OceanSide church of Christ
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NOT MY WILL, BUT THINE
IN 2009
Victor M.
Eskew
INTRODUCTION
A.
In the Garden of Eden,
Satan appealed to Eve’s selfishness when he tempted her (Gen.
3:4-5).
And the
serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: for God doth know that in the day ye eat
thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good
and evil.
B.
This appeal to self
worked on the woman, and she disobeyed the commandment of God (Gen.
3:6).
And when
the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the
eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof,
and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her, and he did
eat.
C.
Since that day,
mankind has had to battle selfishness and self-will. I was reminded of this by a T-shirt at
Wal-Mart during the Christmas season.
It stated: “I do not want
much for Christmas. Just my own
way.”
D.
As I thought about a
theme that might govern my life for 2009, this idea came to mind: “Not My Will, but Thine in
2009.”
I.
GOD HAS A WILL
A.
Some simple facts
about God.
1.
He is a real Being
(Dan. 2:28a.)
But there
is a God in heaven…
2.
This God resides in
the unseen realm called the third heaven (Matt. 6:9).
…Our
Father which art in heaven…
3.
He is the Creator of
the world (Gen. 1:1) and continues to be actively involved in His creation (John
5:17).
But Jesus
answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
B.
He has a divine will
for the inhabitants of this earth.
1.
Jesus’ model prayer
tells of His will (Matt. 6:10).
…thy will
be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
2.
Ananias spoke to Paul
about the Father’s will (Acts 22:14).
And he
said, The God of our Father hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will,
and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his
mouth.
3.
Paul spoke of God’s
will to the Romans (
And be not
conformed to this world: but be ye
transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good,
and acceptable, and perfect will of God.
4.
Epaphras labored
fervently in prayer to the end the Colossians would be perfect in God’s will
(Col. 4:12).
Epaphras,
who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always laboring fervently
for you in prayers that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of
God.
C.
God’s will
defined.
1.
His
determinations.
2.
That which God wishes
to be done.
3.
The only way for us to
know the Father’s will is for Him to reveal it to us. Fortunately, this has been
done.
a.
The Holy Spirit searched out the Lord’s mind and revealed His will to
inspired men (I Cor. 2:9-12).
b.
These things were spoken in words which the Holy Spirit taught (I Cor.
2:13).
c.
Ultimately, God’s will was placed into written form (II Thess.
2:15).
d.
His will is now found in the Scriptures, the Bible, and it furnishes us
completely unto all good works (II Tim. 3:16-17).
II.
OUR WILL FIGHTS AGAINST GOD’S WILL
A.
Galatians
5:16-17
This I say
then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the
Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh:
and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye
would.
B.
Romans
7:22-23
For I
delight in the law of God after the inward man: but I see another law in my members,
warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of
sin which is in my members.
C.
Two Old Testament
examples:
1.
Saul, the king of
a.
He was given the command to tarry seven days in Gilgal, then Samuel would
come and offer the proper sacrifices and give the proper directions from God (I
Sam. 10:8).
b.
When Samuel tarried a little too long, Saul saw his people departing from
him and offered the sacrifices himself (I Sam. 13:8-9).
2.
Solomon, also a king of
a.
He was not to multiply wives to himself (Deut.
17:17).
b.
Solomon married 700 wives and 300 concubines, and his wives turned away his heart (I Kings
11:3-4).
D.
Personal
application:
1.
Reading the
Bible
a.
God’s will (I Tim. 4:13)
Till I
come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to
doctrine.
1)
Give attendance: to hold the
mind, pay attention to, be cautious about, apply oneself to, adhere
to.
2)
God wants us to pick up our Bibles and read them.
b.
Our will: rest, TV, books
and magazines, hobbies, etc.
2.
Attendance of the worship services.
a.
God’s will (Heb. 10:25).
Not
forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but
exhorting one another: and so much
the more as ye see the day approaching.
b.
Our will: sleep in, take fun
trips, visits with relatives.
3.
Personal evangelism.
a.
God’s will:
1)
He wants all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (I
Tim. 2:3-4).
2)
His method of accomplishing this is by the preaching of the gospel of
Christ (Matt. 28:18-20; I Cor. 1:21).
b.
Our will: let someone else
do it, excuses, busy-ness, seek ways other than the gospel to bring people to
Christ
III. OUR
WILLS MUST BE YEILDED AND SLAIN
A.
