This is my sermon from this past Sunday. The outline is as follows:

THY WILL BE DONE…

Partnering with God in our lives as well as in our prayers. 

“God, accomplish your will. Fulfill your desires.”

Introductory thoughts :

1. In one sense – God will accomplish all he has determined. “Father, we know that you are committed to accomplishing all that you have determined to do. Thank you that we can rest in this assurance.”

• Everything was created because that’s what God wanted. Rev. 4:11
• Everything (who, what, when, where, why, how, why) that has come into existence was also determined by God. 
• God has a specific plan for each part of creation as well. His desires for each creation will be accomplished as well. Rom 9 
• Ultimately, History will be exactly as God had wanted it to happen. Daniel 4  

2. In another sense – God’s expresses his nature, but doesnt assert his will. “Father, we don’t see your nature being reflected in our lives and those around us. Come and create in us your likeness. Make in us now today that qualities of your character and the realities of heaven.”

God is Love. God is generous; he is a blesser; he delights in forgiveness and reconciliation. He is a savior, redeemer from all danger and harm. This is who He is. We can choose to reflect those attributes in our thoughts, words and actions, or we can choose to resist those attributes in our lives. 

We are free to cooperate or not. 

How do we cooperate with God to see this prayer come to fruition ? 

SCRIPTURE – saturate in scripture General will

• God’s desires are most purely communicated to us through his Word. 

The Word imparts to us the nature of God. what he loves, what he hates. What he values alot, what he values little, etc.

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Matthew 18:14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. 

John 6:38-40 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. 

Ephesians 1:1,4-5,9,11

[1]Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

[4]According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

[5]Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

[9]Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

[11]In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

2 Corinthians 8:5 And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.

The poor Macedonians gave generously to supplying the needs of other poor saints. The desire for them to do this is traced back to the will of God.

1 Thessalonians 4:3-4 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;

Gal. 1:4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father.  

1 Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

1 Peter 2:15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

1 Peter 3:17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

1 Peter 4:19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

SURRENDER – Surrender to the Spirit Specific will 

• Rom. 12:1-2 “Help me to die”

If our minds are not renewed – – – we might trick ourselves into thinking that what seems right to us must be what God wants.  (American dream)

• Jesus greatest example of surrendered life. 

He was a completely surrendered channel through which the will of God was expressed in the real world. 

John 4:34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. 

John 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. 

John 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 

Hebrews 10:7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.

Matthew 26 *Gethsemane

The Spirit is WILLING to do the WILL of God. 

Angels came and strengthened him. 

He arose and boldly faced what was coming with the Cross. 

Scripture is where we find the General will of God. 

Prayer is where we discern the specific will of God, and the strength to do the will of God.