8/13/14

From Jim McGuiggan... The Cross serving Creation


The Cross serving Creation

1.     Because God did not want to be God without us, out of his holy grace God chose to create humankind to share life with him as beloved children and as brothers and sisters one to another. (See Philippians 2:6 in the NRSV for God's astonishing view of his Godhood.)

2.     Because he willed to create embodied beings he created a home suited to our nature in which we would live in peace and joy with him, ever growing into his holy likeness in righteousness.

3.     The home was/is not an end in itself but is the place in which the human family lives unto God and with one another in growing holy intimacy.

4.     That "Grand Enterprise" would come to its fullness in the person of the immortal and glorified Jesus and all who are embraced in him and in his work.

5.     The Grand Enterprise took into account that the human family would rebel and would be in need of "saving" and God purposed to save, as part of what was essential to fulfilling the (conceptually) prior creation purpose which remained intact despite the rebellion.

6.     The "saving" work of God serves his creation purpose and does not conceptually precede it. That is, God's first thought was not, "I would like to save someone" and so he created someone to save. No, God purposed to share his life of joy-filled holiness with companions he would create and, since he took into account that they would sin, he said, "I will 'save' them in order to remain faithful to my creative purpose."

7.     The creation purpose expressed itself in embodied beings (humans) who would live with God in this creation home. With the Fall the humans dragged the creation home down with them and God, in keeping with his creation purpose, planned the "salvation" of the creation as he brings his Grand Enterprise to its completion. (See Romans 8:20-22.)

8.     But the completion of his creation purpose is not the mere restoration of things as they were in Genesis 1—2 because the aim was never simply to create beings who could be happy in an earthly paradise. The aim was to share his joy and life in righteousness so that while the place (home) in which that would take place was an essential element, the nature and quality of life lived in that place (home) was the paramount issue.

9.     God's eternal aim was life lived in a ceaseless growing toward his likeness as it would be expressed fully in the man Jesus. So that when God called and calls people to holiness he is not simply laying down a command, he is expressing a condition without which the life he has purposed to bless us with isn't possible. "Be like me!" is not just a command—it is a call to life to the full.

10.   The cross experience of Jesus is the self-revelation of the God who created and purposed us for life and who would pay the ultimate price to bring about the ultimate relationship. God's eternal aim was not a status but a relationship, ever growing in holy intimacy and righteousness and therefore joy and peace

[All talk about God ordaining and predestinating human sin is the outgrowth of a theology that, thank God, is fatally flawed.]

Things God Cannot Do by Dave Miller, Ph.D.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=11&article=1240

Things God Cannot Do

by  Dave Miller, Ph.D.

