How to Be Sure of God's Will – Dr. Charles Stanley

if somebody should ask you the question what do you Christians mean by the will of God what would you say how would you answer that question they deserve an answer would you say the will of God refers to the purpose of God the plan of God the desire the heart of God if you did that's right God has a plan and the purpose on desire for all of us and oftentimes people never think about the fact that God has a personal interest in them they think God is just thinking of this worldwide kind of things he the Bible says you know once you trust Jesus as your Savior your name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life so when you think about your relationship to God and we talk about the will of God we're talking about his purpose his plan his desire for your life that is you didn't ignore you when you were born his purpose his plan his desire for your life and I wonder when is the last time you ever stop to think now Lord where am I in your plan where am I in your purpose where am I in your will for my life and what I want us to think about in this message is can we be sure can we be sure of God's will and purpose and plan for our life and when I think about that I think about what he says in the 40th some in the 8th verse I didn't like to do your will oh my god your law is written in my heart and I'll think about the people who sit in church week after week you're all kind of churches never think about the fact of what's God's plan not not just what's what am I to do today what's the Oh what does God want me to do in this particular situation but what's his plan what's his purpose what's he trying to accomplish my life did God just put you here just to exist for a while they called you home though he has a purpose a plan and a will for your life the question is can we be sure and the answer is certainly we can and when I think about that I think about the people who go through difficulty hardships suffering pain all kinds of things and they have a right to answer well God if you have a will for my life how does all this fit into you will well when you and I walking in the will of God whatever he allows is for our good that's hard to take sometimes but it is true and so when we talk about the whole question of can we be sure yes we can be sure so I want to talk about several categories of God's will and we've talked about this before so here the categories about God's will the first was this the predestined will of God is his sovereign control this is what he's going to do what he's going to accomplish and nobody can stop it his sovereign will his predestined will his moral will for our life that is how he intends for us to live the Ten Commandments would be a good example of that and they applauded to everybody then his desired will that is what does God desire for us in the Christian life what does he desire for us from the beginning and then his circumstantial will that is what's his will for our life when we mess it up we want to live a godly life then we must know how to respond to the circumstances of our life and so the last question is what's his immediate will that is what is his will today in your life so when you look at it you have faced for the decision about your job whatever it might be you have to make a decision about it you have to make a decision about your morals you go to work tomorrow and somebody passes something to you and you have to make a decision where you gonna turn it down whether you're gonna ignore it or whether you're gonna accept it you have to make a decision for example of how you relate to money Oh what what happened yesterday or tomorrow in other words every aspect of our life is going to be scrutinized by the will of God because remember this he's only chosen the best route if you say well but I didn't become a Christian to love us for that's ok but the next 40 or 50 or 60 what about his will for that and remember this that you are knowing us perfectly knows how we came into the world what our advantages were what had disadvantages were what our opportunities were what our parents knew how they knew to raise us or not raised us all of that is a part of God's wisdom and knowledge and His grace and goodness and mercy in working in our hearts throughout our life but what is the will of God for our life today his purpose and plan so I want to give you a number of statements they'll help you confirm in your own mind and heart this is or this is not the will of God so a test to confirm God's will here's the first question is this decision consistent with or in agreement with the Word of God is this decision you're making is an agreement with Word of God and you know I can think of a lot of things that are not an agreement of the Word of God that people practice this is a part of a confirming his will of your life and then is it a wise decision and you say well how can I tell whether it's a wise decision or not here's how you tell listen carefully you ask yourself the question of what are the consequences if I do this and so what will the consequences be not on what I'd like for them to be what will they be they're always consequences their decisions whether we planted or not whether we like it or not their consequences that are unavoidable and this is why we should teach our children the grandchildren early in life that their consequences to your decisions you can't make decisions without some consequence it may be a good consequence certainly we hope so maybe not but it depends upon your motive depends upon your relationship to God they can watch this think about this you living out the will of God or out of the will of God every moment of your life you're awake you can lie in the bed on Sunday morning and not come to church what's the will of God his will is that you be somewhere worshiping him and so we're in his will out of his will so what are the circumstances things that we need to consider in our life because your life is affecting somebody else's life no one in here is living in a capsule you are affecting in some degree in some way somebody else's life they watch you they hear you they watch how you dress they see how you act how you respond the will of God his purpose and plan and desire for your life we won't live it up perfectly but he has a will that's for our benefit as well as for the kingdom of God so is it a wise decision what are the consequences then number three can I honestly ask God to enable me to achieve whatever I'm going through with this decision can I honestly ask him to help me to achieve it so think about the last big decision in your life did you ask God about that decision you say what do you mean big well you know what about what a very serious decision is did you ask him about it or did you say well I'm gonna toss a coin have foolish or did you say well I've got three choices I'm gonna just think