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 (Rom. 12:2).

 

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 Israel.

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 Israel.

                                    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 Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.  And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.  Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death:  tarry ye here and watch with me.  And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me:  nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

 

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 (Rom. 12:2).

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 Israel:  God’s will (I Sam. 10:8) versus Saul’s will (I Sam. 13:8-9)

2.         Solomon, also a king of Israel:  God’s will (Deut. 17:17) versus Solomon’s will (I Kings 11:3-4).

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 __________________ (Rom. 12:2).

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 Israel:  God’s will (I Sam. 10:8) versus Saul’s will (I Sam. 13:8-9).

2.         ________________, also a king of Israel:  God’s will (Deut. 17:17) versus Solomon’s will (I Kings 11:3-4).

L.                Personal application:

1.                Reading the ______________

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).