Both Christians and atheists generally have assumed that if the God depicted in the Bible exists, He can do anything—since He is represented as being all-powerful. However, this assumption is incorrect. The Bible does not claim that the omnipotence of God implies that He can do anything and everything. In reality, “omnipotence” does not, and cannot, apply to that which does not lend itself to power. Skeptics and atheists have posed queries that they feel nullify the notion of omnipotence, thereby demonstrating the nonexistence of God. For example, “Can God create a boulder so large that He, Himself, cannot lift it?”
Separate and apart from the fact that God is not, Himself, physical, and that He created the entire physical Universe, though He is metaphysical and transcendent of the Universe, the question is a conceptual absurdity. It’s like asking, “Can God create a round square or a four-sided triangle?” No, He cannot—but not for the reasons implied by the atheist: that He does not exist or that He is not omnipotent. Rather, it is because the question is, itself, self-contradictory and incoherent. It is nonsensical terminology. Rather than saying God cannot do such things, it would be more in harmony with the truth to say simply that such things cannot be done at all! God is infinite in power, but power meaningfully relates only to what can be done, to what is possible of accomplishment—not to what is impossible! It is absurd to speak of any power (even infinite power) being able to do what simply cannot be done. Logical absurdities do not lend themselves to being accomplished, and so, are not subject to power, not even to infinite power (see Warren, 1972, pp. 27ff.).
While God can do whatever is possible to be done, in reality, He will do only what is in harmony with His nature. Further, to suggest that God is deficient or limited in power if He cannot create a rock so large that He cannot lift, is to imply that He could do so if He simply had more power. But this is false. Creating a rock that He, Himself, cannot lift, or creating a four-sided triangle, or making a ball that is at the same time both white all over and black all over, or creating a ninety-year-old teenager, or making a car that is larger on the inside that it is on the outside—to propose such things is to affirm logical contradictions and absurdities. Such propositions do not really say anything at all. Though one can imagine logical absurdities that cannot be accomplished, they do not constitute a telling blow against the view that God is infinite in power.
So, no, the concept of “omnipotence” does not mean that there are no limits to what an omnipotent being can do. In fact, the Bible pinpoints specific things that God cannot do. For example, the Bible states unequivocally that God cannot lie (Numbers 23:19; 1 Samuel 15:29; 2 Timothy 2:13; Titus 1:2). He is a Being whose very essence entails truthfulness. Falsehood is completely out of harmony with His divine nature. Further, God cannot be tempted by evil (James 1:13).
Another impossibility pertaining to God’s power is the fact that He shows no partiality or favoritism (Deuteronomy 10:17; Romans 2:11; Colossians 3:25; 1 Peter 1:17). He is “open and above board”—evenhanded—with all His creatures. He can be counted on to interact with human beings as He said He would. His treatment of us centers on our own self-chosen behavior—not on our ethnicity or skin color (Acts 10:34-35; 1 Samuel 16:7).
A third instance that qualifies the meaning of “omnipotent” is seen in God’s inability to forgive the individual who will not repent and forsake his or her sin (Joshua 24:19; Proverbs 28:13; Matthew 6:15; 18:35; Luke 13:3,5). As great and as magnificent as the mercy and forgiveness of God are, it is impossible to bestow forgiveness upon the person who does not seek that forgiveness by meeting the pre-conditions of remission. God is literally powerless to bestow forgiveness through any other avenue than the blood of Jesus and obedience to the Gospel of Christ (Romans 1:16; 2:8; 2 Thessalonians 1:8; 1 Peter 4:17).
The more one studies the Bible, examining the attributes and characteristics of the God depicted there, the more one is struck with (1) the inspiration of the Bible—since its skillful handling of such matters places it beyond the charge of successful contradiction, and (2) awe at the infinitude of God. Not one of the factors discussed in this article reflects adversely upon the reality of God’s omnipotence. But it is abundantly clear that a person may so live as to render the God of heaven incapable of coming to that person’s aid. It is imperative that every human being recognizes the need to understand His will and to conform one’s behavior to that will. It is imperative that every individual avoid placing self in the precarious position of being in need of that which God cannot do.

REFERENCES

Warren, Thomas B. (1972), Have Atheists Proved There Is No God (Jonesboro, AR: National Christian Press).

From Mark Copeland... Not Ashamed Of The Gospel (Romans 1:14-17) 

                      "THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS"

                  Not Ashamed Of The Gospel (1:14-17)

INTRODUCTION

1. As Paul began his grand epistle to the Romans, he wrote of his desire
   to see them...
   a. His diligent prayers toward that end - Ro 1:9-10
   b. His desire to encourage them through mutual edification - Ro 1:
      11-12
   c. His plans to come, that he might have some fruit among them - Ro 1:13

2. His desire to see them was related to the gospel...
   a. Which he served as an apostle of Christ - Ro 1:1
   b. The good news concerning Jesus - Ro 1:3
   c. Of which he was not ashamed - Ro 1:16

3. Are we ever ashamed of the gospel of Christ...?
   a. Embarrassed to tell others about Jesus?
   b. Could this be a reason why many are not active in personal
      evangelism?

[Perhaps by examining how and why Paul was not ashamed of the gospel, we
might be more diligent in our efforts to share the good news of Jesus
Christ...]

I. PAUL WAS NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL

   A. HOW HE WAS NOT ASHAMED...
      1. He felt obligated to preach the gospel to everyone
         a. To Greeks and barbarians (non-Greeks), to wise and unwise
            - Ro 1:14
         b. His obligation due partly to favor God had shown him - 1Co 15:9-10; 1Ti 1:12-14
      2. He was ready to preach the gospel in Rome
         a. Whatever opportunity was given him, he would take it! - Ro 1:15
         b. Even though his preference was to preach where Jesus had not
            been proclaimed before - Ro 15:20
      -- Paul showed that he was not ashamed by his willingness and
         preparedness to preach the gospel anytime and anywhere!

