Testing God’s Guidance

This is the manuscript of the fourth sermon in a five sermon series "Finding and Following God's Guidance"

God’s guidance is available. We can seek it, receive it, and trust it. Information about his guidance is available in his Guidebook the Bible. And we can develop a submissive spirit to his guidance through prayer.  

But having followed these steps, we may still lack confidence and clarity in doing God’s will. The process can be confusing and frustrating. There is more to it than you originally thought. 

How can we overcome confusion and still respond to God’s guidance with clear obedience to his will?

There are three things we can do.

1. We can walk in the light we already have.

2. We can test to approve what is acceptable to the Lord.

3. We can confront and correct the unfruitful works of darkness.

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

Scripture Reading:

Ephesians 5:6‭-‬14 NIV Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

Text: 

Ephesians 5:8‭-‬10 NIV For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.

Introduction

God’s guidance is available. We can seek it, receive it, and trust it. Information about his guidance is available in his Guidebook the Bible. And we can develop a submissive spirit to his guidance through prayer.  

But having followed these steps, we may still lack confidence and clarity in doing God’s will. The process can be confusing and frustrating. There is more to it than you originally thought. 

Like anything that you buy that needs assembly, some of the instructions are not clear. I have often tried to assemble something that says in the instructions that it should take 30 minutes and it takes me 3 hours and even then, I have parts or screws left over.  

Determining God’s will can sometimes be confusing, for example, as when people have differing interpretations of the truth. For example, the scriptures say that we should obey government authority and it also says that we should obey God only. Sometimes these things appear to be in conflict. We saw that early in the pandemic when the government said we couldn’t meet inside.  

One side quotes Romans 13:1–2

Romans 13:1‭-‬2 NIV Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

The other side quotes Acts 4:19–20 when the Jewish leaders told Peter and John to stop teaching and talking about Jesus.

Acts 4:18‭-‬20 NIV Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

Hebrews 10:23‭-‬25 NIV Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

To these it meant biblically mandated worship could not be done virtually.  Believers have the same views, differences of opinion and confusion over masks and vaccinations.

How can we overcome confusion and still respond to God’s guidance with clear obedience to his will?

There are three things we can do.

1. We can walk in the light we already have.

2. We can test to approve what is acceptable to the Lord.

3. We can confront and correct the unfruitful works of darkness.

I. First we can walk in the light we already have.

Ephesians 5:8‭-‬10 NIV For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.

It is important to remember that all of us have been exposed to the darkness of sin and have walked in that darkness. Our previous proximity to the darkness of sin requires that we now live in the light, listening to and following Jesus Christ. We must recognize that we do not have all the answers but that we are committed to him who does have all the answers.  

Walking in the light that you have makes a lot of sense, doesn’t it? If you wanted to become a long-distance runner, or like the people participating in the triathlon today, wouldn’t you first begin to run, swim and cycle short distances? If your goal is to be able to speak a foreign language fluently, doesn’t it follow that you first learn to speak short sentences? 

Our walking in the light does not mean that we always walk with as much stability as we might. But the child learning how to walk doesn’t stop if some of the walking means falling down. In walking we start out shaky and then we begin to walk with stability.

So we can respond to God’s guidance by starting to walk in the light that we already have no matter how little or how much we have. 

II. Next we can test to approve what is acceptable to the Lord.

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.

In any school, students are tested. Though we may not like it the purpose of the test is to aid the learning and approval process. 

2 Corinthians 13:5 NIV Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?

2 Peter 1:10‭-‬11 NIV Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

New machinery is tested so the defects can be eliminated. Our conduct is to be subjected to the testing process for the purpose of being acceptable to the Lord. By this testing we experience clarity in His guidance.

So, where does this testing happen? It happens right out in the world where the darkness is. And out here in the world we are to rely on all the testing devices we can, beginning with the Bible and the Holy Spirit’s guidance. 

It is very comforting and strengthening to know that as it says in 

Philippians 2:12‭-‬13 NIV Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

In addition to the Word and the Spirit, there are at least four other testing devices.

1. The conscience of the person being tested 

2. The counsel of other Christians 

3. Common Sense 

4. Circumstances 

A. The conscience of the person being tested. 

Your conscience stores information we have received from other resources about right and wrong. As we make decisions, our conscience either affirms or puts down the attitudes or actions we are about to take. 

Now the conscience that has been exposed to the darkness is not fully trustworthy like it says in

Titus 1:15 NIV To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted.

When we have been taught the truth, the conscience will bear witness in the Holy Spirit.

Romans 9:1‭-‬2 NIV I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit— I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.

B. We can test to see what is acceptable to the Lord through the counsel of other Christians. 

Believers are instructed to teach and admonish one another.

Colossians 3:15‭-‬17 NIV Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Hebrews 10:24‭-‬25 NIV And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Let me caution you that no believer is to become our highest authority on truth, however more experienced believers who show by their lives obedience to the Word should be sought for advice.

