3-15-26 Kenwood Church of Christ Live Stream

 

TIME TO DECIDE: The Will of God in Our Lives - Ordinary Guidance and Supernatural Surprises 3-15-26

TIME TO DECIDE: The Will of God in Our Lives - Ordinary Guidance and Supernatural Surprises 3-15-26

 

INTRODUCTION

 

Conventional Approach to the will of God - 1. Corn maze 2. Target 3. Magic 8-ball

 

God guides us direction in decision making v. God expects us to discover His plan for our lives.

 

Hebrews 1:1-2 NIV

 

“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.”

            Hebrews 1:1-2 NIV

 

            1.  The revelation about Jesus

            2.  The revelation through the Spirit of Christ speaking through the Scriptures

 

I. HOW GOD GUIDES

 

Guidance and the Voice of God by Phillip Jensen and Tony Payne

 

5 STATEMENTS TO HELP US UNDERSTAND GOD'S GUIDANCE IN THE BOOK OF HEBREWS

 

            1.  God guides us by His invisible providence all the time.

 

Ephesians 1:11 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,”

            Ephesians 1:11 NIV

 

            2.  God can speak to His people in many different ways, guiding them with their conscious cooperation.

 

                        Statement one speaks of the behind the scenes "hand of God" where this refers to the voice of God communicating with us and directing us by our conscious cooperation.

 

                        Still small voice, Angels, dreams, inner promptings, a donkey, burning bush, writing on a wall 

 

            3.  In these last days, God has spoken to us by His Son.  

 

                        Hebrews is an extended argument for the supremacy of Jesus

                                    Superior to   Angels

                                                                                    Levitical high priests

                                                                                    the blood of bulls and goats

                                                                                    other ways of revelation

 

Hebrews 1:3 NIV

 

“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”

            Hebrews 1:3 NIV

 

Hebrews 1:2 NIV

 

“but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.”

            Hebrews 1:2 NIV

 

                        Centered in Jesus

 

            4.  God Continues to Speak to us by His Son Through His Spirit in the Scriptures.

 

                        When Hebrews was written Jesus was already gone.  The Spirit through the Word.

                        God not only has spoken in the Scriptures, but He continues to speak through the Scriptures.

 

Hebrews 3:7 NIV

 

“So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice,”

            Hebrews 3:7 NIV

 

Hebrews 4:12 NIV

 

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

            Hebrews 4:12 NIV

 

                        The idea in Hebrews 1-4

                                    1.  God can speaks in many ways.

                                    2.  In these last days, God has spoken by his Son.

                                    3.  God speaks to us by His Son through the Holy Spirit speaking by the living and active Word of God.

                       

            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.

 

                        Kevin De Young in his book, Just Do Something, says, "When we read the Bible, we know we are hearing from God.  We are not only reading what God has inspired by the Spirit, but what He continues to say by the same Spirit.  By contrast, hearing from God outside the Bible in these last days is always more tenuous, less clear, and less authoritative.  We have no promise in Scripture that God will speak to us apart from the Spirit speaking through His Word."

 

II. DON'T EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED

 

"But wait just a minute, God seems to be more creative than you give Him credit for.  Even if we figure that the Old Testament was different era, what about the Holy Spirit dwelling in us?  Doesn't He guide us?  And what about the Book of Acts?  Don't we see God showing up in miraculous events and speaking to His people in surprising ways?"

 

            Examples

                        A vision to Ananias - Acts 9:10-16

                        A vision of unclean animals - Acts 10:10-17

                        A vision of a man of Macedonia - Acts 16:6-10

                        A vision in Corinth - Acts 18:9

                        A vision on the road to Damascus - Acts 22:17-21

                        Angel appear to Philip - Acts 8:26

                        Angel appear to Peter - Acts 12:7-8

                        Angel appears to Paul - Acts 27:23

                        Audible voices - Acts 9:3-6

                        Audible voices - Acts 10:13, 15, 19-20, 

                        Audible voices - Acts 23:11

                        Mysterious promptings to go somewhere - Acts 8:29 

                        Mysterious promptings to go somewhere - Acts 20:22-23

                        A prediction of the future from the prophet Agabus - Acts 21:10-11

 

            Reasons to believe these are not meant to be a normal pattern for our lives

                        1.  It's important to realize that those events of special revelation weren't normal even for the apostles.

                        2.  When we look carefully at the instances of special revelation in the book of Acts - visions, Angels, audible voices, promptings, etc. - we notice one very important and consistent fact. These extraordinary means of guidance were not sought. 

 

Bruce Waltke, Old Testament scholar, said well, 

 

"Any time you take the Bible out of context you destroy the intent of God's Word. That's why you cannot take instances of special revelation and make them normative for the Christian experience . . . When he [Paul] did experience a special revelation, seeing a vision of a man calling him to Macedonia, he obeyed.  But the special revelation of God was a rare and unique experience, even for Paul . . . We cannot take special circumstances and make them the norm by which we live our lives.  Special revelation for guidance was not the normal apostolic experience.  And at the time it was received (by Paul, by Philip, by Peter as he lay on his roof) it was not being sought . . . Special revelation came at a time when God wanted o lead them apart from the normal ways in which His people make choices."

 

Donald Gee, Assembly of God theologian said, 

 

"[There are] grave problems raised by the habit of giving and receiving personal "messages" of guidance through the gifts of the Spirit . . . The Bible gives a place for such direction from the Holy Spirit . . . But it must be kept in proportion.  An examination of the Scriptures will show us that as a matter of fact the early Christians did not continually receive such voices from heaven.  In most cases they made their decisions by the use of what we often call "sanctified common sense" and lived quite normal lives. May of our errors where spiritual gifts are concerned arise when we want to make the extraordinary and exceptional to be made frequent and habitual.  Let all who develop excessive desire for "messages" through the gifts take warning from the wreckage of past generations as well as contemporaries . . . The Holy Scriptures are a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path."

