Good morning friends and I am so happy to have you as part of this message today. I hope last week we learned from the message about being a blessing to others, praying blessings over family members and friends. To not speak curses over others. I know chatting with Tim, he said that he has been working on name calling. It's amazing how when we ask God to search our hearts, He will reveal things to us and then we need to work on those things. Amen? Praise God. This week I want to go a bit deeper. I will try hard to share this in a manner that we all can understand what God wants us to know. Friends, this is so important for us to understand for our lives and for everyone we meet. Praise Jesus!! I want to first look into what is the will of God. Anyone want to share their thoughts? Where do we find what the will of God is for each of our lives? We are going to start by turning to some verses we looked at last week. Please turn to Jesus' words in John 6:38-40. I hear often that everything that happens is the will of God. What about you? Do you think everything that happens in your life, lives around you, or in the world is the will of God? It's not, and we will look at some verses that will show this as we go along through scripture today. Praise God! Mark your place in John 6:38 and turn back a few chapters to John 3:3. John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. We see here from this one verse that most likely not everyone is going to go to Heaven. We see this, yes? Prayer. John 6:38-40 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. (39) And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. (40) And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. I did a Google search and did you know that an estimated 2,600 people die here in the US every day? There are close to 150,000 deaths in the world every day. Now, for those who might think that everything that happens must be God's will, think about all these that die every day. And Jesus said in Matthew 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in there at. How many choose to go the wide gate and broad way? I know I used the word choose, but in many cases, that's what happened. Brother Jim, you are way out of line using that statement. Am I? Let me ask you this question. For those who have carried out the wish of Jesus to share the gospel with the world, how many rejections have you had? How many new cults are rising up every day and drawing thousands in? Here is one that many of you might shake your head at in disbelief. Did you realize that there are many selling their souls to the devil and leaving Christianity to follow the Muslim faith? My mouth probably dropped when I first heard that too, but it's true. They choose the wide way to destruction. How many people can you think of in the next few moments that confessed Jesus as their Lord and Savior, yet live more and more like the world? Seriously, think about that statement, yet in the next verse, Jesus said this. Matthew 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Yes, I know that there are those who have never heard the gospel of Jesus, and Praise God that's changing every day. Bibles are being brought to places that have never heard of it. I was so blessed in the past couple days to listen to a video series of the Passion event held in Houston, Texas where I heard a testimony of a young lady that converted from Islam to Christianity, and until she was arrested and sent out of Iran, she was sharing the Word of God and there was many conversions. At the Passion 2014 event there was a collection taken and many Bibles are to be sent there, and I pray that God's Army will be also sent to share the love of Christ. In this time of hatred in that nation, it is very dangerous for any Christian to be sharing their faith. But..... was it not dangerous for Jesus? What about the disciples after Jesus? Praise the Almighty God. I know for a fact that my conversations are being listened to. I'm sure the sites that Leanna and I own are being watched. I'm ready. I know where my faith is, and I pray that you all do, too. I am way off of where I thought today's message was going, but I guess this needed to be heard. Praise God. Back to the will of God. Please turn to Romans 12:2. About 150,000 people die in this world everyday, and most likely most will not go to heaven, according to Mathew 7:13. Do you think that's God's will? I don't. Or better yet, that everything happens for a reason? This one gets me too. Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. So after reading this scripture, is everything that happens the will of God? Let me ask you this. Last week, I said we were driving down the road and a car pulls out in front of you and many would yell out, "You idiot!" and most said that they had done that before. Remember? Yet scriptures that we looked at said we are going to be held accountable for every idle word we speak. Amen? Was that God's will when we shouted out those words? By the way, yelling out you idiot to someone is a curse. That's right, you and I were cursing someone when we did that. Turn to Thessalonians 5: 18, please. How many of you would say you are thankful? Anyone? How many of you are thankful in all things to God? 1 Thessalonians 5:18 In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Friends, do we see this? When we read our Bibles, we see what is God's perfect will for you and me. When you get a chance, read this whole chapter. Go back a chapter to 1 Thessalonians 4:2-8 GNB For you know the instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. (3) God wants you to be holy and completely free from sexual immorality. (4) Each of you should know how to live with your wife in a holy and honorable way, (5) not with a lustful desire, like the heathen who do not know God. (6) In this matter, then, none of you should do wrong to other Christians or take advantage of them. We have