Chicago Fire: Jesus and a Church Submitted to His Will
In our own minds, we all have hopes and dreams - plans for your family, children, career, ministry, and life.
But somewhere along the road, we’re all thrown curveballs, diversions to the roadmap we were laying out for ourselves.
Do these feelings sound familiar?:
Frustration, dissatisfaction, anger, lack of contentment.
Moving forward in faith with holy ambition
vs.
Being disgruntled and discontent
Why do we so often end up in the latter?
*Knowing God’s will and submitting to his will are two different things. Knowing God’s will involves being aware of HIS objectives and goals (whose are you following today, HIS or your own?).
Submitting to God’s will involves process, timing and circumstances we would not have chosen for ourselves, but in the wisdom and sovereignty of God, are necessary for our development and his glory.
Knowing God’s Will
Submitting to God’s Will
Knowing God’s Will
Acts 18:18-23
After this, Paul stayed many days longer and then took leave of the brothers and set sail for Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila. At Cenchreae he had cut his hair, for he was under a vow. And they came to Ephesus, and he left them there, but he himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. When they asked him to stay for a longer period, he declined. But on taking leave of them he said, “I will return to you if God wills,” and he set sail from Ephesus. When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church, and then went down to Antioch. After spending some time there, he departed and went from one place to the next through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.
Paul knew the will of the Lord by (Acts 13):
The Word of God
“Your call will become clear as as your mind is transformed by the reading of Scripture and the internal work of God's Spirit. The Lord never hides His will from us. In time, as you obey the call first to follow, your destiny will unfold before you. The difficulty will lie in keeping other concerns from diverting your attention.”
Swindoll Charles R.
2. The Holy Spirit directing through times of worship, fasting and prayer
3. Christ-ordained confirmation through God-given and vetted counsel.
It’s an issue of Control vs. Confidence (Trust) in the Lord
Proverbs 16:1,3,9
The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.
The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.
Submitting to God’s Will
“If you aren't vigilant, if you aren't daily humbling yourself before Him, seeking His face, discerning His timing, operating under the Spirit's control, you may push and shove and force your way prematurely into that place where God wanted you, but you will not have arrived in His own time.”
Charles R. Swindoll, Moses: A Man of Selfless Dedication
Job 42:1-6
Then Job answered the Lord and said: “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. ‘Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.’ I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”
“God doesn't work on our timetable. He has a plan that He will execute perfectly and for the highest, greatest good of all, and for His ultimate glory.”
Charles R. Swindoll
God’s plans vs. Our Own
-Timing
-Manner
-Results
We know in part and we prophesy in part
(I Corinthians 13)
“To be a follower of the Crucified means, sooner or later, a personal encounter with the cross. And the cross always entails loss.”
-Elisabeth Elliot
Joseph (Genesis 37-50)
Disappointment, discouragement and disillusionment are the result when we project our plans onto God’s.
“You and I can become so dedicated to the will of God, we can be so driven by a false sense of purpose, that we might inadvertently take matters into our own hands and leave God completely out of the loop.”
Charles R. Swindoll, Moses: A Man of Selfless Dedication
Fruitfulness, Joy and Longevity result when we make faith-filled plans, trusting God and submitting to his will
When the Lord makes it clear you're to follow Him in this new direction, focus fully on Him and refuse to be distracted by comparisons with others.
Swindoll Charles R.
Be fruitful while you wait (through your church)
Acts 18:22-23
When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church, and then went down to Antioch. After spending some time there, he departed and went from one place to the next through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.
How not to miss the will of God:
***Counsel and the will of God!!
Who will you let into the decision-making part of your world?
Proverbs 24:5-6
A wise man is full of strength, and a man of knowledge enhances his might, for by wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory.
Paul eventually ended up back in Ephesus, where he would minister for almost three years (Acts 19:1-10) and through his ministry, the entire province of Asia would come to hear the gospel. He had to submit to God’s process and timing for this to be done, while moving forward with faith-filled plans in the light of his then present revelation.
Our Posture: We advance (with the gospel) by faith
The Result: Increasing fruit and fruitfulness wherever the Lord wills
“I am Thy servant to do Thy will, and that will is sweeter to me than position or riches or fame, and I choose it above all things on Earth or in Heaven.”
A.W. Tozer
Second City Church - Chicago Fire - Pastor Rollan Fisher 2019