MESSAGES
The Apostle Paul said, "...as servants of Christ, we're to do the will of God from the heart…" (Ephesians 6:6; emphasis added). All of us as Christians ask the question, how do I know God's will for my life? How do I hear His voice? How do I know if what I'm doing, or where I am, is the will of God? What is God's plan for my life? These are good questions, and they are questions that should be on the heart of every one of God's children.
How do we know the will of God for our life? Some people look to the supernatural in order to find out God’s will for their lives. Others will put God to certain tests. While still others might draw straws, or pull the petals off of a flower, "He loves me, He loves me not. He wants me here, He wants me not."
Many people today believe in luck or chance. But to a Christian, luck and chance have nothing to do with our lives. On the other hand, God's sovereignty and providence has everything to do with our lives.
God had a purpose for saving Moses, as a baby from death. God used him to deliver the Jews from the slavery of Egypt.
David didn't just happen to show up at the camp of the army, as they were about to go to battle against the Philistine giant, Goliath.
Esther didn't just happen to win a beauty contest in front of King Ahasuerus, and become his queen, just so he could show her off to people. No, God put her there to save His people from being annihilated by the wicked Haman. As Mordecai said to Esther, "Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:14).
These things didn't occur because of luck or chance, but because of providence. They knew what needed to be done for two reasons. First, because they were God's children, and second, they heard His voice as He spoke to them. Not always directly, but at times through a series of events, and through other people. These people came to know God's will.
The Bible teaches us a great deal about knowing the will of God, but sometimes its lessons are negative. In Judges 6 we read where Gideon had been called to lead the people. He was to gather them together, and with them go out against the Midianites. Does he immediately obey? No! Instead, we see him setting out the fleece in order to know God’s will.
When we follow Gideon’s course of action by setting out the fleece, what we’re doing is we’re giving God an option. We’re saying to God, "Ok, God, I have two plans. If you want me to do plan ‘A’ then do this-and-this by next Monday. If you don't do this by next Monday, then I'll just go ahead with plan ‘B’." In essence they're saying, "My way is better than God's way." Yet the Bible says about man’s way, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its way leads to death" (Proverbs 14:12).
Gideon was a great warrior and he was not ignorant of God’s will. He knew God’s will because he knew Gods word. Look at verse 36-37. Gideon knew what God had said, and he knew what God wanted him to do. The problem wasn't a lack of knowledge on Gideon’s part, but a lack of faith and obedience.
Gideon was given an unmistakable Divine commission. He knew what God’s will was. There should have been no doubt that Gideon’s commission was from God, for God had told him, "Surely, I will be with you" (vs. 16). He had experienced God’s power at work as he saw the altar of Baal being destroyed (vs. 25-32). And yet we see him setting out the fleece. Gideon had either forgotten, or he didn't believe what God had already done for him. He knew what God’s will was, and yet, he still set out the fleece.
There are many problems with setting out a fleece. First, setting out a fleece is evidence of doubt. Not faith. God had already shown Himself to Gideon; and yet Gideon is saying, "I know what You have said. I know Your command, and I know Your promise. But I'm not sure if I really believe you."
Putting doubt in our mind is one of the enemy’s greatest tools he uses against the Christian. If you recall, it’s how he attacked Eve in the garden, "Did God really say?" (Genesis 3). He caused her to doubt God's Word. Faith on the other hand believes what God says because He says it. The Bible says, "Thy Word is truth" (John 17:17), and, "God cannot lie" (Titus 1:2). Doubt looks at the circumstances while faith looks at God.
God says, "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye" (Psalms 32:8). The Bible says, "The steps of a good man are ordered (directed; established) by the Lord, and He delights in his way..." (Psalms 37:23-24). God has given us clear biblical promises that the Lord will never fail to direct and guide us. Therefore, we need never doubt His promises. We need never refuse to rest in His word.
Second, setting out a fleece is dictating to God. Gideon did not say, "Lord, I'm afraid, I have doubts. Please help me in this area." Instead he said, "God, here's my program. Now, do it my way." He was telling the sovereign God how to do things.
