I want to close this series with how to know God's will.
In the book of Romans chapter 12 verses one and two we find some instructions about Christian service.
“I beseech you therefore, breather, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
As we have looked at many areas of how to find our purpose in life we now need to look at just how God wants that to happen. Let us look at God’s will and how we can know what God would have us to do and how He would have us do it.
Step One:
The first thing anyone must do to know God’s will is to know God. To have a personal relationship with Jesus and know not only who he is but really know him as friend and savior is the first step to finding purpose.
Step Two:
Now let’s look at your surrender. Have you ever completely surrendered your self to God? If not it will be hard to know what He wants you to do. Oh I can hear all the voices clambering, “I just don’t want to go there or do that?” “I’m afraid He will send me to a faraway mission field.” “I really don’t want to preach.” Oh so then you really don’t want to know God’s will. “Well I do I just am afraid he will send me some place I don’t want to go.” May I suggest until you surrender you will have no idea what God wants you to do. The words surrender, mission, work, commitment and service all place fear in our hearts. I would like to tell you a secret God has a lot of things He needs to get done right where you are and you may be the only one who can get those things done. But until you ask you will never know.
Step three:
The next thing we all have to do to get in tune with God is forsake sin. Just like when we got married we forsook all others for the one we married. To know God’s Will we must forsake sin in our lives. Does this mean you will become perfect? Not by long shot. As a sinful creature we will all sin and come short of the glory of God, but it should be a goal to get as close to God as possible. You adversary would have you stay in a sinful condition so that you won’t hear God’s call. If you can’t hear His call you will have no idea what He wants you to do. Let’s think for a moment that there is someone God had designed to be a great teacher, preacher, evangelist, missionary (the list could go on for ever) and you are the only one who could lead them to Christ. Oh here comes another excuse, “God would find someone else to do that.” Are you sure about that? You just don’t want to get involved. After all what will people think? Who will miss the blessing? You for one would miss a blessing and then all those who that person would be able to touch, they too will miss out. Some might even miss heaven. Wow, that is a heavy load. Whose hands will their blood be on?
Step four:
Next we need to find out what the need is. Paul had a vision of a man in Macedonia who said we have a need come and help us. The great apostle heard the cry for help and went. I’ll bet your mind just went to the mission field. Right after the objection of I sure don’t want to go there. Did God call you there? Did He even mention it to you? What about the need of the local church to teach Sunday school, do administrational work, how about building maintenance, sing in the choir, help in children’s church, witness to your neighbor are these not a mission field we need to support. In other words find out what job needs to be done, pray about how God would have you do it then get it done. Here is another secret, God may have something completely different in mind for you, but until you ask you will never know.
Step five:
What are you burdened for? Paul had a burden for all those he ministered to. Pastors have a burden for those they have been called to lead. Paul prayed long and hard for those he had a burden for. I am sure the pastor has prayed for, has a burden in his heart for those he has been called to guide. Are you burdened for some lost soul? So burdened you spend time on your knees talking to God about that person. What about something you heard in a service that went to the depth of your heart and is smoldering there as a burning fire? What that is only you and God know? Isn’t it funny that some times when we are in God’s house something will be said sung or mentioned that will get our attention? The pastor is given a message and thoughts that God will direct to a special heart. Have you ever been in a service where you were sure the preacher was talking just to you? Could it be God was speaking to a heart? Is that heart yours and is it open to receiving God’s call? What are you burdened for? To find out you must search your heart and talk to God.
Step Six:
The last step to knowing God’s will and your purpose is this—look at your talents.
Honestly look at your talents. What are you really good at doing? What can you do well? What have you developed in your life that has prepared you to do what God may be calling you to do? What interest you the most? Remember God already knows what you are good at doing. He made you and put your design in you before you were brought into this world. He is just waiting for you to receive His call to fulfill your mission in this life.
“He said unto them. Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” Mark 16:15
God’s call to service reaches out to all. Everyone can do something---pray, encourage, witness, or lend a helping hand. “The harvest truly is plenteous but the laborers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.” Matt 9:37-38
So the short list to find your purpose is this:
Know Jesus as savior
Surrender to His will
Forsake sin in you life
Look for the need
Reflect on your burdens
Look at your talents.
Last and most important Trust God to direct you to where He wants you to serve.
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