Filled With the Knowledge of God's Will
The sermon emphasizes the necessity of being filled with the knowledge of God's will through diligent study of Scripture and reliance on the Holy Spirit.
W.H. Griffith Thomas emphasizes the importance of being filled with the knowledge of God's will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding to avoid being misled by false doctrines. He highlights the necessity of daily and direct study of the Word of God, illuminated by the Spirit of God, to truly know and understand God's plan for our lives. Thomas explains that through consistent engagement with the Bible, our perception, morals, emotions, and willpower are purified, enlightened, controlled, and energized, leading us to a deeper understanding and application of God's will in every aspect of our lives.
Text
"For this cause we also...do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding"
(Col. 1:9).
The difficulty with so many people today is that they are superficial in their knowledge and shallow in their experience, and so are a prey to various errors, "carried about with every wind of doctrine" (Eph. 4:14). We may safely aver, then, that to be "filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding" means for its complete realization a constant touch with those writings which present the clearly expressed plan of God. The divine will is in that Book, and when it, the Word of God, is illuminated by the Spirit of God we, His children, come to know His will concerning us. Indeed, no one will ever have the full knowledge of that will, no one can possibly be mature in Christian experience, if the Word of God is not his daily, definite, direct study and meditation. It purifies the perceptive faculties by its cleansing power, it illuminates the moral faculties with its enlightening power, it controls the emotional faculties with its protective power, and it energizes the volitional faculties with its stimulating power. Thus, in the constant, continuous use of the Word of God in personal practice, with reverent meditation and earnest prayer, we shall indeed, to paraphrase the apostle's words "become filled with the full knowledge of His will in every avenue of perception and in their spiritual applications."
Sermon Outline
- I points: - Introduction to the importance of knowledge in Christian life - The dangers of superficial knowledge - The need for spiritual understanding
- II points: - The role of Scripture in knowing God's will - Illumination by the Holy Spirit - Daily study and meditation on the Word
- III points: - Purification of perceptive faculties - Enlightenment of moral faculties - Control of emotional faculties
- IV points: - Energizing volitional faculties - Practical applications of knowledge - Conclusion on being filled with God's will
Key Quotes
“The divine will is in that Book, and when it, the Word of God, is illuminated by the Spirit of God we, His children, come to know His will concerning us.” — W.H. Griffith Thomas
“No one will ever have the full knowledge of that will, no one can possibly be mature in Christian experience, if the Word of God is not his daily, definite, direct study and meditation.” — W.H. Griffith Thomas
“Thus, in the constant, continuous use of the Word of God in personal practice, with reverent meditation and earnest prayer, we shall indeed...become filled with the full knowledge of His will.” — W.H. Griffith Thomas
Application Points
- Commit to a daily reading plan of Scripture to deepen your understanding of God's will.
- Engage in earnest prayer to seek the Holy Spirit's guidance in your life decisions.
- Reflect on how the Word of God can purify and energize your thoughts and actions.