I want to explore with you guys how we know God’s will. I talked a bit about it in my last post, but I'd like you to dig even deeper with me. A familiar verse in romans says this about it;
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:2
A common question in our Christian culture, is often 'what is God's will for my life?' 'how can I walk in God's will...' Its really a great question. We should all be seeking to walk according to God's will. But when we try to answer these questions, it's rare to see it followed by biblical thinking but with more of a pagan mindset, as Voddie Baucham would call it. We honestly don't realize we are doing it, or how our mindset is incorrect. We hear it talked about in this way all the time, so naturally we assume it must be biblical. Say a missionary couple comes to our church one evening to talk about the work they are doing overseas. They tell the amazing story of how they decided to move to Africa from their little home in Manitoba, and just how clearly God had sent them. We all sit and marvel at the wonders and clear direction of God as they explain the series of 'signs' that lead them to their destination. One morning at work John had noticed a pamphlet laying on a coffee table for a resort in Africa. That's random, he thought, and wondered how it had just so happened to be there when he had been questioning that morning whether God would ever call them to something different. Later that day on the news there was a big story about a storm in Africa and many losing their homes. 'What,...' he thinks to himself... 'it must just be a coincidence.' That evening his wife comes to him in tears, weeping that she feels she isn't doing enough here and she has always wanted to work in an orphanage somewhere. 'That settles it', John decides, 'God is clearly telling us He wants us to move to Africa and work in an orphanage. All the signs are clear! You pray about it honey, as will I, and if in the morning we both feel peace about it, we'll go.' A month later they were gone. The Word of God wasn't even opened in their decision making process.
Lets ponder that, shall we...
How different is that, then reading tea leaves? Or horoscope reading? How do we think that is a biblical way to discern God's will? Let's read over romans 12:2 again...
"...be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may dicern what is the Will of God..."
It doesn't mean you somehow rise above human reason and tap into the secret and divine 'WILL OF GOD' like pagans attempt to by reading the stars and meditating with an empty mind.
Looking for and reading signs is of a pagan origin and it is terrifying that it is our go-to way of discovering and discerning God's will. I wonder how many times God shakes His head at us, and wants us to simply pick up His Holy Word, FILLED with the knowledge of His Will. That's why He gave us His Word... so we can KNOW and discern His perfect and acceptable Will and therefore Glorify Him with our lives.
A common term among Christians, is that they are at peace about something. They made a big, life altering decision and are now at peace about it so therefore they conclude it was the right call. As though, God would obviously never lead us to do something that we didn't feel peace about. Let's think though,... Jonah didn't have peace about obeying God and going to Nineveh,... but that's what God called him to do. When God calls you to lovingly chat with a fellow believer about sin in their life that needs to be confronted, you don't feel peace about it. Where did we get this notion that we will always feel an inner peace about what He calls us to? We can pretty easily come up with our own peace. If we decide to do something we really want to do that will satisfy our desires and fulfill longings we'll probably have some peace, because our mind's are corrupt. That's why they need to be transformed. They wouldn't need transforming if they were as trustworthy as we like to think. That is why we must trust only in the WORD OF GOD. We must search the scriptures constantly and learn to think biblically. Ask someone older and wiser who reads their bible and prays about the decision you are struggling with. Ask for guidance, but continue to read your bible and let the word guide you. We do not need our very own word from God when His word is absolutely sufficient. The young missionary couple could have searched the scriptures and read about God's command to spread the gospel, and desiring to travel to Africa they could have gone with the knowledge that it will Glorify God. And if it wasn't God's will that they go, He could in His providence not allowed them to leave. Discernment starts in the scriptures, not with a inner feeling or peace. In God's word alone we must trust.
This sermon down below kind of inspired today's rant as you will notice. He has so much truth to share!