I’m reminded of Moses, when he was given the blueprints to the tabernacle. He didn't draw up his own blue print of the tabernacle for God to approve. He didn’t say, "Ok God, this is my plan for Your tabernacle." Instead, he was obedient to God, and he followed God's blueprint. Today we draw up our own plans and programs. We often seek God’s divine endorsement instead of first seeking His divine program. We're to obey God; we're never to dictate to Him.
Third, setting a fleece does not really solve the problem. After setting out a fleece we begin to question, "How do I really know this was from God?" Think about it! Wool would naturally retain moisture, and the rock would dry up quickly. You start to think about it and then you doubt; and then you say, "I better do this again."
Setting a fleece does not produce certainty, but rather it puts God in a box. For example, you ask God to do something by 9:00. At 9:05 the phone rings. Is that God or Satan? Is God late? Or at 8:59 the phone rings. Was that Satan trying to trick me? Or is God early? Setting out a fleece does not produce certainty! Only God's Word produces certainty. The Bible says, "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17). As we feed our faith on His Word, our doubt will begin to starve.
Let me now share how we can come to know God’s will. First, God's will, or direction comes through His director. What would you rather have? A road map of a city, or a person who knows the city inside out, who knows where to go and how to get there? Jesus Christ is our Guide, and He wants to direct our lives. We come to know God’s direction as we listen to His voice, as we walk with Him, and as we follow His example.
At times people will come up to us and say, "God told me to tell you..." I don't instantly believe them, even though they might appear very sincere because there are some very sincere "weirdoes" out there.
Does God audibly speak to people today? He certainly can, but that isn't the norm. His primary way of speaking is through His written Word. In the Old Testament He would often speak audibly, but not so much today. But, that's not to say He can't, or that He doesn't. God more often speaks to us as He did His servant, Elijah, in a, "still small voice." Again in John 10, Jesus said that His sheep hear, know and follow His voice.
The biggest reason that we don't hear His voice is because we're not listening. We let the hectic schedule of our busy day get the better of us. We spend so much time watching tv, listening to radio, or talking with people, that we don't give God any time. We then say, "Why doesn't God speak to me?" Maybe He is, and maybe we’re just too busy to listen.
Picture yourself on the phone, and in the background the tv's blaring, the stereo is blasting, and you have a house full of people. What must you do in order to hear and understand the person on the other end? You need to turn everything down. You need to shut everything off. In other words, to understand the caller requires quietness. And so it is with hearing God. God says, "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalms 46:10). You need to be still. You need to remove any distractions. Because until you do, you will not hear from God, nor will you understand His will.
Remember the story of Elijah after he called fire down from Mt. Carmel, and then had the 800 prophets of Baal killed. Right after this, we read that Queen Jezebel sought his life, and he fled to the mountains. There he remained all alone, in a cave, waiting on God. God came to him and told him to go outside the cave, because He wanted to talk with him.
We read there was a great wind that ripped across the mountains; then a great earthquake; then a fire. But the Lord was in none of them. Finally, God spoke to him in, "a still small voice." In other words, He spoke with a delicate whisper, and a gentle stillness. God speaks to us the same way, but too often we're too busy to hear Him. If we're to hear His quiet voice, we need to stop what we're doing in order to hear it.
Second, God's will is based on the teachings and beliefs of God's Word. Paul tells us that, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God (God breathed), and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16). God’s Word is God’s will for your life. His Word isn't obsolete, it's absolute. It isn't out-dated. It’s as applicable today as it was when it was first written. Gideon didn't come to know God’s will by setting the fleece, but by obeying His Word.
The Bible not only gives us specific commands, but it gives us general principles that will apply to many areas of our life. There are many things that you and I do not need to pray about, because we know it's God's will. For instance, I don't need to wonder if it's God's will that I go out and commit adultery on my wife; or if I should steal from someone; or lie about a matter; or cuss somebody out. His word speaks clearly against these things.
Let me share what I know for certain is God’s will for all of us. It's His will that we live a life of purity. The Bible says, "For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality" (1 Thessalonians 4:3; emphasis added). If someone comes up to you and says, "God has told me that it's ok for me and my girlfriend to have sex," tell them they might have heard a voice, but it wasn't from God.
