1 00:00:01,520 --> 00:00:07,440 Good morning or as we say in Australia, good day, good day 2 00:00:07,440 --> 00:00:11,360 mate, good to be with you. Turn with me in your Bibles to 3 00:00:11,360 --> 00:00:16,200 Romans chapter 12, Romans chapter 12, and our lesson for 4 00:00:16,200 --> 00:00:22,800 this morning is on the theme of knowing the will of God, knowing 5 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:26,520 the will of God, and for our young people, for the young 6 00:00:26,520 --> 00:00:29,840 people. If you can fill out the sheet 7 00:00:29,840 --> 00:00:32,520 and show me afterwards, I have an Australian chocolate for you 8 00:00:32,520 --> 00:00:33,960 here. OK? 9 00:00:34,080 --> 00:00:35,800 You don't need any more snacks over here. 10 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:39,560 You are the snack nation. It's just unbelievable. 11 00:00:39,560 --> 00:00:42,640 But anyway, if you want to try an Australian chocolate, it's a 12 00:00:42,640 --> 00:00:45,840 Caramello koala and I have some chocolate frogs as well. 13 00:00:45,840 --> 00:00:48,840 So that's just a little incentive for you, for the kids 14 00:00:48,840 --> 00:00:50,840 and for the young people to fill out the sheet there. 15 00:00:54,320 --> 00:00:58,040 OK, we'll just allow for the men to just hand those out. 16 00:01:05,880 --> 00:01:08,640 OK, on the page in front of you you'll notice that we have 17 00:01:08,840 --> 00:01:12,360 Romans chapter 12 and verses one and two at the top of the page. 18 00:01:12,760 --> 00:01:15,440 And these are well known verses. Most of you can probably quote 19 00:01:15,440 --> 00:01:17,560 them. So quote them with me or read 20 00:01:17,560 --> 00:01:23,240 them with me on the count of 3/1, 2-3 Romans chapter 12, 21 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:26,000 verse one and two. I beseech you therefore, 22 00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:29,840 brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a 23 00:01:29,880 --> 00:01:34,200 living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is 24 00:01:34,200 --> 00:01:38,440 your reasonable service, and be not conformed to this world, but 25 00:01:38,440 --> 00:01:41,960 be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye 26 00:01:41,960 --> 00:01:45,680 may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of 27 00:01:45,680 --> 00:01:47,240 God. Let's pray for God's help now, 28 00:01:47,240 --> 00:01:49,480 shall we? Dear God, we thank you for the 29 00:01:49,480 --> 00:01:51,600 joy of being here amongst your people. 30 00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:54,280 We thank you for this Candlestick you've raised up 31 00:01:54,920 --> 00:01:56,960 here in Richmond. We pray for your blessing now 32 00:01:56,960 --> 00:02:00,280 upon our time in Your Word. Guide us and direct us by your 33 00:02:00,280 --> 00:02:02,720 Holy Spirit. We pray that He would be our 34 00:02:02,720 --> 00:02:05,600 primary teacher today, in Jesus name, Amen. 35 00:02:06,280 --> 00:02:10,759 One of the most common questions pastors get asked is how can I 36 00:02:10,759 --> 00:02:13,520 know the will of God? How can I know the will of God? 37 00:02:13,520 --> 00:02:17,760 That's a a common question that people. 38 00:02:17,760 --> 00:02:19,320 Ask. And that's a good question to 39 00:02:19,320 --> 00:02:22,920 ask because we want to know the will of God in our lives. 40 00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:26,440 And so under introduction there, as you start to fill in the 41 00:02:26,440 --> 00:02:30,080 blanks, we note that there are two parts to the will of God, 42 00:02:30,080 --> 00:02:34,400 two parts to the will of God, or two aspects to the will of God. 43 00:02:34,400 --> 00:02:38,160 There's number one, what I would call the general will of God, 44 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:41,600 the general will of God. And by that I mean things that 45 00:02:41,600 --> 00:02:45,520 apply to every Christian. OK, so every Christian should 46 00:02:46,360 --> 00:02:49,240 should be a soul winner. Every Christian should read 47 00:02:49,240 --> 00:02:52,000 their Bible. Every Christian should attend 48 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:54,080 church faithfully. These are things that apply to 49 00:02:54,080 --> 00:02:56,960 everybody. They're very clearly spelled out 50 00:02:56,960 --> 00:03:00,400 in the word of God. But then we come to number 2, 51 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:03,280 the specific will of God. And by this I'm referring to 52 00:03:03,680 --> 00:03:06,200 decisions that I have to make in my personal life. 53 00:03:06,760 --> 00:03:09,720 Who am I going to marry? Where am I going to live? 54 00:03:10,280 --> 00:03:12,280 What career path would God have for me? 55 00:03:12,280 --> 00:03:15,880 Those things are not explicitly stated in the Word of God, but 56 00:03:15,880 --> 00:03:19,480 we have principles in God's Word that can help us to determine 57 00:03:19,480 --> 00:03:21,280 those things. And so that's the primary focus 58 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:24,360 of this lesson. If God reveals something 59 00:03:24,360 --> 00:03:26,400 plainly, then we just need to obey it, OK? 60 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:28,560 We need to pray, we need to give, we need to go to church, 61 00:03:28,560 --> 00:03:31,200 all those things that are clearly revealed in God's Word. 62 00:03:31,200 --> 00:03:35,040 But the focus of this lesson is, how do I, how do I determine 63 00:03:35,040 --> 00:03:37,600 God's will on those big questions in life? 64 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:41,320 And those big decisions in life, and we come to those, don't we? 65 00:03:41,720 --> 00:03:43,920 We come to crossroads in our lives. 66 00:03:43,920 --> 00:03:46,280 Which way am I going to go? What decision am I going to 67 00:03:46,280 --> 00:03:48,280 make? And we need to have biblical 68 00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:51,320 principles on how to determine God's will with that. 69 00:03:52,160 --> 00:03:54,400 So the aim of this? Study that, you know, look at 70 00:03:54,400 --> 00:03:56,120 your notes there. We'll focus this study. 71 00:03:56,120 --> 00:03:59,440 Sorry, we'll focus. Primarily on the key biblical 72 00:03:59,440 --> 00:04:02,960 principles that will equip us for discerning God's will as it 73 00:04:02,960 --> 00:04:05,720 relates to the specific will of God for our lives. 74 00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:09,000 We will consider 4 principles that will help us to discern 75 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:12,000 God's will for our lives. The first three points are 76 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:15,480 preparatory, dealing with some needed heart preparation. 77 00:04:15,480 --> 00:04:18,120 And the final point is practical, dealing with the 78 00:04:18,120 --> 00:04:20,680 mechanics of how to discern God's will for our lives. 79 00:04:20,680 --> 00:04:22,880 And so the first three points are really to do with getting 80 00:04:22,880 --> 00:04:27,720 our hearts in the right place so that then we're ready to receive 81 00:04:28,400 --> 00:04:30,360 guidance from God as to His will. 82 00:04:30,360 --> 00:04:36,240 So principle, number one. Principle #1 Realise God has a 83 00:04:36,280 --> 00:04:40,160 specific plan for your life. Principle number one. 84 00:04:40,720 --> 00:04:47,680 We need to realise that God has a specific plan for our lives. 85 00:04:47,680 --> 00:04:51,240 The key thought there is coming to the realisation that God has 86 00:04:51,240 --> 00:04:55,080 a plan for my life will start me on the quest to find God's will. 87 00:04:55,080 --> 00:04:58,800 You say that's such a basic principle past that sounds so 88 00:04:58,800 --> 00:05:01,360 basic, yes, but do you know how many Christians actually 89 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:03,400 struggle to surrender to God's will? 90 00:05:03,960 --> 00:05:08,760 Many believers actually get seem to have the idea that well, I'm 91 00:05:08,760 --> 00:05:11,120 saved, I'm on my way to heaven, but I kind of have to just 92 00:05:11,120 --> 00:05:14,000 determine my own destiny. And by the way, the world tends 93 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:17,000 to tell us that, doesn't it? You, you do you, you, you 94 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:20,720 determine your own destiny. But no, we need to come to that 95 00:05:20,720 --> 00:05:22,680 realization. And it's a foundational 96 00:05:22,680 --> 00:05:27,760 principle that God does have a plan for each of our lives. 