Living in God's Will

Christian's Spiritual Growth and Knowing God Spiritual growth requires us to understand the Scriptures and get to know our God the Father, our Savior the Son, and our comforter the Holy Spirit. 1. Living in Spiritual Worship: Romans 12 2. Living in Love: 1 Corinthians 13 and 1 John 3 3. Living in Spirit: Galatians 5 and Hebrews 5 - 6 4. Living in Light: Ephesians 5 and 1 John 1 5. Living in the Armor of God: Ephesians 6 6. Living to know Christ: Phillipians 3 and 2 Peter 1 7. Living Spiritually Alert: 1 Thessalonians 5 8. Living in Faith: Hebrews 11 9. Living Close to God: James 4 10. Living in Holiness: 1 Peter 1 11. Living in Truth: 2 John I know God is directing my paths and right now at 46 years old, I still don't know what God has plans for me. I have learned and know that all things work for good in the life of the believer. I do know this, His purpose is to make us more like Christ. With Christ inside me, God has granted me the ability to understand the truth and live accordingly (1 John 1:5-6). I just keep on living and keeping God in my life. God WILL LEAD me to whatever He wanted me to do. I just need to keep my eyes, mind and heart open. Many times, opportunities have passed because: 1. My eyes didn't see 2. My mind was closed 3. My heart was closed 1. Suffering produces perseverance, character, and hope. Romans 5: 1-5 (NIV) "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." 2. Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. Philippians 3:12-14 (NIV) "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." 3. Suffering produces a harvest of righteousness and peace. Hebrews 12:11 (NIV) "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on,however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." 4. Righteousness and peace through holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices. I Peter 2:5 (NIV) "you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." 5. Spiritual sacrifices in knowing what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2 (NIV) "Therefore, 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 conform 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." Summary: What is God's Will in my life? God's purpose in redeeming me is not to make my life happy, healthy, and free of trouble. It is not an escape from my physical pains. God's purpose is to make me more like Christ. He will chose to allow my deafness, multiple sclerosis and other trials not only teach me, but also my loved ones around me, about what it means to become more like Jesus.