Welcome to Refinery Life Australia.
Today we continue our series titled Finding and Following God’s Guidelines.
In times like these, we are in need of God’s guidance more than ever.
Today we are talking about Seeking God’s Guidance.
Prayer
Father, Your generous provisions for our lives are more than enough to assure us that Your work is the most important work on this earth.
Help us to be so filled with understanding and appreciation of Your work that we will use Your gifts to work with You in Your kingdom on this earth.
May our Money serve You as we commit ourselves afresh to the working of your will.
In Jesus name we pray.
Amen.
Text
Colossians 1:9-10 AMP
9 For this reason, since the day we heard about it, we have not stopped praying for you, asking [specifically] that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom [with insight into His purposes], and in understanding [of spiritual things],
10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord [displaying admirable character, moral courage, and personal integrity], to [fully] please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing in the knowledge of God [with deeper faith, clearer insight and fervent love for His precepts];
Scripture Reading
Colossians 1:9-14 AMP
9 For this reason, since the day we heard about it, we have not stopped praying for you, asking [specifically] that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom [with insight into His purposes], and in understanding [of spiritual things],
10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord [displaying admirable character, moral courage, and personal integrity], to [fully] please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing in the knowledge of God [with deeper faith, clearer insight and fervent love for His precepts];
11 [we pray that you may be] strengthened and invigorated with all power, according to His glorious might, to attain every kind of endurance and patience with joy;
12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints (God’s people) in the Light.
The Incomparable Christ
13 For He has rescued us and has drawn us to Himself from the dominion of darkness, and has transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,
14 in whom we have redemption [because of His sacrifice, resulting in] the forgiveness of our sins [and the cancellation of sins’ penalty].
Introduction
God’s guidance is available, and we ought to trust it.
However, as with any other resources from God, we need to ask, seek, and knock.
To do so clarifies and confirms our openness to do God’s will.
It sharpens and quickens our desires.
Jesus taught us to pray, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
There are many good reasons why believers ought to seek God’s guidance.
However, the one that claimed the apostle Paul’s attention as he elevated the church at Colossae is a sufficient reason to seek God’s guidance.
Doctrinal compromise and weak Christian conduct would be the result without God’s guidance.
Pagan philosophy and Jewish legalism were being mixed with Christian beliefs by some of the religious teachers at Colossae.
The result was supposed to be a superior Christianity.
Instead, it was inferior.
Our text today is Paul’s prayer of concern that the church avoid doctrinal compromise by seeking God’s guidance and strengthening Christian practices.
It features three main requests.
- That the church “be filled with the knowledge of God’s will.”
Religious knowledge and the knowledge of God’s will are not necessarily synonymous.
Much religious knowledge is not only in conflict with God’s will but can destroy God’s work in the world.
We have seen that happen in some of the cults of our day.
Paul’s prayer request confirms a need for a particular religious knowledge, the knowledge of God’s will.
Let’s remember that such knowledge can be divided into three categories, God’s ultimate will, God’s intentional will, and God’s permissive will.
- God’s ultimate will.
Some of God’s will is irresistible, unconditional, and inevitable.
Regardless of human responses, his plans will unfold.
We need the knowledge that God is sovereign over the universe and that His goals will prevail.
Those who do His will voluntarily will live with Him eternally.
Those who disobey will spend eternity separated from Him.
This portion of our knowledge of God’s will may be labelled His “ultimate will.”
B. God’s intentional will.
God’s plan for our lives is determined by our choices.
He grants us the right to say yes or no in the doing of His will.
Not only do we choose whether we receive Christ as Saviour and Lord, but we choose the degree of our development.
God’s desire is that all people be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4).
Further, He desires for His people to be sanctified ( 1 Thessalonians 4:3).
He intends that we know His will and do it.
This knowledge of His will is marked “intentional will.”
C. God’s permissive will.
We can chose to disregard God’s will or follow it.
God permits events or circumstances to occur that may serve as discipline.
Also, experiences or circumstances not of our own personal making work to test our faith.
This is referred to as God’s “permissive will.”
We must be filled with the knowledge of God’s will so that we can avoid doctrinal compromise and strengthen our Christian walk.
2. That the church will function in the practice of God’s will “in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.”
The knowledge of God should always lead to “wisdom” or insight, to the perception of spiritual values and of goals that make the doing of His will primary.
That knowledge also leads to “spiritual understanding,” to the ability to apply the principles we receive.
The result is that we “walk worthy with the Lord.”
Our conduct is not only freed from practices of wrongdoing but is filled with the exercise of right doing.
Staying out of trouble is not enough for those who seek and discover the knowledge of God’s will.
We are to stay in the truth as a way of life.
Many of the practices of God’s will do not seem to have a chapter and verse from the Bible as a point of reference.
Rather, we stay in the truth by applying Biblical principles that express wisdom and spiritual understanding.
Let me suggest some wise questions when we can’t find a biblical response.
A. Will it bring glory to God?
1 Corinthians 10:31 AMP
31 So then, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of [our great] God.
B. Will it lead Ito temptation?
Matthew 6:13 AMP
13 ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]’
C. Will it enslave me?
1 Corinthians 6:12 AMP
The Body Is the Lord’s
12 Everything is permissible for me, but not all things are beneficial. Everything is permissible for me, but I will not be enslaved by anything [and brought under its power, allowing it to control me].
D. Will it defile my body?
1 Corinthians 6:19 AMP
19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is within you, whom you have [received as a gift] from God, and that you are not your own [property]?
E. Will it damage my influence on others?
Romans 14:21 AMP
21 It is good [to do the right thing and] not eat meat or drink wine, or do anything that offends your brother and weakens him spiritually.
F. Does it create doubt about doing the will of god in my life?
Romans 14:23 AMP
23 But he who is uncertain [about eating a particular thing] is condemned if he eats, because he is not acting from faith. Whatever is not from faith is sin [whatever is done with doubt is sinful].
3. That the church focus on fully pleasing the Lord by “being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.”
Pleasing people is important, especially when we love them.
Pleasing the Lot is important, but doing so is difficult when there is competition between pleasing people and pleasing God.
We talk about peer pressure on young people.
Who can blame them for wanting to be acceptable to their associates?
Adults want to be accepted too.
They are strongly tempted to make compromises of Christian principles in the presence of pressure from employers and from friends, as well as from an uncommitted spouse.
Seeking God’s guidance means striving to please God regardless of the cost to business, friendships, and even family relationships.
It is the only way to increase knowledge of God.
Usefulness and place of service shouldn’t be your highest priority.
God’s will for you is the most important issue in your life.
Conclusion.
The commitment to seek God’s guidance is as important as seeking to be saved.
Has this prayer been answered in your life?
The missionary apostle prayers it for a church troubled over its understanding of God’s will.
We, too, need to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will, function in the practice of His will, and focus on fully pleasing the Lord in doing His will.
Perhaps the most important decision to be made in response to this prayer is to decide to please Him above all others.
To do so will make you a student wanting to know His will and a servant desiring to obey His will.
Until next time
Stay in the Blessings
I really want to encourage you to be diligent with your Bible study time, because God has so much more for us than we can get from just going to church once or twice a week and hearing someone else talk about the Word.
When you spend time with God, your life will change in amazing ways, because God is a Redeemer.
Theres nothing thats too hard for Him, and He can make you whole, spirit, soul and body!
You’re important to God, and you’re important to us at www.refinerylife.org
When it comes to prayer, we believe that God wants to meet your needs and reveal His promises to you.
So whatever you’re concerned about and need prayer for we want to be here for you! Or even if you just want to say Hi, you can contact us
2021 IS A YEAR OF REFORMATION
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