97 00:05:28,520 --> 00:05:31,760 So letter A God has a perfect will for our lives. 98 00:05:31,760 --> 00:05:34,640 We see that in Romans 12/1. And two, we've just read those 99 00:05:34,640 --> 00:05:37,680 verses that we may prove what is that good and acceptable and 100 00:05:37,960 --> 00:05:41,040 perfect will of God. Remember, God's will for your 101 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:44,240 life is best. God's will for your life is 102 00:05:44,240 --> 00:05:47,720 best. B God has a plan for our lives. 103 00:05:47,720 --> 00:05:52,720 Ephesians 210 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ 104 00:05:52,720 --> 00:05:57,480 Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained, that we 105 00:05:57,480 --> 00:05:59,840 should walk in them. Interesting isn't it? 106 00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:03,360 Ephesians 28 and 9 We're not saved by works, but verse 10 107 00:06:03,360 --> 00:06:05,440 tells us we're saved unto good works. 108 00:06:05,440 --> 00:06:10,400 So God has a plan for us. It's not like God saved us and 109 00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:13,920 said OK, over to you now. No, and God saved us with a 110 00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:18,720 purpose and He made plans for our lives that we might live 111 00:06:18,720 --> 00:06:22,800 them for Him. Let us see God's plan was made 112 00:06:23,040 --> 00:06:27,040 for us before we were even born. And I'll give you 3 examples 113 00:06:27,040 --> 00:06:29,360 from the Bible. We have the example of Samson 114 00:06:29,680 --> 00:06:32,120 and for the sake of time we can't read all the verses here, 115 00:06:32,120 --> 00:06:33,880 but you can read over those in your own time. 116 00:06:34,400 --> 00:06:37,040 We see the highlighted section at the end of the text there. 117 00:06:37,040 --> 00:06:40,200 For the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb, 118 00:06:40,600 --> 00:06:43,200 and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the 119 00:06:43,200 --> 00:06:45,600 Philistines. Then we have Jeremiah. 120 00:06:45,600 --> 00:06:47,920 Jeremiah 15. Before I formed thee in the 121 00:06:47,920 --> 00:06:51,200 belly, I knew thee. And before thou camest forth out 122 00:06:51,200 --> 00:06:56,080 of the womb, I sanctify thee, and I, I ordained thee a prophet 123 00:06:56,120 --> 00:06:58,600 unto the nations. Amazing statement isn't it, that 124 00:06:58,600 --> 00:07:02,760 God knew Jeremiah before he was even formed in the womb. 125 00:07:03,480 --> 00:07:05,880 So when does life begin? Well, it begins at conception, 126 00:07:05,880 --> 00:07:08,120 doesn't it? And this is a very powerful 127 00:07:08,120 --> 00:07:11,320 verse. God even knows us before we 128 00:07:11,320 --> 00:07:12,480 conceived in the. Womb. 129 00:07:13,200 --> 00:07:16,360 God has a plan for us. He's the eternal God, the all 130 00:07:16,360 --> 00:07:18,240 wise God. And we see that in Jeremiah. 131 00:07:18,720 --> 00:07:20,400 John the Baptist is another example. 132 00:07:20,680 --> 00:07:24,760 We see God's plan for him was formed before he was even born. 133 00:07:24,760 --> 00:07:27,160 Luke chapter one, verse 13 to 17. 134 00:07:27,760 --> 00:07:30,960 So we need to realise that God has a perfect plan, a specific 135 00:07:30,960 --> 00:07:34,480 plan for our lives. Letter D God wants to shape our 136 00:07:34,480 --> 00:07:37,600 lives like clay in the Potter's hand. 137 00:07:38,200 --> 00:07:41,560 Jeremiah 18 One through 6 wonderful verses there about the 138 00:07:41,560 --> 00:07:45,080 clay in the hands of the Potter. We know the primary reference in 139 00:07:45,080 --> 00:07:48,240 that context is to Israel, but we see a principle there for our 140 00:07:48,240 --> 00:07:51,920 lives that God wants to take our lives and He wants to shape and 141 00:07:51,920 --> 00:07:54,480 mould us into vessels that He can use. 142 00:07:55,520 --> 00:08:00,080 So encourage a young people, place your lives in the Potter's 143 00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:03,160 hands. Let the Lord Jesus Christ 144 00:08:03,160 --> 00:08:08,120 determine your life, let him determine the purpose of your 145 00:08:08,120 --> 00:08:09,360 life. And that doesn't just apply to 146 00:08:09,360 --> 00:08:11,600 young people either, That applies to every believer. 147 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:15,320 We want to be submitted to his hands and what God is seeking to 148 00:08:15,320 --> 00:08:18,840 do in our lives. And sometimes that involves us 149 00:08:18,840 --> 00:08:20,120 feeling some pressure, doesn't it? 150 00:08:20,640 --> 00:08:23,000 The hands of the Potter come on our lives and he has to 151 00:08:23,000 --> 00:08:27,040 straighten out some things, work on the inside, the hand on the 152 00:08:27,040 --> 00:08:29,400 inside of the vessel as well as the pressure on the outside of 153 00:08:29,400 --> 00:08:31,440 the vessel. And sometimes God uses trials in 154 00:08:31,440 --> 00:08:34,039 our lives, doesn't He? And sometimes we fail to 155 00:08:34,039 --> 00:08:37,760 recognise that the pressures we're feeling or the trials 156 00:08:37,760 --> 00:08:40,320 we're going through, actually the loving hands of God in our 157 00:08:40,320 --> 00:08:44,320 lives to form us and to shape us and to maybe work out some of 158 00:08:44,320 --> 00:08:46,960 those imperfections in our lives that need to be dealt with. 159 00:08:48,600 --> 00:08:51,280 So principle number one, we need to realise that God has a 160 00:08:51,280 --> 00:08:55,040 specific plan for our lives and #2 principle #2 we need to then 161 00:08:55,040 --> 00:08:56,640 surrender completely to God's will. 162 00:08:56,640 --> 00:09:00,760 Again, a very basic principle, but a very important one, and I 163 00:09:00,760 --> 00:09:03,920 found as a pastor that many believers really struggle with 164 00:09:03,920 --> 00:09:05,680 giving over their lives completely. 165 00:09:05,680 --> 00:09:12,040 To the Lord. We just, we feel afraid to trust 166 00:09:12,040 --> 00:09:14,520 God at times, don't we? With our lives. 167 00:09:15,240 --> 00:09:18,600 But the more we come to understand the God we serve, the 168 00:09:18,600 --> 00:09:21,880 more we know that His way is perfect, the more confidence we 169 00:09:21,880 --> 00:09:24,960 can have to yield our lives to Him because He makes no 170 00:09:25,000 --> 00:09:27,880 mistakes. So the key thought here is we 171 00:09:27,880 --> 00:09:30,440 cannot possibly enjoy the blessings of God's will for our 172 00:09:30,440 --> 00:09:34,240 lives if we do not first of all, place our lives completely in 173 00:09:34,240 --> 00:09:35,800 His hands. That makes sense, doesn't it? 174 00:09:35,800 --> 00:09:37,800 How you're going to really determine God's will for your 175 00:09:37,800 --> 00:09:40,280 life if you're not first surrendered to that will? 176 00:09:41,920 --> 00:09:44,960 OK, so foundational. You have to be surrendered in 177 00:09:44,960 --> 00:09:48,520 your heart, Lord, whatever you want from my life, I'm yielded 178 00:09:48,520 --> 00:09:53,680 to that. And I remember coming to that 179 00:09:53,680 --> 00:09:56,640 place, I was saved at the age of 5, soundly saved at the age of 180 00:09:56,640 --> 00:09:59,040 five. And then at the age of seven, I 181 00:09:59,040 --> 00:10:01,600 heard a very powerful message on the cross from a visiting 182 00:10:01,600 --> 00:10:03,480 evangelist. And he gave an appeal at the end 183 00:10:03,480 --> 00:10:06,120 for not only people to get saved, but for people to 184 00:10:06,120 --> 00:10:09,320 surrender to the Lord and for His will for their lives. 185 00:10:09,320 --> 00:10:11,560 And I went forward. And from that moment on, I knew 186 00:10:11,560 --> 00:10:12,800 God had called me to be a preacher. 