Discover God’s Will For Your Life

How many times have you wished you knew God’s will for your life?

If you’re like most Christians, the will of God seems a bit vague, mysterious, and unknowable.

Yet God desires for us to know His will, and it’s a lot simpler than you may think.

In this episode, we are going to listen to a sermon I recently preached on Ephesians 5:17 and discuss how to discover God’s will for your life.

Listen to and Download the Episode

Episode 28 Overview

In this episode, you will …

• discover why we only grow when we live intentionally
  hear a physical example of a spiritual principle
• gain a simple idea (exercise) that will help you begin to live intentionally

Show Notes / Additional Resources

Bible Verses Mentioned:

• Ephesians 5:17 – Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
• Ephesians 1:1: Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God …
• Ephesians 1:9: having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Christ, which are in heaven and on earth.
• Ephesians 3:3, 6: how by revelation He made known to me the mystery, as I have written briefly already … how the Gentiles are fellow heirs, and fellow members, and partakers of the promise in Christ by the gospel.
• Colossians 1:27: To them God would make known what is the glorious riches of this mystery among the nations. Which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
• Ephesians 1:11-12: In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, [pre-determined] according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should live for the praise of His glory.
• Colossians 1:9-10: For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; …
• 1 Thess 4:3-5: For this is the will of God, your sanctification …
  — sanctification: the process of being transformed more like JC
• 1 Thess 5:16-18: Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
• 1 Peter 2:15: For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men
• 1 John 2:17: And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
• 2 Peter 1:3: His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, …

Sermon Outline/Notes:

• Fool: unwise, foolish, senseless
  • Fools live with a carelessness toward God and sin
    
  • Fools live for themselves (inward focused)
    
  • Fools hate wisdom, instruction, discipline, and correction (pride: my way is best)
    
  • Fools may hear truth, but they don’t heed or obey it

• Wise:
  • wisdom: taking knowledge, with discernment, and rightly deciding and living accordingly
• Wisdom is Priceless
  • Proverbs 8:10-11: Receive my instruction, and not silver, And knowledge rather than choice gold; For wisdom is better than rubies, And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with [wisdom].
• 3 Aspects to Biblical Wisdom … it affects your ENTIRE LIFE
  • Thought: thinking rightly
    
  • Discourse (language): taking rightly (with wisdom)
    
  • Action (conduct): living rightly
• Jesus is our Wisdom … anything outside of Him is foolishness

Message of Ephesians: Get IN Christ
1.3-14: Every blessing we have is IN Christ
1.15-19: Paul’s prayer – be consumed with Jesus
2.1-10: Salvation alone comes from Christ
2.11-22: Peace and unity is found in one place
3.1-13: God’s eternal purpose is that the gentiles would experience the promise
3.14-21: Paul’s 2nd Prayer – be wrapped up in Jesus
4.1-16: Unity in the church is found through Jesus
4.17-32: The Clothing of the Kingdom: Jesus
5.1-7: Walk in love (Jesus)
5.8-14: Walk in light (Jesus)
5.15-17: Walk in wisdom (Jesus)
5.18: Be filled with the Spirit (Jesus)

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About NRJohnson & the Deeper Christian Podcast

NRJohnson (Nathan Johnson) is a Christian who has an overwhelming passion for Jesus, the Gospel, and Studying God’s Word. He is a writer, teacher, and communicator who helps other believers understand and apply the Bible as they grow and mature in their faith—desiring that they gain greater intimacy with Christ, experience the victorious Christian life, and transform the world through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Read more about him here.

The Deeper Christian Podcast is the podcast to help you study God’s Word, know Jesus intimately, and discover how you can build your life around Jesus Christ. This weekly audio program, hosted by NRJohnson, dives into Scripture and encourages Christians to keep their focus upon Jesus Christ—equipping believers in how to study the Bible and know God’s Word, grow in their spiritual lives, and change the world. Main discussion topics center around practical advice on Christian living, Bible study, prayer, the Gospel, freedom from sin, evangelism and how to share your faith, the Christian disciplines, and the lives and messages from the Christian heroes from yesteryear such as A.W. Tozer, Charles Spurgeon, Major Ian Thomas, Oswald Chambers, Hudson Taylor, Amy Carmichael, Corrie Ten Boom, C.T. Studd, George Müller, Andrew Murray, Leonard Ravenhill, E.M. Bounds, and others. Learn more about the deeper Christian life.