Praying, Knowing and Doing the Father's Will

From Blog09

I gave a sermon Sunday to a small group of people. Here's an outline, based on Mark 1:35-39 NLT.

The next morning Jesus awoke long before daybreak and went out alone into the wilderness to pray. Later Simon and the others went out to find him. They said, "Everyone is asking for you."
But he replied, "We must go on to other towns as well, and I will preach to them, too, because that is why I came." So he traveled throughout the region of Galilee, preaching in the synagogues and expelling demons from many people.

Knowing and doing the Father's will can require...

• Getting away from people
• • An inconvenient time
  • An inconvenient place
  • Are you listening to him?
  Thank God for such times and places.
  
  
• Praying
• • Even Jesus needed to pray.
  • Not merely when you're in trouble
  • Praying until you know what He wants you to do next.
    
    
• Rejecting the will of the crowd.
• • Not being addicted to the drug of popularity
  • Not being compelled to please people
  • Not giving in to success
  • Not giving in even to success in ministry.
  Can you stand alone?
  
  
• Rejecting the will of your close friends, associates and loved ones.
  
  • They may love you.
  • They may want what they think is best for you.
  • Their advice may be very useful
              ("in many counselors there is wisdom"),
  
  • but they may also lead you astray
    if they have not been praying and
    searching the Lord's word.
    
  Again, can you stand alone?
  
  
• Remembering your purpose.
  Every Christian's purpose:
  
  • Love God
  • Love people
  • Make disciples of Jesus
  Your special purpose
  
  • Using the gift(s) he's given you
  Are you serving him? Or are you serving yourself?
  
  
• Going places you've never been
  
  • Other towns
  • Strangers
  They are part of the Lord's purpose for your life.
  Which way are you heading right this moment--your own, or the Father's? Do you love the Father enough to pray to him? Does his will take precedence in your life?