things? Why would there be movies about people going back in time and changing things? "Back to the Future" even had sequels. But as I study the Bible, I have noticed nothing that says changing the past is God's will.

Movies are not the only thing that express enticing desires that are not according to God's will. There are fairly tales about a genie in Aladdin's lamp or in a bottle. The latter even became a TV show in the 60's, "I Dream of Jeannie." The idea of a powerful person giving us anything we could possibly ask for is appealing.

I've read that, "If you give a pig and a child everything they want you will raise a good pig and a bad child." Giving people everything they want is not God's will.

Sometimes, it is easier to know what is not God's will.

Mark Stepherson, Sermon Central, October 7, 2011.

III. GOD’S WILL OF DIRECTION

Gerald Sittser  in "The Will of God as a Way of Life"

"Conventional understanding of God's will defines it as a specific pathway we should follow into the future.  God knows what this pathway is, and he has laid it out for us to follow.  Our responsibility is to discover this pathway-- God's plan for our lives.  We must discover which of the many pathways we could follow is the one we should follow, the one Good has planned for us.  If and when we make the right choices, we will receive his favor, fulfill our divine destiny and succeed in life . . . . If we choose rightly, we will experience his blessing and achieve success and happiness.  If we choose wrongly, we may lose our way, miss God's will for our lives, and remain lost forever in an incomprehensible maze."

A. God’s will of decree steers us.

B.  God’s will of desire guides us.

C. God’s will is what we do, not what we look for.

God’s will is a way of life.

CONCLUSION

Trusting in God's will of decree is good.  Following His will of desire is obedient.  Waiting for God's will of direction is a mess.  

God is not a Magic 8-Ball

INVITATION

It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word.  You may want to follow Jesus.  You may want to proclaim your faith.  You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things).  Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins     and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Possibly, if you have already responded to God’s call in these ways, you would like to become a member of Kenwood Church.  If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, you can come forward now.  If you would like, I would be honored to speak with you following the service about what God is doing in your life.

2-11-26 S.U.M. It Up!

 

2-8-26 Kenwood Church of Christ Live Stream

 

TIME TO DECIDE: The Will of God in Our Lives 2-8-26

TIME TO DECIDE: The Will of God in Our Lives  2-8-26

INTRODUCTION

Renewal comes from God but begins with decisions we have to make.

Angels, dreams, fleece v my reality

Once generations accepted what they were taught.  Then generations challenged.  Then generations began tinkering.  

Tinkering - Doctrines, practices, values, churches, relationships

When my son lived at home he had a motorcycle, car, moped, pocket bikes, bikes in all manners of disrepair at our home.  He likes to tinker. He now has motorcycles in his garage.

Tinkering leads to indecision.  Stops and starts.  Uninformed decisions.  Chaos.  

59 years - childhood certain, sure, unchanging

                   Young minister professional, all business, 

                    Recently uncertain, focused on people, dynamic, active

What does God want?

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:1-2‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

‭‭ Romans‬ ‭12:1-2‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬

Let us pray.

I. The Seduction of Freedom

"Freedom is not procured by a full enjoyment of what is desired, but by controlling the desire."

Epictetus

A.  Freedom as the highest outcome of life

B.  Freedom as a value

C.  Freedom as an end goal

“I know but one freedom and that is the freedom of the mind.”

Antoine de Saint-Exupery

II. The Satisfaction of Searching for "God's Will"

When Betty Goldstein of Staten Island, New York, entered the hospital, her husband Ron wrapped her 3.5-carat diamond ring in a napkin for safekeeping. But in a forgetful moment, the 63-year-old Goldstein threw the napkin in the trash.

When he realized his mistake, he dashed outside, only to see the garbage truck rumbling down the street. So he called the local sanitation department and got permission to follow the truck to a transfer station. Workers began sorting through hundreds of garbage bags and recovered the ring an hour later.

Dennis Davidson, “Discerning and Discovering Spiritual Blessings”, 7/4/2011.

The goal was to find the ring.

A.  A beginning with no end

B.  Certainty of nothing

C.  A search without discovery

D.  Activity with no action

"Success is finding God’s will for your life and doing it.”

Dr. Bob Jones, Sr., Founder of Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina.

III. Living the Will of God

George W. Truett said: "To know the will of God is the greatest knowledge! To do the will of God is the greatest achievement!" 

George W. Truett, "Toolkit," Cell Church, Winter, 1996, p. 10.

1 Peter 2:15 NIV

“For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.”

‭‭ 1 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

A.  How can we know the will of God?

Charles Swindoll from his book The Mystery of Gods Will (pgs 44-51) gives us the following insight in how we can know:

1. God leads us through His written Word.

2. God leads us through the inner prompting of the HS.

3. God leads us through the counsel of wise, qualified trustworthy people.

4. God leads us into His will by giving us an inner assurance of peace.

B.  How can we accomplish the will of God?

C.  How can we help others live the will of God?

"Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right." 

Abraham Lincoln

CONCLUSION

Are you living God's will right now?  Are you doing what God would have you do?    

“You feel you were hedged in you dream of escape; but beware of mirages. Do not run or fly away in order to get free: rather dig in the narrow place which has been given you; you will find God there and everything. God does not float on your horizon, he sleeps in your substance. Vanity runs, love digs. If you fly away from yourself, your prison will run with you and will close in because of the wind of your flight; if you go deep down into yourself it will disappear in paradise.

A quote of Gustave Thibon; given in a lecture by Gabriel Marcel, 1942.

“Just do it.”

