This message is from Dr. Ferguson’s 12-part teaching series The Basics of the Christian Life. Watch the entire series: www.ligonier.org/learn/series/basics-of-the-christian-life
7 Questions to Ask to Find the Will of God 1. Is it Lawful? Is it according to the Word and will of God? 2. Is this action beneficial to me or others? 3. Is it potentially enslaving for us? 4. Is it absolutely consistent with the Lordship of Jesus Christ? 5. Will it be helpful to others? 6. Is this course of action consistent with Biblical examples? 7. Is this consistent with the glory of God?
Discerning the will of God in our lives can only be accomplished through prayer and study, and honest questioning before God. We must often wait on the Lord, and we want that decision now. So, a new view must be taken in seeking out the course of our lives as it relates to God.
So much of modern life is against the principles of God. God is never in a hurry but we want decisions and results now. We want to do things on insctinct basically, but God wants us to meditate, discern and think through everything.
As is so often the case, a very clear and simple answer - which is difficult and uncomfortable to put into practice. Thank God for the Holy Spirit to strengthen us.
I am 79 years of age, and born and raised in a Pentecostal church - the "old tine Pentecostals" as Dr Ferguson put it. I agree on some points that he mentions, but he ignores what we regard as probably the most important aspects in spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ, including the New Birth to which Jesus referred in John 3, accompanying the baptism in the Holy Spirit and speaking and praying in tongues. What I have witnessed and experienced since my early days, is the miraculous transformation of a lost soul into a Born Again Holy Spirit filled child of God, in whose life everything had been made new. I witnessed people who were complete drug addicts being completely changed into wonderful children of God, by the power of the Holy Spirit. The physical healing of sick and cripple people was a common "phenomenon" - those were the things that drew people to Christ.
It’s so very difficult at times to make life changing decisions, like moving to another country as a divorced mom with a child or allowing family members to move in with you, etc. At those times we really want to know what’s Gods will in those situations.
THE ONLY THING WHAT WE CAN DO IS TO BOW OUR KNEE,……. AND TO CONFESS WITH OUR TONGUE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS OUR LORD AND SAVIOR,………IN THIS WORLD,……AND IN ALL ETERNITY,………..PRAISE HIS PERFECT HOLY NAME,……. AMEN
Do you remember in Bunyan’s “The Pilgrim’s Progress” where the pilgrim called “Christian” comes to the Mountain called “Legality-Legalism” and is almost crushed by it? Still he escaped and repented and he was put back on the difficult and narrow Path, yet it was the Right one to The Celestial City?
I'm glad that God is no respecter of persons. I attended an Assembly of God years ago in which there was a lady who taught about "the deeper life." As if she had a special relationship with God that we hoped to have someday. I mentioned Assembly of God. That tells you right there that the "deeper life" is a lie
@@alext.8456 I’m the one who has to be especially on guard against the deception of thinking I’ve been “especially blessed with secret wisdom” because of my past history of secret mysteries and mystical knowledge. Gurdjieff/Ouspendky fantasies of Reality, for instance. People who are gnostics think they are better in GOD’s eyes, which they are not, because, as you point out, GOD is no respecter of persons- we’re all equally His kids - even if some are older.
@@alext.8456 there really are people, prophets that sometimes God will use to give guidance in regards of your own cristian life. But as Ferguson says here, even if its true (I have experienced these people), you should not lean on it, because you will stay inmature forever, and that is not the Will of God for your sanctification. There are a lot of tools and helping hands that God has provided us, his people who search for Him everyday. We just have to be wise biblically and have a discerning spirit so we will be enriched by all of it.
Now that we’ve Become the “Bride of Christ,” does that mean we obey Him, and NOT the Father in Heaven? I’d be willing to try to answer this later if anyone even cares!
As someone not of this world,,who is this God, it seems only humans talk of it, if someone can help in finding this thing it would help to take sample back with me when I leave, is it made of the same atoms as all things are or not ,we are always looking to find new forms of atoms .
Greetings, The question about atoms reminds of a video from 8 years back called “The Irrefutable Proof of God” by Apologia Studios here on UA-cam. If you are interested in hearing about the differences in Biblical and Secular thought. Regards
@@gregthomas82 I have seen so many videos from this kind of thinking, this thinking is based of a old story made up over 4,000 yrs ago, at a time when only a few people could read or wright,it seems strange this so call god of everything would not do anything or even ask people of the time to take down what he knew or was talking about ,so everyone would know in yrs to come, I know I would if went back in the past to the same time, if I was this god the you would know so much more .but as its just a story of the time and as I can see the only one left about its strange people take it so seriously, as far as we know parts and storys are made up yrs after at times 100s of yrs later even ,the first part is made up by someone we do not know yrs later and added to the list.
