Having Sound Judgement
· Having sound judgement is one way to find the will of God.
· Spirit directed Judgement is just one way in which we come to know what God’s will is.
· We don’t have any built in powers to self-direction.
Jeremiah 10:23 (NKJV)
23 O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.
23 O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.
· God must guide you in important decision if you want success
· Your Career,
· Your Job
· Your life Partner
· What Church to Attend
· Where to Live
· the Friendships you form.
God must Guide you in important Decision if you want success;
· These concerns to whole way God wants us to live, behave, work and witness.
Colossians 4:12 (NKJV)
12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
Learning God’s Will
· knowing God’s will is more than learning some techniques of guidance or applying certain principles to know his will
· it’s less about methods and more about relationship
· You will notice that God didn’t just give Israel directions in the desert he actually lead them in the way
Exodus 13:21 (NKJV)
21 And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night.
21 And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night.
· If we are living in disobedience, we cannot expect God’s guidance even though we pray hard for it.
1 Samuel 28:5-6 (NKJV)
5 When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly.
6 And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams or by Urim or by the prophets.
1 Samuel 28:15 (NKJV)
15 Now Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?" And Saul answered, "I am deeply distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God has departed from me and does not answer me anymore, neither by prophets nor by dreams. Therefore I have called you, that you may reveal to me what I should do."
Psalms 66:18-19 (NKJV)
18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear.
19 But certainly God has heard me; He has attended to the voice of my prayer.
5 When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly.
6 And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams or by Urim or by the prophets.
1 Samuel 28:15 (NKJV)
15 Now Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?" And Saul answered, "I am deeply distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God has departed from me and does not answer me anymore, neither by prophets nor by dreams. Therefore I have called you, that you may reveal to me what I should do."
Psalms 66:18-19 (NKJV)
18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear.
19 But certainly God has heard me; He has attended to the voice of my prayer.
Lets Learn From Paul’s Prayer
Colossians 1:9-14 (NKJV)
9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy;
12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.
13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,
14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
Acts 22:14 (NKJV)
14 Then he said, 'The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth.
9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy;
12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.
13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,
14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
Acts 22:14 (NKJV)
14 Then he said, 'The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth.
Paul Prays For The Following; I Do Not Cease To Pray:
· Not for leaders only but all believers
· Be informed as to the will of God
· Asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.
· To be filled with the Spirit is to be ruled by the spirit
· To be filled with the knowledge of God’s will means that you are so ruled by His will that you carry it out.
To Live a Life Worthy Of the Lord Pleasing Him in Everyway
· Start bearing fruit in every good work
· If we know the will of God and are doing it by the power of the Holy Spirit we cannot help being fruitful
· Growing in the knowledge of God
· This means the relationship with God continues to deepen.
Our Heart Attitude Is Affected By The Following: Dependence, Obedience, Patience, and Sensitivity.
Dependence
· Common sense and human wisdom are totally inadequate. A spirit of self-sufficiency must be broken.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV)
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 shall direct your paths.
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 shall direct your paths.
· Not understanding the will of God will result in our doing things that are foolish.
Ephesians 5:17 (NKJV)
17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
· We will not discover God’s will by human intellect
Job 11:7 (NKJV)
7 "Can you search out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limits of the Almighty?
7 "Can you search out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limits of the Almighty?
· We must ask God to reveal his will for us to us
Ephesians 1:17-19 (NKJV)
17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,
18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power
17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,
18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power
Obedience
· Obedience is never a problem until God’s will is different than yours.
Note: leaders of Israel, after the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians, who were carried away into captivity, asked the prophet Jeremiah to ask God what they should do and where they should go. They promised to obey whatever God spoke.
Jeremiah 42:1-6 (NKJV)
1 Now all the captains of the forces, Johanan the son of Kareah, Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah, and all the people, from the least to the greatest, came near
2 and said to Jeremiah the prophet, "Please, let our petition be acceptable to you, and pray for us to the Lord your God, for all this remnant (since we are left but a few of many, as you can see),
3 that the Lord your God may show us the way in which we should walk and the thing we should do."
4 Then Jeremiah the prophet said to them, "I have heard. Indeed, I will pray to the Lord your God according to your words, and it shall be, that whatever the Lord answers you, I will declare it to you. I will keep nothing back from you."
5 So they said to Jeremiah, "Let the Lord be a true and faithful witness between us, if we do not do according to everything which the Lord your God sends us by you.
6 Whether it is pleasing or displeasing, we will obey the voice of the Lord our God to whom we send you, that it may be well with us when we obey the voice of the Lord our God."
1 Now all the captains of the forces, Johanan the son of Kareah, Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah, and all the people, from the least to the greatest, came near
2 and said to Jeremiah the prophet, "Please, let our petition be acceptable to you, and pray for us to the Lord your God, for all this remnant (since we are left but a few of many, as you can see),
3 that the Lord your God may show us the way in which we should walk and the thing we should do."
4 Then Jeremiah the prophet said to them, "I have heard. Indeed, I will pray to the Lord your God according to your words, and it shall be, that whatever the Lord answers you, I will declare it to you. I will keep nothing back from you."
5 So they said to Jeremiah, "Let the Lord be a true and faithful witness between us, if we do not do according to everything which the Lord your God sends us by you.