Many passages teach this.
1.
Luke 9:23
And he
said unto them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and
take up his cross daily, and follow me.
2.
Romans
6:6a
Knowing
this, that our old man is crucified with him…
3.
Romans
6:13
Neither
yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those
that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness
unto God.
4.
II Corinthians
5:15
And that
he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto
themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose
again.
5.
Galatians
2:20a
I am
crucified with Christ: nevertheless
I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.
6.
Galatians
5:24
And they
that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and
lusts.
7.
Colossians
3:2-3
Set your
affections on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid
with Christ in God.
B.
Our perfect example,
Jesus Christ (Matt. 26:36-39)
Then
cometh Jesus with them unto a place called
CONCLUSION
A.
Many of us understand
the battle that exists between our wills and the will of
God.
B.
Oftentimes we are
guilty of allowing our wills to take precedence over the will of
God.
C.
We need to consider
the rewards of committing our wills to the will of the
Father:
1.
Heaven (Matt.
7:21).
Not every
one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but
he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
2.
A close, intimate
relationship with Jesus (Mark 3:35).
For
whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and
mother.
3.
Reception of the
promise of salvation (Heb. 10:36).
For ye
have need of patience, that, after that ye have done the will of God, ye might
receive the promise.
4.
Abiding forever (I
John 2:17b).
…but he
that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
NOT MY WILL, BUT THINE
IN 2009
Victor M.
Eskew
INTRODUCTION
E.
In the Garden of Eden,
Satan appealed to Eve’s selfishness when he tempted her (Gen.
3:4-5).
F.
This appeal to self
worked, and the woman disobeyed the commandment of God (Gen.
3:6).
G.
Since that day,
mankind has had to battle selfishness and self-will. I was reminded of this by a T-shirt at
Wal-Mart during the Christmas season.
It stated: “I do not want
much for Christmas. Just my own
way.”
H.
As I thought about a
theme that might govern my life for 2009, this idea came to mind: “Not My Will, but Thine in
2009.”
I.
GOD HAS A WILL
D.
Some simple facts
about God.
1.
He is a real Being
(Dan. 2:28a.)
2.
This God resides in
the unseen realm called the third heaven (Matt. 6:9).
3.
He is the Creator of
the world (Gen. 1:1) and continues to be actively involved in His creation (John
5:17).
E.
He has a divine will
for the inhabitants of this earth.
1.
Jesus’ model prayer
tells of His will (Matt. 6:10).
2.
Ananias spoke to Paul
about the Father’s will (Acts 22:14).
3.
Paul spoke of God’s
will to the Romans (
4.
Epaphras labored
fervently in prayer to the end the Colossians would be perfect in God’s will
(Col. 4:12).
F.
God’s will
defined.
1.
His
determinations.
2.
That which God wishes
to be done.
3.
The only way for us to
know the Father’s will is for Him to reveal it to us.
a.
The Holy Spirit searched out the Lord’s mind and revealed His will to
inspired men (I Cor. 2:9-12).
b.
These things were spoken in words which the Holy Spirit taught (I Cor.
2:13).
c.
Ultimately, God’s will was placed into written form (II Thess.
2:15).
d.
His will is now found in the Scriptures, the Bible, and it furnishes us
completely unto all good works (II Tim. 3:16-17).
II.
OUR WILL FIGHTS AGAINST GOD’S WILL
E.
Galatians
5:16-17
F.
Romans
7:22-23
G.
Two Old Testament
examples:
1.
Saul, the king of
2.
Solomon, also a king of
H.
Personal
application:
1.
Reading the
Bible
a.
God’s will (I Tim. 4:13).
Give attendance: to hold the
mind, pay attention to, be cautious about, apply oneself to, adhere to. God
wants us to read our Bibles.
b.
Our will: rest, TV, books
and magazines, hobbies, etc.
2.
Attendance of the worship services.
a.
God’s will (Heb. 10:25).
b.
Our will: sleep in, take fun
trips, visits with relatives.
3.
Personal evangelism.
a.
God’s will (I Tim. 2:3-4, Matt. 28:18-20; I Cor.
1:21).
b.
Our will: let someone else
do it, excuses, busy-ness, seek ways other than the gospel to bring people to
Christ
III.
OUR WILLS MUST BE YEILDED AND SLAIN
A.
