Knowing God's Will in Life (Rom.12:2) - Sermon

Text: Romans 12:2
Wednesday, July 13.

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Rom 12:2)

Knowing God's will is important. It is not an option, but a necessity.

Jesus walked according to His Father's will. "Not as I will, but as You will" He prayed in the Garden of Gethsamane. He was led by the Holy Spirit and worked and taught by the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:1,2; 10:38). He has given us the Spirit so that we may walk according to His leading in our life.

For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. (1Co 2:11-12)

There are three things necessary in order for us to be able to discern and be led according to the will of God:

1. Repentance from Sin
Which means turning away from sin, the world, and a carnal way of living.

Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.(2Cor 3:16)

Sin separates man from God (Isaiah 59:1). Repentance towards Christ the Lord is the entry door into the life and walk of the Spirit. As long as one lives a carnal and worldly life, one cannot expect to know the will of God.

2. Renewal of Mind

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Rom 12:2)

When we get soaked in the voices and influences of the world, we conform to it. The devil does his best to bombard us with such influences.

But, when we turn to prayer and meditation on the Word of God, it renews our mind. Remember, the Spirit never acts contrary to the Word of God. He confirms the Word and brings conviction according to it. He speaks to us through the Word of God. Jesus never spoke anything apart from the Scriptures. He always used to point to what was written and how it is fulfilled in Him. Unless our minds have become mature by exercises of the Word, we can't expect to receive the things of God.

But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1Co 2:14)
For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. (Heb 5:12-14)

3. Spirit-Filled Living

Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God.(Eph 5:17-21)

Being filled with the Spirit, praying in the Spirit, in tongues, fellowshipping with other believers, testifying, worshipping, and glorifying God through a life of faith and love are important in order for us to be receptive of and be sensitive to the Spirit of God. Unless we are Spirit-filled, we cannot expect to be led by the Spirit of God.

May the Lord grant us the grace to seek His will in His Word and live a life that is pleasing to Him!