187 00:10:12,800 --> 00:10:15,880 I surrendered my life to do whatever God would have me to 188 00:10:15,880 --> 00:10:17,080 do. And so if you've never done 189 00:10:17,080 --> 00:10:19,000 that, you need to do that. You need to. 190 00:10:19,000 --> 00:10:21,320 And it's not the sort of thing maybe you even just do once in 191 00:10:21,320 --> 00:10:22,520 your life. I find you have to come. 192 00:10:22,600 --> 00:10:26,520 Back at time to just surrender a fresh Lord, I just place my life 193 00:10:26,520 --> 00:10:32,040 in your hands Lord, your will be done and we have letter A the 194 00:10:32,040 --> 00:10:34,960 example of Jesus Christ. We can't get a better example 195 00:10:34,960 --> 00:10:36,640 than the Lord Jesus Christ can we? 196 00:10:37,880 --> 00:10:41,360 He was surrendered and submitted to the Father's will. 197 00:10:41,880 --> 00:10:44,800 Hebrews 10/7 then said I lo, I come in the volume of the book. 198 00:10:44,800 --> 00:10:47,000 It is written of me to do thy will, O God. 199 00:10:47,400 --> 00:10:50,880 John 638 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, 200 00:10:51,120 --> 00:10:55,560 but the will of him that sent me, not as I will, but as thou 201 00:10:55,560 --> 00:10:56,800 would. Aren't you thankful the Lord 202 00:10:56,880 --> 00:10:58,840 Jesus was submitted to the Father's will? 203 00:10:59,600 --> 00:11:01,960 And aren't you thankful in the garden of Gethsemane He said, 204 00:11:01,960 --> 00:11:05,040 Thy will be done. If he hadn't done that, we 205 00:11:05,040 --> 00:11:09,440 wouldn't have salvation. Let it be the example of David. 206 00:11:10,080 --> 00:11:14,920 Psalm 25 Four, Show me thy ways, O Lord, and teach me thy paths. 207 00:11:15,400 --> 00:11:17,560 The example of the apostle Paul. Let us see there. 208 00:11:17,560 --> 00:11:21,200 Acts 96 And he, trembling and astonished, said, Lord, what 209 00:11:21,280 --> 00:11:24,360 wilt thou have me to do? That should be the heart cry of 210 00:11:24,360 --> 00:11:26,280 every believer. Lord, what would you have me to 211 00:11:26,280 --> 00:11:28,160 do? Lord, what do you want to do 212 00:11:28,160 --> 00:11:31,320 with my life? Principle #3 We've got to move 213 00:11:31,320 --> 00:11:34,800 along here for the sake of time. Principle #3 Be active, doing 214 00:11:34,800 --> 00:11:36,960 what you already know to be God's will. 215 00:11:37,800 --> 00:11:40,840 So we need to realize God has a specific plan for our lives. 216 00:11:40,840 --> 00:11:42,840 We need to be surrendered to what God's will is for our 217 00:11:42,840 --> 00:11:45,240 lives. And then as we wait on God to 218 00:11:45,240 --> 00:11:48,600 reveal His specific will to us, we need to just be active, doing 219 00:11:48,600 --> 00:11:50,880 what we already know to be God's will. 220 00:11:51,200 --> 00:11:54,560 And here's the key thought. God reveals His specific will to 221 00:11:54,560 --> 00:11:57,040 those who are serious about obeying His general will. 222 00:11:58,680 --> 00:12:03,680 And sometimes I find we spend so much time focused on what's 223 00:12:03,680 --> 00:12:06,000 God's will for the future that we can sometimes miss what His 224 00:12:06,000 --> 00:12:08,600 will is for the present. Now it's not wrong to think 225 00:12:08,600 --> 00:12:09,920 about what does God have? For me in the. 226 00:12:09,920 --> 00:12:12,400 Future. But while you wait on an answer 227 00:12:12,400 --> 00:12:15,080 from God for your future, make sure you serve Him in the 228 00:12:15,080 --> 00:12:18,320 present and do what He's placed in front of you, because God has 229 00:12:18,320 --> 00:12:21,600 a way of revealing His specific will to those who are obedient 230 00:12:21,600 --> 00:12:23,720 to what they already know to be His will. 231 00:12:24,640 --> 00:12:27,720 OK, so letter A living a separated life. 232 00:12:27,720 --> 00:12:29,800 That's something we know to be God's general will. 233 00:12:30,200 --> 00:12:34,680 And as we seek to have our lives conformed, not to the world, but 234 00:12:35,160 --> 00:12:39,120 transformed by the Word of God, we are then able to prove God's 235 00:12:39,280 --> 00:12:43,080 good and acceptable and perfect will be living a serving life. 236 00:12:43,080 --> 00:12:45,680 So we need to be living a separated life. 237 00:12:46,760 --> 00:12:49,160 Because if your life's full of sin, then you're not going to 238 00:12:49,160 --> 00:12:52,040 hear God's voice, are you? We need to be living a serving 239 00:12:52,040 --> 00:12:57,720 life and we see this principle really demonstrated in in the 240 00:12:57,720 --> 00:13:01,320 lives of Barnabas and Saul. Acts 31 and 2. 241 00:13:01,320 --> 00:13:03,680 Now they were in the church that was at Antioch. 242 00:13:03,680 --> 00:13:06,200 Certain prophets and teachers as Barnabas and Simeon that was 243 00:13:06,200 --> 00:13:09,000 called Niger and Lucius of Cyrene and Menaim, which had 244 00:13:09,000 --> 00:13:10,960 been brought up with Herod the tetrarch and Saul. 245 00:13:11,240 --> 00:13:14,520 Notice this as they ministered to the Lord and fasted the Holy 246 00:13:14,520 --> 00:13:17,640 Ghost said separate me, Barnabas and Saul for the work around. 247 00:13:17,680 --> 00:13:19,400 I've called them. Can you see that a specific 248 00:13:19,400 --> 00:13:23,840 calling came to them as they were busy serving the Lord and, 249 00:13:23,840 --> 00:13:26,520 and so you need to be surrendered to God's will. 250 00:13:26,520 --> 00:13:30,000 You need to be serving the Lord because that puts you in a place 251 00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:33,800 to really hear from God as to the specifics of your life. 252 00:13:34,160 --> 00:13:36,040 OK, now I want your involvement here. 253 00:13:36,040 --> 00:13:39,080 What are some things we know are God's will for every Christian 254 00:13:39,080 --> 00:13:40,640 that we can get involved with? Hands up. 255 00:13:40,640 --> 00:13:42,240 Give me some examples. Yes, Sir. 256 00:13:43,120 --> 00:13:44,720 Go to church. Faithfulness in church. 257 00:13:44,760 --> 00:13:47,160 Yes, ma'am. Witnessing soul winning. 258 00:13:47,160 --> 00:13:48,080 Thank you. Any others? 259 00:13:48,240 --> 00:13:53,600 Yes, ma'am, praying, prayer, yes, reading the Word of God, 260 00:13:53,640 --> 00:14:00,120 daily devotions, yes, ma'am, giving, Yes, Sir, giving, yes. 261 00:14:00,800 --> 00:14:02,760 So we can go on and on, can't we? 262 00:14:02,760 --> 00:14:05,760 Many, many things that we know are clearly revealed in God's 263 00:14:05,760 --> 00:14:08,240 Word. And so if you want to know God's 264 00:14:08,240 --> 00:14:11,440 specific plan for your life, specific will just get busy 265 00:14:11,440 --> 00:14:15,840 obeying His revealed will and and, and, and, and, and that 266 00:14:15,840 --> 00:14:19,480 will help you as you seek to discern His will for your life. 267 00:14:19,800 --> 00:14:21,920 OK, now we come to principle #4 So as I said in the 268 00:14:21,920 --> 00:14:24,360 introduction, those first three points are really preparation of 269 00:14:24,360 --> 00:14:27,040 the heart. And now in principle #4 we're 270 00:14:27,040 --> 00:14:30,840 going to really get into some of the practical side of how we can 271 00:14:30,840 --> 00:14:32,800 actually discern God's will for our lives. 272 00:14:32,800 --> 00:14:37,320 So learn to recognize principle #4 the signposts of God's will, 273 00:14:38,560 --> 00:14:41,160 decisions ahead. Choose your path wisely, OK? 274 00:14:42,200 --> 00:14:46,240 Very important. And I believe that as we really 275 00:14:46,280 --> 00:14:49,760 seek to be yielded to God's will, as we seek his, his his 276 00:14:49,760 --> 00:14:54,040 guidance, then he can, then the Lord will use these principles 277 00:14:54,040 --> 00:14:57,400 to help us. So key thought, there are at 278 00:14:57,400 --> 00:15:00,200 least 4 scriptural principles that will help us discern the 279 00:15:00,200 --> 00:15:04,280 will of God for our lives. And remember, make sure you use 280 00:15:04,280 --> 00:15:07,760 all four, not just one. And I'll highlight that a bit 281 00:15:07,760 --> 00:15:10,080 more later on, but we need, I think all four. 282 00:15:10,560 --> 00:15:14,520 Green lights we could put it OK in in as we see God's will. 283 00:15:14,520 --> 00:15:19,360 So letter A, the guidance of the scriptures, the guidance of the 284 00:15:19,360 --> 00:15:22,440 scriptures, the guidance of the scriptures. 285 00:15:22,440 --> 00:15:26,400 And the question we need to ask ourselves is, has God spoken to 286 00:15:26,400 --> 00:15:30,400 me through this work, through his word about this decision, EG 287 00:15:30,400 --> 00:15:32,480 through my daily devotions or through a sermon? 