about them and make a choice I'm mature enough to make choices for my life we're all mature or maturing to a point there are some decisions none of us neither one of us is adequate to make wisely without God's direction in help but the simple reason we live in the world that's supposed to God that suppose the righteousness that suppose godly decisions and so one thing you have to remember decisions we make will affect us no matter what we think somebody says well you know that just happened once yes that's right sometimes things happen once but have a lifetime of a consequences then of course do I have genuine peace a genuine peace about this decision I'm facing and one of those questions that comes along with that is this is this the right timing watch this carefully it may be the will of God that you do or whatever that may be but is it the right timing and people make serious decisions that costs very costly decisions because they stepped ahead of God or but too late these are all what's his piece got to do with it when you are walking in the will of God and you ask him about a question something decisions you have in the bay when it's his will he will give you a sense of peace now you say what do you mean by peace I mean there will be a sense of quietness in your spirit there will be no sense of irritation going on within you there will not be any crowding of doubts into your mind you won't be asking somebody else what do you think when you have the peace of God there's this overwhelming sense of yes Lord thank you Jesus yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yeah and somebody says well I don't know that I've ever had that feeling it's because you haven't stopped to ask God Lord what would you have me to do listen watch this God's not going to keep a secret from you when you want to do the right thing he's going to show you what to do every time and that should start early in life and sometimes the less opportunities we have in life early in life the more it drives us to God and you know I grew up with no father and so it drove me to God very early in my life after I got saved when I was 12 and I learned enough right after I was saved to know that prayer was the secret to everything and so I learned to listen to God very early and how did I learn to listen not listening that's for you that's one way you learn to listen is not listening and so what happens you suffered the consequences and if you're wise you won't take you long to realize it's always wise listen to God he's willing to speak to your heart for you at 12 or 112 very important and God will give us peace when that's exactly what we need and then you have to ask yourself the question is this consistent with the way God works in other words well that way he works in the scriptures through different characters of the Bible can I can I do this and know that I have his approval listen if it's consistent with the will of God it'll be consistent or the Word of God so if you're in the process of making a decision and you should teach your children very very early in life that when they're making the decision before the mega decision ask God about it you say well what does that twenty year old kid know about asking god I tell you I believe anybody who genuinely wants to know the will of God for their life God will show them that you're living in sin and distant from him that's a whole different question what he's going to show you is easy it right with him but the question is is this consistent with what God says you so how will I know that you turn to the Word of God you should well I don't know how to turn I'll tell you what I learned I had my mother's big Bible and had a big index if I want to know something about anything I get her Bible turn to the index and see if I found a word that had to do with what I was dealing with you can find something about any subject and so the question is is it consistent with what God says and you can find out and people say well you know what I think this is okay is that what God said no and sometimes the Word of God is so explicit this is absolutely sin and people say well I'm afraid about it I think it's okay so sometimes I think people are afraid to open the Word of God because what it will do it will expose your life he will expose your life if you if you're being obedient to God yes you'll know it if you've been disobedient to God he will lead you to the verses that warned you not to protec in a particular area of your life then of course does this fit Who I am as a follower of Jesus Christ and that should settle a lot of things does this action fit Who I am as a follower of Jesus not as a church member now there's somebody who claims to be a Christian but is a follower of Jesus that is born-again claimed to be saved by the grace of God one of them is real does this fit that does this does this fit Who I am as a follower of Jesus Christ for example this is my language fit that does my dress fit that does my responses fit that then my actions fit that that is does it fit when you obey the Lord Jesus Christ what's going to happen is this your actions are going to fit who you claim to be so people who know you as the follower of Jesus as a Christian would they say have you well their conversation fits that certainly she dresses like that certainly he treats people like that that is in other words it's real simple here's what he says the question is how do I act what do I say how they'll respond how do I address since I'm a follower of Jesus does this really and truly fit Who I am then of course another question does this act fit God's overall plan for my life for example let's say you got saved and you want to be baptized and you ask your question it's a simple one should I get baptized no what does the word of God say sure should so another question about that but then there's those decisions like in your office they're having a big party you know they're gonna drink any corrals and whatever it might be and you have to ask god shall I go or not you shouldn't have to ask him because it is an atmosphere you don't fit in it's an atmosphere that you're not comfortable in so that must fit it doesn't fit who you claim to be and who you are and so if I'm walking in the will of God things are gonna fit if I'm not walking in his will they're not gonna fit and so our mother told me some time ago she said my daughter was getting ready to leave and when I saw what she was wearing I tell her there's no way you're getting out of this house which was a wise woman because what she was saying is you don't dress that way because that's not who you are that doesn't fit who you are and so there's no inconsistencies in the will of God so you ask yourself the question well Lord does what I do fit who I claim to be in your family where you work or in school or whatever it might be does your action your conversation your conduct fit who