Nike

“Have you decided to follow Jesus?”

INVITATION

It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word.  You may want to follow Jesus.  You may want to proclaim your faith.  You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things).  Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins     and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Possibly, if you have already responded to God’s call in these ways, you would like to become a member of Kenwood Church.  If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, you can come forward now.  If you would like, I would be honored to speak with you following the service about what God is doing in your life.

S.U.M. It Up! 2-4-26

 

2-1-26 Kenwood Church of Christ Live Stream

RENEWAL 2026: The Renewed Mind, part 2 2-1-26

RENEWAL 2026: The Renewed Mind, part 2 2-1-26

INTRODUCTION

Renewal 2026!

We have hope of renewed strength, spirit, and joy. We have that promise! God is the source of our renewed strength, spirit, and joy. We are renewed. We have a new self.

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭28‬-‭30‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

““Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.””

‭‭ Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭28‬-‭30‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Remember from the first sermon in this series:

“The renewal of our natures is a work of great importance. It is not to be done in a day. We have not only a new house to build up, but an old one to pull down.”

George Whitefield

God has changed us to that we can live a new life free of the old attachments. As God changes us, we are even given a renewed mind.  The old has gone; the new has come.

I. THE RENEWED MIND

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭22‬-‭24‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

‭‭ Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭22‬-‭24‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

A. Old desires

B. New attitudes

Henry David Thoreau, in his classic book, Walden, told of a powerful custom of the Mucclasse Indians. Once each year, they had a village clean up called a "busk." First they would make new clothes for themselves as well as furniture and cooking utensils. They would keep all of these new things in a building outside of the village. When everything was ready, they would begin their annual spring cleaning.

Every corner of every house was scrubbed. Every stick of furniture was thrown out. Every child's toy went to the garbage heap. The dirt paths were swept, and the weeds were plucked up. Even the food left over from winter was thrown out. All of the refuse in the village was gathered together into a pile in the center of the village. Then the chief set it on fire. As they watched it burn, they took off their clothes and tossed them into the fire as well. They tended the fire carefully and made sure that every last piece of garbage was burned.

On the fourth morning, they washed and bathed, and dressed in their new clothes. They then gathered again at the heart of the village. The chief started a new fire and from the flames each family took burning sticks home to start their own fires. The old was gone, life was beginning again!

Perry Greene, Sermon Central, April 1, 2013.

C. New self

1. Like God in true righteousness

2. Like God in true holiness

II. THE TRANSFORMED MIND

Dr. Jim Berg uses the illustration of a tea bag to help us understand that it is not financial, social, medical, or circumstantial pressures that causes man to sin. When a tea bag is put into hot water, the water activates the tea in the bag, unleashing its taste into the water around it. The hot water doesn't create the taste, it merely reveals, or draws out, what is in the tea bag. The circumstances around you only reveal what is still in your heart. If you don't like the flavor of the tea, then you must change the ingredient within the bag, or rather your heart.

Your either making bitter tea or tea that is pleasing to God. In view of the price paid for your sins at Calvary, I urge you to look to Christ. Only He can bring about Biblical change.

Terry Laughlin, Sermon Central, August 11, 2008.

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

‭‭ Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

A. Worship-focused

B. Nonconformity

C. The transformed mind

D. Capable of knowing God’s will

III. THE RENEWED WAY OF THINKING

A. New thinking begins with you

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.”

‭‭ Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

B. The renewed way

Duke University did a study on “peace of mind.” Factors found to contribute greatly to emotional and mental stability are:

· The absence of suspicion and resentment. Nursing a grudge was a major factor in unhappiness.

· Not living in the past. An unwholesome preoccupation with old mistakes and failures leads to depression.

· Not wasting time and energy fighting conditions you cannot change. Cooperate with life, instead of trying to run away from it.

· Force yourself to stay involved with the living world. Resist the temptation to withdraw and become reclusive during periods of emotional stress.

· Refuse to indulge in self-pity when life hands you a raw deal. Accept the fact that nobody gets through life without some sorrow and misfortune.

· Cultivate the old-fashioned virtues—love, humor, compassion and loyalty

· Do not expect too much of yourself. When there is too wide a gap between self-expectation and your ability to meet the goals you have set, feelings of inadequacy are inevitable.

· Find something bigger than yourself to believe in. Self-centered egotistical people score lowest in any test for measuring happiness.

http://www.bible.org.

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭4‬-‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

‭‭ Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭4‬-‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

1. Everything begins with praise.

2. Everything is followed by prayer.

3. Peace comes from a new way of thinking

a. Positive thoughts (inner life/outer action)

i. True and noble

ii. Right and pure

iii. Lovely and admirable

iv. Excellent and praiseworthy

b. Positive actions (lesson and response)

i. That which is taught and received

ii. Heard from me and seen in me

4. Right thoughts lead to right actions!

5. “And the God of peace will be with you.”

"The vision that you glorify in your mind, the ideal that you enthrone in your heart this you will build your life by, this you will become."

James Allen

CONCLUSION

"Garner up pleasant thoughts in your mind, for pleasant thoughts make pleasant lives."

John Wilkins, 17th century clergyman

We have been given a new mind. We have been given a transformed mind. We have been given a new way of thinking.

INVITATION

It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word.  You may want to follow Jesus.  You may want to proclaim your faith.  You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things).  Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins     and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Possibly, if you have already responded to God’s call in these ways, you would like to become a member of Kenwood Church.  If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, you can come forward now.  If you would like, I would be honored to speak with you following the service about what God is doing in your life.