– We know we have a loving heavenly Father, someone who loves us the most
– We know we are to honor Him by living a life of doing right things
– we know the only hope the world has for peace and joy is seeing our lives as right thinking, right living, and right language…this shows the world His Kingdom and how we can bring hope, freedom and love to our world.
Luke 11:2-4
So He (Jesus) said to them, “When you pray, say:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth, as it is in heaven.
3 Give us day by day our daily bread.
4 And forgive us our sins,
For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.”
Now comes one of the scariest parts of this prayer….Jesus not only wants God’s Kingdom to come and that is it in our lives as we live the way He has called us to live, but now He tells us to pray His will be done on earth as it is in heaven
Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven
When we talk about God’s will being done in general what do you think about?
How about when we talk about His will being accomplished in your life?
That’s where it gets scary…are you afraid God will make you live in a mud hut somewhere….sell all that you have, stand on a street corner and preach
Any and all of that is possible with a couple of caveats….
Those things will not be God’s will for most of us. How do I know? God’s will for you is something that will fulfill who you are!
We need to always remember God has a specific plan for your life
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
God has formed you in your mother’s womb with a very specific plan for your life.
– You are not a random formulation of molecules put together by chance
– Each of us was specifically designed to fulfill a purpose
– We were specifically designed to solve a problem in the world
We have each been given the tools to do both of thee things and so much more
Romans 12:3
For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
When you were born you were given a measure of faith….the ability to accomplish God’s will for you in this world.
God gives each one of us the tools in our toolbox to fulfill the dream that he places on our hearts
Because he created us with this dream we often think it is just a dream we thought up so we don’t think it is really something that will honor God or we give up on it thinking it to be childish or an impossible dream…we want to do it but don’t see how it could happen or don’t understand how it really blesses God
When we fulfill our purpose, we honor God…it doesn’t matter if we are a store owner, lawyer, homemaker, carpenter, plumber, street sweeper if that is our skill set, our giftings and we do it to the best of our ability we are fulfilling God’s will here on earth!
Hebrews 13:21
… may He (God) equip you with all you need for doing his will. May He (God) produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to Him. All glory to him forever and ever! Amen.
You naturally and supernaturally fulfill His will and bless Him when you use your skills, abilities, talents, to their best he will also use your skills and talents to fulfill His general will
Which is wrapped up in 2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
God’s will is that no one should go to hell but that everyone would come to Christ. He sent Jesus to the whole world (John 3:16)
So He places you into jobs, vocations, hobbies, and interests that fulfill who you are. As He does He also surrounds you with people that think similar to have interest similar to yours so you can share the Gospel and minister in a way that seems very natural to you. You do the things you love to do and are able to fulfill God’s will. He has given you the exact gifts you need and the personality you need to flow in the correct gifts of the Spirit to minister to every need.
So if you want to live in a mud hut God will make that happen but it will be because that is the place in the world where you will most feel fulfilled.
Once we recognize the one who loves us the most, we are in a position to constantly hear from him and honor Him by being in His word, talking with Him, thinking, talking, and acting right and believing His purpose for your life Then you because you know Him you are in a living active relationship with Him you can begin to ask for your needs.
Funny thing is if you have accomplished the first part there will be no worry as to whether God is going to come through for you…you are in a relationship with Him that guarantees he will meet your needs.
Give us our daily bread
Luke 11:3 Give us day by day our daily bread.
Here is the key…Jesus is saying in real relationship with the Father, don’t worry about tomorrow
Matthew 6:34
“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring it’s own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
Jesus is saying ask because the Father expects us to ask He will not give you a snake or a stone when you ask for bread or food but realize that you don’t need to worry in real relationship…God will meet you day by day you can be at peace.
Jesus said in Matthew 7:7
“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.
So as you are praying don’t be afraid to ask for what you need but understand because of your relationship it really is already handled for you.
In a couple of weeks, we will wrap this up
But for today….do you know God’s will for your life? Have you rejected where God has you because you through it wasn’t God’s will are you expecting God to use you to impact the world from right where you are? Are you expecting God to give you the gifts of the Spirit to touch the people around you?
What are your genuine needs? Can you trust God in your relationship with Him to supply