Lord Willing... and the Creek Don't Rise
Series: Authentic Faith
July 24, 2022
Frank Foreman
The will of God is not simply a passive plan, the blueprint for his creation. Rather, very often the Old Testament describes God as accomplishing His will. In this we glimpse the sovereign control he exerts over nations and individuals as well as the certainty that characterizes His will. What God has planned (His will), He Himself will bring to pass. Human history is never regarded as beyond his control. This includes not only the sweeping circumstances that affect whole nations, but also the specific events that touch individual lives. ---------- This week, Frank preaches a message over a very powerful passage from James 4:13-17. In this message, he will dive into to the words of James regarding the will of God. We know that as maturing Christians, we should have a desire to both to discover and to do the will of God. Frank will address these thoughts from a biblical perspective this Sunday.
Episode Notes
Matthew 7:21, Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in Heaven.
Big Idea: Maturing Christians desire to discover and do the will of God.
Psalm 143:10, Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God! Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground!
Psalm 40:8, I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your Law is within my heart.
God’s will is found in God’s Word
(Journal) James 4:13-17
1. Ignoring God’s will is foolish.
(Journal) James 4:13-14
Proverbs 27:1, Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.
Job 14:1-2, Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble. He comes out like a flower and withers; he flees like a shadow and continues not.
2. Denying God’s will is arrogant.
(Journal) James 4:16
Isaiah 47:10, You felt secure in your wickedness; you said, “No one sees me”; your wisdom and your knowledge led you astray, and you said in your heart, “I am, and there is no one besides me.”
John 17:15, I do not ask that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one.
3. Disobeying God’s will is sin.
(Journal) James 4:17
Luke 12:47, And that servant who knew his master's will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating.
Romans 1:21-23, For although they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
(Journal) James 4:15
Mark 14:36, And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Remove this cup from Me. Yet not what I will, but what You will.”
Next Step: Acknowledge the sovereignty of God by affirming His will.
Hebrews 13:20-21, Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
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