Mat 6:10; Your Flesh’s Reasons for Not Following God’s Will.

Tuesday August 27, 2024

Idea: The flesh tries many schemes to lessen the believer’s commitment to the will of God.
 

Difficult road of changing the heart; Phi 1:27-30. 

Flesh invents ways to relieve the pressure of conflict within and without. 

Sins of passion to occupy and give pleasure. Sins of reaction of anger, bitterness, revenge, contention, gossip, slander, jealousy, etc. 

Reasonings of the flesh: ABCs of the world; Col 2:8, 20. 

Excuses only delay the inevitable conformation to the image of Christ and though they may give you a measure of self-justification type peace (so very short lived) they keep reward beyond arm’s reach (Col 2:18). 

We must bear fruit in every good work, which demands a knowledge of God’s will, Col 1:9-10. 

Prayer readies and strengthens us every day for all duty. 

God has a role for each of us in the body of Christ (1Co 12:7; Eph 4:16).

God’s will for our particular role is not arbitrary or temporary. He will not change it nor abandon it, Mat 7:21

God has a will for each of His saints.

His will must be done by each of us.

By the Holy Spirit, but not forced.

In the role God has given, not another role. The idea that you could do God’s will in another role or situation is the same as saying that God has overlooked or errored concerning you and your life, Eph 1:11-12.

God’s will has to be participated in by us, 1Ti 2:3-4.

There are many active imperatives in the NT which are commandments for us, Col 2:6 (walk); 2:8 (Beware).

On earth as it is in heaven.

Col 1:9-12.

“On earth as it is in heaven” completely tosses out any idea that you should or can wait until heaven to fulfill God’s will, Eph 5:15-21.

In the prayer there is a reminder that we must do God’s will, as it is in heaven (not our particular interpretation of it) today.

The stewards are to work in the Master’s absence and when He returns (when we do not know) we must be found doing His will (Luk 12:43-44).

The flesh invents ways to reason you away from commitment.

“I cannot be sinless, so I might as well give in here and there. Doing all God’s will is only for heaven.” (Heb 13:20-21).

“I have to survive in the world – I cannot always do His will and earn my living (security),” Petition 4 (Give us today our daily bread).

Blaming others – My parents did this to me. My home life did it. My DNA is programmed for it. My friends pressured me.

Have we yet come to the strong sense of our responsibility to God?

Have I resolved to do God’s will, or am I snatching my short time of wretched self-government, before God calls me to account?

We can easily use the excuses, and none of them stand before the throne of grace.