What Does God Want?

What does God want for your life? We all say we want God’s will? Most of us struggle to find it. However, we usually limit it to major decisions in life. Should I take this job or that job? Which college should I attend? Who will be my perfect mate? Some of us agonize over what we think God may want us to do; others assume that God wants whatever is in our best interests, whatever will make us happy, so that is how we decide.

There are a handful of things we can know for certain that God wills for our lives.

For this is the will of God, your sanctification.

(1 Thessalonians 4:1)

Many of us think Sanctification is something that is automatic, coming with salvation instantaneously. Not so, that is Justification. The process of Sanctification begins with our salvation, but it is never completed in this life.

The strict definition of Sanctification is “to set apart something for the use for which it was intended.” The “set apartness” takes place at the moment of salvation. The living out of that “set apartness” takes a lifetime. It involves a constant search for what God wants us to do with our lives. It involves active engagement in ministry. It involves intentional learning and study of the Scriptures that we might discern what God expects from us.

Sanctification is not a question of whether God is willing to bring about this work in me. The question is, “Am I willing to bow my will to His? Am I willing to put myself under his complete guidance, saying ‘More of Thee and less of me?’” Am I willing to say I will give up that which I dearly wish was God’s will for that which I see revealed in His word to be true? Am I willing to let God do in and through me everything He can for the furtherance of His kingdom and the glorification of His name?

It is time for the body of Christ to become more Christ-like. We often pray that the Spirit of Christ would fill us. Now, we must add to our prayers the actions which are indeed Christ-like.

Know, as you begin, that the road is too difficult for you. That is why Jesus provided the Comforter from the very first days of the Church. The path is steep and the way is hard. Each of us battles against our own nature, a way that seems right, but which the Holy Spirit tells will lead to our own spiritual downfall.

We have spent enough time trying to remake God in our image, with our likes and dislikes. It is time for us to be remade in His.

Pastor Craig

My Favorite Bible Verse

It’s somewhat awkward to speak of favorite Bible verses, or to say, “Now, here is a verse I really like!” It implies there are verses we find unfulfilling or don’t like. Granted, there are verses that are much more fun to hear, and there are verses that challenge us and will not allow us to go forward complacently. So, maybe it is okay to say "I really like 1Ch 12:32."

Of the sons of Issachar, men who understood the times, with knowledge of what Israel should do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their kinsmen were at their command.

You have heard me use this verse before. It is a verse of encouragement when we speak of leadership. God provides wise people to govern His people as they seek His voice. We need to be wise enough to place these people in positions of leadership and authority.

We are in an election year filled with complex issues. We are bombarded with negative ads, each one claiming the opposing candidate is incompetent, immoral, has committed crimes, is ignorant of common sense answers to the problems before us, and many other frustrating things. We need to wade through the hate-speech and look for sons of Issachar, a difficult thing to do sometimes.

This is also the season during which we look for leaders in our church. We have complex issues as well. Fortunately, we don’t have a campaigning process for the job. Most people would like to sidestep the responsibility if possible, many because of issues of time commitment or feelings of inadequacy.

The Nominating Committee will begin contacting people within the next couple of weeks. They are looking for men and women with the heritage of the men of Issachar. I do not believe that the tribe of Issachar had some special corner on the wisdom market. I DO believe that some of the men of Issachar covenanted together to pray for wisdom in all their dealings, and I DO believe God answered their prayer in their personal dealings. I believe that God put these same faithful people in positions of leadership, not because they had all the answers, but because they knew the one to whom they needed to go and ask the questions. Asking wise questions usually is the first step to getting wise answers.

As we seek for elders for the class of 2016, we will be looking for people of faith. We will also be looking for people who are engaged in ministry, or who will accept the challenge to engage in a ministry of their own.

If you are approached and asked to serve take a step back and breathe, recognize that we have prayed and see leadership in you. We believe you just might be one of these people. Pray about it. Seek wise Christian counsel. We hope you will say, “Yes,” but we want you to follow the call of Christ on your life, and He may call you to something else. Recognize, that our approaching you has been the result of our own journey and time before the Lord in prayer. As we seek God together, may he bless us with our own sons of Issachar and lead us to his glorious will.

Pastor Craig