Lesson 1
DECISION – MAKING WITHIN THE WILL OF GOD
Intro:
This is a subject for which any thinking believer must have
an interest in, that is, a desire to know what the will of God is for them so
that they in turn can live a life with meaning – purpose that is God honoring
and therefore pleasing to Him.
Unfortunately many believers run scared all their lives,
fearing some disaster, that results from making a
wrong decision, one that is out of the will of God.
The purpose of this study is to look at what the Word
teaches related to this subject. May
explode a few myths
you’ve held as we discover the mechanics of decision making and the will of God.
Principles of Decision – Making and the Will of God
1. Introduction to Decision - Making:
a. Through out our
lives it will be necessary for each of us to make many decisions, and often we
will be faced with some very tough ones.
b. The frame of reference from which we draw the information
to make those decisions is very important since all our choices shape our lives
to some extent.
c.
Because the decisions we make turn around and
make us over time we should be motivated to make right decisions.
d. If asked,
everyone would say that they want to make good decisions, and as Christians we
have an added, ultimate objective and that is to glorify God by our
actions. 2 Cor
5:9; 1 Cor
e.
The prerequisite for God -
pleasing decisions is set forth in Col 1:9-11.
- vs:9 "knowledge
of His will" What does that recall to your thinking?
How can we grow in the
full knowledge of the will of God??
Paul's closing words
here tell us; "in all spiritual wisdom and understanding" What is he saying??
We understand the will
of God through the Word of God.
- vs:10 is a purpose
clause which gives us the result of having the spiritual wisdom and
understanding
In the Bible and
consequently in the CWOL, knowledge and obedience go together; there is no separation between
learning and living.
- There
is an interesting sequence here in these verses; 1st is acquire wisdom; then its walk and then is work.
f.
The principle task then in decision making for the
Christian is to learn what God wants him to do, and then do it.
g.
The obvious question becomes, "How is the
Christian to learn what God wants him to do as he is confronted with life's
dilemmas?"
2. Throughout History, the ways that God has communicated
His will to men have varied.
a. Before there was any Scripture, God revealed His will
through direct revelation.
1. This included as His means of revelation dreams, visions,
teaching angels, Theophanies, or the direct verbal communication from God.
2. Usually the message was received by a single individual
who would pass along to others whatever content God would instruct. (i.e. Moses &
prophets)
b. As God's special revelation was committed to writing His
people had two sources of the knowledge of His will.
1. The Book. Joshua
1:8
2. And the additional instructions that God gave by further
direct revelation. Josh 1:1-9
c. Over a period of 1500 years, God's will was written
down. 2 Pet
1. Believers in this age possess in Scripture the full
disclosure of God's will.
2. Hence, God has provided for us all that we need (capacity
and resources) in order to make decisions that are pleasing to Him. 2 Pet 1:3
3. Therefore it is knowledge of the Word of God that will
provide us with the ability to make wise decisions that will also be pleasing
to Him.
3. THE PRINCIPLE OF OBEDIENCE:
a. The principle of Obedience definition:
In
those areas specifically addressed by the Bible, the revealed commands and
principles of God (His moral or directive will) are to be obeyed that is if you
desire the benefits, power and provision God has for you. (they
are not optional)
b. The moral will of God definition: the
commands and principles which God has revealed in the Bible to teach what we
ought to believe and how to live.
-
we will be instructed in these ways Titus 2:12
c. The ramifications of the principle of obedience
are more fully understood when four crucial characteristics of God's moral will
are brought into focus.
1.
The moral will of God is fully revealed in the Bible.
a. 100% of what God wants us
to know and how we're to live to please Him He has already told us.
b. The Bible is to be our final and complete
authority for faith and practice it is all that we need. 2 Tim 3:16-17
Proposition that we're building on is that the
revealed will of God is sufficient
for the believer. Documentation for this is 2 Tim 3:16-17
#1.
The origin of Scripture; "All scripture is inspired by God.."
#2.
The use of Scripture.
- First it says its what? Profitable; wvfe,limoj (-imoj says
that it is describing an action or a process) also means useful, beneficial,
advantageous.
- Then it lists 4
categories in which this applies.
a.
teaching (didaskalia) general
word with emphasis on content; today we
might call it curriculum; Scripture must
be the source of all the curriculum, all
doctrine taught.
b.
reproof = evlegmo,j basic to expose (Jn
c.
correction; evpano,rqwsij; used of setting a leg; set something or
someone upright; it assumes an error that is to be set upright or in order;
therefore the idea of correcting, refuting error.
d. for
instruction in righteousness = paidei,a; more
than just training it is a total education, step by step process;in righteousness (dikaiosu,nh) [quality] experiential;
#3.
The Purpose of Scripture.
"That
the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work."
- a;rtioj =
complete, capable, sufficient; ie to meet all of
God's demands; Not only that but the
word will make the man of God,
evxarti,zw fully/completely
outfitted and furnished; fully supplied
and equipped; i.e. for anything that we
might face in life.
What is this passage telling us??