Knowing God’s Will - 101

By Pastor Jeremy Wong - 27th Jan 08

Bible Text: Colossians 1:9-10

A. Intro: How to Ascertain the Will of God Part 1

- 1. General revealed purpose for the kingdom

- 2. Personal directions – perfect will or permissible will

Knowing God's will is the key to
Effective Prayer,
Spiritual Growth
Fruitfulness in our individual lives

George Müller’s way
 1. Heart – is it in the right state?
 2. Word – is it in line with what was revealed in the Bible, illuminated by the Spirit?
 3. Circumstances
 4. Peace of God
 5. Counsel of the Godly

B. . Knowing God's Will – Is the Key to Everything!  Christ taught us that knowing God's will and living in obedience to that will is the key to it all!
 Be reverent and Submissive - God is the potter; we are the clay.

C. Paul’ Prayer focus
See in Ephesians & Colossians
 9For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God. (Col 1:9-10)

D. How to live a life of Shipwrecks (Read Acts 27: 9-20)
 Decisions Driven Dissatisfaction – v9
 Impatience -
 Failing to heed God’s word – v10
 Look only to apparent favourable circumstances – v13
 Listen only to the “expert” with vested interest in the trade – v11

E. What have we learned and what must we do?

Make it a point to know to live God’s will, check every decision by the folwoing guide post
 Heart – is it in the right state? (Jer 17:9)
 Word - – revealed in the Bible, illuminated by the Spirit
 Peace of God
 Circumstances
 Counsel of the Godly
Aim to live the perfect will of God and not merely the permissible will