told you this before, and we strongly warned you that the Lord will punish those who do that. (7) God did not call us to live in immorality, but in holiness. (8) So then, whoever rejects this teaching is not rejecting a human being, but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit. How much of these things do we see in the modern day church? There are those who say they don't know what the perfect will of God is, but I shared just a few verses. Hebrews 13:20 GNB God has raised from death our Lord Jesus, who is the Great Shepherd of the sheep as the result of his blood, by which the eternal covenant is sealed. May the God of peace provide you with every good thing you need in order to do his will, and may he, through Jesus Christ, do in us what pleases him. And to Christ be the glory forever and ever! Amen. So my friends, what is the will of God for our lives? How do we find the will of God? Why would we need to take Romans 12:2 serious, if everything that happens is the will of God? Why would we need to transform our minds and not be conformed to this world? Church, are there things happening in this world that are not the will of God? Of course. From scriptures we just looked at such as: 1 Thessalonians 5:18 In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Do we hear everyone thanking God for what He has done in our lives? No! In fact do we hear a lot of griping? I do. Is that giving thanks to God? No again. We read that fornicating and adultery shouldn't be happening. Is that the will of God? No, no, no. So how can people get off by saying that everything that happens is the will of God? My dear friends, this is not just worldly people, but is going on in the church today. Please turn to Ephesians 5: 17. Friends, how do you find out what the will of God is in your life? Ephesians 5:17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. So my friends, here we see we are supposed to know and search the will of God. There are those who would argue this with me, but what scripture can they use? What I mean is this. I claim that I trust in every word in this Holy book. I believe that God is the same yesterday, today and forever, and that He is not a respecter of persons. So to have a believer argue these things I've mentioned this morning, they have to show me scripture showing me like wise. I have shown just a few verses showing us some of what is God's will and that we're supposed to seek the will of God and understand it. Amen? Eph 5:17 GW So don't be foolish, but understand what the Lord wants. Jesus said, "If you have seen Me, you have seen the Father." Amen? Jesus is our example. But brother Jim, He isn't here for me to talk to, or watch. Well, my friend, you are part right. He is here. You can ask Him the desires of your heart. You can read from His Word. Amen? Jesus is the Word made flesh. Praise God. This probably sounds very simple to most of you, but there are many thay say they are searching for the will of God and won't go to the scriptures to find what the will of God is. I have a question for you. Have you had others that when you are discussing the Bible with them, and you show them what it says about a particular verse and they say, "Well, I'll believe what I want to believe." Sounds like how many churches split. Have you heard this? You and I need to believe and stick to what the Bible says. If we believe something different, we are not Christ like. Friends, just like those who are living a gay lifestyle and saying they are a Christian (I know the hate mail will start flowing in now). According to what scripture can they make this claim? Prove it by the Bible and I will look at it. I can show many, many verses where God says it is an abomination. Now if those left that type of lifestyle, profess Jesus as Lord and Savior and repent of that sin, that is totally different. Praise God. I hear people say they were saved because they were baptized when they were 3 years old. Oh really? Never a mention of admitting that they were a sinner and praying to God and asking Jesus into their hearts, but that they were baptized. Please turn to Matthew 3:6. What does the Bible say about being saved? Is it important? You bet it is. Just before Jesus started His ministry on earth, we see John the Baptist fulfilling prophecy by preparing the way. Mat 3:6 KJV And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. Notice confessing their sins? Please turn to Matthew 28: 16-28 and we'll get ready to close. To know the will of the Father. Just before Jesus ascended to heaven, these are the words He spoke. Mat 28:16-20 KJV Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. (17) And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. (18) And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. (19) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: (20) Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Friends, if you want to know the will of God, you need to be in the Word. Let's all turn to Mark 16:14- 20 and we'll finish. Mar 16:14-20 KJV Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. (15) And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. (16) He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. (17) And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; (18) They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. (19) So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. (20) And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen. Acts 3:19 says: Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord. John 3:16 says: For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. Praise the Lord. This is not what I thought I was supposed to share with you today, but God knows, and there must have been someone who needed to hear this for the first time, or be reminded. We all need reminders at times. Praise the Lord. Prayer. Communion.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Author
|