   B. WHY HE WAS NOT ASHAMED...
      1. It is the power of God to salvation
         a. For everyone who believes, both Jew and Greek (Gentiles)
            - Ro 1:16
         b. For it tells of Christ, the power of God and wisdom of God
            - 1Co 1:23-24
      2. It reveals the righteousness of God in salvation
         a. How the just shall live by faith - Ro 1:17
         b. How God is both just and the justifier of those who believe
            in Jesus - Ro 3:21-26
      -- Because of its power and message, Paul was not ashamed to
         preach the gospel to anyone willing to listen!

[From Paul, then, we should note several reasons why...]

II. WE SHOULD NOT BE ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL

   A. THE GOSPEL REMAINS THE SAME...
      1. It is still God's power to save
         a. The power to produce faith in the hearts of those who hear
            it - Ro 10:17
         b. The power to produce fruit in those who hear and know the
            truth - Col 1:5-6
      2. It still reveals God's righteousness in salvation
         a. How Jesus died for our sins - 1Co 15:1-4
         b. How we can receive remission of our sins in Jesus through
            faith, repentance, and baptism - Ac 2:36-38; 22:16
      -- The passing of time has not weakened the power and message of
         the gospel of Christ!

   B. THE NEED REMAINS THE SAME...
      1. Souls are in need of salvation
         a. All have sinned - Ro 3:23
         b. The wages of sin is death - Ro 6:23
      2. Both wise and foolish, both near and afar
         a. Jesus is still the only way to the Father - Jn 14:6
         b. His gospel still needs to be preached to every creature - Mk 16:15-16
      -- The passing of time has not lessened the need and scope of the
         gospel of Christ!

[From the example of Paul, we can know the proper attitude and conduct
of..]

III. THOSE NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL

   A. WILL FEEL A SENSE OF OBLIGATION...
      1. To God who saved them
         a. Are we not thankful for what God has done for us?
         b. Will this not affect how we live our lives? - cf. Ga 2:20
      2. To those who are lost
         a. Are we not concerned about their eternal destiny should they
            die in their sins?
         b. Will this not move us to do something? - cf. 2Co 5:11
      -- Those not ashamed of the gospel will feel an obligation similar
         to Paul's - Ro 1:14

   B. WILL MAKE THEMSELVES READY...
      1. To share the gospel as they have opportunity
         a. If uncertain what to say, they will learn it (even relearn
            it) - cf. 1Pe 3:15; He 5:12
         b. They will not rest until they have found some method, aids,
            or tools, whereby they can communicate the gospel to others
         c. Then they will be looking for "open doors" to teach others
            - cf. 1Co 3:5
      2. To spread the gospel as they have opportunity
         a. They may not be in a position to go, but they can still send
            - cf. Ro 10:14-15; 3Jn 5-8
         b. They may not be in a position to teach, but they can still
            invite - e.g., Ac 10:24,33
         c. Then they will be looking for "open doors" to send - e.g.,
            Php 4:15-16
      -- Those not ashamed of the gospel will make themselves ready like
         Paul - Ro 1:15

CONCLUSION

1. Are you ashamed of the gospel of Christ?  You may be, if you are
   not...
   a. Doing anything to share the gospel yourself
   b. Involved in helping others to spread the gospel

2. You have no reason to be ashamed, it is still the same gospel!
   a. With power to save the souls of men
   b. Revealing the wonderful righteousness of God to save men

May we never be ashamed of the gospel, or of Jesus Himself...

   "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and
   sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when
   He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels." (Mk 8:38)

   "Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but
   let him glorify God in this matter." (1Pe 4:16)

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

From Gary... Silence time


Tests are not fun.  But most of the tests in school just refer to memory and reasoning. The real tests in life are those that require the APPLICATION of knowledge with wisdom. To know a thing is not the same as being able to apply a thing.  And then there is Jesus; what do we do with Jesus? IS JESUS more than just an historical figure, more than just a great teacher- who is he? Read below to following the sequence of events and the eventual test at the end. 