C. Then there is common sense. Titus 2:12 tells us that we are to “live soberly”—

Titus 2:11‭-‬14 NIV For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

This means we are to have a sound, healthy mind. Again, common sense is never to be accepted as complete sense, because sometimes God leads us in ways that do not seem sensible. At the same time, we are to use our minds in the testing ground.

D. Finally, we can test what’s acceptable to God through circumstances. 

Let’s say that from your relationships with your children and with children in the church you think you should be a schoolteacher. Yet your education has not equipped you to teach; you cannot obtain a teaching certificate. Your circumstances show you that you either must go to school again or forget this vocational choice. Yet circumstances alone are never sufficient as a testing device.

These four testing devices, your conscience, the counsel of other believers, common sense, and circumstances, plus the inspiration of God’s Word can verify and clarify God’s guidance. 

III. When we respond to God’s guidance with clear obedience to his will, we can walk in the light we already have, we can test to approve what is acceptable to the Lord and we can confront and correct the unfruitful works of darkness.

In other words, we can rebuke or silence the works of darkness to bring out conviction or confession of guilt. We may do this by our words but more significantly by our conduct. 

Some people may become uncomfortable by what we say and do, but that is the way of God in reaching the hearts of those who are in darkness. The point is that God’s guidance is not given to enable us to live sheltered lives free from contact with people who are motivated by evil. Rather, God’s guidance is given to us  to show us how to live and influence people in an evil world.

Look at it this way you have the Word of God in your mind, your eyes on Jesus, and your body in the world.  This is how we demonstrate the truth and call others to the truth. 

Conclusion

Every person, each of us who is receiving God’s guidance receives it while being under God’s divine protection.  When we receive His guidance, we discover God to be our refuge.

Psalms 46:1‭-‬3 NIV God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.

But God’s guidance must be tested in the world. It must be tested in the world where the light and the darkness meet. The conflict between light and darkness, and good and evil may be frightening sometimes but we can be confident in knowing that all that God provides is more than enough as we walk in the light we have, as we test for the purpose of approving what is acceptable to God, and as we reprove the unfruitful works of darkness by our words and deeds.

Ephesians 5:8‭-‬10 NIV For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.

Sermon Audio 

Receiving God’s Guidance

This is the manuscript of the third sermon in a five sermon series "Finding and Following God's Guidance"

“But we have the mind of Christ.” That claim may seem presumptuous and shocking but when Jesus is Lord in our lives and each day’s highest priority is given to seeking and trusting God’s guidance, it is normal to seek and find the mind of Christ.

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

Scripture

1 Corinthians 2:6‭-‬16 NIV We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”— the things God has prepared for those who love him— these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

Text: 1 Corinthians 2:16 NIV “for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

Introduction

“But we have the mind of Christ.” That claim may seem presumptuous and shocking but when Jesus is Lord in our lives and each day’s highest priority is given to seeking and trusting God’s guidance, it is normal to seek and find the mind of Christ.

Like Abraham’s servant, who was sent to find a bride Isaac, we can say, “The LORD led me” (Gen. 24:27).

You know the story.  Abraham sent his servant to find a wife for Isaac because he didn’t want him to marry any of the local women, the Canaanites.  When he sent him on his journey he told him;

Genesis 24:6‭-‬9 NIV “Make sure that you do not take my son back there,” Abraham said. “The Lord, the God of heaven, who brought me out of my father’s household and my native land and who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, ‘To your offspring I will give this land’—he will send his angel before you so that you can get a wife for my son from there. If the woman is unwilling to come back with you, then you will be released from this oath of mine. Only do not take my son back there.” So the servant put his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and swore an oath to him concerning this matter.

When he got to Abraham’s native country he sought the Lord’s guidance.

Genesis 24:12‭-‬19‭, ‬26‭-‬27 NIV Then he prayed, “Lord, God of my master Abraham, make me successful today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. May it be that when I say to a young woman, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too’—let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master.” Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milkah, who was the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor. The woman was very beautiful, a virgin; no man had ever slept with her. She went down to the spring, filled her jar and came up again. The servant hurried to meet her and said, “Please give me a little water from your jar.” “Drink, my Lord,” she said, and quickly lowered the jar to her hands and gave him a drink. After she had given him a drink, she said, “I’ll draw water for your camels too, until they have had enough to drink.” Then the man bowed down and worshiped the Lord, saying, “Praise be to the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness to my master. As for me, the Lord has led me on the journey to the house of my master’s relatives.”

Is that an intended lifestyle for all believers? To seek God’s guidance in all circumstances. It is if we take our text seriously, “But we have the mind of Christ.” 

Receiving God’s guidance means that the living God has taken up residence within us to enlighten us so that we may walk in the light. He leads us so that it can be said, 

Romans 8:14 NIV For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.