288 00:15:33,040 --> 00:15:37,000 And so God, God uses his word in our lives, doesn't he, to speak 289 00:15:37,000 --> 00:15:39,400 to us. And so you need to be in the 290 00:15:39,400 --> 00:15:41,120 Word of God and seeking the word of God. 291 00:15:41,120 --> 00:15:45,480 And it's amazing how God can speak to you through His word. 292 00:15:45,600 --> 00:15:48,640 How many of you have experienced that in your daily devotions or 293 00:15:48,640 --> 00:15:53,120 or even sitting under preaching? And God has given you guidance 294 00:15:53,120 --> 00:15:57,320 through His Word. Psalm 119 verse 105 Thy word is 295 00:15:57,320 --> 00:16:01,080 a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. 296 00:16:01,080 --> 00:16:04,600 Psalm 100 and 19130 The entrance of thy words giveth light. 297 00:16:04,920 --> 00:16:06,800 It giveth understanding under the simple. 298 00:16:07,120 --> 00:16:09,520 So you just got to be in the Word of God and soaking in the 299 00:16:09,520 --> 00:16:12,440 Word of God and the Word of God will bring light to you and the 300 00:16:12,440 --> 00:16:15,200 principles of God's Word will help guide you in your decision 301 00:16:15,200 --> 00:16:17,720 making. Let it be the leading of the 302 00:16:17,720 --> 00:16:19,960 Spirit. The leading of the Spirit. 303 00:16:19,960 --> 00:16:23,040 And the question we need to ask is do I have the peace of God 304 00:16:23,320 --> 00:16:26,360 about this decision or do I sense the inner promptings of 305 00:16:26,360 --> 00:16:29,920 the Spirit warning me I may be going the wrong direction? 306 00:16:30,120 --> 00:16:32,800 Now quick point here. Remember, the Holy Spirit will 307 00:16:32,800 --> 00:16:34,760 never lead you contrary to the Word of God. 308 00:16:35,240 --> 00:16:38,440 So we're not talking about some sort of charismatic thing where 309 00:16:38,880 --> 00:16:41,160 people today say, well, I know the Bible says this, but the 310 00:16:41,160 --> 00:16:43,720 Spirit told me this. No, the Spirit of God will never 311 00:16:43,720 --> 00:16:45,720 lead you contrary to the Word he inspired. 312 00:16:46,640 --> 00:16:49,560 But if we're saved, we do have the Holy Spirit in our lives, 313 00:16:49,560 --> 00:16:51,560 don't we? And as we stay in the Word of 314 00:16:51,560 --> 00:16:54,400 God and as we're sensitive to the Lord, we can learn as 315 00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:58,600 believers to discern, I believe that the leading of the Spirit. 316 00:16:59,000 --> 00:17:02,120 And have you ever felt troubled about a decision and just didn't 317 00:17:02,120 --> 00:17:04,920 feel right about it? And I'm, again, I'm not talking 318 00:17:04,920 --> 00:17:06,400 about some crazy charismatic thing. 319 00:17:06,400 --> 00:17:08,200 I'm just talking about walking humbly with the Lord. 320 00:17:08,480 --> 00:17:10,680 And you said, you know, I just don't have a piece about this. 321 00:17:10,720 --> 00:17:13,599 I feel like there's, there's a warning there from the Lord. 322 00:17:13,599 --> 00:17:15,280 I need to pray more and see him more. 323 00:17:16,880 --> 00:17:19,440 And that can even be in decisions that perhaps don't 324 00:17:19,440 --> 00:17:21,920 even seem to be that big. And I'll give you an 325 00:17:21,920 --> 00:17:25,599 illustration. In 2024, my wife and I were 326 00:17:25,599 --> 00:17:28,160 discussing where to go for our holiday or vacation. 327 00:17:28,480 --> 00:17:30,920 And we normally go to an area of the coast about an hour and a 328 00:17:30,920 --> 00:17:33,320 half from Adelaide or nearly two hours from Adelaide actually 329 00:17:33,320 --> 00:17:36,720 called Victor Harbour. And anyway, that's normally 330 00:17:36,720 --> 00:17:39,720 where we go. And often my parents or every 331 00:17:39,720 --> 00:17:43,640 year my parents come over from NSW about 14 hours away and we 332 00:17:43,640 --> 00:17:46,480 have a holiday there by the seaside and catch up a bit with 333 00:17:46,480 --> 00:17:49,400 each other. And anyway, in 2024 we 334 00:17:49,400 --> 00:17:51,960 considered, well, maybe we should go back up to, we've been 335 00:17:51,960 --> 00:17:54,920 to one other place before, which is further away in, in in the 336 00:17:54,920 --> 00:17:58,200 opposite direction. And we were considering about 337 00:17:58,240 --> 00:18:00,840 considering going up there. But as we just prayed about it, 338 00:18:00,840 --> 00:18:02,000 Lord, what would you have us to do? 339 00:18:02,000 --> 00:18:04,280 I just said to my wife, I just don't have a piece about going 340 00:18:04,280 --> 00:18:06,240 to this other place. I think we need to go to our 341 00:18:06,240 --> 00:18:09,960 regular place and catch up with mum and dad and see them again. 342 00:18:10,680 --> 00:18:11,560 Well. Little did I. 343 00:18:11,560 --> 00:18:16,600 Realise that that would be my last holiday with my dad and I'm 344 00:18:16,600 --> 00:18:19,680 just so thankful looking back, even though we were minded to go 345 00:18:19,680 --> 00:18:22,800 to this other location, we just didn't have a piece about it and 346 00:18:22,800 --> 00:18:24,680 didn't seem to, I don't know why, but we just don't have a 347 00:18:24,680 --> 00:18:26,760 piece about that. I think we need to go back to 348 00:18:26,760 --> 00:18:29,080 this regular place and catch up with mum and dad. 349 00:18:29,360 --> 00:18:30,800 And that was our last holiday with dad. 350 00:18:30,800 --> 00:18:33,600 We got to have some, we've got some wonderful memories there 351 00:18:33,600 --> 00:18:35,320 with him going fishing and other things. 352 00:18:35,600 --> 00:18:38,960 And then a few months later he he died in his sleep. 353 00:18:39,360 --> 00:18:42,680 And so I'm just saying be sensitive to the Spirit of God 354 00:18:42,680 --> 00:18:45,320 in your life. And as you walk with God, you 355 00:18:45,320 --> 00:18:46,480 can learn more and more to descent. 356 00:18:46,480 --> 00:18:50,360 It's like a gentle pressure on your spirit, OK, Or you might 357 00:18:50,360 --> 00:18:52,000 say, you know, I've prayed about this. 358 00:18:52,000 --> 00:18:54,280 I've sought God's God's will in his word. 359 00:18:54,280 --> 00:18:56,960 And as you've sought, you know, to apply biblical principles, 360 00:18:57,280 --> 00:18:59,440 you come to that place where not I do have, I feel I have a peace 361 00:18:59,440 --> 00:19:02,720 from the Lord about this, OK. But you have to be sensitive. 362 00:19:02,920 --> 00:19:05,640 And Lord help me to to know if I'm doing if I'm out of your 363 00:19:05,640 --> 00:19:09,400 will here. So Acts 13 two as they 364 00:19:09,400 --> 00:19:11,560 ministered to the Lord. And fasted the Holy Ghost said, 365 00:19:11,560 --> 00:19:13,360 separate me, Barnabas, and Saul for the work. 366 00:19:13,360 --> 00:19:15,520 Granted, I've called him. How the Holy Spirit revealed His 367 00:19:15,520 --> 00:19:18,720 will, I don't know exactly, but the Holy Spirit made His will 368 00:19:18,720 --> 00:19:21,280 known. Acts 16637. 369 00:19:21,280 --> 00:19:23,520 We see a similar principle there now. 370 00:19:23,520 --> 00:19:25,880 When we had got they had gone throughout Phrygia and the 371 00:19:25,880 --> 00:19:28,120 region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to 372 00:19:28,120 --> 00:19:30,920 preach the Word in Asia. After they were come to Misea, 373 00:19:30,920 --> 00:19:33,360 they said to go into Biphenia, but the Spirit suffered them 374 00:19:33,360 --> 00:19:34,440 not. And so the leading of the 375 00:19:34,440 --> 00:19:37,880 Spirit, no, not this place, not that place, this way. 376 00:19:38,600 --> 00:19:43,440 OK, let us see, let us see. We also need the Council of the 377 00:19:43,440 --> 00:19:46,320 Saints. So we need the guidance of the 378 00:19:46,320 --> 00:19:50,400 Scriptures, the leading of the Spirit and then the Council of 379 00:19:50,400 --> 00:19:52,120 the Saints. And the question we need to ask 380 00:19:52,120 --> 00:19:57,200 ourselves, have I is this? Have I sought sound counsel or 381 00:19:57,200 --> 00:19:58,880 advice before making this decision? 382 00:20:04,080 --> 00:20:07,800 Now let's consider several important truths about counsel 383 00:20:07,840 --> 00:20:12,480 from the scriptures #1 the Council of Sinners. 384 00:20:13,120 --> 00:20:16,360 Avoid it. So when we talk about counsel, 385 00:20:16,360 --> 00:20:18,400 we don't just want any kind of counsel, do we? 386 00:20:19,080 --> 00:20:23,520 In fact, there is a lot of very bad counsel out there in the 387 00:20:23,520 --> 00:20:24,160 world. Isn't there? 