TIME TO DECIDE: The Will of God in Our Lives - Directionally Challenged 2-22-26
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)
Pray!
I. WE WANT TO PLEASE GOD
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. Do we want to please God?
B. Do we prefer conformity to transformation?
C. Do we find comfort in the confusion of God’s will?
II. WE ARE TIMID
Some Christians need encouragement to think before they act. Others need encouragement to act after they think.
A. Boldness does not come naturally to all of us.
B. Idleness has become a virtue.
1 Thessalonians 5:14 NIV
“And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.”
1 Thessalonians 5:14 NIV
C. We need to wake up.
2 Timothy 1:7 NIV
“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”
2 Timothy 1:7 NIV
III. WE WANT PERFECT FULFILLMENT
A. Fulfillment as a life goal.
The pop psychology of today pushes a life of ever increasing fulfillment. Other generations just did.
B. Faith doesn't guarantee you life or a type of life.
C. My fulfilled life may look very different than yours.
Bruce Waltke - "Abel had faith and died; Enoch had faith and did not die; Noah had faith and everyone else died."
IV. WE HAVE TOO MANY CHOICES
A. We have I too many choices
Once upon a time you did what your parents did, lived where they did, raised your kids where they raised theirs
B. The freedom to choose is a prison of ones own choosing.
Barry Schwartz from "The Paradox of Choice":
“In a moderately sized grocery store, he found 285 varieties of cookies, 13 sports drinks, 65 box drinks, 85 kids' juices, 75 iced teas, 95 types of chips and pretzels, 15 kinds of bottles water, 80 different pain relievers, 40 options for toothpaste, 150 lipsticks, 360 types of shampoo, 90 different cold remedies, 230 soups, 75 instant gravies, 275 varieties of cereal, 64 types of barbecue sauce, and 22 types of frozen waffles.”
C. Decisions have to be made
Decide - Latin decidere "to cut off"
Church choice - just serve a local congregation
A.W. Tozier said:
The man or woman who is wholly and joyously surrendered to Christ can’t make a wrong choice – any choice will be the right choice.
V. WE ARE COWARDS
A. We secretly pray for God's will because we want to know that everything will be OK.
B. We must be brave.
Mordecai and Esther and Haman's plot to kill the Jews
Esther 4:11-16 NIV
“All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.” When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.””
Esther 4:11-16 NIV
"Courage is contagious. When a brave person takes a stand, the spines of others are stiffened."
Billy Graham
C. God created opportunities for us to rise up.
Ecclesiastes 7:14 NIV
“When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, no one can discover anything about their future.”
Ecclesiastes 7:14 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
CONCLUSION
THE GOODNESS OF GOD
His goodness is an ocean that has no shore.
A Mountain that has no summit.
A Road that has no end.
Not meager, but much.
Not skimpy but sufficient.
Not little, but limitless·
Not barely, but bountiful·
Not feeble, but full.
Philip Pascal, “The Goodness of God”, www.sermoncentral.com, August 3, 2003.
God has a plan that will take you through trial and triumph and allow you to be transformed into the image of His Son. If we want to please God, we must make brave choices!
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.
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