Nevertheless, Not My Will

1
Nevertheless, Not My Will

• God wants us to use our free-will to give it up!

2
Introduction

• Why is it that the more we grow in the Lord, the
  more difficult it seems to be living according to
  His will?
• Some might respond but it is easy when you
  love the Lord.
• Yet, when it comes down to practically serving
  the Lord, there is nothing easy about it.
• When there is little practical knowledge about
  serving God, it seems so easy just do it!
• Then comes a comprehension of just how awesome
  and far reaching Gods will is in our lives and
  the task of service seems overwhelming.
• In other words practically speaking our will
  often gets in the way of Gods will, thus making
  what seems simple to do actually quite
  difficult! Cp. Rom. 721-25
• Thus, when we look at the scheme of redemption in
  the life of man or mankind we see the evolving of
  mans (practical) knowledge of Gods will and His
  desire for man to use that knowledge to
  relinquish his own will.

3
Introduction

• Why is it that the more we grow in the Lord, the
  more difficult it seems to be living according to
  His will?
• Some might respond but it is easy when you
  love the Lord.
• Yet, when it comes down to practically serving
  the Lord, there is nothing easy about it.

4
Introduction

• When there is little practical knowledge about
  serving God, it seems so easy just do it!
• Then comes a comprehension of just how awesome
  and far reaching Gods will is in our lives and
  the task of service seems overwhelming.
• In other words practically speaking our will
  often gets in the way of Gods will, thus making
  what seems simple to do actually quite
  difficult! Cp. Rom. 721-25

5
Introduction

• Thus, when we look at the scheme of redemption in
  the life of man or mankind we see the evolving of
  mans (practical) knowledge of Gods will and His
  desire for man to use that knowledge to
  relinquish his own will.

6
From The Beginning

• Man had it all, yet he was also limited in His
  knowledge of Gods will. Gen. 215-17
• Naturally, fellowship with God was already in
  place.
• He had but only two responsibilities 1) tend to
  the garden and 2) keep from eating from the tree
  of knowledge of good and evil.
• While little in knowledge compared to us today,
  man had everything that pertained to life and
  godliness. 2 Pet. 12-3

7
From The Beginning

• With only these two responsibilities God tested
  mans faith.
• God tested man by placing the forbidden fruit
  in the very midst of the garden constantly in
  view of man.
• God also allowed Satan to enter the safe haven of
  the garden to tempt man against God Himself.
• God could have easily kept both the tree and the
  serpent from innocent man.

8
From The Beginning

• What God wanted from man from the very beginning
• He wanted man to exercise his own free will.
• More than that, however, is that God wanted man
  to sacrifice his own free will, that it be given
  over to Gods will.
• This was the only true way God is glorified.

9
Tutoring the Israelites

• The scheme of redemption by now firmly
  established as God moves us through the pages of
  history to a nation specially chosen by Him to be
  His people.
• God as a parent to his child exclaims that
  those who have fellowship should love Him with
  all their might. Dt. 65
• They are given direction and guidance through
  the many explicit laws and is summed up through
  the ten commandments. Ex. 20ff

10
Tutoring the Israelites

• With the law as their tutor and a land flowing
  with milk and honey God still tested the faith of
  His children.
• God placed them in a land of rest, where it would
  be easy to get comfortable after years of being
  tested in the wilderness. Dt. 81-2
• God would allow Satan to use the Gentiles, false
  prophets, etc. test the loyalty of His own
  children. Dt. 131-3 Judg. 216-22
• God could have easily used His divine power to
  remove all burdens from the presence of His
  people.

11
Tutoring the Israelites

• What God wanted from His people was the same as
  from the very beginning
• He wanted the Israelites to exercise their free
  will.
• More than that, however is that He wanted them to
  freely choose the way of life. Dt. 3015-20
• This was the only true way God is glorified.

12
The Christian Age Now That Faith Has Come

• We are no longer under the tutelage of the Old
  Covenant. Gal. 324-26
• Man has been brought to a point of faith in Jesus
  when coming to a covenant relationship with Him.
• He has been bought back after Satans vices
  brought man out of Gods safe haven of
  fellowship. Gal. 43-5

13
The Christian Age Now That Faith Has Come

• With this covenant of grace, however, God still
  tests us today.
• God places us in a spiritual kingdom where
  nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.
  Rom. 8
• Yet, we follow our Saviors lead and know that
  while we live in the flesh God will test our
  loyalty to Him. Cp. Jas. 12 1 Pet. 411-19

14
The Christian Age Now That Faith Has Come

• What God wants from Christians today is the same
  as it was since the beginning.
• He wants us to love Him with all our heart. Matt.
  2237
• He wants us to use our free will to give it up
  for His will! Rom. 122 Matt. 2639
• This is the only way God is truly glorified. Gal.
  220

15
The Christian Age Now That Faith Has Come

• In every age (period of mankind) man has fallen
  short
• Man has got to realize that our faith ultimately
  boils down to an understanding that while we
  strive to do all we can to serve Him we can never
  perfectly serve Him.
• This is the very reason why God established His
  scheme of redemption before man was ever created.
  Eph. 14ff Rom. 724-25

16
Conclusion

• It may seem easy theologically to serve God,
  but only through true service do we realize how
  difficult it is to practically manifest our
  lifes devotion and service to Him.
• Yet God, through His own divine power, provides
  His own strength on behalf of those who commit
  their imperfect lives to Him.