388 00:20:24,560 --> 00:20:28,240 A lot? And let's just be honest. 389 00:20:29,040 --> 00:20:31,520 You should really go to your pastor for counsel before you go 390 00:20:31,520 --> 00:20:35,520 to some unsaved therapist. I believe that's the trend now 391 00:20:35,520 --> 00:20:38,400 is to not really see the pastor as a source of counsel anymore. 392 00:20:38,720 --> 00:20:41,160 And I go to some professional who charges me. 393 00:20:41,240 --> 00:20:43,760 Well, go to your pastor firstly, he won't charge you anything. 394 00:20:43,960 --> 00:20:48,200 It's free and, and #2 he will give you something from the word 395 00:20:48,200 --> 00:20:49,320 of God that's really going to help you. 396 00:20:49,320 --> 00:20:51,640 Now, I'm not saying there's not a place to seek out medical help 397 00:20:51,640 --> 00:20:53,560 for medical things, and I understand that. 398 00:20:54,120 --> 00:20:56,000 But I'm just saying, be be careful about that. 399 00:20:56,000 --> 00:20:58,000 So the council of sinners avoid it. 400 00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:00,400 Psalm one verse one. Blessed is the man that walketh 401 00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:04,480 not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way 402 00:21:04,480 --> 00:21:06,640 of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 403 00:21:06,640 --> 00:21:09,720 Proverbs 1927. Cease, my son, to hear the 404 00:21:09,720 --> 00:21:12,560 instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge. 405 00:21:12,800 --> 00:21:16,720 Do not underestimate the power of counsel for good or evil. 406 00:21:17,400 --> 00:21:20,200 You get the wrong counsel, it can send your life in a very 407 00:21:20,200 --> 00:21:23,200 dark and dangerous direction. Get the right counsel and it can 408 00:21:23,200 --> 00:21:25,520 be a big lesson to your life. Couple of illustrations there. 409 00:21:25,520 --> 00:21:26,720 Don't have time to look at those. 410 00:21:26,880 --> 00:21:29,560 But Athaliah was a wicked counsellor there. 411 00:21:29,560 --> 00:21:31,240 She counselled her son to do evil. 412 00:21:31,800 --> 00:21:34,960 And then read Second Samuel 13. You'll find that Amnon had a 413 00:21:34,960 --> 00:21:39,080 friend and this friend gave very evil counsel in relation to his 414 00:21:39,080 --> 00:21:43,840 infatuation with Tamar. So what would be some examples? 415 00:21:44,000 --> 00:21:47,480 I need your help again, of people or sources we should not 416 00:21:48,040 --> 00:21:50,880 see counsel from when it comes to our Christian lives. 417 00:21:50,880 --> 00:21:51,880 Hands up. Yes, ma'am. 418 00:21:51,880 --> 00:21:54,000 Celebrities. Thank you. 419 00:21:54,000 --> 00:21:58,040 Celebrities, celebrities. So the pop stars, the movie 420 00:21:58,040 --> 00:22:02,160 stars, the rap stars, the sports stars, they are not a good 421 00:22:02,160 --> 00:22:04,400 source of counsel. Often they're on their third, 422 00:22:04,400 --> 00:22:07,000 fourth, fifth marriage. Their lives are a mess. 423 00:22:09,200 --> 00:22:11,640 I mean, I agree. Other social. 424 00:22:12,120 --> 00:22:13,960 Media influencers, thank you very much. 425 00:22:14,280 --> 00:22:18,400 Do not look to social media as a source of counsel unless you're 426 00:22:18,400 --> 00:22:20,880 listening to a sound preacher. Maybe, but you know what I'm 427 00:22:20,880 --> 00:22:23,120 saying. That bad place to get counsel 428 00:22:23,120 --> 00:22:23,840 from? Yes, Sir. 429 00:22:25,040 --> 00:22:26,120 Politicians. Politicians. 430 00:22:26,360 --> 00:22:29,480 Yep, that's true. Unless they're really, you know, 431 00:22:29,720 --> 00:22:31,520 saved people saying something biblical. 432 00:22:32,040 --> 00:22:33,480 Generally a lot of worldly philosophy. 433 00:22:33,480 --> 00:22:33,880 There. Yes Sir. 434 00:22:33,880 --> 00:22:37,160 False teachers. Prosperity gospel false false 435 00:22:37,160 --> 00:22:40,200 teachers. Prosperity gospel teachers, OK, 436 00:22:40,200 --> 00:22:45,720 so we we're living now in a in the digital age where any Yahoo 437 00:22:46,160 --> 00:22:50,240 can just get on there and and just express their ignorance. 438 00:22:50,920 --> 00:22:52,920 I get sick of it to be honest. The Internet, the amount of 439 00:22:53,440 --> 00:22:57,160 rubbish that people pick up on the Internet, so or trash as you 440 00:22:57,160 --> 00:23:00,480 say, here we have rubbish in Australia, not trash. 441 00:23:00,560 --> 00:23:02,200 All right. It's the same thing though, all 442 00:23:02,200 --> 00:23:04,400 right, but garbage in, garbage out. 443 00:23:06,800 --> 00:23:08,160 OK. What about? 444 00:23:08,400 --> 00:23:11,200 Unsaved family. Got to be careful there, don't 445 00:23:11,200 --> 00:23:13,120 you? Now, you want to love unsaved 446 00:23:13,120 --> 00:23:15,960 family members and seek to reach them, but be careful about 447 00:23:15,960 --> 00:23:19,600 getting advice from them. Unsaved work colleagues? 448 00:23:20,040 --> 00:23:21,360 Probably not a good source of counsel. 449 00:23:21,360 --> 00:23:23,720 Having marriage problems? Don't get counsel from the bloke 450 00:23:24,760 --> 00:23:27,000 in the desk next year. At the desk next year. 451 00:23:27,920 --> 00:23:29,080 He's probably not going to help you. 452 00:23:30,880 --> 00:23:33,360 Makes sense. So we need to be very careful 453 00:23:33,360 --> 00:23:37,440 about the wrong kind of counsel #2 the Council of the 454 00:23:37,440 --> 00:23:40,720 Scriptures. Read it so the council of 455 00:23:40,720 --> 00:23:43,680 sinners avoid it. The council of the Scriptures, 456 00:23:43,960 --> 00:23:46,640 read it. That's a great place to start 457 00:23:46,640 --> 00:23:49,000 for counsel. Here's good counsel. 458 00:23:49,240 --> 00:23:52,760 OK, Psalm 16, seven, I'll bless the Lord who hath given me 459 00:23:52,760 --> 00:23:54,680 counsel. My reigns also instruct me in 460 00:23:54,680 --> 00:23:56,960 the night season. Psalm 119, verse 24. 461 00:23:57,280 --> 00:24:01,320 Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counselors. 462 00:24:02,280 --> 00:24:07,440 Is not the Lord Jesus called the counselor in Isaiah 9 verse 6? 463 00:24:08,200 --> 00:24:10,120 Wonderful, the mighty God councillor. 464 00:24:10,160 --> 00:24:14,400 OK, so get counsel from the Lord. 3 The council of the 465 00:24:14,400 --> 00:24:19,360 Saints seek it, the council of the Saints seek it. 466 00:24:19,800 --> 00:24:22,840 And we have a number of verses there from Proverbs speaking 467 00:24:22,840 --> 00:24:26,200 about the importance of council in our lives. 468 00:24:26,800 --> 00:24:29,440 Read them with me, I will one after the other. 469 00:24:29,440 --> 00:24:34,680 Ready 1-2 Proverbs 11 verse 14 where no council is the people 470 00:24:34,680 --> 00:24:37,800 fall, but in the multitude of councillors there is safety. 471 00:24:38,200 --> 00:24:41,920 Proverbs 1522. Without counsel purposes are 472 00:24:41,920 --> 00:24:44,920 disappointed, but in the multitude of councillors they 473 00:24:44,920 --> 00:24:47,840 are established. Proverbs 24 Six. 474 00:24:48,120 --> 00:24:52,160 For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war, And a multitude of 475 00:24:52,160 --> 00:24:56,960 councillors there is safety. Proverbs 2979 Ointment and 476 00:24:56,960 --> 00:25:00,320 perfume rejoice the heart, so doth the sweetness of a man's 477 00:25:00,320 --> 00:25:02,080 friend. By hearty counsel. 478 00:25:02,480 --> 00:25:04,800 Do you notice the word safety coming through there a bit? 479 00:25:05,400 --> 00:25:09,800 Safety, safety. It's a good idea to get wise 480 00:25:09,800 --> 00:25:12,160 counsel from people, especially when you're making one of those 481 00:25:12,160 --> 00:25:16,080 big life decisions. So, young people, you think you 482 00:25:16,080 --> 00:25:21,920 found Mr. You think you found the your life's partner. 483 00:25:22,480 --> 00:25:26,280 OK, ladies, you think you found Mr. Right, man, you think you 484 00:25:26,280 --> 00:25:28,960 found Mrs. Right. Probably a good idea, though, to 485 00:25:28,960 --> 00:25:30,440 get some counsel, wouldn't you say? 486 00:25:31,600 --> 00:25:35,960 Good idea to get some counsel from godly people in your life 487 00:25:35,960 --> 00:25:39,800 because they may see things. That you aren't seeing. 488 00:25:41,920 --> 00:25:44,120 So some things to bear in mind with getting counsel. 