Knowing His Perfect Will - Part 4

The Lord tells us these are things that He desires, and the Lord has given us certain commandments that we don't need to question. This is God's will. This is the way God would have me to live.

But there are other things. We're to trust in the Lord, that's God's will, that you put your trust in Him with all your heart. Not to lean to your own understanding, but in everything acknowledge Him that He might direct your path.

It's God's will that we not worry. David said, fret not thyself. Jesus said, don't take anxious thought, or don't worry about what you're going to eat, what you're going to drink, what you're going to wear.

Heathen worry about these things, but you just seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. He'll take care of these other things. But when we say, I desire to know God's perfect will for my life, we're usually thinking in terms of who I should marry, or what vocation I should pursue, or where He wants me to live.

And it's interesting, Paul opens his letter to the Ephesians by saying, Paul, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God. Take out the name Paul, put in your name, take out an apostle of Jesus Christ, and what would you put there? The Bible tells us to make our calling and election sure. What are you by the will of God? That's what we want to know.

What is God's will for my life? What can I say, I am by the will of God what I am. What is it? There are certain lessons that I've learned about the will of God. And number one is that God reveals His will to me one step at a time.

I would prefer that it would be different. I would prefer that God would lay out the whole picture at the beginning. Maybe I don't like it and won't want it.

But I would prefer that I knew the whole plan of God, but He doesn't do it that way. He does it one step at a time. Philip was in Samaria.

There was a marvelous move of God's Spirit, a great revival. Many people were being saved and baptized in water and filled with the Spirit. And the Spirit spoke to Philip and said, Go down to the road that goes from Jerusalem to Gaza, that desert area.

And Philip went down. And when he got down to that road, he saw a chariot that was heading towards Ethiopia. And the Lord said, Join yourself to the chariot, step two.

Now had he not taken step one, he would have never have heard step two. You see, God leads us one step at a time so that we are always walking by faith and not by sight. When God gives me step one, it's important that I, by faith, take step one.

When I've taken that step, then God will give me step two. When I've taken that step, He'll give me step three. And one step at a time, the Lord will lead you into His perfect and acceptable will for your life.

Walking by faith. The disciples once came to Jesus and they said, Lord, increase our faith. And surely that is our prayer today.

Lord, increase my faith. I want to walk by faith. I want to walk in your perfect will.

Not to question, not to challenge, but just to be obedient and walking by faith. And so may we with the apostles say, Lord, increase our faith that we might take that first step that leads to the accomplishing of your perfect will in our lives. Present your bodies.

Don't be conformed to the world. Be transformed by the renewing of your minds and follow step by step the leading of the Lord. Father, we thank you that it is possible to know your perfect plan and your perfect will for our lives.

And so Lord, help us that we might step in faith, following you, and discovering, Lord, your perfect purpose and will for our lives. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Shall we stand? The pastors are down here at the front to assist you in discovering God's plan for your life. So we would encourage you as we're dismissed, if maybe you are going through a situation right now and you're just wondering, what is God's will in this? And what is God's purpose through this? And there's some real difficulty, I would encourage you, come on down and just let these men pray with you. And let the Lord give you the step that you need to take at this time to discover the perfect plan of God that he has for you.

The Lord bless thee. The Lord bless thee. And keep thee.

And keep thee. The Lord make his face to shine upon thee. And be gracious unto thee.

And be gracious unto thee. The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee. And give thee peace.