Home > Sermons > Ephesians
What are you doing tomorrow?
Ephesians 1:1a
I have begin to work through the book of Ephesians in personal study and was struck with the first two phrases. It starts out as a number of Paul"s books, "Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God." There are two key concepts in this first part of the verse. The first is the concept of the Apostle and the second concept – by the will of God.
Paul claims to be an apostle. What is an apostle? This word comes from the Greek "apostolos", meaning one who is sent, a delegate, an envoy or messenger. This term was not used exclusively for the Twelve that Jesus chose but the term was used for 7 others in the New Testament. The men who are all called apostles were men who were involved in expanding the gospel into new areas. Today we use the term which comes from the Latin equivalent, "missionarius" for our apostles. One of the cults claims to be the true church because they have apostles and elders in their leadership structure. A leadership structure that uses biblical names does not make it the true church. Individuals need to have their gifts affirmed and sent out as missionaries to start new churches as Paul and Barnabas were. We need more ambassadors for Christ to go into all communities and reach those who do not yet understand the great news that Jesus has died and forgiven people for their rebellion and sin.
How could Paul claim that he was an apostle by the will of God? In Acts 13 we read that while the leadership was worshipping God and fasting, an indication that they were seeking direction from God, the Holy Spirit told them that they were to send two of the five out on a mission. Verse 4 indicates that they firmly believed that they were being sent not just by the church but by the Holy Spirit as well.
How do we know when something is the will of God or just some wishful thinking on our part. What is the magic element, which confirms that we are doing the will of God? How can we determine what God's will is for us as individuals.
There are some things in scripture, which we know are God's will. I Tim. 2:4 says. "God wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." Are you in God's will today? Have you been forgiven of all your sin and transformed from a life where you were in control of your life and now God is in control of everything in your life? Can you honestly say you have come to a knowledge of the truth? If you cannot say that with a clear conscience you are living outside the will of God and are in danger of eternal punishment. You need to confess your sins before a holy God and cry out to Him to extend is mercy and grace to you.
We read in 1 Thessalonians 4:3 that "It is God's will that you be sanctified." This means that we need to live a life that is pure and holy, without transgressing the precepts and principles found in the Word of God. If we hope to be able to do that we need to be diligent in knowing what God desires and obeying the Word of God. We cannot know God's will apart from knowing God's Word. (J. Grant Howard – Knowing God's will and Doing It p 27) God has given us precepts which are absolutes which we must follow and principles which are there to guide us. A precept would be, " Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said, "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you. 1 Corinthians 6:14 - 17
This passage tells us that we need be careful that we do not compromise our standards by the type of relationships which we establish with unbelievers or compromising Christians: whether they be friendships, marriage, or business partnerships, whether it be a fraternity at university, coffee klatch, or a social club.
In Romans 12:1, 2 Paul tells us, I urge you brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not confirm any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will. Knowing the will of God then comes from a renewal of your mind. This happens as we meditate on scripture and we put into practice that upon which we are meditating. The perfect will of God is understood as we have a mature understanding of God's way.
In today"s society there are wolves in sheep clothing which claim that the end justifies the means so that they can appeal to the emotions and the flesh. Unfortunately the medium they use confuses the message because the medium we use to communicate the truth is as powerful as the message itself. To quote a secular communicator, " The medium is the message." That is why certain forms of communication attract a crowd but are ineffective in overcoming the evil one and do not produce long lasting fruit. John 15:16 says, "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name."
We do not proclaim a feel good gospel but rather that if we are true disciples we will go through suffering and challenges by the evil one to test us. 1 Peter 4:1,2 tells us that we need to prepare for suffering as Christ suffered. It was through suffering that Christ was able to forgive our sins.
So it is in God's overall will that first of all we are saved from hell, become pure and holy and in our growth as Christians we will suffer.
How do we know what God's will is for our life calling, if we are to get married and to whom, where to live, what kind of car to drive and a myriad of other things which affect our lives which the Bible has no direct word.