489 00:25:44,560 --> 00:25:48,120 You need to firstly ask for it. You need to ask for it, seek it 490 00:25:48,120 --> 00:25:50,600 out. Problems 20 verse 5 says counsel 491 00:25:50,600 --> 00:25:52,320 in the heart of man is like deep water. 492 00:25:52,720 --> 00:25:55,640 But a man of understanding will draw it out. 493 00:25:55,640 --> 00:25:58,560 Sometimes you have to work a bit actually to find good counsel 494 00:25:58,960 --> 00:26:01,600 because guess what? The guy who's got the gift of 495 00:26:01,600 --> 00:26:03,200 the gab? He's probably not the best 496 00:26:03,200 --> 00:26:06,000 source of counsel. I'll go get counsel from this 497 00:26:06,000 --> 00:26:07,440 guy. He's always talking. 498 00:26:07,600 --> 00:26:09,960 Actually, the Bible says a fool's voice is known for 499 00:26:09,960 --> 00:26:13,680 multitude of words. Now, I know sometimes there's a 500 00:26:13,680 --> 00:26:15,400 personality aspect. Some are more talkative than 501 00:26:15,400 --> 00:26:16,120 others. That's fine. 502 00:26:16,400 --> 00:26:18,600 I'm just saying there are some people, they seem to think 503 00:26:18,600 --> 00:26:22,000 they're an expert on every area of life and there's constantly 504 00:26:22,000 --> 00:26:24,680 sprouting out all these things and all these opinions. 505 00:26:24,920 --> 00:26:27,280 Maybe go to a quiet, humble believer in the church who 506 00:26:27,280 --> 00:26:30,160 doesn't necessarily push their view all the time and ask them 507 00:26:30,160 --> 00:26:31,520 for counsel. You might get a surprise. 508 00:26:31,520 --> 00:26:34,000 My grandfather was like that. Very godly man, very separated 509 00:26:34,000 --> 00:26:38,720 man, World War 2 veteran and Ford alongside the Americans 510 00:26:38,720 --> 00:26:40,360 there through the Pacific islands. 511 00:26:40,880 --> 00:26:44,800 And he wasn't the type to push his counsel on you, but it was 512 00:26:44,800 --> 00:26:47,800 worth asking him for counsel. And sometimes he'd only just 513 00:26:47,800 --> 00:26:50,200 give you a few sentences, but those few sentences were like 514 00:26:50,200 --> 00:26:54,240 gold. Second point. 515 00:26:54,800 --> 00:26:56,280 Hear it. Give it a hearing. 516 00:26:57,080 --> 00:27:00,200 Proverbs 90, verse 20 Hear counsel and receive instruction 517 00:27:00,520 --> 00:27:03,000 that thou must be wise in thy latter end. 518 00:27:03,520 --> 00:27:09,600 Now, if you come to your pastor for counsel, don't expect a 519 00:27:09,600 --> 00:27:13,160 rubber stamp. I've seen this so many times 520 00:27:13,160 --> 00:27:14,920 where people come and it's human. 521 00:27:14,920 --> 00:27:18,200 We come for counsel and we have a preconceived idea of maybe 522 00:27:18,200 --> 00:27:21,400 what we want to hear or what we think the pastor's going to say. 523 00:27:21,680 --> 00:27:24,440 And I've had people actually get quite angry with me. 524 00:27:24,800 --> 00:27:26,600 Well, I didn't expect you to give that sort of counsel. 525 00:27:26,600 --> 00:27:28,400 I'm like, well, you asked for it, didn't you? 526 00:27:29,280 --> 00:27:33,000 If you asked for counsel, have the humility to at least hear 527 00:27:33,000 --> 00:27:34,920 what I have to say. So bear that in mind. 528 00:27:34,920 --> 00:27:36,840 You come to get counsel maybe from your pastor. 529 00:27:36,960 --> 00:27:39,280 Don't be surprised if he says something that maybe you hadn't 530 00:27:39,280 --> 00:27:41,480 thought of. And sometimes if you're not 531 00:27:41,480 --> 00:27:43,640 careful in the Christian life, we're just looking for a rubber 532 00:27:43,640 --> 00:27:47,400 stamp because we often have a strong idea of what we want. 533 00:27:48,240 --> 00:27:52,800 And we're hoping that God and our pastor will just say, yes, 534 00:27:53,120 --> 00:27:56,240 well, that's not a good approach to things because your heart 535 00:27:56,240 --> 00:27:57,560 should be, Lord, I want your will. 536 00:27:57,560 --> 00:28:00,080 And if I'm missing something, help me to find out, help me to 537 00:28:00,080 --> 00:28:02,320 see it. In fact, I tell people we often 538 00:28:02,320 --> 00:28:08,800 like to come to God with, with everything written out, If you 539 00:28:08,800 --> 00:28:12,280 can imagine, we have our plans, our dreams, our ideas written 540 00:28:12,280 --> 00:28:14,600 out on a sheet of paper. And we tend to come to God and 541 00:28:14,600 --> 00:28:18,480 say, sign here, Lord, sign here. This is what I want. 542 00:28:19,200 --> 00:28:21,040 You know, we may not put it quite like that, but that's kind 543 00:28:21,040 --> 00:28:22,840 of in practice what we can be like sometimes. 544 00:28:24,640 --> 00:28:26,200 Bring God a blank sheet of paper. 545 00:28:26,880 --> 00:28:29,280 You let him write on there what His will is for your life, and 546 00:28:29,280 --> 00:28:31,480 then you sign. OK, Get it? 547 00:28:34,000 --> 00:28:36,960 So remember that we need to remember God's will is best. 548 00:28:37,440 --> 00:28:40,880 And sometimes and often council will confirm we're on the right 549 00:28:40,880 --> 00:28:44,000 track, but sometimes it'll it'll, it'll maybe give us a bit 550 00:28:44,000 --> 00:28:46,200 of a shake up and make us think about things we haven't thought 551 00:28:46,200 --> 00:28:48,280 of. And obviously counsel from any 552 00:28:48,280 --> 00:28:51,680 human being, even if they're godly people, is not infallible. 553 00:28:51,680 --> 00:28:54,440 So you have to always just weigh things against scripture and 554 00:28:54,440 --> 00:28:56,160 ultimately individual sole liberty. 555 00:28:56,160 --> 00:28:58,480 You make the final decision. But it's a wise part of the 556 00:28:58,480 --> 00:29:03,600 process to hear godly counsel. 3 Then we need to test it. 557 00:29:04,320 --> 00:29:06,840 Well, this learning is 521 Approve all things, hold fast 558 00:29:06,840 --> 00:29:09,040 that which is good. When you get counsel from other 559 00:29:09,040 --> 00:29:11,960 believers, you will get a surprise sometimes and you will 560 00:29:11,960 --> 00:29:14,640 sometimes hear very bad counsel even from Christians, 561 00:29:14,760 --> 00:29:17,520 unfortunately. And you can get a surprise 562 00:29:17,520 --> 00:29:20,800 sometimes at how unbiblical people are thinking. 563 00:29:21,600 --> 00:29:25,880 So if, if, if someone's counsel goes against God's word, don't 564 00:29:25,880 --> 00:29:27,760 say oh, so and so counsel me to do this. 565 00:29:27,760 --> 00:29:30,160 No, no, no, that God's word is always the final authority, 566 00:29:30,160 --> 00:29:31,360 isn't it? Right. 567 00:29:31,720 --> 00:29:36,560 So be humble, give council a hearing and then test it by 568 00:29:36,560 --> 00:29:40,560 Scripture and and it's just part of the process God will use to 569 00:29:40,560 --> 00:29:43,000 help refine sometimes your understanding of his will or 570 00:29:43,000 --> 00:29:45,960 just provide some guidance. And that's very, very important. 571 00:29:45,960 --> 00:29:48,720 OK, help again from you. Please list some examples of the 572 00:29:48,720 --> 00:29:50,840 sort of people we should go to for council. 573 00:29:50,840 --> 00:29:52,960 Hands up again, and maybe someone who hasn't had a turn 574 00:29:52,960 --> 00:29:58,520 yet. Let's see, Yes, pastor, yes. 575 00:29:58,720 --> 00:30:02,760 Go to your pastor, eat pasta, go to your pastor. 576 00:30:04,440 --> 00:30:05,520 Amen. Yes, Sir. 577 00:30:06,480 --> 00:30:09,000 Godly parents. Now, if you don't have godly 578 00:30:09,000 --> 00:30:11,960 parents, they may have some wisdom when it comes to worldly 579 00:30:11,960 --> 00:30:15,800 matters, but in for Christian spiritual counsel, you're 580 00:30:15,800 --> 00:30:17,400 probably not going to get much help from them. 581 00:30:17,400 --> 00:30:19,160 You need to honour them. But you're going to have to rely 582 00:30:19,160 --> 00:30:21,760 more on your pastor and other godly people in the church. 583 00:30:22,080 --> 00:30:24,840 But certainly if you've got godly parents, guess what? 584 00:30:26,200 --> 00:30:29,160 They do love you if they're good parents and they do know a 585 00:30:29,160 --> 00:30:32,680 couple of things. Just surprise, surprise, OK, 586 00:30:32,720 --> 00:30:35,600 It's hard for a 16 year old to understand that their parents 587 00:30:35,600 --> 00:30:37,600 might know something, but they're probably double your 588 00:30:37,600 --> 00:30:39,080 age. They've lived a bit more than 589 00:30:39,080 --> 00:30:41,600 you have. So just, you know, learn to hear 590 00:30:41,600 --> 00:30:44,360 what they've got to say. All right, Anyone else? 591 00:30:46,680 --> 00:30:49,640 Yes, Sir, Amen. I've got that in my notes here. 592 00:30:49,640 --> 00:30:51,800 Mature Saints, older Saints in the assembly. 