It's God's will that we live a life of thanksgiving. The Bible says, "In everything gives thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1 Thessalonians 5:18; emphasis added). God doesn't want us to gripe and complain about our jobs, neighbors, family, or anything else that's bugging us. God wants us to rejoice in everything, and to look upon it as a time of spiritual growth. We can give thanks because we know that God is in the situation with us.
His will is that we are to always be under the influence of the Holy Spirit. The Bible says, "Therefore, do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Holy Spirit" (Ephesians 5:17; emphasis added). To be under the influence of anything or anyone other than the Holy Spirit, is outside His will.
There is God's general will for our lives also. Such as, who should I marry; what job should I take; where should I go to school; what ministry should I be involved in; should I buy that car, etc.? However, if we’re not obeying God's specific will, what makes us think we’ll understand what His will for our life is in these areas? We need to start by obeying what is clearly taught by God.
Third, God's will is confirmed through the indwelling peace of God. The Bible says, "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts" (Colossians 3:15). Sometimes we might think that God wants us to do something. The doors might seem to open, but you don't have a peace about it; you're in spiritual turmoil, and you feel uneasy. Obviously, something isn't right. We need to slow down and not rush. We need to wait on Him until He gives you the peace that passes all understanding.
The Bible says, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7). Nothing causes more anxiety than the question of, are we in God’s will? Being anxious will solve nothing. Being in prayer does. Someone once said, "A problem not worth praying about is not worth worrying about." If you're not praying about it, why are you worrying about it?
Fourth, God's will is communicated through circumstances. Even though a Christian is to live above his circumstances, he is not to be unaware of them. I'm not saying that we should make decisions based totally upon circumstances. I am saying, if we think that God wants us to do something, and doors begin to open, that might be a confirmation of God's will.
We need to ask ourselves, is the Lord showing me something through my circumstances? Maybe a co-worker is laid off work. Why did God allow this to happen? Maybe God has a better job for him to do. Perhaps a family member comes down with cancer. What good can come from that? Sometimes that's the only way God can get our attention. C.S. Lewis said, "Pain is often God's megaphone to speak to us." If other methods don't work, God might pull out His megaphone to get our attention.
Fifth, God's will can come through the counsel of other believers. We need to remember that advice is only as good as its source. Therefore, we need to seek out godly counselors. When you have problems at work, don't go to an unbeliever for help. You men, go to a strong Christian brother. You ladies, go to a strong Christian sister. But be aware that even the godliest person can unknowingly give us wrong advice.
We can know the will of God. We don't need any magical or mysterious process. It's simply a matter of walking with Jesus, and being obedient to His Word. We don't need to set out a fleece.
Gideon's problem wasn’t that he didn't know God’s will, but, that he hesitated in doing it. God has a will for our life, and nothing should be more important to us than to know it and do it. In the final analysis, each of us is responsible for knowing God's will for our own life. The Bible says, "Therefore, do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is" (Ephesians 5:17).
God has a will for our life, be it in the home, church, relationships, work, or wherever we are. That's a promise, but it's a promise based upon a condition. Paul says, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed, by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God" (Romans 12:1-2). We are to present ourselves to God! Not to this worldly system that is under the control of Satan. We need to stop being obsessed with self, and we need to begin living for God.
The world teaches us that self is the most important thing there is. Our schools teach us that if we believe in our self, and look within our self, we'll find truth. The only thing we’ll find within our self is the problem. The truth is, we are the problem, and it's called sin!
Even our churches today are teaching self-esteem. They tell us the problem is the way we see our self, that we need to have more self-esteem. The problem is we have too much self-esteem, and not enough God-esteem. Jesus said we're to, "deny our self, take up our cross and follow Him" (Matthew 16:24). The world says, "Think of self." God says, "Think of Me."
Let me close with the words of the great evangelist Billy Graham, "We come to know the will of God when we come to know the God whose will we want to know."
God bless you,
Pastor Steve |
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