GPS: God's Positioning System - Part B

There are in the New Testament alone three different places where it specifically tells us what God's will is for our life.

Let's just start there because what I've discovered is a lot of us on what Joshua would hash and all that stuff when the Bible addresses different as it backs disregarded those not really sure with God is not those things personal conduct, often use the map navigation on your phone. Sometimes it's a blessing. Sometimes it's a curse getting you even more lost. Well today, unconnected skip-Skip shears about the fully reliable spiritual GPS have access to. First we want to share about what you can do even more faith building messages from Skip can't connect to Skip Fontana on Saturdays at 4:30 PM Mountain on TBN on Sundays at 5:30 AM Eastern.

Don't miss your chance to dive even deeper into God's work get now we will invite you to get involved in connecting more listeners like you. The Scripture: 809 two 218. That's 800-922-1880. You can also give online connectwithskip.com/donate. That's connectwithskip.com/donate. As always, thank you for your partnership. Now we are in acts chapter 21 as we dive into her study with skip-voices from other people that are what the Lord is saying to you personally help confirm what God is saying.

Sometimes it balances it out and you need to adjust directions.

At other times it just clarifies so this take this one. Paul made the choice it says in acts he purposed in the spirit accept 19 accepter 20 I go bound in the spirit so he's pretty dead set. Not everybody agreed look at chapter 21 we read it verse four finding disciples. We stayed there seven days their entire now. They told Paul through the spirit not to go to Jerusalem and the best way to look at that.

I think from the sources that I read is that they got the same message that we will see coming up and what Paul is already seen that who if he goes to Jerusalem. He's gonna get bound and suffer, and they interpreted that as well. That means you shouldn't go so they told Paul to the spirit not to go to Jerusalem and the Greek it's in the present tense. It says they told Paul again and again and again and again and again for how many days seven days not to go to Jerusalem was a hard week for Paul as he wants to go to Jerusalem every time his breakfast, lunch or dinner to somebody at the table, and a poly. Other soldiers something you're on bad plan buddy Pat plant back off of that he had to put up with after seven days Christian some tire number to a clergyman from Judeo.

Look at verse 10 and when we stayed many days a certain prophet, named Agnes came down from Judea and when he had come to us, he took Paul's belt disguise very dramatic and he bound his own hands and feet and he said so everybody's attention is focused on thus says the Holy Spirit, so shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. Very reminiscent of Jeremiah the prophet Ezekiel, the prophet visual demonstration. If you own this belt. Paul to suffer okay is the third origin voices that is Paul's traveling buddies. His companions, the very next verse. Now notice this when we sinners is a change in voice hear from day two we. This includes Luke, Silas, etc. now, when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go to Jerusalem, all of that to say this, there will be competition when it comes to the voice of God. There will be other voices that don't agree with that I can think of a number of sources. One source is yourself. You may actually make the choice and feel very strongly that this is where God is leading you, but then you know what it's like late at night you lay your head on the pillow you start second-guessing yourself and is this like a lame idea this stupid should I should I not do this that'll happen number. Another source of voices.

The unbelieving world. If you were to counsel with the nonbeliever to follow the Council hate think I got to Jerusalem and everybody tells me there to kill me there or heard me there don't go mean whatever you do, Paul. Make sure that it's for your own personal comfort and benefit. That's what the world would advise Paul never would've gone. Had he done that third voices of other Christians will sometimes be well-meaning but not necessarily what God is telling you to do it happen with Jesus, his own disciples told Jesus he shouldn't go up to Jerusalem because he said when I go up to Jerusalem, they can arrest me beat me and kill me, but on the third day I will rise again from the dead and they tried hard and long to dissuade him. It can be confusing. I had women come to me some years ago came in my office. Very interesting predicament. She's very confused about the will of God in marriage.

She told me the story as I'm dating this guy I really want to marry him what to believe but I really want to marry my love and I'm trying to discern God's will go and she had counseled with her Christian friends and all of them and said don't do it don't do it don't do it don't do it. So she came in to my office.

Very confused because this is what I've decided I told the Lord this morning I was in a come and see you whatever you tell me to do that will be God's will for my life, you're dying to find out what I told her right, I said look, I'm not good. Tell you what God's will is for your life other than here are the principles to discern God's will for your life. You have to make the decision. You can't hang that on me. I have enough problems discerning God's will for my life. Following the same principles. So how do we then determine what God's will is is there any further help takes us to the fourth and final part of this and that is the guidance particulars is for the guidance particulars not want to give you three satellites, so to speak, to navigate by three satellites satellite number one your own personal conviction. This is more than a hunch, when I say personal conviction. I mean, deeply felt spirit provoked sense that comes deep from within that God wants you to do something it says Paul purposed in the spirit. But this what you when shooting from the hip.

