God’s Will for Your Future

Overcoming the Uncertainty of the Happy Holi-DAZE - -

So You Can Be Certain of God’s Will for Your Life in 2009

Sermon from cong. readings in I Thess – Jan 4, 2009 bk@kluth.org

1 – Give yourself fully to God

Rom 12:1-2 Dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice--the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask? Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect HIS WILL really is.

2 – Give of your resources to God’s work

2 Cor 8:1-6 We want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with GOD’S WILL.

3 – Give yourself to living a clean life

1 Thess 4:3-7 It is GOD’S WILL that you should be sanctified (pure, morally blameless, clean): that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.

4 – Give yourself to joyful, prayerful, thankful living

1 Thess 5:16-18 Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is GOD’S WILL for you in Christ Jesus.

Ps 34:1-2 I will praise the Lord no matter what happens. I will constantly speak of his glories and grace. I will boast of all his kindness to me. Let all who are discouraged take heart.^TLB

Job 1:20-22 [Job] fell to the ground in worship and said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised." In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.

5 – Give yourself to doing good

1 Peter 2:15-17 It is GOD’S WILL that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.

Eph 2:8-10 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

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