John 6:22-69 NASB
(22)  The next day the crowd that stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other small boat there, except one, and that Jesus had not entered with His disciples into the boat, but that His disciples had gone away alone.
(23)  There came other small boats from Tiberias near to the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks.
(24)  So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they themselves got into the small boats, and came to Capernaum seeking Jesus.
(25)  When they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, "Rabbi, when did You get here?"
(26)  Jesus answered them and said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.
(27)  "Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal."
(28)  Therefore they said to Him, "What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?"
(29)  Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent."
(30)  So they said to Him, "What then do You do for a sign, so that we may see, and believe You? What work do You perform?
(31)  "Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, 'HE GAVE THEM BREAD OUT OF HEAVEN TO EAT.'"
(32)  Jesus then said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven.
(33)  "For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world."
(34)  Then they said to Him, "Lord, always give us this bread."
(35)  Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.
(36)  "But I said to you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe.
(37)  "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.
(38)  "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
(39)  "This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day.
(40)  "For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day."
(41)  Therefore the Jews were grumbling about Him, because He said, "I am the bread that came down out of heaven."
(42)  They were saying, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does He now say, 'I have come down out of heaven'?"
(43)  Jesus answered and said to them, "Do not grumble among yourselves.
(44)  "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.
(45)  "It is written in the prophets, 'AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT OF GOD.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me.
(46)  "Not that anyone has seen the Father, except the One who is from God; He has seen the Father.
(47)  "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life.
(48)  "I am the bread of life.
(49)  "Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died.
(50)  "This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die.
(51)  "I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh."
(52)  Then the Jews began to argue with one another, saying, "How can this man give us His flesh to eat?"
(53)  So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves.
(54)  "He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.
(55)  "For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink.
(56)  "He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.
(57)  "As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he also will live because of Me.
(58)  "This is the bread which came down out of heaven; not as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live forever."
(59)  These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum.
(60)  Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this said, "This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?"
(61)  But Jesus, conscious that His disciples grumbled at this, said to them, "Does this cause you to stumble?
(62)  "What then if you see the Son of Man ascending to where He was before?
(63)  "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.
(64)  "But there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him.
(65)  And He was saying, "For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father."
(66)  As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore.
(67)  So Jesus said to the twelve, "You do not want to go away also, do you?"
(68)  Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life.
(69)  "We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God."

Jesus was a great teacher and miracle worker to be sure.  But, he was much more than that- He was the source of life. Not everyone could (or will, even today) accept that. Some will even go so far as to accept that, but fail to complete their belief by obedience. For genuine belief requires many things- Mental understanding, repentance, confession, baptism and faithfulness.  Now it time for us to think about applying these things to our lives.  Verse 67 has been said- I wonder what our verse 68 will be? The moment of silence is deafening!!!!

8/12/14

From Jim McGuiggan... The age of the earth

The age of the earth

I don’t think we can prove from science that the earth is not millions of years old. Furthermore, and more to the point, I don’t think we need to be able to prove it. If scientists could prove beyond reasonable dispute that the material (non-living) creation was billions of years old you and I would not only have to accept it, we would be glad to accept. Why would we want to deny clearly established truth?

But that’s just the issue, isn’t it? The "proof" that the material universe (our organized system) is billions of years old is based on various hypotheses and radio-metric clocks, all of which rests on various assumptions embodied in the hypotheses and the clocks. Despite the scoffing by some (maybe most) scientists the dating of the fossil record does depend on major assumptions about the rocks in which they are found. Rates given to the laying down of strata still depend on pre-Velikovsky uniformitarianism and the rate of leaching from radioactive materials depends on existing conditions, original amounts and if the present rate was always as it is. This kind of talk irritates some scientists but they should try to control themselves as we (often) fearful believers should try to control ourselves. I know a fine man (a believer) who thinks that if the earth itself isn’t something like 6,000 years old that the Bible is false. I’m not one of those. But scientists haven’t proved an immense age for creation. Whether they are irritated with us or not, it’s still possible for God to have created the (organized) creation 6,000 years ago and made it "full grown". If by a miracle I willed a completed house into existence in an instant I could understand a builder who didn’t know that I did it—I could understand him thinking it took, say, six weeks or three months. He would be working on normal rates and normal procedures.
Nor do I think that I can go to Genesis and prove the material creation is something like 6,000—10,000 years old. Others are sure they can but I can’t.

When it comes to living creatures, I think we move into an entirely different realm. I think the theory of the evolution of humans from inorganic material through the various "kinds" is silly. I know it hasn’t been proved. I read one silly scientist who said that the evolution of humans from inorganics has been proved as clearly as the rotundity of the earth. Bless me, we have pictures of the earth's round nature, we actually fly round it and this silly man says the transmutations of species has been proven as conclusively as the claim "the earth is round." Sometimes religious people overstate their case but as you can see they’re not the only ones.