593 00:30:52,120 --> 00:30:55,000 Certainly if you've got godly, godly people in the church 594 00:30:55,000 --> 00:30:58,440 who've lived life, walked with God for many years, great idea 595 00:30:58,440 --> 00:31:00,840 to go to them and to bounce things off of them. 596 00:31:03,440 --> 00:31:06,960 Yes ma'am, Pastor's wife, definitely. 597 00:31:07,280 --> 00:31:09,240 Yep. And if you're a lady, that's a 598 00:31:09,240 --> 00:31:12,040 good place to go. Or if you need to speak to the 599 00:31:12,040 --> 00:31:15,160 pastor, have her present or another mature lady. 600 00:31:15,560 --> 00:31:17,960 OK, very good. I would say this as well. 601 00:31:17,960 --> 00:31:20,840 I think even godly friends can be a good source of counsel. 602 00:31:20,840 --> 00:31:23,280 Now we have to be careful about only getting counsel from our 603 00:31:23,280 --> 00:31:27,240 peer group, but if you have a true friend, they'll tell you 604 00:31:27,240 --> 00:31:29,000 what you need to hear, not what they what you want. 605 00:31:29,080 --> 00:31:30,960 They'll tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to 606 00:31:30,960 --> 00:31:33,240 hear. And again, when you're in the 607 00:31:33,240 --> 00:31:35,560 midst of it, of making a decision, very often there's 608 00:31:35,560 --> 00:31:38,480 emotions involved. And sometimes you're just not 609 00:31:38,480 --> 00:31:40,800 seeing the big picture. And that's where someone who's 610 00:31:40,800 --> 00:31:43,160 an objective bystander can sometimes speak into the 611 00:31:43,160 --> 00:31:45,640 situation and say, look, here's what I can see, watch out for 612 00:31:45,640 --> 00:31:47,280 this or for that. Or they might say, no, I think 613 00:31:47,280 --> 00:31:50,120 you're on the right track. But the point is, the Council of 614 00:31:50,120 --> 00:31:52,800 the Saints, there is an important factor in seeking 615 00:31:52,800 --> 00:31:54,560 God's will. It's a, it's a real blessing. 616 00:31:54,600 --> 00:32:00,360 Makes sense. OK #4 #4 the direction of 617 00:32:00,480 --> 00:32:04,680 circumstances. Do I have an open door from the 618 00:32:04,680 --> 00:32:08,640 Lord to go this direction? Now I put this one at the. 619 00:32:08,640 --> 00:32:12,640 Last for a. Reason it's a it is a it is an 620 00:32:12,640 --> 00:32:15,680 important factor, but be very careful about relying on this 621 00:32:15,680 --> 00:32:19,880 alone, because they an opportunity doesn't necessarily 622 00:32:19,880 --> 00:32:24,720 mean it's God's will. Do you understand that sometimes 623 00:32:24,720 --> 00:32:27,200 people think, well, this is a great opportunity, it must be 624 00:32:27,200 --> 00:32:28,160 God's will. Hang on. 625 00:32:28,360 --> 00:32:31,960 Have you applied Principle 1-2 and three, have you sought 626 00:32:31,960 --> 00:32:34,560 guidance from the Scriptures? Have you sought godly counsel 627 00:32:34,560 --> 00:32:36,440 from your pastor? Have you are? 628 00:32:37,280 --> 00:32:39,040 You seeking that? Are you being sensitive to the 629 00:32:39,040 --> 00:32:43,600 leading of the Spirit of God? So give you an illustration, 630 00:32:44,320 --> 00:32:46,680 someone says well this is fantastic. 631 00:32:46,760 --> 00:32:51,080 I've been offered a job. It's double the pay, and it's 632 00:32:51,080 --> 00:32:54,360 over here in this town. And then you ask, OK, that's 633 00:32:54,360 --> 00:32:55,960 great. Is there a good church there? 634 00:32:57,400 --> 00:33:00,680 Oh, oh, well, you know, it must be God's will because it's going 635 00:33:00,680 --> 00:33:02,360 to be double the pay. Hang on a second. 636 00:33:02,680 --> 00:33:04,880 You better just pause and slow down. 637 00:33:05,280 --> 00:33:08,920 And an opportunity is not automatically God's will. 638 00:33:09,040 --> 00:33:12,520 It could be, It could be, But don't just rush through into an 639 00:33:12,520 --> 00:33:15,800 opportunity without considering other scriptural principles. 640 00:33:15,800 --> 00:33:19,360 If there's no good church there, it's probably fairly likely it's 641 00:33:19,360 --> 00:33:20,680 not God's will for you to move there. 642 00:33:21,480 --> 00:33:24,560 You'd be better to stay on your current wage and be in a good 643 00:33:24,560 --> 00:33:29,080 church than move halfway across the country to a spiritual 644 00:33:29,080 --> 00:33:31,280 desert that's not going to be good for you or your family. 645 00:33:31,640 --> 00:33:34,160 OK, that's just one illustration. 646 00:33:34,760 --> 00:33:39,440 But all things considered, yes, God can use circumstances. 647 00:33:39,640 --> 00:33:42,960 So we have to be careful there because I think sometimes the 648 00:33:42,960 --> 00:33:45,720 devil can try and line things up for us as well. 649 00:33:47,080 --> 00:33:50,560 And that's where all these principles working together will 650 00:33:50,560 --> 00:33:51,960 help us. It's like there's a there's 651 00:33:51,960 --> 00:33:54,240 safety there by applying all. Of all four. 652 00:33:55,440 --> 00:33:59,240 So the principle of the open or closed door, Revelation 3738 653 00:33:59,880 --> 00:34:03,640 speaks about the Lord opening a door that no man could shut and 654 00:34:03,960 --> 00:34:07,840 and and so on, and 1 Corinthians 16/9 For a great door and 655 00:34:07,840 --> 00:34:12,199 effectual is opened unto me. 2nd Corinthians 212 Furthermore, 656 00:34:12,199 --> 00:34:15,040 when I came to trios to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was 657 00:34:15,040 --> 00:34:17,560 opened unto me of the Lord. So we see that principle of the 658 00:34:17,560 --> 00:34:21,440 Lord opening a door for you or shutting a door. 659 00:34:23,159 --> 00:34:28,040 I think it's good to pray, Lord, I feel this is probably your 660 00:34:28,040 --> 00:34:29,320 will. I'm seeking to move in this 661 00:34:29,320 --> 00:34:31,920 direction, but slam that door in my face if I'm moving in the 662 00:34:31,920 --> 00:34:35,280 wrong direction. And I believe, if I believe that 663 00:34:35,280 --> 00:34:38,400 if we have a really have a heart to know God's will, he will make 664 00:34:38,400 --> 00:34:41,480 it plain to us because he wants us to be in his will even more 665 00:34:41,480 --> 00:34:43,040 than we desire to be in his will. 666 00:34:43,760 --> 00:34:49,480 So, OK, Lord, I've sought, I'm in the word of God, I'm seeking 667 00:34:49,480 --> 00:34:52,120 guidance from the Scriptures. I do feel a piece about this. 668 00:34:52,159 --> 00:34:54,960 I've sought counsel from godly people and now I'm seeking to 669 00:34:54,960 --> 00:34:56,719 move in that direction. I'm looking for an open door. 670 00:34:56,719 --> 00:35:00,360 So give you an illustration. When over 10 years ago, I was 671 00:35:00,360 --> 00:35:03,680 praying about God's will for the future. 672 00:35:03,680 --> 00:35:08,000 I was working as an assistant pastor with my my dad and the 673 00:35:08,000 --> 00:35:11,200 church that my dad started almost well now almost 50 years 674 00:35:11,200 --> 00:35:14,040 ago. At that time it was about nearly 675 00:35:14,040 --> 00:35:17,280 40 years old was without a pastor and they contacted the 676 00:35:17,280 --> 00:35:20,080 public committee contacted me and said would you pray about 677 00:35:20,080 --> 00:35:23,320 being a candidate. And so we went through a process 678 00:35:23,320 --> 00:35:25,120 and I really sought to apply these principles. 679 00:35:25,120 --> 00:35:26,920 I've I've shared with you this morning. 