Pursuing His Will
November 4/5, 2023
Daniel Im, Lead Pastor

How to Pursue God’s Will:

1. Know His will
· God will never contradict Himself and what He’s said in His revealed and living Word.
· Don’t think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. (Matthew 5:17 CSB)
· “In short, the coming of Christ changed how we worship, but not how we live. The moral law outlines God’s own character—his integrity, love, and faithfulness. And so all the Old Testament says about loving our neighbor, caring for the poor, generosity with our possessions, social relationships, and commitment to our family is still in force. The New Testament continues to forbid killing or committing adultery, and all the sex ethic of the Old Testament is re-stated throughout the New Testament (Matthew 5:27-30; 1 Corinthians 6:9-20; 1 Timothy 1:8-11). If the New Testament has reaffirmed a commandment, then it is still in force for us today.” - Timothy Keller

· Why can’t I slack off at work and school?
o Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people, knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ. (Colossians 3:23-24 CSB)
o Idle hands make one poor, but diligent hands bring riches. (Proverbs 10:4 CSB)

· What’s wrong with getting back at someone, and giving them what they deserve?
o See to it that no one repays evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all. (1 Thessalonians 5:15 CSB)
· Is gossip harmful if they never hear about it?
o A contrary person spreads conflict, and a gossip separates close friends. (Proverbs 16:28 CSB)

· What's wrong with some pornography?
o But I tell you, everyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Matthew 5:28 CSB)
o Therefore, put to death what belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry. (Colossians 3:5 CSB)

· Why can’t I do whatever I want with whoever I want?
o Flee sexual immorality! Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the person who is sexually immoral sins against his own body. Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought at a price. So glorify God with your body. (1 Corinthians 6:18-20 CSB)
· I’ve lost someone I love, and I don't know what to do.
o May your faithful love comfort me as you promised your servant. May your compassion come to me so that I may live, for your instruction is my delight. (Psalm 119:76-77 CSB)

· I don't have much to live for.
o Remember my affliction and my homelessness, the wormwood and the poison. I continually remember them and have become depressed. Yet I call this to mind, and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for his mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness! I say, “The Lord is my portion, therefore I will put my hope in him.” (Lamentations 3:19-24 CSB)

· I'm addicted to ________.
o No temptation has come upon you except what is common to humanity. But God is faithful; he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to bear it. (1 Corinthians 10:13 CSB)

· Is Jesus really the only way to God? Can’t I go to heaven by just being a nice person?
o Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6 CSB)
· Why do I need to gather at church? Can’t I just worship alone?
o And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching. (Hebrews 10:24-25 CSB)

2. Do His will
· Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother. (Mark 3:35 CSB)
· Calling the crowd along with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. (Mark 8:34 CSB)
· Following Jesus means doing what He wants.
· “Obedience does not originate a relationship with God (faith does that), but obedience is a sign of it” - R. Kent Hughes

3. With family
· “Who are my mother and my brothers?” Looking at those sitting in a circle around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” (Mark 3:33-35 CSB)
· When you decide to follow Jesus and be his disciple, you become a part of a new family.