POINT ASSEMBLY ONLINE - Decision Making And The Will of God (Lesson One)

DECISION MAKING AND THE WILL OF GOD

Lesson One

1. Which best describes your life?

_ a. An iceberg adrift at sea.

_ b. An arrow shot from an archer’s bow.

_ c. A tin can tied behind a newly wed couple’s car.

2. What does the term “God’s will” mean?

Sovereign	Moral	Individual
God’s universal plan!	God’s revealed commands!	God’s detailed plan for each person’s life.
Daniel 4:35Proverbs 21:1Rev. 4:11Eph. 1:11Prov. 16:33Rom. 9:19Acts 2:23Acts 4:27-28Rom. 11:33-36 THE RAPTURE	Rom. 2:181Thess. 5:181Thess. 4:32Cor. 6:14 Plus all other commands in Scripture LIVE HOLY	Col. 1:9 Col. 4:12 Rom. 12:2 Eph. 5:17 Eph. 6:6 Pro. 3:5-6 Psalm 32:8 Pro. 16:9 Gen. 24 WHO TO MARRY

CASE STUDY NUMBER ONE

What is God’s will in the following circumstance?

Vicksburg is the home of about a half dozen casinos. One advertising strategy they all use is to circulate "Free Pulls" in the local newspapers. This is a certificate that allows the bearer one "free pull" on a specified slot machine in the casino set up just for this purpose. For the right person the payoff is usually $10,000.00 although on at least one occasion I can remember it was $100,000.00. Discounting remarks about environment and association, is there anything wrong with a Christian exercising this "free pull?" (Taken from AOG list.)

CASE STUDY NUMBER TWO

What is God’s will in the following circumstance?

Susan is a Christian and has been attending church with you since she was a small child. She is now 23 years old and has been seeing Willie, a young man she works with. During the Christmas holidays Willie asked Susan to marry him. She says she loves him, enjoys being around him, but that Willie isn’t a Christian. He has shown respect for her moral values and beliefs, but he has no interest in being a Christian. Before giving Willie an answer, Susan has come to you for advice. Should Susan marry Willie?

CASE STUDY NUMBER THREE

What is God’s will in the following circumstance?

Your grandchild is offer two full scholarships at two very different Universities. The first is shares your Bible based world view, while the second is secular in every respect. Your grandchild is a dedicated Christian and asks you which University you would choose?

CASE STUDY NUMBER FOUR

What is God’s will in the following circumstance?

While home on semester break Ted Bradford asked if he could talk with you about a very important matter. He reveals that he has met a remarkable young lady, Annette Miller. She is attractive, intelligent, and best of all she is a committed believer. She is the child of missionary parents, which explained why she was raised in Kenya, Africa. She has a B.A. from the state university with a major in African history and is presently enrolled at the Bible College that Ted attends. Annette has expressed a strong desire to return to Africa as a missionary. When asked if he loves her, Ted responds, “Yes, I do—very much.” When you ask, “Do you want to marry her,” Ted replies, “Yes!” Ted informs you that he and Annette have strong feelings for each other and have talked extensively about marriage. Both Ted and Annette favor the idea. “So what’s the problem,” you ask. The following is Ted’s response.

I don’t know whether it’s the Lord’s will for us to get married. I know that the Lord has a plan for my life, and I know that plan includes the one person I should marry. I also know that the same thing is true for Annette and her future husband. We’re just not sure we were meant for each other, you know, as far as God’s plan is concerned.

Annette and I have had a wonderful relationship. I’m glad that I don’t have to be ashamed of any part of it. I can see many things that indicate that we’d make good marriage partners. The only major indicator that might point in a different direction is this African business. I’d be willing to go. It’s just that Annette has had such a strong feeling that that’s where she should serve the Lord, and I haven’t received any kind of a call. Until I met Annette, I never thought about Africa at all. I don’t have a strong leading in any specific direction, so I’ve applied to a couple of different seminaries. On the application forms they sent me they wanted me to describe my “Call to the Ministry of the Gospel.” I had to tell them that I don’t know exactly what the Lord want me to do. But I feel that I need more training in the Word for whatever it is.

The thing is, I don’t see how Annette and I can be married unless we both feel called to the same ministry. Or at least our calls should be compatible. What our marriage hindered her from going to Africa? What if she didn’t go because she married me instead? I want God’s will, but I don’t know what it is. What should I do?

3. Which of the preceding case studies was the most difficult to deal with? Why?

4. Was case study number two easier to deal with than case study number four? Why?

Sources:

Garry Friesen, Decision Making & The Will of God, Multnomah Press.

Peter Lord, Hearing God, Baker Book House.