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Understanding God’s Will

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Behind any action, there is always a decision behind it. Every decision has a driven will. A person’s will is their own and free for them to decide.

So how does all of that connect with God?

Matthew 26:36-39

[36] Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.
[37] And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.
[38] Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.
[39] And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

When Jesus at the garden, there was a great trial before him; in fact, this would become one of the greatest tests of will that we know as Christians today.

Even though Christ was justified for more reasons than one for giving up and turning away from this, he still chose the Father’s will over His own.

If Christ was strong enough to choose the will of God in the ultimate sacrifice for all of us, that speaks to me in so many ways! I am so thankful for the choice that was made. I now know that I have to begin to choose God’s will over mine own, even when I think I have the right or reason to.

If we are not too careful though, we might become as the disciples were:

Matthew 26:40-41

[40] And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
[41] Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Where were those disciples, really? Yes, in the moment they were asleep in the garden. In our readings and interpretations though, they are metaphorically in the church of today (not literally).

We become comfortable with the way things are, and will (in theory) fall asleep on our walk with God. Then in that moment when Christ comes to speak to us, is what we hear “Could ye not watch with me one hour?”

Are we not able to come in and worship anymore? Are we not able to back the ministers of God and show support? Are we not able to get in and do what God has called us to do? We often blame it on reason, but we do not actually do anything because of our lack of will to do so.

Mark 3:24-25

[24] And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
[25] And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.

We have to begin submitting to God’s will and not ours. My will could never carry anyone or anything. My leadership in the church should never be directed by mine own will, but God’s through me. You see, God’s will can lead us through things know and also things unseen.

When leaders take the will into their own hands, critical mistakes occur. This results in self-directed sermons, songs that do not magnify God, and not being attentive to the spirit; in other words we do what we think the church needs. That’s a scary thought, but it’s true. Following God’s will leads to the only path for certain victory.

Mark 3:32-35

[32] And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee.
[33] And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren?
[34] And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
[35] For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.

There are many areas where our willpower must drive our want to obey:

  • Supporting Singing
  • Taking Interest In Preaching
  • Being More Involved In Church Functions
  • Being Active In Altar Service

If I could say anything, we as a church must begin to cast out every hindrance and distraction. It is vitally essential to see the fruitfulness and the increase of the desire of the people grow!

Always remember, it does not matter who it is that is carrying forth what God has led them to do; as long as it bears witness by the spirit you need not fear!

So how do we know the will of God? Do we want to know the will of God?

Are we truly ready to submit our lives and everything involved to them to his will?

Philippians 2:12-13

[12] Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
[13] For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

I know that we often love to depend on others to “move” us during service, but God has given us more than enough to move ourselves. He wants to do a great work in you, and it is in God’s pleasure to do it! He wants us to begin to have a stronger will to get up and be more obedient, to get up and go get those in need that God leads you towards, and to get up and keep yourself from falling short simply by doing nothing at all!

Spirit Is Life

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The spirit of God serves so many purposes for us: It keeps our minds when we feel like drifting. It keeps our hearts when we feel broken. It heals our bodies when we feel weak. It goes forth and reaches out to others when we petition to God on their behalf. It does more and goes forth way beyond the mention of my few words, but to sum it all up: Spirit Is Life!

Will We Go Away?

John 6:61-67

[61] When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?
[62] What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?
[63] It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
[64] But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.
[65] And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
[66] From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
[67] Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

The words of Christ should be something we pin up on our walls to remind ourselves: the words he speaks are spirit and are life. It also quickens us; one even would wonder what the purpose of quickening is. If you have people in the midst of your services that are in desperate need, God will quicken you to be obedient so they can know and feel the spirit for themselves.

We Must Serve

Luke 22:27-28

[27] For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.
[28] Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.

We have to learn to work in stability, and to be as ones that serve. We also have to continue! My first steps to the Lord were obviously the easiest to take, but once I come to the understanding of the spirit, I have to learn to serve others with the love that God has place inside me (via the spirit).

What The Spirit Does

Matthew 4:19

[19] And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

Matthew 5:6-14

[6] Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
[7] Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
[8] Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
[9] Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
[10] Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
[11] Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
[12] Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
[13] Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
[14] Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

We are the light of the world! We are the fishers of men! We are the appointed ones to go forth and be the arms and heart of Christ; to love others and reach out to them as Christ reached out to us.

We might face persecution for the preaching and execution of the gospel. We cannot let this make us give up or quit what God has called us to do; for we not only shall be blessed, we are blessed when we face it.

The Goal Of The Spirit

Hebrews 13:13

[13] Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

Let us take that wonderful spirit that is within us, and take it forth as a light of the world so that they can be drawn unto Jesus Christ! It’s the only thing we could ever give that will ever last!

Mind Over Matter

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Everything that I enjoy or do not is in control within my mind. My complaints, my compliments are all from the mind as well! The mind is the head of my body! If my mind is corrupt, I am scattered! I’m lost with no direction, and need God to lead me. The mind is the one thing that is yours, that no one can change or control within you. They can take all of your possessions, but they cannot take your mind. That’s a powerful and yet revealing statement when it comes to our walk with God.

Direction Of Focus

Psalms 123:2-3

[2] Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us.
[3] Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt.

We also have to remember that we are servants also. That means that I am going to have to lead even when I do not feel like it. That means that I have to push on and continually have focus on God regardless of my trials. With that said, we have to learn to wait and be more patient. The first thing that we lean on is generally the very thing we trust in first. If that isn’t God, that should speak to us in a very great way. It is going to be an effort for me to trust God when I live in the flesh.

How God Reveals

Isaiah 53:1

[1] Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?

Do we believe? What fuels our beliefs? How do we keep that kindled? Our faith! We have to begin in something greater than what our hands are able to do! God does not work on our timeline or resources. That should be encouraging to you! The report of the Lord sometimes is not what we want to hear, but we have to begin to hear what God is trying to speak to us and apply what is being sent our way.

Take Heed

Malachi 2:16

[16] For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.

The keyword that comes to mind is “covereth”. We attempt to come in and hide our problems from everyone and God, and being too filled with pride to admit that we need help. We have to begin showing God exactly who we are so that He can transform us! We have to take heed to ourselves! In other words, we must begin to take inventory before we come into the doors and expect the “blessings to fall down”.

Beware

Mark 4:19

[19] And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

The keyword that comes to mind is “choke”. If we choke out the spirit that leads us from temptation and keeps our minds and hearts, we’ll begin to give in to things we would have normally never gave into. We will begin to become unfruitful and not be able to even help ourselves after a while. The cares of this world versus how important God should be will begin to shift into the favor of your flesh.

Look To Him

Isaiah 45:22

[22] Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.

There is nothing else that will ever keep you! I tried to find everything out there and there was never a solution other than the Holy Ghost entering in and changing my life forever! I have never been the same, and I recommend it for anyone who is willing to make up their mind!