What Jesus said

about God's Will

Adapted from the series,“Jesus Said” by Michael Wiley

http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/what-jesus-said-about-gods-will-michael-wiley-sermon-on-gods-sovereign-

will-131975.asp

John 6:35 NET Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. The one who comes to me

will never go hungry, and the one who believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But I told you that you have seen me and still do not believe. 37 Everyone whom the Father gives me will come to me, and the one who

comes to me I will never send away.

38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me. 39 Now this is the will of the one who sent me — that I should not lose one person of every one he has given me, but

raise them all up at the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father — for everyone who

looks on the Son and believes in him to have eternal life, and I will raise him up at

the last day."

This Is GoodThe story is told of a king in Africa who had a close friend with whom he grew up. The

friend had a habit of looking at every situation that ever occurred in his life

(positive or negative) and remarking, "This is good!" One day the king and his friend

were out on a hunting expedition. The friend would load and prepare the guns for the

king.

The friend had apparently done something wrong in preparing one of the guns, for after taking the gun from his friend, the king fired it and his thumb was blown off. Examining the situation, the friend remarked as usual, "This is good!" To which the king replied, "No, this is not good!" and proceeded to

send his friend to jail. About a year later, the king was hunting in an area that he should

have known to stay clear of.

Cannibals captured him and took him to their village. They tied his hands, stacked some wood, set up a stake and bound him

to the stake. As they came near to set fire to the wood, they noticed that the king was

missing a thumb. Being superstitious, they never ate anyone who was less than whole.

So untying the king, they sent him on his way. As he returned home, he was

reminded of the event that had taken his thumb and felt remorse for his treatment of

his friend.

He went immediately to the jail to speak with his friend. "You were right," he said, "it was good that my thumb was blown off."

And he proceeded to tell the friend all that had just happened. "And so, I am very sorry for sending you to jail for so long. It was bad

for me to do this." "No," his friend replied, "This is good!"

"What do you mean, ’This is good’? How could it be good that I sent my friend to jail for a year?" "If I had not been in jail, I would

have been with you." (Sermon central)

When we speak of finding God’s will in our lives, we are looking for the good, right?

When we give our life completely over to God, He says, Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the

renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God — what

is good and well-pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2 NET

The point I want to get to is in the midst of a very serious teaching of Christ. I say it’s

serious because Jesus lost a few disciples from this. After this many of his disciples quit following him and did not accompany him any longer. John 6:66 NET So I don’t

want to miss the context of what Jesus said.

I am the Bread of LifeJesus was calling the people to believe in

Him.John 6:30 NET So they said to him, "Then what miraculous sign will you perform, so that we may see it and believe you? What

will you do? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, just as it is written, 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'

" (Ps 78:24)

32 Then Jesus told them, "I tell you the solemn truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but my Father

is giving you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is the one who comes

down from heaven and gives life to the world." 34 So they said to him, "Sir, give us

this bread all the time!“35 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. The one who comes to me will never go hungry, and the

one who believes in me will never be thirsty.

A little diversion before we get to where we are going: Some people have the tendency

to follow the clamor and hype, but when things get serious, they bail. Or, as long as the preacher says all the right things, and “all the right things” are the things I agree with, then I’ll be there every Sunday. But

when I disagree, I’m gone!We might call folks like that “church

hoppers.”

Now, if a church and or preacher are not teaching the truth, that’s one thing. But here is what I want you to do—I implore you to

do, when you listen to me or any other preacher, be of noble character, more open-minded, more willing to learn, check us out.

How? Acts 17:10 NET The brothers sent Paul and Silas off to Berea at once, during the night. When they arrived, they went to the

Jewish synagogue.

11 These Jews were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they eagerly

received the message, examining the scriptures carefully every day to see if these

things were so.Don’t take my word for it, Check me out.

EXAMINE THE SCRIPTURES! I do my best to teach what the Bible says. When the

meaning isn’t crystal clear I will generally give a disclaimer like, “It seems to me,” “As I understand it,” or “Here’s what I find in my

study of these verses.”

