Lesson 4
DECISION – MAKING WITHIN THE WILL OF GOD
Back to our principles of decision making:
b. Specific areas
where Christ is our example in character:
- we are to be
conformed to the image of Christ. Rom
1. holiness - 1 Pet 1:15-16
2. righteousness - 1 Jn 3:7;
living the standards of the word
3. purity - 1 Jn 3:3;
takes constant cleansing and applying the Word in the life.
4. love - Eph 5:1-2; we are to walk in love just
as Christ loved us.
5. forgiveness - Col. 3:13; forgiving one another....just
as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.
6. compassion - Lk 6:36;
7. endurance - Heb 12:2-4; related to occupation with
Christ
8. humility and
obedience - Phil 2:3-8
9. kindness - Lk
10. generosity in giving
- 2 Cor 8:1-9
3. The moral will of
God touches every aspect and moment of life.
a. God's moral will
encompasses more than overt behavior.
b.
He is concerned
not only with what we do, but He cares also about what we think, as well as the
motivation for what we do.
c.
In other words,
God's moral will prescribes the believer's goals and attitudes, as well as his
actions. (the
what, why, how)
d.
Furthermore,
the moral will of God is to shape our perspective of reality which serves as
the context in which our decisions are made. (i.e. to
have the proper world-view regarding reality; we must have Biblically based
presuppositions)
- This is something that we must be renewing
constantly; only occurs as we keep
learning what God has to say in His Word.
e. Goals by nature are
more general than behavioral commands.
Our goals as Christian's should reflect God's
stated purposes for us in our lives after salvation, in phase 2.
(1) Primary goal = to glorify Him in all
things. 2 Cor
5:9; 1 Cor
(2) Toward this end some intermediate goals and
objectives should be established:
(a) to fulfill God -
given responsibilities. 1 Pet 4:10-11
- each of us have been
given spiritual gifts that are to be
used to minister to or serve one another in the body of Christ; all gifts fill
a need in the local body of Christ.
- as a result Jesus
Christ reaps honor and glory as we fulfill these goals
(b) to minister to
others; building up one another.
Rom
- providing comfort,
encouragement and exhortation as the need and opportunity arises.
(c) to
reach maturity. Eph 4:13; Heb 6:1 ("let us press on to maturity.")
- Context is P/T doing
his job of teaching the Word. (vs:11-12)
- this
trains and equips the believer who is not just a hearer but a doer of the word
for their particular niche of service in the body of Christ.
- This whole passage
plays havoc with the notion that you can attain or maintain any spiritual
momentum or spiritual maturity, any spiritual impact in one's life apart from
the
(d) to
do good works and produce spiritual fruit DGP.
Eph 2:10; Col. 1:10; Jn 15:8; Titus 3:8
(e) to
evangelize the lost - 2 Pet 3:9; 2 Cor.
NOTE: Once we’ve
established goals in our lives that are in line with God's moral will (those
that fit the ultimate criteria of glorifying Him) then we have also established
a means of concrete guidance that is applicable even in situations not directly
addressed by scripture.
IF I TAKE THIS
WHICH CHOICE WILL MAXIMIZE THE
FULFILLMENT OF MY
OBJECTIVES/GOALS?
f. Our decisions
should not only conform to God-given goals, they should reflect right
attitudes.
Examples of God's will for our attitudes:
(1) love
others Jn 13:35; 1 Thes.
4:9; 1 John 3:11
(2) reliance/trust Prov 3:5-6
(3) humility Phil 2:3-8 (includes authority orientation and teachableness)
(4) gratitude
(5) integrity
(6) diligence
(7) eagerness 1 Pet 5:2 (P/T)
(8) generosity 1 Tim 6:17-19
(9) courage Jn 16:33; 2 Cor 5:8
(10) submission Eph 5:21
(11) contentment Heb 13:5; Phil 4:11
(12) joy Jas. 1:2
(13) giving thanks Eph 5:20