This wasn't a spontaneous you know I just right now decided I'm going to Jerusalem this is a deep developed over time. Conviction.

I want to show you that if I can turn in your Bible to Romans chapter 9 were not to be turning back just turn to Romans chapter 9. Look what he says he's writing to the Romans. He is not gone there yet. He wants to go there. This is before he goes to Jerusalem. Ask Romans chapter 9 verse one. I tell the truth in Christ. I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, strong language that I have a great sorrow and continual grief in my heart for I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, that is the Jewish people who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law.

The service of God promises and so forth.

This is deeply held conviction. No wonder he felt the need to go to Jerusalem, and give one final testimony to his people, because this is how strongly he felt about deep deep desire when I was a young Christian, not immediately, but after a period of time.

I had a desire forming deep within that I wanted to be a pastor. That's what I felt God was calling me did I did know how no winded know where I just determine that not everybody that I knew had that same sense. Some believe that they wanted to go into business and that God was calling them to business others to go to medical school and finish that out others to write music but it was the desires they felt God to within them and I think that's important. I think it's important.

I actually believe that God gives us certain desires so that will want what God wants, says in Psalm 37. I listen to this delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. I've heard that I think misinterpreted it. Just get all happy about God and who give you your hearts desire. I don't think it means that I think it means is your focused on God and his plan and his will until actually give you plan within you desire so that your desires match his desires. That's why I think that one of the guiding satellites is to determine how is God's specially uniquely crafted.

You with gifts and talents. What you want what your passion when author talks about how important this is.

Says desire is the extra it's that little extra. The turns water into steam at 211° water is hot enough for you to shave or to make a cup of coffee but add one more degree in that hot water changes into steam that will power a locomotive around the country or propel a steamship around the world. The author said that desire that passion is that one extra degree makes you go for it.

So that's satellite number one personal conviction satellite number two scriptural direction. That means a mind saturated with the principles of the word of God so that it becomes very second nature to walk in the will of God.

It just comes instinctively you're predisposed to do his will is you stored up his Word in your heart. True story. There was some newspaper. The reported group of a family that survived the tornado as they were debriefing after the tornado I discovered that when the wind came and started moving the house like losing to be picked up one of the family members shouted out NEM and EM which is from Wizard of Oz.

This person had so digested that movie that it was very instinctive. The time of the storm to shout out what Dorothy shouted out NEM NEM like that.

That's cool. Think of. Think of believers could be so familiar with the principles of Scripture that when the winds calm the storms come instinctively have the principles of God's word right on their lips when I was the way was with Paul's life. Here Paul in chapter 9 of Romans talks about his deep internal conviction personal conviction. I want you to see what it's based on chapter 10 verse one). My hearts desire. That's personal conviction and prayer to God for Israel as they might be saved.

Now wish we had time to go tomorrow but we don't go down to verse 11 for the Scripture says whoever believes on him will be not be put to shame, sporting a text. There is no distinction between Jew and Greek the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon him, for whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed how shall they believe in him whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without a preacher, and what was Paul a preacher and how shall they preach unless they are sent. As it is written, how beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring good tidings or glad tidings of good things. Verse 21 and the chapter but to Israel T. God says all day long I have stretched out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people is pretty obvious, is an all is been reading the prophet Isaiah the prophet Joel quotes one after another, so he has a desire personal conviction that's based upon scriptural direction. Okay the place for us to start with personalizing the place for us to start to discern God's will is with biblical imperatives not just follow me here, and trust me when I go to the summit to bring it home to where we live, there are in the New Testament alone three different places where it specifically tells us what God's will is for our life. Let's just start there because what I've discovered is a lot of us get hung up on who should I marry, or should I move what job should I have with Carson about what how should I move to all of that stuff when the Bible addresses a whole different issue. Is it that's disregarded though. It's not the real issue with God that those things it's personal conduct, more so than a personal roadmap, personal conduct, there's three areas were the will of God is spelled out number one holiness number two thankfulness and number three submissiveness but just start with that foundation number one holiness. First Thessalonians 43 says this is the will of God, ready God wants his God's will for your life. This is the will of God. Even your sanctification. You can re-translate that this is what God wants for you live a holy life and then he defines what that means that you should abstain from sexual immorality.