You can always find a link to my lessons at www.lindleychristianchurch.com so you

can revue & study their content more closely.

After all of that, IF you think I’m wrong, it is your duty to the body of Christ to talk with

me so we can discuss & study the Scriptures together so we both will better

understand.Jesus was teaching an unpopular message,

and many disciples left Him.

Before we talk about what Jesus said about God’s will in this text, let's spend a moment

on God’s will in general.

The term, “God’s Will”, is often used to describe different things. We must examine

the surrounding context to help us determine the author’s original message. So when speaking of “God’s will” we may

be speaking of one of three “types”

Sometimes we’re speaking of the Sovereign Will of God - God’s predetermined, often

secret, plan for everything that happens in the universe.

To see how God's sovereign will affects our decisions, there are at least four things we

need to understand about it.

Sovereign Will of God

1. God's sovereign will is certain.It will be fulfilled. It will not be frustrated by men, angels, or anything else (Daniel 4:35).

To Paul's challenging question: 'Who resists His will?' (Romans 9:19), we are humbly

compelled to agree, 'No one!' (Romans 9:6-29).

2. God's sovereign will is detailed.It is the ultimate determiner of all things

(Ephesians 1:11), including which of our plans finds fulfillment(James 4:13-15).

3. God's sovereign will is hidden except when revealed by prophecy.

Man can only learn what it is after it happens (Deuteronomy 29:29). The only exceptions to this are statements of

prophecy in which events are foretold (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18), and explanations of

the destinies of the saved (John 3:16) and the lost (John 3:36).

4. God's sovereign will is perfect.It is perfect in the sense that it will ultimately

lead to God's greatest glory. There never was another plan. (Ephesians 1:4) Though

sin is contrary to God's moral will, its presence is permitted in God's plan partly

because His conquest of it reveals His grace and power.

God will be glorified for His holiness, for His defeat of Satan, for His righteous judgment,

and for His grace to redeemed sinners.(Revelation 5, see also John 12:32-33; Romans 5:20,

8:28-30; 11:15, 30-33)“Used by permission, Garry Friesen.”

http://www.monergism.com/Principles%20for%20Decision%20Making%20-%20Garry%20Friesen

%20and%20J.%20Robin%20Maxson.pdf

God’s Sovereign will includes both good and evil

It will ultimately lead to God’s glory- it is perfect

Some things are directly attributable to God’s Sovereign will like the creation of the

universe (something wonderful) or like Judas betraying Jesus (something that

seemed horrible but carried out his wonderful plan).

Moral Will of GodThe commands and prohibitions revealed in

the Bible.God supernaturally revealed his moral will to the writers of the Scriptures. The Bible

contains principles and commands that we are all expected to discover, understand,

and follow. God’s moral will is not optional. But unlike His Sovereign will we can rebel

against it.

Individual Will of GodGod’s plan for each individual.

God’s individual will includes things like what college I should attend, what job I

should take, who I should marry, where I should live etc.

In the opening pages of his autobiography, “An American Life,” Ronald Reagan writes, I was raised to believe that God had a plan for everyone and that seemingly random twists of fate are all a part of His plan. My mother - a small woman with auburn hair and a sense of optimism that ran as deep as the cosmos - told me that everything in

life happened for a purpose.

She said all things were part of God’s plan, even the most disheartening setbacks, and

in the end, everything worked out for the best. If something went wrong, she said,

you didn’t let it get you down: You stepped away from it, stepped over it, and moved on. Later on, she added, something good

will happen and you’ll find yourself thinking – ‘If I hadn’t had that problem back then,

then this better thing that did happen wouldn’t have happened to me.’

After I lost the job at Montgomery Ward, I left home again in search of work. Although

I didn’t know it then, I was beginning a journey that would take me a long way from

Dixon and fulfill all my dreams and then some. My mother, as usual, was right.(An American Life by Ronald Reagan)

In our text, Jesus is talking about God’s Sovereign will

John 6:35 NET Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. The one who comes to me

will never go hungry, and the one who believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But I told you that you have seen me and still do not believe. 37 Everyone whom the Father gives me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will never send away. 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do

my own will but the will of the one who sent me.

