God’s Will

A recap of the message at SSB on June 12, 2022

I Peter 4:3, ENOUGH!  4:2 No longer the world and its ways and will but God’s will!

And God’s will is first and foremost:  Be saved!

I Timothy 2:4, Who desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth 

Why be saved?  Three reasons:

1. Rescued from God’s wrath – Hell (Matthew 3:7, who warned you to flee the wrath to come)
2. Heaven – II Timothy 4:18, And the Lord will…preserve me for His heavenly kingdom.
3. A good life now – a life of meaning, purpose and worth! (John 10:10, I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.)

Rolling Stones’ (06/12/1965) “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”

I can’t get no satisfaction I can’t get no satisfaction
‘Cause I try and I try and I try and I try – I can’t get no, I can’t get no…

Contrast this with the famous quote from St. Augustine: “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.”

So, be saved!  I Peter 1:18-21 …but with the precious blood of Christ…who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

Luke 5:11, So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.

Those saved forsake – turn from – their previous life’s goals, values, and even peoples and commit to following Jesus into new values and relationships.

Enough of the old – of the world’s thinking, ways, values and life – ENOUGH!!  No more!

And if saved, the “follower” is now about His will (I Peter 4:2).  I Thessalonians 1:9, How you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God.

Three general areas of God’s will:  1. be holy, 2. of faith, 3. be humble

1. be holy, I Peter 1:15-16 be holy (pleasing to Him) – I Thessalonians 4:3, God’s will and your sanctification: you set apart
   II Corinthians 6:17, come out – hating even the garment defiled by flesh, Jude 23
   II Corinthians 5:9, our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.
   be Christ-like – Matthew 3:17, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

What was Christ like? Loving, kind, humble, meek, patient, bearing with those “odd”, forgiving, loving, a peacemaker and thankful, Colossians 3:12-15.

2. of faith – Hebrews 11:6, without faith it is impossible to please God – reward those who diligently seek Him.
The will of God? I Thessalonians 5:16-18, rejoice always, constantly pray, and be thankful.
These are acts of faith – joy in pain, loss, grief, waiting – Hebrews 12:2, for the joy ahead…

Prayer says God hears, cares, and moves – James 5:15-16, 4:4

Thanks for all – Genesis 50:10, You meant it for evil but God meant it for good.  Trust God.

3. be humble as Jesus: Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus… made Himself of no reputation… He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, Philippians 2:5-8
Matthew 23:12, whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
Romans 12:16, Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble

Wash feet, serve, gift, sacrifice, love the unlovely.

Here are the three in one verse:

II Chronicles 7:14, If My people who are called by My name will…

1. humble themselves – be humble
2. and pray and seek My face – be of faith
3. and turn from their wicked ways – be holy

…then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

God promises attention, mercy, and grace.  God promises care and betterment.

God’s Will?   Be saved and then be holy, be of faith, and be humble.