Doing the Father's Will
Derek Prince emphasizes the importance of doing the Father's will as the pathway to spiritual maturity and fulfillment in the Christian life.
Derek Prince emphasizes the predestination of believers to adoption as sons by God through Jesus Christ, with the ultimate purpose of being conformed to the image of Jesus. He highlights that Jesus is the pattern Son we must emulate to reach maturity, drawing from Hebrews and Romans. Despite facing all forms of temptation, Jesus remained sinless due to His unwavering commitment to the Father's will, as seen in Psalms and the Gospels. Jesus' motivation to fulfill the Father's will was the driving force behind His ministry, setting an example for believers to prioritize God's will above all else.
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In Ephesians 1:5, Paul said of all believers that God has "predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself." He further described God's purpose for His children in Romans 8:29: "For whom He [God] foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He [Jesus] might be the firstborn among many brethren." Thus, Jesus is the pattern Son, the One to whom we must all conform in coming to maturity. He Himself is the new and living way by which we go on to perfection, enter the holiest, and draw near to God. (See Hebrews 6:1; 10:19-22.) The way that led Jesus to perfection is the same way that each of us must follow.
The path to maturity was no easier for Jesus than it is for us. He "was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15). In His human nature, Jesus experienced every form of temptation we experience, and yet He never sinned. It is no sin to be tempted! Sin comes only when we yield to temptation.
What was it that enabled Jesus, in spite of His true humanity, to overcome all temptation? His success lay in His single-hearted, unchanging motivation to do the Father's will. This fact was prophetically foreshown by David in Psalm 40:7-8: "Then I said, 'Behold, I come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me. I delight to do Your will, O my God.'"
During His earthly ministry, Jesus repeatedly disclosed this underlying motive for all He did. He could never know final satisfaction until He had finished every task His Father had assigned. Near Jacob's well, He told His disciples, "My food [that which upholds and strengthens Me] is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work" (John 4:34). (See also John 5:30; 6:38.)
Sermon Outline
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I
- Understanding God's Purpose for Believers
- The Concept of Adoption in Christ
- Conformity to the Image of Christ
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II
- The Path to Maturity
- Temptation and Sin
- Jesus as Our Example
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III
- Motivation to Do the Father's Will
- Jesus' Commitment to His Mission
- The Importance of Finishing God's Work
Key Quotes
“For whom He [God] foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son.” — Derek Prince
“My food [that which upholds and strengthens Me] is to do the will of Him who sent Me.” — Derek Prince
“I delight to do Your will, O my God.” — Derek Prince
Application Points
- Seek to understand God's purpose for your life through prayer and scripture.
- Embrace temptation as a part of the journey, focusing on obedience rather than fear of failure.
- Commit to finishing the tasks God has set before you, drawing strength from your relationship with Him.