United In Christ · Growing In Grace · Reaching Out In Love

Sunday Morning Sermon Summary
 

Pastor Paul Lundberg

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2. “Thy will be done…” (Matthew 6:10)

Sunday, June 8, 2008

 

MISSION IMPROBABLE

     Part One:       Thy kingdom come…

     Part Two: …Thy will be done

     MISSION (all true mission is really God on His mission…)

KEY POINT: Thy kingdom come (Prayer followed by action)

Crown Christ king in our own lives

Not right-not supposed to be; a cross: it won’t always be that way!

Bring kingdom – first on scene 

HE AND WE: TWO EXPRESSIONS OF GOD’S WILL

1. Sovereign Will	a. Cannot be known or discovered in advance b. Cannot be disobeyed
2. Moral Will	a. Completely and clearly revealed in scripture b. It must be discovered and obeyed (Is the expression of God’s character) (Touches everything: goals, attitudes, means, and perspectives) Able to equip believers for “every good work”

 

WHAT ABOUT ME?

1. Individual Will

a. An individual, detailed life-plan for every believer b. Must be discovered and obeyed c. Missing it results in “God’s second best”

 

TWO “WILLS” OR THREE?

Sovereign Will – individual but cannot be known in advance or disobeyed

Moral Will – all agree that God has a moral will but suggest that it’s not all we need for life and godliness

Individual Will - Find the dot? “God’s perfect will for my life?” 

PROBLEM: The bible doesn’t teach it! 

WAIT A MINUTE!

Reason – based on God’s orderliness and omniscience, Universe an example of God’s sovereign will. 

      Father, king and shepherd (sets boundaries, allows freedom within boundaries, expands freedom with maturity)

Experience – experience alone cannot determine truth,

      Hudson Taylor, Impressions (most lead nowhere, some to “dead-ends”, “obedience to God’s moral will brings blessing, with or without nudging from within)

Biblical Examples – often included but highly unusual – unique. Are they all normal and expected of everyone (holy kiss, light and voice from heaven for every call to ministry, Balaam’s “ass” - should every believer keep one?), scriptural examples handled carefully.

 [“…a survey of the biblical examples of specific guidance shows that they do not prove an individual will of God for every believer.  They show only that God has broken into history at infrequent times to give specific guidance through supernatural revelation to selected people, usually for the purpose of evangelism.”] Friesen, p. 51

e.g., in Acts, no example of any specific word from God for the ordinary No example of God “speaking” except through supernatural revelation

Jesus – example not normal in every aspect – Son of God, equal with God (John 5:18), perform miracles? Speaking authoritatively on every interpretation of scripture? receiving worship? calling for absolute allegiance? reading the thoughts of opponents? giving others the authority to do miracles?

      Our example: always explains area of likeness to Christ (humble service, holiness, righteousness, purity, love, forgiveness, compassion, endurance, submission, humility and obedience, kindness, generosity in giving, etc.  (moral will of His Father) 

THE ONLY “WILL” WE NEED TO DISCOVER AND OBEY

      God’s MORAL will is summed up by LOVE 

FREE TO BE! (from Decision-Making and the Will of God. Garry Friesen, Multnomah Publishers, 2004)

1.         Where God commands, we must obey (1 John 5:3 - this is love for God: to obey his commands)

2.  Where there is no command, God gives us freedom (and responsibility) to choose (Free will offering? Yes:  required; No: prohibited; Offering of an animal; choice of which one;

3.  Where there is no command, God gives us wisdom to choose (James 1:5). “Best” often involves Moral will

4. When we have chosen what is moral and wise, we must trust the sovereign God to work all the details together for good. (Rmns 8:28)

[“The closer you are following the Spirit the better you will be able to separate sinful impressions from holy ones, to distinguish foolish impressions from wise ones.”] p. 65 

THE BELIEVER’S (MY) RESPONSE TO GOD’S MORAL WILL

            I.   KNOW IT

                 a. read it, study diligently, meditate, memorize, learn from gifted bible teachers)    

               b. requires time and effort; will be accompanied by insight from the HS

           II.  OBEY IT

           III. BE IDENTIFIED BY IT (1 John 2: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.) TITANIUM RULE

 

Green: Mission and Vision
Blue: Illustrations and quotes
Red: Scripture

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