DEMYSTIFYING GOD’S DIRECTION FOR LIFE

DR. LARRY LAMB

Have you ever covered your life in prayer about ?

• “Father in heaven, will You show me clearly what my life should be for You?”
• What should I do with the only life God has given me?
• How can I know the Will of God?
• Reference to the book, Slave, by John MacArthur (Click here to buy the book)

“It is not that I merely want to be called a Christian, but actually be one. Yes, If I prove to be one by being faithful to the end, then I can have the name…come fire, cross, battling with wild beasts, wrenching of bones, mangling of limbs, crushing of my whole body, cruel tortures of the devil – only let me get to Jesus Christ.”
–Ignatius, Disciple of the Apostle John

• God is asking us to be ALL IN… ALL HIS. For the days we have in life, be in the of His will.
• How can I know the will of God for me?
   1. God’s Word – Wisdom
   2. God’s People – Guidance
   3. God’s Sovereignty – Timing
   4. God’s Stirring – Passion
   5. God’s Peace – Confidence

• Philippians 1:27-30 27 Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News. 28 Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself. 29 For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. 30 We are in this struggle together. You have seen my struggle in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of it.

1. THE FOCUS OF OUR CALLING
(“Above all.” Verse 27).

• Despite all the Apostle Paul’s distractions, he would write later in his letter:
• Philippians 3:12-14 12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

2. THE COMMAND OF OUR CALLING
(“You must live.” Verse 27)

3. THE ORIGIN OF OUR CALLING
(“As citizens of heaven.” Verse 27)

• John 17:14 I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world.

4. THE GOAL OF OUR CALLING
(“Conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ.” Verse 27)

5. THE UNITY OF OUR CALLING
(“standing together ” Verse 27)

Unity is displayed in:
– One spirit
– One purpose
– One struggle (fighting together)
– One goal (THE faith): the mission has not changed; methods have.

6. THE DISTRACTIONS OF OUR CALLING
(“Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies.” Verse 28)

7. THE STEWARDSHIP OF OUR CALLING
(“For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him.” Verse 29)

• 2 Corinthians 12:10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
• John 15:18 If (since) the world hates you, remember that it hated me first.

8. THE STRAIN OF OUR CALLING
(“We are in this struggle together.” Verse 30).

9. THE ONGOING NATURE OF OUR CALLING
(“You have seen my struggle in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of it.” Verse 30)

1. Our calling is from God, so hold it loosely and do the work well.
2. Our calling is from another world, but it is for this world, so trust it entirely and leave the outcome to the Father.
3. Our calling is filled with impossible challenges, so believe it by faith that the Lord has the final say.
4. Our calling is eternal for the Shepherd of our souls, so live it out until our last day.

Would you be willing to be willing to pray this:
“Father in heaven, will You show me clearly what my life should be for You?”

Lord Jesus, I admit that I am a sinner. I know that the penalty for my sin is physical, spiritual, and eternal death. I acknowledge that I can’t do anything about my situation. But I know that You came to pay the penalty for my sin. I trust in You alone as the One who died in my place. I repent of my sin and trust in You as the only One who can place me in an eternal relationship with the living God. I desire to be Your child. I desire to live as Your child. In Your name. Amen.

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