First of all we are to live our life according to God's standards of purity and holiness. The Bible gives us lists of things we are to stay away from and have nothing more to do with. ( Gal 5: 19 – 21, Col. 3: 5ff, ) The Bible also gives us challenges which we need to obey like keeping out of a relationship with an unbeliever, keeping pure until we are married, keeping our word, loving God with all our heart, soul and might.
We can get help in discerning God's will by discovering and using our Spiritual Gifts. We often need help in this and Hebrews 13 gives us the admonition to the spiritual leaders to guide believers into the truth. When we were seeking God's will to future service in Japan we communicated with the leadership of this congregation for direction and received it. I believe that God uses godly men and women to help us discern spiritual direction. However we must be careful to recognize that not all advice which others give us are necessarily God's will. Is 55:8 - 11 tells us "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord, As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. If the leader"s advice is based on scriptural principles then we can be better assured that by following the advice we will be within the will of God.
This past week I have been working on a computer project. Several of us were seeking God's direction in a number of areas for this project. I believe that I have come to understand God's direction by speaking to a number of individuals who were knowledgeable and experienced in the computer field. If I would have consulted the godly men like the pastor there is little chance that he could have given me clear direction. If I have financial questions, I do not go to a plumber to get an answer. I would go so an expert for advice and seeking God's will on a matter. Proverbs tells us that there is safety in a multitude of counsellors.
God directs us into his will by timing. We had planned to go to Japan immediately after we had finished our seminary training in 1981. We were excited about starting new churches there but God had other plans. Through the Japanese leadership we were told that we needed more pastoral experience. We did not understand why at the time but just about the time when we would have arrived in Japan for ministry if we had had our way, Lydia was diagnosed with an illness that could have killed her had the doctor not been observant and caught the problem. If we had gone to Japan when we wanted to, there is little chance that Lydia would be alive today.
The week I was to decide whether or not to go on the Guatamala trip this past March, the Lord sent what I believe was a confirmation of His will. That week I received an income tax receipt not of this year but of last year"s income. We had made a mistake in filling out our taxes the previous year and just at that time the government had complete an audit and determined that I had overpaid and sent me the refund which was approximately the amount needed for the trip.
Some people feel that circumstances are directed by God and believe that God directs through coincidental seemingly supernatural events. We always need to be cautious and discerning because Satan can also work out events which seem to be miraculous.
If there is the slightest possibility that we need to compromise our standards, we can be sure that it is not God directing. If we get a job which requires us to work on the Lord"s Day, serve liquor or sell products or services which are addictive or harmful to others we can be sure that it is not God's will. These clearly violate God's precepts. About a year and a half ago I applied for a different job which would have required me to work on Sundays. The Lord kept me from getting that job for which I am thankful. I have been free to serve Him on Sundays for which I rejoice. My experience has been that when we do not follow God's ways there are negative consequences.
God expects us to use common sense in determining his will for our life. We are to step out in faith but not foolishness. We cannot expect God's blessings if we violate our conscience It is possible to have a seared conscience and the Holy Spirit cannot speak to us if we have unconfessed sin. No matter how hard we try we will not be successful. Perhaps events will be stressful until we are able to make things right with God and any whom we have offended.
Thus we can determine God's will in various decisions though wise counsel, though timing, though co-incidence, though a knowledge of God's precepts and principles, though common sense and though the leading of the Holy Spirit giving us direction either through the Word of God or in giving us a sense of freedom or a heavy heart. We want to be able to say with Paul, I am in the kind of business I am because I know it is the will of God. As we exercise our gifts and use our skills and talents for God he can guide us and bless us. He will encourage us with fruit that will last.
I would like to close with a few verses from James 4:13 - 17. Now listen you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money. Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow, What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will we will live and do this or that. As it is you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it sins."
What are you doing tomorrow? Is it within God's will? 1 Corinthians 2: 9, 10 "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him " but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things even the deep things of God.
Return to Ephesian Messages Index