"GOD'S WILL FOR YOU"  Presented By Steven Schiller March 6,2022

Making God's Will Priority One

INTRODUCTION

We are going to look at God`s will for us today. Knowing that it is not enough to simply know what God`s will is for us.

We must also make doing His will our number one priority

In His sermon on the mount, Jesus talks about the importance of priority...

In overcoming anxiety - Mt 6:25,26,27

In experiencing the providential care of God - Mt 6:28,29,30,31-32

By seeking first the kingdom of God - Mt 6:33-34

Beginning with Mt 6:33, let's first look at what is involved in...

SEEKING THE WILL OF GOD

INVOLVES THE REIGN OF GOD...

Jesus said to "seek first the kingdom of God" - Mt 6:33

Broadly defined, the kingdom of God is the rule or reign of God via His will

Thus Jesus could use "kingdom" and "will" in synonymous parallelism -  Mt 6:10

Thus we must seek out what is God's will for us, live it out in our lives - e.g., Jn 4:34; 6:38

-- Seeking the will of God means looking to Him reigning over our lives

INVOLVES THE DUTY OF DISCIPLESHIP...

It is God's will that we listen to His Son - Mt 17:5; 28:18

Jesus has all authority, and He desires that we become His disciples - Mt 28:18-20

Whereby we learn from Him, finding rest for our souls - Mt 11:28-30

-- Seeking the will of God means becoming disciples of Jesus Christ

INVOLVES THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH...

Jesus came to establish His church - Mt 16:18

The church is that community of disciples who obey Him - Ac 2:41,42,43,44,45-47

Such obedience involves fellowship, assembling together - Ac 2:42; He 10:24-25

-- Seeking the will of God means participation in the local congregation

[But it is not sufficient to simply give the will of God a place in our lives, the will of God which involves God's reign, discipleship and the church must be "priority one" in our lives...!]

PRIORITIZING THE WILL OF GOD

OVER SELF...

Jesus taught this in regards to discipleship - Lk 9:23

We must deny self, making the will of God number one

As Jesus prayed, "not as I will, but as You will" - Mt 26:39

This actually makes us better persons, as it undoubtedly did for Timothy -  1Ti 4:12,13,14-16

-- The will of God must take priority over personal interests

OVER FAMILY...

Jesus taught this in regards to discipleship - Mt 10:34,35,36,-37; Lk 14:26

Thus we must put God's will before family

As Jesus demonstrated with His physical family - Mt 12:46,47,48,49-50

This actually creates better families, where love and respect abides - . Ep 5:22-33

-- The will of God must take priority over familial interests

OVER BUSINESS...

The apostles demonstrated this in answering the call to discipleship - Mt 4:18-20; 9:9

Thus we must put God's will before business affairs

How will we provide for family? With God's providential help! - Mt 6:30,31,32-34

This can actually lead to greater success in our business ventures -  Gen 39:2-3; Dan 1:9

-- The will of God must take priority over occupational interests

OVER EVERYTHING...

Jesus taught this in regards to discipleship - Lk 14:33

Thus we must put God's will over everything else

As Paul demonstrated in his own life - Php 3:4-11

-- The will of God must take priority over everything!

CONCLUSION

We need to understand what is really important in life...

It is easy to be preoccupied with many things in this life -  Lk 10:40-41

We must chose the good part, that which is truly important -  Lk 10:42

We have seen that the "good part" regarding the will of God involves...

Seeking the rule of Christ in our lives

Serving as disciples of Jesus Christ

Involvement in the church of Christ

In the parable of the great supper, Jesus illustrated...

The danger of making excuses - Lk 14:16-18

How many will use family or business duties to keep them away - Lk 14:18-20

The displeasure of God when people do not put His will first - Lk 14:21,22,23-24

But when we truly understand what is God's will for us, the blessings experienced by doing His will, then making God's will "priority one" will not be a problem for us.

Have you made God's will "priority one" in your life, by submitting to the reign of Christ, becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ, and giving His church the proper place in your life?

May we all be willing to say to God as Jesus Himself did...

"Not as I will, but as You will" - Mt 26:39

HEAR

BELIEVE

REPENT

CONFESS

BE BAPTIZED

LIVE FAITHFULLY