Sunday, October 10, 2021

Seeking God’s Guidance





This is the second sermon in a four sermon series "Finding and Following God's Guidance"

As we said last week, God’s guidance is available, and we ought to trust it.  However, as with other things from God, we need to ask, seek, and knock.  To ask seek and knock, clarifies and confirms our openness to do God’s will. It sharpens and quickens our desires to seek that will as Jesus taught us to pray, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

Our text is Paul’s prayer of concern that the church avoids doctrinal compromise by seeking God’s guidance and therefore strengthening Christian practices.

Colossians 1:9‭-‬10 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, 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,

Paul’s prayer features three major requests.

  1. That the church “be filled with the knowledge of God’s will.”

  2. That the church function in the practice of God’s will “in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.”

  3. That the church focuses on fully pleasing the Lord by “being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”


For an audio recording of the sermon click the YouTube link at the end of the manuscript.


Text: 

Colossians 1:9‭-‬10 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, 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,

Introduction


As we said last week, God’s guidance is available, and we ought to trust it. 

Remember our text from last week.   

Proverbs 3:5‭-‬6 NIV Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

However, as with other things from God, we need to ask, seek, and knock. 

Matthew 7:7‭-‬8 NIV “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

To ask seek and knock, clarifies and confirms our openness to do God’s will. It sharpens and quickens our desires to seek that will as Jesus taught us to pray, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

There are many good reasons why we should seek God’s guidance. However, the reason that the apostle Paul focused his attention as he evaluated the church at Colossae is especially important.  

He prayed that they seek God’s guidance and not compromise.  Compromise and weak Christian conduct would be the result without God’s guidance. In the Christian church in Colossae pagan philosophy and Jewish legalism were being mixed with Christian beliefs by some religious teachers at Colossae. The result was supposed to be a superior Christianity. But instead, it was inferior.

Paul was in prison when he wrote this letter.  He had received a visit from a man by the name of Epaphras who give him a report of what was going on in Colossae.  

Our text is Paul’s prayer of concern that the church avoids doctrinal compromise by seeking God’s guidance and therefore strengthening Christian practices.

Paul’s prayer features three major requests.

  1. That the church “be filled with the knowledge of God’s will.”

  2. That the church function in the practice of God’s will “in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.”

  3. That the church focuses on fully pleasing the Lord by “being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”


I.  His first request was that the church “be filled with the knowledge of God’s will.”


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,

Religious knowledge and the knowledge of God’s will are not necessarily synonymous. Much religious knowledge is not only in conflict with God’s will but can destroy God’s work in the world. We have seen that happen in some of the cults of our day. Paul’s prayer request confirms a need for a particular religious knowledge, the knowledge of God’s will. 

The knowledge of God's will can be divided into three categories: God’s ultimate or sovereign will, God’s intentional will, and God’s permissive will.

A. God’s ultimate will or sovereign will. 

Some of God’s will is irresistible, unconditional, and inevitable. 

Psalms 115:3 NIV Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him.

Isaiah 46:10 NIV I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’

Regardless of human responses, his plans will unfold. 

Proverbs 19:21 NIV Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

We need the knowledge that God is sovereign over the universe and that his goals will prevail. 

John 1:1‭-‬3 NIV In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

Those who do his will live with him eternally. Those who disobey will spend eternity separated from him. 

John 3:16‭-‬18 NIV For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

This portion of our knowledge of God’s will can be labeled his “ultimate will”, His “sovereign will”.


B. Now let’s look at God’s intentional or His intended will. 


God’s plan for our lives is determined by our choices. He gives us the right to say yes or no in the doing of his will.  We have free will. Not only do we choose whether we receive Christ as Savior and Lord, but we choose the degree of our development. God’s desire for us, His intention for us is that all people be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.


1 Timothy 2:1‭-‬4 NIV I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.


2 Peter 3:8‭-‬9 NIV But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.


Furthermore, God wants his people to be sanctified or free of sin.


1 Thessalonians 4:3‭-‬8 NIV It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: 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.


He intends that we know his will and do it. This knowledge of his will is called His “intentional will.”


C. Then there’s God’s permissive will. 


We can choose to disregard God’s will or to follow it. God permits events or circumstances to occur that may serve as discipline for us. Let me emphasize that God does not bring bad stuff, but He will permit it.


James 1:13‭-‬15 NIV When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.


Also, experiences or circumstances not of our own making work to test our faith. 


This is referred to as God’s “permissive will.”


We must be filled with the knowledge of these three categories of God’s will, His sovereign will,, His intended will, and His permissive will, so that we can avoid doctrinal compromise and strengthen our Christian walk.




II. Paul’s second prayer request was that the church function in the practice of God’s will “in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.”