I know there are scads of books on the market and stuff online that discuss things like this so we won’t be short of material to pursue. Myself? I choose to spend my time in other avenues (though I have no criticism for those who pursue this line of inquiry!). I vehemently oppose the social, moral and ethical fruit that rises from the theory of evolution (the transmutation of species). The theory of evolution has no practical benefit to offer humanity in any of the areas that makes humans anything worth talking about. I think we should do our best to become rich in the central truths of scripture and the gospel and rejoice in and proclaim those. There's something about those truths that make theories of evolution sound hollow and finally boring.

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, theabidingword.com.

Tolerance, Diversity, and Division by Dave Miller, Ph.D.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=11&article=2083

Tolerance, Diversity, and Division

by  Dave Miller, Ph.D.

One of the “big myths” of society that surely will go down in history as a significant contributor to the moral decline of America is the incessant clamor by liberals for “tolerance” and “diversity.” They insist that those who oppose same-sex marriage are “intolerant” and lack basic human “compassion.” They maintain that “diversity” and “tolerance” (code words for acceptance of homosexuality) are healthy for society, and that those who oppose homosexuality are merely “demonizing people for political advantage” and “perpetuating division” (Obama, 2004).
Satan is slick. He uses “devices,” “wiles,” and “snares” (2 Corinthians 2:11; Ephesians 6:11; 2 Timothy 2:26) to distort people’s thinking. He is a shrewd master of advancing his agenda by disguising the immoral with a righteous veneer. If people give in to emotional impulse, rather than thinking rationally, logically, and biblically, they will swallow the propaganda and embrace Satan’s ploys.
The fallacy of such “reasoning” is made apparent when placed in syllogistic form:
1. Everyone should be compassionate, tolerant, and accepting of diversity;
2. Homosexuality is one form of diversity;
3. Therefore, homosexuality should be accepted/approved; to fail to do so is intolerant and divisive.
Few would disagree with the first premise. The Bible clearly teaches that God loves every person, and He requires Christians to do the same. However, toleration cannot and must not extend to any practice, action, or behavior that is evil, immoral, and sinful, i.e., out of harmony with God’s will.
Using the above line of reasoning, the tolerance/diversity umbrella ought logically to apply to pedophilia, necrophilia, incest, bestiality, and every other aberrant sexual behavior. Similarly, the same principle ought to apply to murder, stealing, drug dealing, and every other illegal action. Are we simply to cancel all laws in the United States that govern human behavior—on the guise that to enforce them is “intolerant”? Are we to open the doors of all the prisons in the country and free the criminals—on the grounds that to fail to do so is to “perpetuate division”? By such foolish thinking, placing anyone in prison constitutes a lack of “compassion.”
The tolerance/diversity viewpoint is completely nonsensical. If applied consistently and thoroughly, it would lead to social anarchy, rampant lawlessness, and the destruction of society. Opposing homosexuality, abortion, and a host of other social and moral evils is not incompatible with compassion and tolerance. One can oppose and punish murder while still maintaining compassion for the murderer. The overarching, governing principle is the recognition of and submission to the absolute standard of morality given to the human race by the God of the Bible—the God who is love (1 John 4:16). Those who reject that standard, thereby elevating their own fleshly appetites above the transcendent Creator, one day will face the consequences: “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day” (John 12:48). Those who consider themselves more tolerant and compassionate than God need a healthy dose of humility to alter their skewed perspective:
Thus says the Lord: “Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest? For all those things My hand has made, and all those things exist,” says the Lord. “But on this one will I look: on him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word (Isaiah 66:1-2, emp. added).
May we be among “those that tremble at the commandment of our God” (Ezra 10:3).

REFERENCES

Obama, Barack (2004), “Obama on Marriage,” Windy City Times, November 2, [On-line], URL: “http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=4018.

From Mark Copeland... Finding A Way In The Will Of God (Romans 1:10) 

                      "THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS"

                Finding A Way In The Will Of God (1:10)

INTRODUCTION

1. "What is God's will for my life?"
   a. What devout person has not asked a question like this?
   b. Often asked even pertaining to mundane things like one's career,
      where to live, etc.
   -- How can we live in harmony with the will of God?