So if by any chance you would ever wonder as a single person who has a fiancé. I wonder if it's God's will for my fiancé fiancé and I to have sexual relations before were married. Wonder no more, the answer is absolutely not. This is the will of God in your sanctification that you abstain from sexual immorality and what strange to me is that those who are often sexually involved like this spend their time wondering about what God's will is for their career or where they should move when they haven't even started here. That's number one holiness number two thankfulness. This is first Thessalonians chapter 5 verses 16 through 18 always be joyful continually be prayerful in everything. Be thankful because this this trio of responsibilities. This is God's will for you in Christ Jesus, and again in the Greek language is in the present imperative keep on being joyful keep on being prayerful keep on being thankful. So if you ever wonder is it God's will for Christians to be prayerless and ramblers as they complain their way through life, the answer would be never got to say that because I met Christians I know people personally. They have men they made complaining into an art form. You can't be with them but a few minutes and it just goes from this high thing that is down in the dumps really really quick. This is the will of God. So, just knowing these two biblical imperatives of purity and attitude good place to start. Third one is submissiveness first Peter chapter 2 verses 13 through 15 here is for the Lord's sake, submit yourselves to every human authority, whether to the king is supreme or governors who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and praise to those who do right, for it is God's will that by doing right you should silence ignorant talk of foolish people be submissive to authority was really interesting. Is Peter doesn't differentiate between only if it's a good government or a bad government all government when he wrote that Caesar Nero was in charge and he said submit to them.

So should a Christian ever fudge on his expense report or sheet on income taxes or let's get a more personal speed to the get to church on time. Answer would be no no. So these biblical imperatives are a good place to start to discern the will of God for life and it's foolish to seek God's will for our career education, etc. we ignore these basic things, moreover, is your mind is soaked, imbued with biblical principles. Listen God's will will be second nature to you. Just walk in it daily personal conviction scriptural direction and here's 1/3 satellite my close with this accountable instruction the wise counsel of others around asking advice from other people. The Bible is filled, especially Proverbs with why this is vital. Proverbs 15 a wise man will hear and increase in learning a man of understanding will attain wise counsel. Proverbs 12 verse 15 the way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise.

Proverbs 15 verse 22 without counsel, plans go awry, but in the multitude of counselors they are established, you might be thinking.

Wait a minute timeout.

What about Paul this dude completely disregarded the Council of others right wrong.

He didn't disregard. He waited carefully and that counsel actually helped him clarify that those voices are the ones I'm to follow.

I was right. I need to go to Jerusalem because the Holy Spirit didn't say don't go he does said the one who goes is going to suffer impulsive. Sign me up. I'm willing to die. This is God's will and clarified it for so here it is when you're looking for counsel from people. Be discerning the gotta be a believer first right product for someone listed as a man who doesn't walk in the counsel of the ungodly find a person is to tell you biblical truth and straight up to somebody wants to tell you what you want to hear.

So in looking for counsel.

Be discerning and also if you go against counsel. Be careful, don't be arrogant, don't be prideful, be humble and you don't have to say we are wrong, you're not listening to God. I am just sink them for their advice and is a you know I really feel strongly, however, that this where the Lord wants me to go.

You wait out, but ultimately you make the decision.

It's between you and God. In the old days the ancient ships.

The vessels of seagoing vessels had two compasses, one on deck and one on the top of the mast and the one on deck with so that the captain could look at it, relatively speaking. Throughout the journey as he steering the wheel, but he would have somebody climb up on the mass and tell them what that one reads there is a passenger aboard one of the ships what's the deal with two compasses and the captain explained this is an iron vessel, the one attached to the deck is affected by its surroundings. The metal, the one on the mast is above the influence. We always set our course by the one above balance it out. May God put a magnet in your heart. A compass in your head as you discern his will know. I don't think the will of God is a should huge maze or puzzle I think you just live by faith in you trust the Holy Spirit to guide you.

To sum it up one person put it this way.

I love love God with all your heart and then do whatever you want. It's actually good advice because if you love God with all your heart, you cannot read his word.

If you love God with all your heart and seek his faith. If you love God with all your heart, you asked his people for counsel love God with all your heart and do what you want because God will give you put within you desires that wraps up Skip message from the series the biography of God right now to share about an exciting resource answer your questions about who God is and how you can know him more intimate hey I want to let you know about my latest book is called the biography of God by the very subject matter of God is the loftiest of all topics in the pinnacle of all human pursuits as we discover who God is and how aware he is of the human condition. We will be inspired to know him more each day. But we cannot stop with just gathering information about God to truly know him. We must believe and act in the light of that information all share how you can do just that in my newest book, the biography of God. Here's how to get your coffee. The biography of God is are we to say thank you you give $35 or more today to help expand this Bible teaching outreach to more people request your copy when you get online securely connectwithskip.com/offer or call 800-922-1888, one of the biggest questions in unbelief versus what is God's will for my life.

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