Discovering and Pursuing the Will of God 1

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=50 BGCOLOR="#333366" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>Discovering and Pursuing the Will of God 1</B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=165 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="132" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 35 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id504.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Promises For Your Lifetime and Beyond"><U><B><IMG SRC="007151d0.gif" border=0 width="21" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id506.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Discovering and Pursuing the Will of God"><U><B><IMG SRC="008151d0.gif" border=0 width="21" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="20"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="35" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="20" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="13"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="27"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <div> Previous/Next Sermon</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="www.stanbaker.org"><U><B>Home</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Biblical and Theological Studies"><U><B>Biblical and Theological Studies</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Church Ministry"><U><B>Church Ministry</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sermon Notes"><U>Sermon Notes</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U><B>Links</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id5.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Personal"><U><B>Personal</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> www.stanbaker.org</div> </td> <td valign="top" height=430 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>"</B><B>Discovering and Pursuing the Will of God 1</B><B>," Genesis 24 (Part 1)</B></div> <div> <B>Berean Bible Church, February 19-20</B></div> <bR> <div>      Two stories about John Wesley, a famous evangelist and preacher of the Word of God, and founder of the Methodist denomination:</div> <div>      "When John Wesley was a 32-year-old missionary in Georgia, he fell deeply in love with a young woman he wanted to marry. Some of his friends suggested that perhaps God would have the evangelist remain unmarried and devote his life to his work. One even suggested they draw lots in order to discern God's will for Wesley [it's a little like rolling the dice]. The evangelist agreed. Three small slips of paper were prepared: one said, "Marry"; the second, "Think not of it this year"; and the third, "Think of it no more." Wesley drew a slip and with much sadness read, "Think of it no more." Heartbroken, he ended his courtship. Fifteen years later Wesley married a wealthy widow who became a hindrance to his ministry. After 20 years of mutual misery, she left him. He had allowed a [single <I>sign</I>] to determine his fortune." (Woodrow Kroll, Early in the Morning email devotional, 2-27-03).</div> <div>      "While crossing a bridge in London, John Wesley stumbled and sprained his ankle. Some friends carried him to the house of Mrs. Mary Vazielle on Threadneedle Street. She was a widow with several children. She cared for Wesley and his response to her concern was to ask her to marry him. If we were writing fiction we might say that the sprained ankle was God's providential way to bring those people together. But the marriage was a disaster, and Mary finally left John. Had Wesley consulted with his brother Charles, and asked for the prayers of the brethren, he might have avoided that unfortunate situation. Mary was accustomed to her quiet home, and it was difficult for her to travel with her husband and stay in uncomfortable inns. It is unfortunate that Mary was not content just to ignore John's ministry; she actually opposed it. She gave certain personal letters to his enemies and even made additions to them that made them worse! Once she even pulled her husband around on the floor by his hair! "I felt as though I could have knocked the soul out of her!" one of Wesley's friends said. Wesley concluded that his unhappy marriage encouraged him to work harder and not complain about missing the comforts of a home. Certainly it encouraged him to be away from home more!" (Wycliffe Handbook of Preaching and Preachers, W. Wiersbe, Moody Press, 1984, p. 246 (Bible.org, Marriage)).</div> <div>      If a famous missionary and minister like John Wesley can seem to "mess up" on the will of God for key parts of his life, it should not be a surprise that "the rest of us" can mess up on the will of God for us. Such decisions include: choosing a husband or wife; choosing whether or what college to attend, or a career; when to change jobs; how to spend the money God allows us to manage; where to live and what kind of home to live in; whether or not to buy a particular car.</div> <div>      Living the life of faith demands discovering and living according to the will of God for your everyday life.</div> <div>      Please look at <A HREF="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?passage=Gen+24" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?passag"><U>Genesis 24</U></A><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >. </FONT>We want to examine an Old Testament "arranged marriage." This was not merely a marriage arranged by parents for their children, but ultimately a marriage arranged by God himself. And from this story, we will learn some lessons about discovering the will of God for your everyday life and lifetime.</div> <div>      We find here that Abraham is concerned about whomever it is that Isaac would marry, because they together would carry on the line of descendants, leading toward the full fulfillment of the promises of God. The promises and journey of faith were also for the next generation. Isaac needed a wife who would be compatible with him in the journey.</div> <div>      The faith, in it's <I>reality</I>, is supposed to be passed from one generation to another. Help your children come to a place where they decide for themselves to follow Jesus, and to grow up in him and serve h im (not just attend church, not just call themselves "Christian," but truly <I>follow</I> Jesus). One thing you need to teach your children is how to discover and go after the will of God for their lives, one day at a time.</div> <div>      Here's the basic story - please read it for yourself:</div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?passage=Gen+24:1-9" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?passag"><U>Vss. 1-9</U></A> - Abraham commissions his servant to get a suitable wife for Isaac, with God's help.</div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?passage=Gen+24:10-28" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?passag"><U>Vss. 10-28</U></A> - The servant of Abraham "happens" to meet Rebekah at the well (as God leads him).</div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?passage=Gen+24:29-61" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?passag"><U>Vss. 29-61</U></A> - The servant and Rebekah's family negotiate for Rebekah's hand in marriage. Rebekah willingly agrees and sets out (much like Abraham many years before).</div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?passage=Gen+24:62-67" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?passag"><U>Vss. 62-67</U></A> - Isaac and Rebekah meet and get married, love one another, and carry on on the journey of faith.</div> <bR> <div> <B>One of six lessons for discovering and pursuing the will of God for your everyday life.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>1. Be clear on God's principles, which are found in his word (vss. 1-9).</B></div> <div>      There were two guidelines regarding Isaac's marriage - Isaac should have a wife from among his father's people, one who would exhibit faith in God; and Isaac should not go back to Abraham's previous home. It was important that he have a wife who would share the faith with him. They had to walk the journey of faith together, toward the promises of God.</div> <div>      Never violate the principles of God in pursuing his will and blessing. Of course, you can find <I>examples</I> of all kinds of potentially weird stuff in Scripture, but the basic <I>principles</I> are clear and lasting and relevant to every generation. Probably 90% of the "will of God" decisions in our lives are dramatically impacted by basic principles from the Word of God (truth-telling, generosity, service to others, sharing your faith, going to work, saving money and avoiding debt, staying faithful to your spouse).</div> <div>      Psalm 119:105 says, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." It's like a flashlight - we can't see the whole picture of our lives and futures, so we have to walk with him and according to his word every day. We have to let his word light up the pathway on the journey of faith.</div> <div>      Lexus sells a vehicle in which the headlights turn slightly on corners, so you get a better view of what is around the bend. That way you can avoid trouble sooner. The word of God can point the way for you to live your life, and he can help you see and avoid trouble all around. Only a reckless fool drives around at night with no headlights. But many choose to continue living their life without the light of the word of God illuminating the pathway.</div> <div>      If you don't know where to start, start with one of the gospel's (Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John). They tell the story of Jesus - who he is and what he is about. Or you could begin with the Psalms or Proverbs in the Old Testament. Whatever you do, begin today.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> copyright, 2005, Stanley Baker</div> <div> www.stanbaker.org</div> </td> </tr></table></body>