"GOD'S WILL FOR YOU" Motivation To Do God's Will by Mark Copeland

 

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"GOD'S WILL FOR YOU"

Motivation To Do God's Will

INTRODUCTION

1. In this study, we have considered...
1. Things explicitly stated as God's will for you
2. How to be transformed to discern God's will in general
2. In this lesson, we shall talk about motivation...
1. Why we should want to do God's will
2. Reasons given in the Scriptures for wanting to do the will of God

[Let's begin by turning to Jesus, Himself highly motivated to do the will of His Father in heaven (cf., Jn 4:34; 6:38). In His sermon on the mount, He offers one compelling reason to do the will of God...]

1. TO ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN - Mt 7:21-23
1. THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN...
1. Broadly defined, it is the rule of God in or from heaven
2. Manifested today in the reign of His Son - Mt 28:18; Ep 1:20-22; 1Pe 3:22; Re 1:5
3. Experienced in the lives of those who submit to Jesus, i.e., the church - Col 1:13; Re 1:9
4. A reign with both present (the church) and future (heaven) aspects - 2Ti 4:18; 2Pe 1:11
5. Its future aspect described in various ways
1. As a great house with many rooms - Jn 14:1-3
2. As a great marriage feast - Rev 19:9
3. As a new city in a new heavens and new earth - Re 21:1-22:5
2. TO ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN...
1. We must do the will of God - Mt 7:21
2. It is not enough to simply believe on the Lord or confess Him as Lord - ibid.
3. Nor to do many wonderful and amazing things in His name - Mt 7:22-23

[On another occasion, as His physical family drew near to speak to Him, Jesus gave another reason why we should want to do the will of God...]

2. TO BE A MEMBER OF CHRIST'S FAMILY - Mt 12:48-50
1. THE FAMILY OF GOD...
1. Not every person is a member of God's family
1. We may be God's creatures, so in one sense part of the "brotherhood of man"
2. But not everyone can rightly call God their "Father" - Jn 8:42-44
2. Those in God's family enjoy wonderful relationships
1. With God as their heavenly father - Mt 6:9
2. With Christ as their brother - He 2:11-12
3. With Christians as their brothers and sisters - Mk 10:29-30; 1Ti 5:1-2
2. TO BE A MEMBER OF CHRIST'S FAMILY....
1. We must do the will of God - Mt 12:48-50
2. We must become disciples of Jesus Christ - ibid.
3. Which involves baptism followed by discipleship - Mt 28:19-20
4. This places us in the body of Christ, His church - Ac 2:41,47; 1Co 12:13
5. Which church is the household or family of God - 1Ti 3:15

[On yet another occasion Jesus spoke of the value of doing God's will as a means...]

3. TO GAIN ASSURANCE - Jn 7:17
1. ASSURANCE OF SALVATION...
1. One can easily have a false sense of assurance
1. There is a way that may seem right, but be wrong - Pr 16:25; e.g., Ac 26:9
2. It not within man's heart alone to know what is right - Jer 10:23
2. But the very meaning of the word 'hope' implies assurance
1. Hope means desire plus expectation
2. And we have been saved to have hope - e.g., Ro 5:1-2; 8:24
2. WE GAIN ASSURANCE...
1. As we do the will of God - Jn 7:17
2. Such as keeping His commandments - 1Jn 2:3-5
3. Especially to love one another - 1Jn 3:18-23

[Jesus certainly gives us motivation to learn and do God's will. And so do His apostles. For example...]

4. TO RECEIVE THE PROMISE - He 10:36
1. WHICH PROMISE...?
1. We have exceedingly great and precious promises - 2Pe 1:4
2. The promise of eternal life - 2Ti 1:1; 1Jn 2:25
3. The promise of a heavenly rest - He 4:1,11
4. The promise of Christ's coming - 2Pe 3:4,9-12
5. The promise of the resurrection - Ac 24:15; 1Th 4:13-18
6. The promise of a new heavens and new earth - 2Pe 3:13
2. WE SHALL RECEIVE SUCH PROMISES...
1. After we have done the will of God - He 10:36
2. With endurance, faith, and patience - ibid., He 6:12

[Finally, in the words of John the beloved disciple, we are given another motivation to do God's will...]

5. TO ABIDE FOREVER - 1Jn 2:17
1. WHAT WILL ABIDE FOREVER...?
1. Not this world, nor this universe - 1Jn 2:17; 2Pe 3:10-12
2. The words of Jesus will abide forever - Mt 24:35
3. The one who believes in Jesus - Jn 11:25
2. TO ABIDE FOREVER...
1. We must do the will of God - 1Jn 2:17
2. Which involves not loving the world or the things in the world - 1Jn 2:15-16

CONCLUSION

1. Here, then, are five reasons to motivate us to do the will of God...
1. To enter the kingdom of heaven
2. To be a member of Christ's family
3. To gain assurance
4. To receive the promise
5. To abide forever
2. Are not these sufficient motivators...?
1. To seek out the will of God for our lives?
2. To learn what is explicitly stated as God's will for you?
3. To be transformed by the renewing of your mind so that you may discern His will?
4. To do that which has been proven time again to be the good, acceptable and perfect will of God?

I pray that in some way this series of lessons is encouraging you to want to do the will of God, starting with obeying the gospel of Christ if you have not yet done so... - cf. Mk 16:15-16; Ac 2:38; 22:16; 2Th 1:7-9

"...for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." - 1Th 5:8

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