In God’s Will Instead of God’s Way
Introduction: Don’t you want to be in God’s will? What is God’s will? Some things are crystal clear to be God’s will and other things are gray areas. For instance, we know these things to be God’s will:
* All to be saved (1 Tim 2:4)
* In everything give thanks (1 Thess 5:18)
* To deliver us from sin (Gal 1:4)
* For believers to abstain from sexual immorality (1 Thess 4:3)
But what about where to live, to work… who to marry, what to invest, and a multitude of other decisions we must make daily. Paul identifies with the Ephesian CHRISTians by laying down some biblical principles in regards to how to be in God’s will instead of His way.
1. How can we choose to get in GOD’S WAY? (Eph 5:1-12)
“Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us as an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour. But fornication, and all uncleaness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving if thanks.”
{The Greek word for “jesting” is yootrapeleeah, which means crude joking; TV, songs, etc)
- Get in God’s Way?…With dirty walk (v 2, 3)
- Get in God’s Way? …With dirty talk (v 4)
- Get in God’s way?…With dirty thought (v 4)
2. How can we choose to get in GOD’S WILL? (Eph 5:13-17)
” …. Wherefore he saith Awake thou that sleepeth, and arise from the dead and Christ shall give thee light.”
- Wake up in a sleepy world! (v 14)
- Get up in a world falling down! (v 14)
- Light a world in darkness! (v 14)
Conclusion: Are we in God’s WILL or His WAY? “Daily Decisions Determine Devoted Disciples Direction.” In other words, whatever goes into our mind and comes out of our mouth is a “dead giveaway” or indication of whether we are in God’s will or His way?
* Guard your mind
* Guard your heart
* Guide your mind
* Guide your heart
Love y’all,