Proverbs 3:4
Knowing God's will requires total commitment, trusting in Him, and acknowledging Him in all your ways.
Chuck Smith emphasizes the importance of knowing God's will, acknowledging our limitations and the need for total commitment to God. He outlines three steps to discern God's will: trusting in the Lord wholeheartedly, not relying on our own understanding, and acknowledging God in all our ways. Smith reminds us that God's love and wisdom surpass our understanding, and that seeking His guidance is essential to avoid the pitfalls of life. Ultimately, he assures that when we follow these steps, God will direct our paths with certainty.
Text
"KNOWING GOD'S WILL"
I. DESIRE OF ALL THOSE WHO TRULY KNOW GOD.
A. Very aware of my own limitations.
1. I have been wrong so many times.
a. I have been deceived, cheated, defrauded, even by those I though
were my most loyal friends.
2. I don't know what the future holds.
a. I may be building directly over the fault of the next major
earthquake.
b. Jesus spoke of the successful farmer.
"Thou fool, this night thy soul..."
1. How many times as He watches us plan our own ambitions
building programs, "thou fool."
3. I don't like laboring in vain.
a. I don't like watching years of planning and hard labor going down
the tube.
B. Aware of God's true nature.
1. He loves me.
a. He is for my best interests.
1. As a child, I do not always know what is best.
2. What I think is best is often bad.
b. His dealing with me are always motivated by love.
2. He knows the end from the beginning.
a. He doesn't make mistakes.
b. The labor He directs is never in vain.
C. With this dual awareness, the wisest thing I can do is to seek His will for my life.
II. HOW CAN I KNOW GOD'S WILL? THREE STEPS.
A. "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart."
1. This is total commitment.
a. Much more than "try God."
b. Many people trying God for a week. It took me 35 years to make this
mess of my life. I give God one week to try to untangle it.
c. Complete abandonment to God.
1. Not, get on my side God, don't let me go down.
2. I'm in it with you God, if You go down, we're going down
together.
B. "Lean not to your understanding."
1. "I am not going to always understand God's ways.
a. Tragedies will come into my life.
b. I may experience suffering.
2. I must remember the limitations of my understanding.
a. God and I dwell in separate dimensions.
1. Mine is bounded by time.
2. His is eternal.
C. "In all thy ways acknowledge Him."
1. This is usually the area of greatest failure.
a. Our lives become routine.
2. We so seldom ask God's guidance.
a. It's usually when we are in the center of the bridge when it starts
to crumble that we ask, "O God, should I try to cross on this
bridge?"
3. It's blasphemy to say, "I want God's will for my life, and not seek His
guidance on a daily basis.
III. "AND HE SHALL DIRECT THY PATHS."
A. I can walk with assurance.
Sermon Outline
- Desire of All Those Who Truly Know God points: - Aware of My Own Limitations - I have been wrong so many times. - I don't know what the future holds. - I don't like laboring in vain.
- He loves me. points: - Aware of God's True Nature - He knows the end from the beginning.
- Total commitment to God. points: - Seek His Will for My Life
- How Can I Know God's Will? Three Steps points: - Trust in the Lord with all thine heart - Total commitment to God.
- I must remember the limitations of my understanding. points: - Lean not to your understanding
- Seek God's guidance on a daily basis. points: - In all thy ways acknowledge Him
- And He Shall Direct Thy Paths points: - I can walk with assurance.
Key Quotes
“Thou fool, this night thy soul...” — Chuck Smith
“I'm in it with you God, if You go down, we're going down together.” — Chuck Smith
“It's usually when we are in the center of the bridge when it starts to crumble that we ask, 'O God, should I try to cross on this bridge?'” — Chuck Smith
Application Points
- You must seek God's guidance on a daily basis to avoid failing to acknowledge Him.
- You can walk with assurance when you trust in God's guidance and direction.
- Total commitment to God is necessary to know His will for your life.