2. Paul mentioned his desire to live in harmony with God's will...
   a. As he made plans to visit his brethren in Rome
   b. As he prayed regarding such plans - cf. Ro 1:9-10
   -- He sought to "find a way in the will of God" to come to them

[Paul's comments provide an opportunity for us to consider some thoughts
related to the will of God, especially on how to determine God's will
for our lives.  It might be of benefit to first review some...]

I. FACETS  OF GOD'S WILL

   A. THERE IS GOD'S PROCLAIMED WILL...
      1. God has made His will known in many respects - e.g., 1Th 5:18; 1Pe 2:15
      2. This He has done through revelation
         a. By sending inspired prophets in the past - He 1:1
         b. By sending His own Son - He 1:2
         c. By having the Spirit guide the apostles - Jn 16:12-13; e.g.,
            1Co 14:36-37
      3. It is this proclaimed will of God that we must do to be saved
         - cf. Mt 7:21
      -- That which is essential to know, God has revealed through
         Scripture - 2Ti 3:16-17

   B. THERE IS GOD'S PROVIDENTIAL WILL...
      1. God acts providentially in our lives, as implied in our text
         - cf. Ro 1:10; also 15:32
      2. For such reason we are to pray regarding our plans - cf. Jm 4:13-15
      3. Our requests are answered as it may suit God's will - cf. 1Jn 5:14
      -- We may not have certainty as to what is God's providential will
         for us

   C. THERE IS GOD'S PERMISSIVE WILL...
      1. God allows things to happen that are not necessarily according
         to His desired will
      2. He permits people to sin and even hurt other people
         a. He is not pleased, and will one day render judgment - Ac 17:30-31
         b. He is able to fulfill His own will, despite such rebellion
            - cf. Isa 10:5-7
      3. God permits people to do things that are indifferent to Him
         a. There are some matters of indifference to God - e.g., Ro 14:
            5-6
         b. Likewise, some decisions we make might not really matter to
            God
      -- Thus not all choices please God, nor are they necessarily
         required by God

[With these thoughts in mind, let's now consider some thoughts on...]

II. FINDING GOD'S WILL

   A. FOCUS ON THE PROCLAIMED WILL OF GOD...
      1. I.e., study diligently to learn what God has revealed
         a. If you don't embrace and practice the revealed will of
            God...
         b. ...what difference does it make to seek areas of God's will
            unknown to you?
      2. The value of focusing on the proclaimed will of God
         a. We will not be ignorant of what is essential for us to know
            and do
         b. We can avoid choices that are clearly contrary to God's will

   B. SEEK ADVICE FROM OTHERS...
      1. Discuss your alternatives with older, mature Christians - Pro  11:14; 12:15
      2. Consult the wisdom found in the Bible (especially in books like
         Proverbs, Ecclesiastes)

   C. ASK GOD FOR WISDOM...
      1. I.e., pray diligently for the ability to discern wisely - Jm 1:5-8
      2. Wisdom is that spiritual insight that enables you to evaluate
         situations clearly, and helps utilize what options and
         abilities you have
      3. Use such wisdom to eliminate what appears less acceptable

   D. COMMIT YOUR WAY TO THE LORD...
      1. Whatever you do, do it for the Lord's sake - cf. Ps 37:5-6,23-26
      2. Make your plans subject to God's will, both proclaimed and
         providential - Jm 4:15
         a. Give God permission to close the door on your choice if that
            is His will
         b. If He closes the door on your choice, look for alternatives

   E. OTHER THINGS TO REMEMBER...
      1. God is not like a train; he is able to run on more than one
         track
      2. A choice may not be between good and bad, but between good and
         better
      3. God can use us in many different ways
      4. If need not choose right away, wait; that will give you time to
         grow and gain wisdom
      5. Whatever your hands finds to do in your existing circumstances,
         do it with all your might

CONCLUSION

1. Our goal should be to "stand perfect and complete in all the will of
   God" - cf. Col 4:12
   a. Especially as it pertains to the proclaimed will of God
   b. Even as much as possible in the providential and permissive will
      of God

2. Epaphras' desire for his brethren serves as a good example; as does
   that of our Lord...
   a. Who taught us to pray, "Your will be done on earth as it in
      heaven" - Mt 6:10
   b. Who Himself prayed, "Not as I will, but as You will..." - Mt 26:
      39-42

Are you seeking to "find a way in the will of God" as it pertains to the
plans in your life?

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

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