Speaker: Sis. Techie Rodriguez ,Elder, The Lord's Flcok Catholic Charismatic Community

“Finding God's Will - Part 3 ”

Introduction : F irst Four Keys – The first four keys to finding God's will were listed in the Volume 7, No. 48 issue ( January 25, 2006 ) of Growth Digest. They are the following:

1. TRUST IN THE LORD – When we have trust in the Lord and in his words and promises, we will find God's will.

2. KNOWING GOD – By studying the Holy Bible, we develop a personal relationship with the Lord. We know more about God and find his will for us.

3. BEING HUMBLE – By being humble like our Lord Jesus Christ, we discover God's will for us. With pride in our heart, it is impossible to know God's plan for us. Our humility is an important key to finding God's will for us.

4. PRAYER – Before doing anything else, we should seek God's help by praying. We should have an established prayer life. Arrow prayers are not enough. We should talk with the Lord and be sensitive listening to him always. With our prayers, we will find God's will.

Fifth and Sixth Keys

T he fifth and sixth keys to finding God's will were given during the Growth Series Seminar in January 25, 2006 and listed in the Volume 8, No. 1 issue (February 1, 2006) of Growth Digest.

5. ACTION OR OBEDIENCE – After our prayers, we should act and obey what the Lord wants us to do. God gives us more than what we ask in prayers. We find a quiet place to pray and shut the door of our heart and mind from external noises.

W e accept what God gives us as a substitute answer. We wait when God's answer does not come immediately after our prayer. We know what to do when we do not receive what we ask in prayers.

A fter our prayers, we act and obey. We do what God says, when He says it, how He says it, and until all that He says is done.

W ith action and obedience, we surely find the will of the Lord and let our will be in accord with God's will.

6. SEEKING GODLY COUNSEL – When seeking godly counsel, we should approach experienced counselors. We will receive counseling with power and find God's will.

Seventh and Eighth Keys

To Finding God's Will

T he following are the seventh and eighth keys to finding God's will:

7. S UBMITTING TO GOD'S SOVEREIGN WILL – Finding God's will is of no use if we are not ready to submit to his sovereign will. When we are planning to make a decision, we should submit to God's supreme and unlimited authority.

? “At the beginning I foretell the outcome; in advance, things not yet done. I say that my plan shall stand, I accomplish my every purpose.” (Isaiah 46:10)

? “- you have no idea what your life will be like tomorrow.” (James 4:14 )… “Instead you should say, ‘If the Lord wills it, we shall live to do this or that.'” (James 4:15).

? “…the blessed and only ruler will make manifest at the proper time, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality…” (1 Timothy 6:15-16).

E ven Jesus submitted to his Father's will. (Matthew 26:39; Mark 14:36). St. Paul also obeyed God and submitted to his will. Like St. Paul , let us obey God even if obeying the Lord is hard.

Three Wills of God

1. God's Sovereign Will – This is God's purpose for all eternity – past present, future. This is his plan for everybody.

2. God's Moral Will – This is what God wants us to believe, to know, and to follow. This is what He has revealed to us in the Bible – the Word of God.

3. God's Individual Will – This is what God wants for each one of us. This is his plan for us. It is wise and prudent for us to know God's individual will for each of us.

A s soon as we find God's will, let us always submit to his will and not let our personal plans interfere.

8. P ERSISTENCE – The eighth and last key to finding God's will is persistence. Sometimes, we do not know and understand what God wants us to do. We should persist and continue until we unlock God's will.

T he best example of persistence in the Bible is the siege of Jericho . “Now Jericho was in a state of siege because of the presence of the Israelites, so that no one left or entered. And to Joshua the Lord said, ‘I have delivered Jericho and its king into your power. Have all the soldiers circle the city, marching once around it. Do this for six days, with seven priests carrying ram's horns ahead of the ark. On the seventh day march around the city seven times, and have the priests blow the horns. When they give a long blast on the ram's horns and you hear that signal, all the people shall shout aloud. The wall of the city will collapse, and they will be able to make a frontal attack.' ” (Joshua 6: 1-5). Joshua obeyed the instructions and followed the will of the Lord with persistence. God had delivered Jericho and its king to the Israelites.

W hat the Lord did for Joshua and his people is an example of how He accomplishes his will. What Joshua did is an example of complete obedience. What God wanted Joshua to do was difficult to understand but Joshua obeyed.

W hen God wants us to do something, it is sometimes not the difficulty of the work that hinders our obedience and delays our success but our lack of vision of the will of God for us . It is therefore essential that we persistently seek God's will.

G od has a wonderful plan for our Lord's Flock Heritage Spiritual Formation Center . We are faithfully following God's instructions. “Only then shall you succeed, if you are careful to observe the precepts and decrees which the Lord gave Moses for Israel .” (1 Chronicles 22:13 ).

G od also has a wonderful purpose in putting all of us in The Lord's Flock Community. Some of us do not see the clear picture of what is God's will for our community: to seek and save what was lost (Luke 19:10 ). Some of us do not know and claim God's promises:

• “And those who lead the many to justice shall be like the stars forever .” (Daniel 12:3).

• “he should know that whoever brings back a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.” (James 5:20).

• “Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.' ” (Matthew 25:34-36).