#Bible Timeless Truths. Calling Home Series Part 3. “Can I Trust God?”

Last week finished part 2b of this series.
The next weeks continue the focus on the Lord's Prayer, Jesus' description of the way we all need to "call home" to our Father. The key verse each week is highlighted in the passage below.

Prayer

5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

9 “This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,[a]
    but deliver us from the evil one.[b]’

14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Matthew 6:5-14

1. "Our Father in heaven” - "relationship” with God 
2. “Hallowed be your Name” – “reverence” of God
3. “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth…” – “accepting” God as sovereign… “as it is in heaven.” – “God ruling” over my life

FIVE KINGDOM QUESTIONS

1. Who is the king?

Kings have no extraterrestrial authority.

Kings need a kingdom.

Too many times YOU play “King of the Hill” with God.

''You are my King and my God." Psalm 44:4

Accepting God as sovereign changes your life from a battle to a blessing.

2. Where is the kingdom?

Jesus always knew His kingdom was a heavenly kingdom, although His followers frequently did not! That's true today, too!!

"My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." Matthew 26:39

"The kingdom of God does not come visibly, nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you."Luke 17:20-21

3. Does God Have a Personal plan for my life? 

His plan is unique for each of us.

There is tremendous freedom in God’s plan for each of us.

"All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." Psalm 139: 16

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a · future." Jeremiah 29: 11

Three Expressions of God's Will

a. Dictated- "Surely as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will stand." Isaiah 14:24

• The laws of the universe are always true unless they are supernaturally superseded.

b. Desired- "'For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him." John 3:17

• This is not always accomplished because of human actions.

c. Directed- "'Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Matthew 5:48

• God expects obedience.

4. How can I know Gods plan?

You are not asking to change God’s will, this prayer accepts God’s will.

Four Prayers about God's Plan for your life

a. Help me find the plan. 

"Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground."Psalm 143:10

b. Help me understand the plan. 

"Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is." Ephesians 5: 17

c. Help me submit to the plan. 

"Offer your bodies as living sacrifices ... be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is ... His good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:1-2

You can’t find God’s will by checking out options. 

You can’t know his will until you submit.

d. Help me accomplish the plan. 

“He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion." Philippians 1:6

If you are not willing, you need to be willing to be made willing!

5. What results from finding and following God's plan? 

"God's kingdom isn't a matter of what you put in your stomach, for goodness' sake. It's what God does with your life as He sets it right, puts it together, and completes it with joy. Your task is to single-mindedly serve Christ." Romans 14: 17-18

God's will becomes your will!

Seven Guidelines to Finding and Doing God's Will

a. Does it agree with God's Word?  

• His will never conflicts with Scripture

b. Have you been here before? 

• Keep doing what you’ve always been doing and you’ll keep getting what you’ve been getting.
• You need to read the next sentence at least two times. Don’t ask for God’s will when you know you’re not in His will and not change what you’ve been doing when you know it’s not God’s will. 

c. Seek counsel. 

• Pastors, teachers, fellow Christians, trusted authors.

d. Bathe it in prayer. 

• Jesus went away to be alone and to pray. 

e. Don't ignore the obvious.

• Biblical examples apply to you, too!

f. WAIT!

• Yes. Waiting is an essential part of the process.

g. Expect peace. 

• God will give real inner peach when you are in His will.

Thanks to Dr. Keith Newman for the primary teachings in this post.