NOTES:
Question Mark #1: How to know God’s will for your life
- This is a great question. God does not bless our plans, only His plans
- I don’t remember ever preaching an sermon on this topic
God wants you to know His will: Rom 12:2 (NIV) “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
The Father Heart of God (Real Men 2 week series starting this week)
· Jesus Revolutionary Word – 65X Matt-Lk; 100+X John = ABBA
= God is Father, NOT dictator = loving, relational, & committed to the parenting process
2 ways to view God’s will
- Tightrope – stressful, failure is catastrophic, every step is anxious/dangerous
- Multi-lane highway – direction is what matters, God can change your lane
1. What does the Bible say?
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NLT)All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.
- 10X Gen 1 “God said” = revelation (our God speaks)
- Supreme Court of highest authority
- Most questions are answered in principle in Scripture (books vs burden studies)
2. What did you hear in listening prayer?
John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
-Sheep only respond to the voice of their shepherd. Graze together, separate into flocks
Biggest decisions of our life – day of silence/solitude/fasting. Wrote ? Prayer walk. Intercessors. =Ashley graduate etc. She was asking God. Met now husband.
3. What does wise counsel say?
Proverbs 15:22 Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.
- Who is ahead of you & can help you move forward in life?
- You don’t need a lot of people to speak into your life, you need a few experts
- Parent: shift from telling them, to them inviting you wise counsel
4. What does rightful authority say?
Romans 13:1-2 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.
“Honor” & “Obey” – around 350X in Bible in reference to rightful authority
- Citizen – law enforcement -Child – parent -Employee – boss
Trinity plant – met w/our pastors, & pastors in valley
5. What does providence say?
Acts 14:17 he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.”
-You lost your job. Your church went woke/apostate. Your spouse got sick/injured.
+ You got an inheritance. You got a promotion. Another baby showed up.
Elijah – brook dried up, time to move on
6. What does your conscience say?
Romans 2:14-15 when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them…
- Gut, hunch, intuition (legalism is binding someone by your conscience alcohol)
7. Was there a supernatural message, and did you test it?
Hebrews 2:4 God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 [NLT] the work of Satan…counterfeit power and signs and miracles. He will use every kind of evil deception
1 John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God…
- Dreams, visions, audible voice, angelic visit, miracle
- God creates, Satan counterfeits
God spoke 19 – 1. Marry Grace 2. Preach Bible 3. Train Men 4. Plant Churches
I double checked with my pastor & a few older godly men “wise counsel”
8. What do you want to do?
Psalm 37:3-5 Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.
Philippians 4:4-6 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Matthew 20:32-34 And stopping, Jesus called them and said, “What do you want me to do for you?” They said to him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” And Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight and followed him.
1. A good father helps child make wise decisions (I support ur decisions if not ungodly)
2. A good father is more concerned about the relationship & the process than perfection
3. A good father spends much of his time asking His kids what they want to do
4. A good father tells children what to do when something is very important, or they are choosing a dangerous path
Our move to AZ (began as a burden)
Closing Reflections
1. God speaks clearly, but we don’t always hear clearly. His sovereignty is our security.
2. My notebook (I collect wisdom as it arrives)
3. Marriage: Your spouse is likely different than you in how they hear from God, & you are better together
4. Parenting: Teaching children to hear from God is among the most important lessons
- Samuel (1 Samuel 3)
- 2 Tim. 3:15 (NLT) “You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you… wisdom…”
- Jesus as a boy @ Temple (Luke 2)
3pm – pray then announce
5pm – announce then pray
1. I love and enjoy you very much & am proud of God’s work in & thru you
2. I have been preaching the Bible nearly every week for 30+ years
3. My goal is to keep preaching the Bible at Trinity for decades
4. We are experiencing a sovereign move of God started Aug (construction & record heat) – doubled and are stuck
5. We are seeing God draw lots of non-Christians
6. Last week – over 6100, 7 services, 209 baptisms (7 services, nowhere enough parking)
7. Easter 2025 AZ Financial Theater – 2 services 5000 seats
8. We have been turning people away for months (heat coming)
9. Thank you for exceeding Rebuilding Home
10. In the fall we will go to 3 Sun am services + 2 Sat night, + 2 nights Real Men = 7
11. 7 services only catches us up, we will need more services
12. I’m not physically able to preach 7+ services, be a XN/husband/father/grandfather, & Real Faith for the into my 60’s & 70’s
13. I will be live on Sat, mostly video on Sun, & when I’m out the Preaching Team will be live
14. Sun will have more choir, bigger worship, & great experience
15. Please be praying for wisdom for the Lead Team on our future, & a supernatural provision as we are looking at all real estate and all options