Many passages teach this (Luke 9:23; Rom. 6:6a, 6:13; II Cor. 5:15; Gal.
2:20a, 5:24; Col. 3:2-3).
B.
Our perfect example, Jesus Christ (Matt. 26:36-39)
CONCLUSION
D.
Many of us understand
the battle that exists between our wills and the will of
God.
E.
Oftentimes we are
guilty of allowing our wills to take precedence over the will of
God.
F.
We need to consider
the rewards of committing our wills to the will of the Father: 1) Heaven (Matt. 7:21); 2) An intimate
relationship with Jesus (Mark 3:35); 3) Reception of the promise of salvation
(Heb. 10:36); and 4) Abiding forever (I John 2:17b).
NOT MY WILL, BUT THINE
IN 2009
Victor M.
Eskew
INTRODUCTION
I.
In the Garden of Eden,
Satan appealed to Eve’s __________ when he tempted her (Gen.
3:4-5).
J.
This appeal to self
worked, and the woman ____________ the commandment of God (Gen.
3:6).
K.
Since that day,
mankind has had to battle selfishness and self-will. I was reminded of this by a T-shirt at
Wal-Mart during the Christmas season.
It stated: “I do not want
much for Christmas. Just my own
way.”
L.
As I thought about a
theme that might govern my life for 2009, this idea came to mind: “Not My Will, but Thine in
2009.”
I.
GOD HAS A WILL
G.
Some simple facts
about God.
1.
He is a __________
Being (Dan. 2:28a.)
2.
This God resides in
the unseen realm called the _______
__________ (Matt. 6:9).
3.
He is the Creator of
the world (Gen. 1:1) and continues to be _____________ involved in His creation
(John 5:17).
H.
He has a divine will
for the inhabitants of this earth.
1.
Jesus’ __________
prayer tells of His will (Matt. 6:10).
2.
Ananias spoke to Paul
about the Father’s will (Acts 22:14).
3.
Paul spoke of God’s
will to the __________________ (
4.
Epaphras labored
fervently in prayer to the end the Colossians would be ___________ in God’s will
(Col. 4:12).
I.
God’s will
defined.
1.
His
____________________________.
2.
That which God wishes
to be done.
3.
The only way for us to
know the Father’s will is for Him to ____________ it to
us.
a.
The Holy Spirit searched out the Lord’s mind and revealed His will to
inspired men (I Cor. 2:9-12).
b.
These things were spoken in ________ which the Holy Spirit taught (I Cor.
2:13).
c.
Ultimately, God’s will was placed into _____________ form (II Thess.
2:15).
d.
His will is now found in the Scriptures, the Bible, and it furnishes us
completely unto all good works (II Tim. 3:16-17).
II.
OUR WILL FIGHTS AGAINST GOD’S WILL
I.
Galatians
5:16-17
J.
Romans
7:22-23
K.
Two Old Testament
examples:
1.
_________, the king of
2.
________________, also a king of
L.
Personal
application:
1.
a.
God’s will (I Tim. 4:13).
Give attendance: to hold the
mind, pay attention to, be cautious about, apply oneself to, adhere to. God
wants us to read our Bibles.
b.
Our will: rest, TV, books
and magazines, hobbies, etc.
2.
__________________ of the worship services.
a.
God’s will (Heb. 10:25).
b.
Our will: sleep in, take fun
trips, visits with relatives.
3.
Personal evangelism.
a.
God’s will (I Tim. 2:3-4, Matt. 28:18-20; I Cor.
1:21).
b.
Our will: let someone else
do it, excuses, busy-ness, seek ways other than the gospel to bring people to
Christ
III.
OUR WILLS MUST BE _________________ AND
________________
A.
Many passages teach this (Luke 9:23; Rom. 6:6a, 6:13; II Cor. 5:15; Gal.
2:20a, 5:24; Col. 3:2-3).
B.
Our perfect example, _____________
____________ (Matt. 26:36-39)
CONCLUSION
G.
Many of us understand
the battle that exists between our wills and the will of
God.
H.
Oftentimes we are
___________ of allowing our wills to take precedence over the will of
God.
I.
We need to consider
the rewards of committing our wills to the will of the Father: 1) __________ (Matt. 7:21); 2) An
__________ relationship with Jesus (Mark 3:35); 3) Reception of the promise of
_____________ (Heb. 10:36); and 4) Abiding ______________ (I John
2:17b).