680 00:35:26,920 --> 00:35:31,160 I was in the word of God seeking the leading, seeking to be 681 00:35:31,160 --> 00:35:33,080 sensitive to the to the leading of the Spirit of God. 682 00:35:33,400 --> 00:35:36,000 I got counsel sat down with the men of the church and said this 683 00:35:36,000 --> 00:35:38,640 is this is the situation. What are your honest thoughts 684 00:35:38,640 --> 00:35:41,840 heard their counsel. If my pastor at the time and 685 00:35:41,840 --> 00:35:44,040 said look, major red lights, I wouldn't have gone. 686 00:35:44,280 --> 00:35:47,600 I'm sure I wouldn't have gone. I was looking for the Lord's 687 00:35:47,600 --> 00:35:49,600 leadership there, or I would have at least, given that a very 688 00:35:49,600 --> 00:35:53,880 careful hearing. So, but when it was all when all 689 00:35:53,880 --> 00:35:57,200 that was said and done, when the church took a vote, if it was a 690 00:35:57,200 --> 00:36:02,160 no, that would be a closed door, but it was a yes and the Lord 691 00:36:02,160 --> 00:36:05,720 just threw the door open. And so I've seen these 692 00:36:05,720 --> 00:36:09,880 principles play out in my life before when making key 693 00:36:09,880 --> 00:36:12,080 decisions. And so seek to apply them to 694 00:36:12,080 --> 00:36:13,840 your life and the Lord will lead and guide you. 695 00:36:13,840 --> 00:36:17,040 So you may feel, OK, I feel like this is God's will, but if the 696 00:36:17,040 --> 00:36:20,400 Lord shuts the door in your face, God hasn't let you down. 697 00:36:20,920 --> 00:36:22,720 You just misunderstood something along the way. 698 00:36:23,400 --> 00:36:25,720 And that's why we need all four principles working together, 699 00:36:25,720 --> 00:36:29,640 because sometimes in our humanity we do miss, we 700 00:36:29,640 --> 00:36:31,680 sometimes misread what we think is God's will. 701 00:36:32,280 --> 00:36:33,520 So give you another illustration. 702 00:36:34,040 --> 00:36:38,760 When I was about 18 years of age, I was really keen on this 703 00:36:38,760 --> 00:36:42,120 pastor's daughter. She was a sweet young lady and I 704 00:36:42,120 --> 00:36:45,360 had a big long list of verses as to why she was the one. 705 00:36:46,800 --> 00:36:49,520 Every time I read a, a verse in the Bible, like he that findeth 706 00:36:49,520 --> 00:36:52,120 the wife findeth a good thing, I was sure God was speaking to me. 707 00:36:52,120 --> 00:36:55,600 I mean, I had a revelation, man. Not quite, but you know, I just, 708 00:36:55,840 --> 00:36:58,160 I thought that that was God's will, right? 709 00:36:58,160 --> 00:37:00,480 And look, our parents allowed us to get to know each other in an 710 00:37:00,480 --> 00:37:01,880 appropriate way. We wrote some letters and 711 00:37:01,880 --> 00:37:04,920 things, but fairly early in the piece it became pretty clear we 712 00:37:04,920 --> 00:37:08,440 weren't on the same page in some key, on some key issues, and the 713 00:37:08,440 --> 00:37:10,920 Lord basically ended up just slamming the door in my face. 714 00:37:11,840 --> 00:37:13,960 Now, was there any problem with God's Word? 715 00:37:14,040 --> 00:37:16,640 No, but my emotions had misled me. 716 00:37:16,680 --> 00:37:20,440 I had read, you know, I had read verses and sort of taken them to 717 00:37:20,440 --> 00:37:23,080 apply to that situation because of my desires. 718 00:37:23,080 --> 00:37:25,240 Does that make sense? The problem's not God's Word, 719 00:37:25,240 --> 00:37:30,240 but sometimes we, sometimes we make a mistake in our, in our, 720 00:37:30,440 --> 00:37:32,160 in our, in our desire to find God's will. 721 00:37:32,440 --> 00:37:34,960 And that's where again, I emphasize when you have all four 722 00:37:34,960 --> 00:37:38,440 of these principles working, then it's, there's, there's 723 00:37:38,440 --> 00:37:42,680 safety there. So in, in relation to that young 724 00:37:42,680 --> 00:37:46,080 lady, I had a big long list of diverses, but my parents counsel 725 00:37:46,080 --> 00:37:48,040 was Simeon, we can see this is not going to work. 726 00:37:48,280 --> 00:37:50,040 And here's why. Now, I'll be honest with you. 727 00:37:50,160 --> 00:37:53,000 At the time, my emotions were involved and I really couldn't 728 00:37:53,000 --> 00:37:56,520 see with sharp clarity what my parents were seeing. 729 00:37:57,200 --> 00:37:59,480 But I thank God at the time, I had enough wisdom to say, you 730 00:37:59,480 --> 00:38:01,400 know what, I think my parents know what they're talking about. 731 00:38:01,400 --> 00:38:03,840 I'll just defer to their wisdom, right? 732 00:38:04,240 --> 00:38:08,000 And I'm so thankful I did that because God had someone else for 733 00:38:08,000 --> 00:38:09,480 me and she was much better suited. 734 00:38:09,480 --> 00:38:14,000 She was God's choice for me. So all right, conclusion #1 735 00:38:14,000 --> 00:38:16,720 let's just think about this traffic light illustration. 736 00:38:17,200 --> 00:38:20,560 Am I getting green lights from the Lord in the above 4 areas? 737 00:38:21,280 --> 00:38:24,640 So think about that illustration of the traffic light. 738 00:38:24,640 --> 00:38:28,080 You come to the light, it's green number one, second light 739 00:38:28,640 --> 00:38:31,880 green, third light green, 4th light green. 740 00:38:32,200 --> 00:38:35,200 I would suggest it's wise to try and look for a green light in 741 00:38:35,200 --> 00:38:38,640 all four of those principles. And if you get a green, a green 742 00:38:38,640 --> 00:38:41,840 light in all four of those areas, it's it's probably a 743 00:38:41,840 --> 00:38:44,880 strong indication you're moving in the direction that God has 744 00:38:44,880 --> 00:38:48,400 for you. You may get an amber light 745 00:38:48,400 --> 00:38:53,240 sometimes slow down. If you get a hard red in any one 746 00:38:53,240 --> 00:38:57,640 of these three, you better stop. You better stop and pray. 747 00:38:57,640 --> 00:39:00,760 It might be that it's still God's rule, but a matter of 748 00:39:00,760 --> 00:39:02,400 timing. Sometimes God says you wait for 749 00:39:02,400 --> 00:39:06,120 a while, just park right there, OK, And the light might turn 750 00:39:06,120 --> 00:39:10,680 green or the right the light may stay red because you've been you 751 00:39:10,680 --> 00:39:12,360 thought you were heading in the right direction and God is 752 00:39:12,360 --> 00:39:17,480 saying stop, no, don't go there. So again, young people, if you 753 00:39:17,480 --> 00:39:20,120 get to the point where you think off this is the this is the one 754 00:39:20,120 --> 00:39:22,880 for me and your parents are like red light, red light, red light. 755 00:39:23,040 --> 00:39:26,680 You better slow down. You better stop or you might be 756 00:39:26,680 --> 00:39:28,880 on your way to a catastrophe at the intersection there. 757 00:39:29,520 --> 00:39:33,960 You might be on your way for a crash church member If you feel 758 00:39:33,960 --> 00:39:35,520 that well, God wants me to do this. 759 00:39:35,520 --> 00:39:38,160 If you're past the same look, I just I really don't have a piece 760 00:39:38,160 --> 00:39:43,480 about this slow down. I'm not talking about a pastor 761 00:39:43,480 --> 00:39:46,320 who's manipulative. And carnal, and they do exist. 762 00:39:46,320 --> 00:39:47,400 And so you have to be discerning. 763 00:39:47,400 --> 00:39:50,080 But I'm talking about a genuine man of God who loves you, wants 764 00:39:50,080 --> 00:39:51,520 the best of you. Slow down. 765 00:39:51,560 --> 00:39:54,000 OK, our time's over. Some questions to ponder. 766 00:39:54,480 --> 00:39:56,720 Number one, has there ever been a time in your life where you've 767 00:39:56,720 --> 00:40:00,440 said a complete yes to the will of God #2 how are you actively 768 00:40:00,440 --> 00:40:03,520 seeking to fulfil the general will of God for your life while 769 00:40:03,520 --> 00:40:05,200 you wait on Him for guidance in other areas? 770 00:40:05,520 --> 00:40:08,080 And three, are you seeking guidance through the right 771 00:40:08,080 --> 00:40:10,560 scriptural means? We'll leave it there. 772 00:40:10,960 --> 00:40:12,800 Did anyone miss a blank that they need help with? 773 00:40:14,960 --> 00:40:16,320 OK, over to you, Pastor. Thank you. 774 00:40:20,120 --> 00:40:22,080 And yeah, if there's time, young people, you can come up, show me 775 00:40:22,080 --> 00:40:23,680 your notes, and you can have one of these. 776 00:40:25,480 --> 00:40:26,640 All right, we'll just close in prayer. 777 00:40:26,960 --> 00:40:28,360 Let's pray. Father, again, we thank you so 778 00:40:28,360 --> 00:40:29,520 much for the lesson this morning. 779 00:40:29,520 --> 00:40:32,880 And just for the reminder for those who are in God's will and 780 00:40:32,880 --> 00:40:34,880 for those who are seeking God, I pray that you'd help them to 781 00:40:34,880 --> 00:40:37,320 find it and I pray that you'd help them be willing to do it 782 00:40:37,320 --> 00:40:39,400 when they do find it. I pray that you just bless the 783 00:40:39,400 --> 00:40:41,560 service in the next hour. Thank you again for all you do 784 00:40:41,560 --> 00:40:42,760 in Jesus name, Amen.