On Knowing the Will of God
To discover God's will, one must be completely dedicated to God's high honor and surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
A.W. Tozer addresses the challenge many Christians face in discerning the will of God, emphasizing that their peace and confidence hinge on knowing they are being guided by Him. He stresses the necessity of complete dedication to God's glory and surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, noting that God cannot lead those who resist His will. Tozer warns against the misuse of God for personal gain, urging believers to joyfully submit to Him so that He can work through them for His purposes.
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One of the problems most frequently encountered by serious-minded Christians is how to discover the will of God in a given situation. This is not a small matter. To countless thousands of Christians it is vitally important. Their peace of heart depends upon knowing that God is actually guiding them, and their failure to be sure that He is destroys their inward tranquility and fills them with uncertainty and fear. They must get help if they are to regain their confidence. Here is a modest effort to provide some help. First, it is absolutely essential that we be completely dedicated to Gods high honor and surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. God will not lead us except for His own glory and He cannot lead us if we resist His will.
The shepherd cannot lead a stubborn sheep.
The evil practice of using God must be abandoned. Instead of trying to employ God to achieve our ends we must submit ourselves joyously to God and let Him work through us to achieve His own ends.
Sermon Outline
- Dedication to God's Honor
- Completely surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus Christ
- God will not lead us except for His own glory
Key Quotes
“God will not lead us except for His own glory and He cannot lead us if we resist His will.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- To regain confidence in God's guidance, submit yourself joyously to God and let Him work through you to achieve His own ends.
- Dedication to God's high honor is essential for knowing His will.
- Resisting God's will destroys inward tranquility and fills us with uncertainty and fear.