I. If we have the mind of Christ, we have received his knowledge.

We talked about that last week.  Our text last week was 

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,

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.

We receive the knowledge of Christ from our Guidebook, the Bible. God reveals himself and what he expects from his people through the Bible. The Bible’s words are God’s words. There are more than two thousand instances in the Bible where it identifies the words of the Bible as the Word of God.

2 Timothy 3:16‭-‬17 NIV All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 Peter 1:20‭-‬21 NIV Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Clearly the Bible can help us know how to walk and where to walk. 

Psalms 119:105 NIV Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

Without God’s Word as a guide, we walk in darkness. 

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.

To ignore it or take it lightly is to assure the absence of God’s guidance. Jeremiah said, 

Jeremiah 10:23 NIV Lord, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps.

To receive God’s guidance means we must be read and study the Bible, but not because the Bible maps out our daily schedules or gives us detailed prescriptions for every problem.  The Bible won’t tell us what to wear today, or what kind of car to buy, or even the specific person to marry. 

As I said, last week, every situation or decision you need to make doesn’t have a specific chapter and verse to deal with it.  The Bible does, however, present principles, and these principles show us the path, they give us God’s guidance. They light up the way. Best of all, the Bible shows us Jesus, the Light of the World. When we have been born again by the living and abiding Word of God, he is right there to instruct us, through the constant presence of the Holy Spirit.

Once there was a pastor who was asked to counsel with a couple about a family problem, and when he found out that neither spouse was a Christian, the focus of the discussion moved from the problem itself to Christ, who could give light to their lives as well as the problem. They later both accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord. One day the pastor reminded them that he was still available to help them think through the problems they initially came to him about.  Their answer to him this time was, “With Jesus we’ve learned how to talk to one another about our problems and to forgive the past. 

We’ll call you if we need you, but right now we are solving the problems that were irritating us by opening ourselves to his Word and to one another.” The Word of God had become their Guidebook.  It can become our Guidebook too. The Bible serves as a helpful Guidebook when we receive Jesus Christ as our Savior. By the knowledge of it, the Bible, we can have the mind of Christ.

II. If we have the mind of Christ, it is because we have received his Spirit.

The reality of the knowledge that we have the mind of Christ because we have received his Spirit causes some who seek a rational explanation for every facet of spiritual experience to blow a fuse, because there may not be a rational or logical explanation for some things we must except on faith.  

On the other hand the Bible says we must also work.

James 2:14‭-‬17‭, ‬26 NIV What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

The truth is that both faith and works require the Spirit’s guidance to operate correctly.   

We are not merely to set the automatic pilot and operate by remote control.  Rather, we are to live and operate by our knowledge of the truth and by our openness to God’s guidance. 

We choose to make our minds a storehouse for the knowledge of God and a distribution center for the doing of God’s will.  We identified three aspects of God’s will last week. His sovereign or ultimate will, His intended will, and His permissive will.  When we learn God's will and how to apply it we are then walking in the Spirit.  We will be led by the Spirit and not the flesh.

Galatians 5:16‭-‬25 NIV So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 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. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Our Lord does not leave us alone. He comes to us. He dwells within us. He teaches us his truth. Therefore, we have his mind.

III. If we have the mind of Christ, it is because we have received his invitation to pray.

Our minds are the battleground in which the forces of righteousness and the forces of evil engage in conflict. Our minds are the battlefield in spiritual warfare. 

Ephesians 6:10‭-‬12 NIV Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

1 Peter 5:8 NIV Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

The outcome of the battle depends on our submission to God. 

James 4:7‭-‬10 NIV Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

This is why Jesus said.

Mark 14:38 NIV Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

We must position ourselves for battle.

We position ourselves before the Father by presenting our bodies as living sacrifices.  

Romans 12:1 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.

Then we must submit to the Father who is the commanding officer in this spiritual battle.

We also are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. 

This is submission. 

Romans 12:2 NIV 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.

Submission is achieved through prayer.

Do you remember how Jesus said, “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” (Luke 11:14). 

The Holy Spirit is already given to believers at salvation, so  when we pray, we can get in tune with God’s will and then the Holy Spirit becomes the power to guide our minds in spiritual battle. 

Receiving God’s guidance means that we pray intently, frequently, and submissively.

1 Thessalonians 5:17‭-‬18 NIV pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Conclusion

Some amazing experiences take place because we have the mind of Christ. We don't always know where our circumstances and events will finally lead, but we have the mind of Christ, and that is enough.

Remember how as a young  boy Samuel was called from his bed to respond to a voice that spoke to him? He thought Eli the priest was calling him but it was God.

Eli realized that it was the Lord calling out to Samuel and he told Samuel how to respond.

1 Samuel 3:8‭-‬10 NIV A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

This is what our daily prayer should become as we receive the Holy Spirit’s guidance.  “‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’ 

 1 Corinthians 2:16 NIV “for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

Sermon Audio

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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