you claim to be ask yourself that question there should be consistency here's her ahh say I am is right but here's what I am and this is the way I probably the greatest hindrance to the Christian life is Christians acting other than who they say they are a testimony our witness our influence you teach your children and your grandchildren how they are to respond to situations and circumstances is that the way you act and then of course will this decision honor God if you make a decision can you say that it's in keeping with the Word of God that I can make this decision and when are you nominees are when you before you go to bed at night you don't have any this ruffling scuffling going on in your heart because you obeyed him listen carefully in the decision that keeps you awake at night and you can't sleep you should ask you something question why when you God brings something to your mind don't let it pass without dealing with it do you know why he does it to protect you watch over you care for you because he loves you you got no sin things into our life that we don't like to protect us from things that he knows we wouldn't like if we got into it he's a loving God he has the best plan and the reason what do you think people want to be we get on drugs why do they become addicts or alcoholics what is it going on in a person's heart that would cause them to drink so much they can't be themselves and know that one of these days they could have an accident or they can just die what is it people are trying to cover up I can't answer that question I won't even attempt to try but I don't have to answer question for them you and I have to answer the question for ourselves is where we are is what God has led us so far and my purpose and plan is to be obedient to God through the last moment of my life and you can't ever go wrong with that then of course my question is will this decision result in unrest and regret but the rest of my life there are decisions people make they never outlive they never get over it they're still talking about it in their letter years of life if either how many times have I heard this if either I F I da if I do if I'd have done this if I don't talk about that if either just known about this if either here father if either and if I was usually end up with some suffering a heartache hell regret of some sort think about this God has your very best in mind he works to hit you to do the right thing and if you ignore him there consequences then can I expect God to reward me for this decision think about the decisions you make well thinking about making can God reward you for making that decision if you think about it there's some big-time serious decisions you have to make in life serious decisions that affect not only you but other people so yes yourself the question can I expect God to reward me while treating her or him this way or doing this or that I go in here they're a participating in this they can I expect God to bless me reward me as a result of that if you just think about these sermons on the will of God it's all about obeying God it's all about how you live in your life it's all about what you're going to do how you going to think God has a plan the purpose and the desire for your life and he's all for what's best for you he's all for what's good for you your name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life and he wants to keep everything else right and you and I have to decide am I gonna trust him with my life watch this think about this for a moment you trusted him with your eternity you were born again your name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life and you said God I'm trusting you that when I die I'm going to be in heaven with you if you can trust God for that which is an eternal decision can you not trust him for daily decisions that's not nearly so important yes you can God has a purpose a plan a desire for your life you say well suppose I missed about half of it well is God disappointed well here you were gonna miss half of it for Yvonne so God isn't disappointed he's willing to step into your life at any moment at any place you're willing to welcome him and ask him to straighten things out God I know I'm heading in the wrong direction I'm asking you to forgive me will you please give me direction for my life at this point Willie yes he will suppose you've suppose you've missed but let's say three quarters of your life is gone and nobody knows for that sir or not you can be 21 and it's true and you can be a hundred in it sir whatever it might be are you willing to say to him lord I want your will I want you I want I want your best plan for my life whatever that is and I'm willing to surrender whatever needs to be surrendered will it change whatever needs to be changed but I want your best would you be willing to tell him that you want his best in your life you will to change whatever needs to be changed that's the wisest decision you can make Lord I want your will whatever that requires and I want to live in it the rest of my life let me tell you how that starts if you have never trusted the genes as we just Savior this is not going to work it's when you surrender your life to him confessing your sins repenting of them turning away from surrendering your life to him then you become a child of God then the two of you from that moment on make decisions together if you willing to listen but right now you're without Jesus you're by yourself you can't expect God to give you wisdom if you've rejected his son you may look out as you say and do a few things right well you may do really well as far as the world is concerned but does the pay they come in and you will have to give an account for life and disobedience and rebellion that paid off for you that made you rich made you famous you you name it but all out of the will of God all in opposition to God's purpose and plan for your life and I remember this you'll never make enough money to pay off God you'll never be famous enough that you'll be accepted by God it's the blood of Jesus that cleanses us from sin that makes us one of his children father we love you and praise you thank you that you love us enough to take personal interest in our life and I pray that every person who hears this message will take it seriously eternal is serious what is the truth that wherever they may be at this moment surrender their life to you as Savior Lord and surrender their life Eve is a habit as a natural part of their life every day in Jesus name Amen [Music]

Channel: In Touch Ministries

Views: 937,948

Keywords: How to Be Sure of God's Will, Charles F. Stanley, InTouch, In Touch, Ministries, God, Prayer, Sermon, Bible, Preaching, Dr Stanley, Pastor, Church, Sunday, Christian, Faith, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Charles Stanley

Id: o7Sru47J8Z8

Length: 25min 39sec (1539 seconds)

Published: Sat Sep 28 2019