Never Wrong to Share your Faith in Jesus Christ

The Will, Part 4

When I got off the bus on my first day of boot camp, I learned a whole lot about submission.  If any of you know me, you know it's not uncommon for me to have my hands in my pockets.  Sure enough my recruiter failed to mention that too me!  Down the steps I strolled into the "loving arms" of my DI and he just laid into me about my hands in my pockets…Now the moment of truth came - did I submit to his authority, or was I satisfied being a rebel.  Well, since I'm here - you guessed it, I submitted.  I learned very quickly that submission to authority meant a happy and healthy life for me!

Tonight we want to focus in on two more points to help us in the area of understanding the will of God…SUBMISSION and SATISFACTION.
A - MY SUBMISSION is the WILL OF GOD.
When we think submit we tend to think of the bible verse in Ephesians 5 - "wives submit to your own husbands…"  but this is bigger than that.  1 Peter 3:13 - 16: "Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors, as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.  For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.  Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God…" 

Notice first - "Be Subject…" Why?  "For the Lord's Sake."  Our submission is not about us being awesome and cool, but its about the one who lives in us and showing him to everyone in authority.  1 Peter 2:9 says that we are God's billboard and "we proclaim the excellencies of him who called you…"

Illustration:  Rule of 3 - God, The Davis Name and the School who is on your jersey.  You represent them all

Who did Peter say?  List is significant for an adult - its authority, all authority!
Why? 
1) Because God is using them to punish evil - not fast enough, not your call!
2) Because God is using them to reward those that are doing good - All of Acts tells of a person in a city that helped Paul and the disciples.  God always has his man in each town that will rise up and support his church going forward.
What I should do?
Pay Taxes; Be a peacemaker; follow the Law of the Land; and as Romans 13 - Pray for them.  In fact, when we go to prayer tonight - let's remember our Local rulers that God would use them as they keep the peace and they would see us as good and not bad.
Say it in a sentence - "I am closer to the will of God when I am submitting to all authority…"

B - I NEED TO HAVE SATISFACTION with the current WILL of GOD
1 Thess. 5:18 - "…give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus, for you."
Give thanks in all circumstances -
 * like when your car is broken - give thanks
 * Like when your wallets dried up with no cash - give thanks
 * When your house is trashed - give thanks
 * When people are slandering your name - give thanks
Satisfaction in God alone is his will.  if "all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to his purpose.." then what you are in right now must be his purpose!  Give thanks and be satisfied.  Faith is "Trusting God, and acting on it, no matter how I feel, because God has promised a good result…"  Satisfaction is acting on it.

  * But I don't have enough money - and you never will unless you learn to be satisfied with what God gave you.
 * But I don't like the friends I have - and you won't like your new ones either until you are satisfied that God gave them to you to speak his truth into your life (even when you don't want to hear it)
  * But I hate my Job - that God provided - really!  what I have to say more - ok, so be thankful for the fact that your not one of the twenty percent out of work right now!

The List could go on and on, but realize that the point is sometimes we are really unhappy with what God gave us and all he really wants is for us to be Satified.

Illustration - I got pulled over for speeding the other day, Why?  Because I was restless and unhappy with my current situation and I passed a car right in front of a sherriff deputy.  (Thankfully he was gracious to me - ptl).  Valuable lesson in Satisfaction.  When I am greedy and want my way - it can be so costly!  Be satisfied in God's provision and his will.

Say it in a sentence:  "When I am RESTLESS/DISCOURAGED with my current situation, I need to make a list of 10 reasons to be thankful for that situation, and thank God for each one."

Have a great week - and YOU ARE LOVED