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Ascertaining the Will of God: What Would God Have Me to Do?
This is the final part of a three-part Bible Study series on the will of God. We learned that while our will or the will of others may be strong, it is God's will that should reign supreme. Nevertheless, all of us are still sinners and spend the rest of our lives with an internal battle between the desires to do good and to do evil. Our judgments are often clouded with the emotions of an unexpected crisis and our decisions and thoughts often seek to serve our sinful nature. In this Bible Study we will look at how to know God's will and to then know how to translate that will into God-pleasing decisions and actions. Read: 2 Timothy 4:2-4 2 Timothy 4:2-4 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. Q: As time passes what will be the tendency of people? Q: What kind of doctrine will they pursue? Q: How will they feel justified in their new doctrines? Q: How are we to combat these self-serving doctrines? Read: Acts 17:10-12, Hebrews 4:12 Acts 17:10-12 As soon as it was night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. Many of the Jews believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men. Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Q: What kind of work were Paul and Silas doing? (See Acts 16:10) Q: What problem did the Thessalonians have with Paul? (See Acts 17:1-9) Q: What made the Bereans different? Q: How were the Bereans going to know whether Paul spoke the truth? Q: The Apostle Paul lived around 50 A.D. The Bible the Bereans had was most likely the Old Testament Scriptures. It is estimated that Moses wrote the first five books of the Old Testament around 1,600 years before Christ. Some argue that the Bible is too out of date to be a reliable guide for truth. How does one handle that argument in light of the Bereans? Q: What does it mean to call the Word of God "living and active?" Read: Psalm 119:105, John 17:17, John 5:39-40 Psalms 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. John 17:17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. John 5:39-40 You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life. Q: What role does a lamp or light serve for one on a path? Q: How is the Word of God analogous to a lamp? Q: How does one understand John 17:17 in light of some who claim understanding the Bible is just a matter of interpretation? Q: What makes the Scriptures so important? Application: Q: The Bible does not contain the word "abortion." Yet, we teach that abortion as it is most commonly practiced is contrary to the Word of God. What are we doing when we say something like that? Q: When we are challenged to make a decision that is to glorify God and it is not real clear what to do that would be right, what should we do? Q: What if there isn't time to search out all of Scripture? Q: What is the best solution for making right decisions? Discussion: Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, forgive us for leaning on our own understanding and will and not turning first to your Word for guidance. Guide us by your Word to make right decisions in all we do. By your Word motivate us to more diligently seek out your guidance and will through regular Bible Study. We ask this in the name of your Son and our Savior. Amen. by Pastor Robert Fleischmann - National Director Christian Life Resources
A: They will turn away from sound doctrine the truth.
A: One that suits their own desires.
A: They will find teachers and others of good repute to reinforce what they want to believe.
A: Preaching the Word because it is the truth.
A: They were on a missionary journey preaching the Word of God.
A: The Jewish leaders we jealous of Paul and slandered his name to get him out of town.
A: They were primarily interested in knowing the truth.
A: They compared what he said to what the Bible said.
A: The Bereans recognized that the Bible, with some portions being over 1,600 years old at the time, was a reliable testimony of truth applicable to their time.
A: It is always current and applicable for our time.
A: A lamp or light reveals where the right path is and the way to go.
A: The show what is the clear and true will of God and express God's desires for our lives.
A: The truth that is the Word of God establishes the foundation or principles upon which all applications (interpretations) are made.
A: They are the revelation of truth about life on earth and eternal life through Christ.
A: We are applying the truths or principles of Scripture to particular situations.
A: As the Bereans did, we are to search out the Scriptures to grow in our knowledge of God's complete counsel so that we know all of the principles from which to draw on and apply to challenging circumstances.
A: As the heathen will gather around themselves a great number of teachers who will reinforce their false notions you will want to seek out people knowledgeable in the truth.
A: Regular and diligent study of Scripture so that you have developed the foundation to make decisions quickly and unclouded be emotion.
The principles that apply to the abortion issue.
The principles that apply to assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Christian Life Resources
Article Shortcut: http://www.christianliferesources.com?5308
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