Remember Jesus’ model prayer:Matthew 6:9 NET So pray this way: Our

Father in heaven, may your name be honored, 10 may your kingdom come, may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

This was Jesus’ prayer too. He pointed out

more than once in Scripture that He was not here to do His will but, His father’s will.

39 Now this is the will of the one who sent me — that I should not lose one person of every one he has given me, but raise them all up at the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father — for everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him to have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”All of life, from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation

22:21 show’s us that God loves us in spite of us. He lost His people in the garden and

He wants His people back!

Matthew 18:12 NET What do you think? If someone owns a hundred sheep and one of

them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go look for the one that went astray? 13 And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice

more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. 14 In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that one of

these little ones be lost.

The Problem?Part of God’s sovereign will is that mankind would have “free will.” Using our free will,

we rebelled against God. Man was created to have fellowship with God; but, because of his stubborn self-will, he chose to go his own independent way, and fellowship with

God was broken. This self-will, characterized by an attitude of active rebellion or passive indifference, is an evidence of what the Bible calls sin.

People often accuse God of SENDING people to hell but that is as far from the

truth as you can get. God didn’t even make hell for humans, He made it for Satan!

Matthew 25:41 NET "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you

accursed, into the eternal fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels!

But if you decide to follow Satan’s path, you’ll follow him all the way to hell. God has given people a choice. He has thrown the doors of heaven wide open and shouted COME ALL. All who answer the call are welcome. But if you do not want to enter

God will not force you. So, if you refuse to spend eternity with God by your own

choice, it is you, not God who has determined your eternal future. So won’t

you answer God’s call and spend eternity in heaven.

Through Moses, God gave the Israelites bread from heaven. Jesus said: I am the

living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats from this bread he will live

forever. The bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh."

John 6:51 NET

Simon, the very one Jesus renamed Peter, taught by Jesus in the flesh, reminds us

God’s will is not for any to perish. He doesn’t want to lose anyone, but it’s their

choice to return to Him.2 Peter 3:9 NET The Lord is not slow

concerning his promise, as some regard slowness, but is being patient toward you, because he does not wish for any to perish

but for all to come to repentance.

The Apostle Paul who wrote much of the New Testament instructs his protégé,

Timothy, what is God’s will at its core & through whom His will is carried out.

1 Timothy 2:1 NET First of all, then, I urge that requests, prayers, intercessions, and

thanks be offered on behalf of all people, 2 even for kings and all who are in authority,

that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.

3 Such prayer for all is good and welcomed before God our Savior, 4 since he wants all

people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one intermediary between God

and humanity, Christ Jesus, himself human, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all,

revealing God's purpose at his appointed time.

Jesus said God The Father's will, will be accomplished through Him, God The Son.

John 6:40 NET For this is the will of my Father — for everyone who looks on the

Son and believes in him to have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."

Paul elaborates on God's will to give us confidence & security. He shows us the collaboration of the trinity, Father, Son &

Spirit, in fulfilling His will.

Romans 8:24 NET For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with endurance. 26 In the

same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how we

should pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible

groanings.

27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit

intercedes on behalf of the saints according to God's will. 28 And we know that all things work together for good for those who love

God, who are called according to his purpose, 29 because those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be

conformed to the image of his Son, that his Son would be the firstborn among many

brothers and sisters.

30 And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also

justified; and those he justified, he also glorified. 31 What then shall we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be

against us? 32 Indeed, he who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all — how will he not also, along with him,

freely give us all things?

His Word establishes four principles for decision making according to God's

will.1. The Principle of OBEDIENCE: Where God commands, we must obey.2. The Principle of FREEDOM:

Where there is no command, God gives us freedom (and responsibility) to choose.

3. The Principle of WISDOM:Where there is no command, God

gives us wisdom to choose.4. The Principle of HUMBLE TRUST: When we have chosen what is moral and wise, we must trust the sovereign God to work all the details together for good.

“Used by permission, Garry Friesen.”Are we making EVERY decision with God’s

will in mind?