 

GOD CAN USE EXTRAORDINARY MEANS, BUT THEY ARE, BY DEFINITION, OUT OF THE ORDINARY AND NOT TO BE EXPECTED!           

 

CONCLUSION

 

God guides us the revelation of Jesus by the Holy Spirit through the Word of God. God can guide through extraordinary means, but they are extraordinary. Utilize what God has given us and remain open to surprises.

 

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.

3-11-26 S..U.M.It Up!

 

3-8-26 Kenwood Church of Christ Live Stream

 

TIME TO DECIDE: The Will of God in Our Lives - A Better Way? 3-8-26

TIME TO DECIDE: The Will of God in Our Lives - A Better Way? 3-8-26

 

INTRODUCTION

 

Renewal 2026

 

Time to Decide

 

The seduction of freedom

The satisfaction of searching for “God’s will”

The significance of living the will of God

God’s will of decree

God’s will of desire

God’s will of direction (tricky)

Timidity

Awaiting perfection

Too many choices

Cowardice

 

Conventional approach to God's will

            1.   Corn maze - focus on the end

            2.  Target - focus on how far off

            3.  Magic 8-Ball = focus on subjective response

 

Elisabeth Elliot (the wife of Jim Elliot, the martyred missionary) said:

 

“The will of God is not something you ADD to your life. It’s a course you choose. You either line yourself up with the Word of God…...or you capitulate to the principle which governs the rest of the world.”

            Dr. Larry Petton, Sermon Central, August 12, 2019.

 

Don't Worry; Seek His Kingdom

 

I. JESUS’ TEACHING

 

            A. Don't Worry about Tomorrow

 

Christian author and speaker Jill Briscoe said:

 

“We can worry or we can worship. Strangely enough, busy people find it a whole lot easier to worry than to worship.”

            Jill Briscoe, "Heart to Heart," Today’s Christian Woman.

 

Matthew 6:25-34 NIV

 

            ““Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

            Matthew 6:25-34 NIV

 

                        1. God's Provision  

 

Matthew 6:30 NIV

 

“If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?”

            Matthew 6:30 NIV

 

                        2. God's Continuing Mercy

 

Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV

 

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

            Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV

 

            B. Live for God Today

 

                        1. Seek His kingdom and righteousness

 

Matthew 6:33 NIV

 

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

            Matthew 6:33 NIV

 

                        2. Love

 

Luke 10:27 NIV

 

“He answered, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”

            Luke 10:27 NIV

 

II. APOSTLE PAUL’S TEACHING

           

            A. First, God's Will is that we live holy, set-apart lives

 

1 Thessalonians 4:3a NIV

 

“It is God’s will that you should be sanctified"

            1 Thessalonians 4:3a NIV

 

1 Thessalonians 4:3b-8 NIV

 

“That you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. For God did not call us to be impure, but     to live a holy life. Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.”

            1 Thessalonians 4:3b-8 NIV

 

            B. Second, we are to always rejoice, pray, and give thanks.

 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV

 

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

            1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV

 

       C. Third, we are to know God's will so we can bear fruit and know Him better.

 

Colossians 1:9 NIV

 

“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,”

            Colossians 1:9 NIV

 

Colossians 1:10-12 NIV

 

“so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way:bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.”

            Colossians 1:10-12 NIV

 

         D. Fourth, the will of God is to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

 

Ephesians 5:17 NIV

 

“Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”

            Ephesians 5:17 NIV

 

Ephesians 5:18-21 NIV    

 

“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”

            Ephesians 5:18-21 NIV    

 

Gerald Sittser, The Will of God as a Way of Life:

 

"And what is that will [of God]? Is it some specific, secret plan God has for us and wants us to spend days, weeks, even years discovering? Not at all. Rather, it consists of a sober life, living in the power of the Holy Spirit, and offering praise and gratitude to God for His goodness. Paul's main concern is about how believers conduct themselves in ordinary life."

 

CONCLUSION

 

God's will is your growth in Christlikeness.

 

All our lives God works on us, chiseling away those parts of our life that hinder us from fitting into His eternal temple. Our Christian life is a work in progress. Jesus Christ is changing us from a useless stone to a useful one. Before Michelangelo created the masterpiece we know simply as “David,” Agostino d’ Antonio had worked diligently but unsuccessfully on a large piece of marble. He gave up his effort and said, “I can do nothing with it.” Some others tried after him but failed. This piece of marble was laid in a rubbish heap for 40 years. Out strolling one day Michelangelo saw the stone and believed that it had great possibilities. We know what happened. From that seemingly worthless stone was carved one of the world’s masterpieces of sculpture- David. For Michelangelo, the job of the sculptor was to free the forms that were already inside the stone. He believed every stone had a sculpture within it, and the work of sculpting was simply a matter of chipping away all that was not a part of the statue.

 

When Jesus looks at us, He sees not a rough piece of rock but He sees inside of us the potential to be a beautiful dressed stone useful in his temple. As the Master Sculptor He is able to chip away all that is not a part of what He wants us to be. This work of transformation is accomplished only by the One referred to as “The Living Stone.” F. B. Meyer says, “Stones touch the Stone and become jewels.” Stones useful in building God’s house.

            Davon Huss, Sermon Central, October 9, 2015.

 

Matthew 7:9-11 NIV

 

“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”

            Matthew 7:9-11 NIV

 

Romans 8:28-29 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. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.”

            Romans 8:28-29 NIV

 

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.