6 Whether it is pleasing or displeasing, we will obey the voice of the Lord our God to whom we send you, that it may be well with us when we obey the voice of the Lord our God."
· Note how they responded
Jeremiah 43:1-2 (NKJV)
1 Now it happened, when Jeremiah had stopped speaking to all the people all the words of the Lord their God, for which the Lord their God had sent him to them, all these words,
2 that Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the proud men spoke, saying to Jeremiah, "You speak falsely! The Lord our God has not sent you to say, 'Do not go to Egypt to dwell there.'
1 Now it happened, when Jeremiah had stopped speaking to all the people all the words of the Lord their God, for which the Lord their God had sent him to them, all these words,
2 that Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the proud men spoke, saying to Jeremiah, "You speak falsely! The Lord our God has not sent you to say, 'Do not go to Egypt to dwell there.'
· More often than not God will not reveal his will to us unless we are disposed to obey it.
Patience
· When we inquire of the Lord it is not often, we get a reply by mail.
· Our determination to obey is tested: we must learn to wait for God who is acting on our behalf.
Isaiah 64:4 (NKJV)
4 For since the beginning of the world Men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, Nor has the eye seen any God besides You, Who acts for the one who waits for Him.
4 For since the beginning of the world Men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, Nor has the eye seen any God besides You, Who acts for the one who waits for Him.
· Often Christians ask God to direction and when he doesn’t answer as quickly as they would like, they do whatever they think is best.
· God’s zero hour is not ours.
1 Samuel 13:7-14 (NKJV)
7 And some of the Hebrews crossed over the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was still in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.
8 Then he waited seven days, according to the time set by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him.
9 So Saul said, "Bring a burnt offering and peace offerings here to me." And he offered the burnt offering.
10 Now it happened, as soon as he had finished presenting the burnt offering, that Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might greet him.
11 And Samuel said, "What have you done?" And Saul said, "When I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered together at Michmash,
12 then I said, 'The Philistines will now come down on me at Gilgal, and I have not made supplication to the Lord.' Therefore I felt compelled, and offered a burnt offering."
13 And Samuel said to Saul, "You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you. For now the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.
14 But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you."
7 And some of the Hebrews crossed over the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was still in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.
8 Then he waited seven days, according to the time set by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him.
9 So Saul said, "Bring a burnt offering and peace offerings here to me." And he offered the burnt offering.
10 Now it happened, as soon as he had finished presenting the burnt offering, that Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might greet him.
11 And Samuel said, "What have you done?" And Saul said, "When I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered together at Michmash,
12 then I said, 'The Philistines will now come down on me at Gilgal, and I have not made supplication to the Lord.' Therefore I felt compelled, and offered a burnt offering."
13 And Samuel said to Saul, "You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you. For now the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.
14 But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you."
Sensitivity
· One of the great biblical promises for knowing God’s will is found in Psalm 32:8-9
Psalms 32:8-9 (NKJV)
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.
9 Do not be like the horse or like the mule, Which have no understanding, Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, Else they will not come near you.
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.
9 Do not be like the horse or like the mule, Which have no understanding, Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, Else they will not come near you.
· As Christians we must keep our eyes on the Lord looking for signals just as would a waitress in a restaurant making sure a table has good service.
Psalms 123:1-2 (NKJV)
1 A song of Ascents. Unto You I lift up my eyes, O You who dwell in the heavens.
2 Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, So our eyes look to the Lord our God, Until He has mercy on us.
Psalms 32:8 (NKJV)
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.
1 A song of Ascents. Unto You I lift up my eyes, O You who dwell in the heavens.
2 Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, So our eyes look to the Lord our God, Until He has mercy on us.
Psalms 32:8 (NKJV)
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.
How Does God Communicate With Us?
· Scriptures
Exodus 4:12 (NKJV)
12 Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say."
12 Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say."
· Inward voice of the Holy Spirit
Acts 10:19-20 (NKJV)
19 While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Behold, three men are seeking you.
20 Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them."
19 While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Behold, three men are seeking you.
20 Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them."
· Ordering our circumstances
1 Corinthians 16:8-9 (NKJV)
8 But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost.
9 For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.
8 But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost.
9 For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.
· Counsel of others
Proverbs 11:14 (NKJV)
14 Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.
Proverbs 15:22 (NKJV)
22 Without counsel, plans go awry, But in the multitude of counselors they are established.
Proverbs 20:18 (NKJV)
18 Plans are established by counsel; By wise counsel wage war.
14 Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.
Proverbs 15:22 (NKJV)
22 Without counsel, plans go awry, But in the multitude of counselors they are established.
Proverbs 20:18 (NKJV)
18 Plans are established by counsel; By wise counsel wage war.
· Gifts of the Holy Spirit
Acts 13:1-3 (NKJV)
1 Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."
3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.
1 Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."
3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.
· The peace of God ruling in our hearts.
Colossians 3:15 (NKJV)
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
Psalms 32:8-9 (NKJV)
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.
9 Do not be like the horse or like the mule, Which have no understanding, Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, Else they will not come near you.
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
Psalms 32:8-9 (NKJV)
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.
9 Do not be like the horse or like the mule, Which have no understanding, Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, Else they will not come near you.
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