DISCERNING THE WILL OF GOD

He equips you to do his will.

·       Sometimes you wonder does God speak to me too?

·       How can I hear is voice?

·       Can you imagine a loving father who cannot communicate with his children?

·       It doesn’t matter whether a child is deaf or blind, a father has a way of communicating with his children.

·       Our father in heaven is even able to cause us to hear him.

• He wants to walk with us.

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.

·       We miss on this when we turn around and start doing our will with his equipment.

·       How many get blessed in wealth after prayers and forget once they are blessed.

·       Someone who was making 9 dollars an hour and does not tithe even now that you make 90/hr., yet you have more than you can eat.

·       I want to challenge you to try God, with tithes.

·       I want to challenge you to try God with prayers.

1.   Start with God’s revealed Word || Saturate your mind with Scripture.

Psalm 1:2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his Law Day and night.

·       Psalms 1:1-6 is probably the most famous verse in my house; we recite it multiple occasions and I started reading it to the kids when they were little.

·       Scripture is always the first and sufficient place God speaks

Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

 • Any further guidance must align with what He has already said.

Galatians 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

2.   Obey what you already know

·       Do not merely listen to the word, and deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

·       Many wonder how God speaks, but there is so much they know God has said but they deliberately don’t obey.

·       If he tells you turn right and you refuse, how is he going to tell you to turn left.

James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

3.   Pray specifically for wisdom and expect an answer.

James 1:5-6 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. ⁶ But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

·       True Wisdom enlighten you to the word of God and draws you closer to God.

4.   Invite wise, godly counsel—God often speaks through His people.

Proverbs 11:14 For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers.

·       Be sensitive to God’s voice through his people. Regardless of age.

·       Pray that God will surround you with honest friends.

·       True friends will be honest with God’s message for you.

·       Be intentional on who is around you-avoid jokers who are never serious in anything!!

·       There are times when words spoken by someone become more clear that God spoke after I have left that person.

5.   Pay attention to providential circumstances that line up with Scripture.

Acts 16:6-10 Paul’s Vision of the Man of Macedonia .⁶ Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. ⁷ When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. ⁸ So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. ⁹ During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” ¹⁰ After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

He guides through open doors/providing.

When I left and started supporting Rev. Tabitha in Abilene, I knew that I couldn’t drive 170 miles every Sunday forever, Dora asked me when we would stop going to Abilene and I told her when God sends someone to help Auntie with what we were doing there. Then she said, “I pray that God will give you a place to continue preaching.”  I continued driving there waiting for God to say, “go to this and that place and open a church” instead I received a call from Bernard requesting for a meeting.

The meeting at Starbucks was to ask me if I could come to Dallas and open a church, in the meeting were three men ready to open a church and bring their wives and children. There were others too-22 in total.

I told them let me pray, and sent them the scripture about David inquiring of God. I prayed and fasted for 3 days. I’d the peace of God in me. He had already spoken through open doors.

6.   Hold decisions with open hands; let the holy Spirit either “open doors” or “close doors”

Revelation 3:7 To the Church in Philadelphia 7 “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.

·       God looks at the heart, he knows if your desire for his guidance is genuine or not.

·       Are you ready to accept his answer?

Would you accept the answer even if it doesn't align with your desire?

7.   Confirm major decisions with multiple witnesses—Word, Spirit’s peace, counsel, and circumstances together.

2 Corinthians 13 Final Warnings, 13 This will be my third visit to you. “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.

·       It’s wisdom to seek confirmation even after a respected prophet has spoken.

·       Remember the prophet who was killed by a lion in 1 Kings 13? he listened from an elderly prophet-but it wasn't the will of God.

8.   Humbly admit weakness

 • Gideon’s plea, “Do not be angry with me” (Jud 6:39), models humility, not presumption.

1 Peter 5:6-7 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:⁷ Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Jude 6 And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.

9.   Look for signs confirmation, not permission

 • Signs are for strengthening faith, not for negotiating whether to obey .

John 20:27 Then saith he to Thomas, reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

Judges 6:35-40⁵ He sent messengers throughout Manasseh, calling them to arms, and also into Asher, Zebulun and Naphtali, so that they too went up to meet them.

³⁶ Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised— ³⁷ looks, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said.” ³⁸ And that is what happened. Gideon rose early the next day; he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew—a bowlful of water.

³⁹ Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece, but this time make the fleece dry and let the ground be covered with dew.” ⁴⁰ That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with dew.

10. Look for God’s peace

·       When direction is from Him, His peace rules in our hearts.

·       When you feel disturbed in mind, slow down, God is speaking.

If it's the will of God, his peace will be there. He is the prince of peace.

Colossians 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Extra study

1 Chronicles 16:11 Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!

Micah 6:8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?