Back to Colossians 1:9


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,


The knowledge of God should always lead to “wisdom” or insight, that makes doing of his will our primary focus. That kind of knowledge also leads to “spiritual understanding,” or the ability to apply the principles we get from the word of God.

The result is that we “walk worthy of the Lord.” 

Colossians 1:10 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,

Our conduct is not only freed from practices of wrongdoing but is filled with right doing. 

Romans 6:15‭-‬18 NIV What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

Here’s an example.  A three-year-old boy was proudly wearing one of his father’s ribbons of honor.  The dad noticed it and said to his son, “What act of bravery did you perform to get that?” The little boy said, “I didn’t get into trouble for thirty minutes.” The  boy’s mother explained that she had offered the ribbon as a reward if the boy would stay out of the kitchen while she was cooking. So the father hugged his son and said, “Good job!” The boy put on his best smile and replied, “I’m a good boy; I stayed out of trouble.” 

But just staying out of trouble is not enough for those who seek and discover the knowledge of God’s will. We are to be guided by the truth of the knowledge of God's will as the way of life.

Many of the practices of God’s will do not seem to have a chapter and verse from the Bible as a point of reference. Our lives should reflect those biblical principles that express wisdom and spiritual understanding.

In my life, and I am sure that it was and is the same with many of you, I was confronted with some issues of right and wrong where I could not find a specific biblical reference.  What should I do? 

Well, here’s what I did.  I talked to some wise people that included my parents and grandparents and folk who were older than me, at the time, or who and been Christians for many years.  They gave me some questions to ask myself that have stayed with me, and I want to share them with you today along with some scripture.  


A. Will it bring glory to God? 


1 Corinthians 10:31‭-‬32 NIV So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God—


Matthew 5:14‭-‬16 NIV “You  are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.


B. Will it lead into temptation?


Matthew 6:13 NIV And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one. ’


Matthew 26:40‭-‬41 NIV Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”


James 1:12‭-‬15 NIV Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.


C. Will it enslave me? 


1 Corinthians 6:12 NIV “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything.



D. Will it defile my body?


1 Corinthians 6:18‭-‬19 NIV Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;



Galatians 5:19‭-‬23 NIV The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.



E. Will it damage my influence on others? 


Matthew 5:13 NIV “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.


Romans 14:21 NIV It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.


1 Corinthians 8:9‭-‬13 NIV Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols? So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.


F. Does it create doubt about doing the will of God in my life? 


Romans 14:22‭-‬23 NIV So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.


 If we seek the highest wisdom and spiritual understanding, we can know God’s will and practice it.

  

III. Paul’s third prayer request was that the church focus on fully pleasing the Lord by “being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.”


Colossians 1:10 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,


We all like to please people and it is important, especially when we love them. Pleasing the Lord is even more important but doing so is difficult when there is competition between pleasing people and pleasing God.

We often talk about peer pressure on young people. Who can blame them for wanting to be acceptable to their friends and associates? 

Adults want to be acceptable too. So, there is the temptation to make compromises of Christian principles in the presence of pressure from employers and from friends, and often pressure from a spouse or family member. 

Seeking God’s guidance means striving to please God regardless of the cost to business, friendships, and even family relationships. It is the only way to increase knowledge of God.


Luke 9:57‭-‬62 NIV As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” He said to another man, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”


There’s a story about a young person that felt that God had called them to be a missionary. They were asked  “Why do you plan to go overseas when you could stay at home and be as useful here in pastoral ministry as you would be there?” He replied, “Because usefulness and place of service are not my highest priorities. God’s will for me is the most important issue in my life. I believe he wants me there.”

 

Conclusion


It is so easy to try and find our own way. One of the slogans of our culture is to “go your own way.” We make our own light and set our own path with innovative technology. We live in a culture entirely built around the concept that we can achieve, conquer, or heal anything

Isaiah 50:10‭-‬11 NLT Who among you fears the Lord and obeys his servant? If you are walking in darkness, without a ray of light, trust in the Lord and rely on your God. But watch out, you who live in your own light and warm yourselves by your own fires. This is the reward you will receive from me: You will soon fall down in great torment.

The first step of discipleship to Jesus is recognition that we can’t go on our own. We learn we aren’t strong enough or smart enough to heal ourselves. This is the step we must take every day, over and over again. We sit in darkness and trust that the light of Jesus the Messiah will show us the way.

The commitment to seek God’s guidance is almost as important as seeking to be saved.  Paul prayed for it for a church troubled over its understanding of God’s will. We, too, need to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will, function in the practice of his will, and focus on fully pleasing the Lord in doing his will. Perhaps the most important decision to be made in response to Paul's prayer is to decide to please him above all else. To do so will make you a disciple wanting to know his will and a servant desiring to obey his will.

 Colossians 1:9‭-‬10 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, 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,


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