@@djustaviewer3181 “Progressive revelation” is the Christian doctrine you are describing. Wikipedia has a good definition for it. I can relate to what your writing, I sat in a small countryside church for most of my life hearing preachers teach from the Bible. Then at age 35 Jesus saved my soul. The best description explanation I have found is called the doctrine of Regeneration. Now that my heart has been regenerated (Ezekiel 36:26) His Spirit works through me like so many others reaching out in love and hope. It may seem like a made up story but once God changes a human through regeneration the truth comes to light. ❤️ Will be praying for you my friend. 🙏
@@gregthomas82 It nice you find love and hope in someone who has over time brought cancer, illness and others things to all kind of not only living things but all plants over 4,6 billion yrs and even as life still got over this came back with a flood to murder everything on the planet with a flood, and not only on earth but all over the universe ,if you do pray for me please ask to keep this monster away from not only everyone but you as well so you can see who you worship is not the one who you think it is, only good thing its just a story and not real but its a nightmare just thinking it could be true
This message is from Dr. Ferguson’s 12-part teaching series The Basics of the Christian Life. Watch the entire series: www.ligonier.org/learn/series/basics-of-the-christian-life
He is such a blessing to so many people. A great Bible teacher and theologian. Thank you Dr. Ferguson.
7 Questions to Ask to Find the Will of God
1. Is it Lawful? Is it according to the Word and will of God?
2. Is this action beneficial to me or others?
3. Is it potentially enslaving for us?
4. Is it absolutely consistent with the Lordship of Jesus Christ?
5. Will it be helpful to others?
6. Is this course of action consistent with Biblical examples?
7. Is this consistent with the glory of God?
"What promotes the glory of God, will always be his will": so eloquently stated
Dr. Ferguson I am not sure how you put so much into only 20 minutes. Thank you for sharing the life that God has shared with you.
Thank you. This is excellent teaching and I have found most helpful as I teach my children.
Discerning the will of God in our lives can only be accomplished through prayer and study, and honest questioning before God. We must often wait on the Lord, and we want that decision now. So, a new view must be taken in seeking out the course of our lives as it relates to God.
So much of modern life is against the principles of God. God is never in a hurry but we want decisions and results now. We want to do things on insctinct basically, but God wants us to meditate, discern and think through everything.
As is so often the case, a very clear and simple answer - which is difficult and uncomfortable to put into practice. Thank God for the Holy Spirit to strengthen us.
This is such excellent teaching
I am 79 years of age, and born and raised in a Pentecostal church - the "old tine Pentecostals" as Dr Ferguson put it. I agree on some points that he mentions, but he ignores what we regard as probably the most important aspects in spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ, including the New Birth to which Jesus referred in John 3, accompanying the baptism in the Holy Spirit and speaking and praying in tongues. What I have witnessed and experienced since my early days, is the miraculous transformation of a lost soul into a Born Again Holy Spirit filled child of God, in whose life everything had been made new. I witnessed people who were complete drug addicts being completely changed into wonderful children of God, by the power of the Holy Spirit. The physical healing of sick and cripple people was a common "phenomenon" - those were the things that drew people to Christ.
Thank u Dr. Ferguson!
Excellent. Thanks Dr. Ferguson
It’s so very difficult at times to make life changing decisions, like moving to another country as a divorced mom with a child or allowing family members to move in with you, etc. At those times we really want to know what’s Gods will in those situations.
Very good, Amen.
Thank you
THE ONLY THING WHAT WE CAN DO IS TO BOW OUR KNEE,……. AND TO CONFESS WITH OUR TONGUE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS OUR LORD AND SAVIOR,………IN THIS WORLD,……AND IN ALL ETERNITY,………..PRAISE HIS PERFECT HOLY NAME,……. AMEN
Classic!
Do you remember in Bunyan’s “The Pilgrim’s Progress” where the pilgrim called “Christian” comes to the Mountain called “Legality-Legalism” and is almost crushed by it? Still he escaped and repented and he was put back on the difficult and narrow Path, yet it was the Right one to The Celestial City?
Excellent reminders of the basics of our Faith. And isn’t delving into “the secret will of GOD” actually practicing the heresy of Gnosticism?
I'm glad that God is no respecter of persons. I attended an Assembly of God years ago in which there was a lady who taught about "the deeper life." As if she had a special relationship with God that we hoped to have someday. I mentioned Assembly of God. That tells you right there that the "deeper life" is a lie
@@alext.8456 I’m the one who has to be especially on guard against the deception of thinking I’ve been “especially blessed with secret wisdom” because of my past history of secret mysteries and mystical knowledge. Gurdjieff/Ouspendky fantasies of Reality, for instance.
People who are gnostics think they are better in GOD’s eyes, which they are not, because, as you point out, GOD is no respecter of persons- we’re all equally His kids - even if some are older.
@@alext.8456 there really are people, prophets that sometimes God will use to give guidance in regards of your own cristian life. But as Ferguson says here, even if its true (I have experienced these people), you should not lean on it, because you will stay inmature forever, and that is not the Will of God for your sanctification.
There are a lot of tools and helping hands that God has provided us, his people who search for Him everyday. We just have to be wise biblically and have a discerning spirit so we will be enriched by all of it.
@@kenim Amen!
The will of God for everyone's life is Deuteronomy 10:12
Now that we’ve Become the “Bride of Christ,” does that mean we obey Him, and NOT the Father in Heaven? I’d be willing to try to answer this later if anyone even cares!
Christ and the Father are One. If you obey Christ you obey the Father.
@@lesegokomane1123 exactly! There is perfect agreement about all things within the blessed Trinity.
As someone not of this world,,who is this God, it seems only humans talk of it, if someone can help in finding this thing it would help to take sample back with me when I leave, is it made of the same atoms as all things are or not ,we are always looking to find new forms of atoms .
Greetings,
The question about atoms reminds of a video from 8 years back called “The Irrefutable Proof of God” by Apologia Studios here on UA-cam. If you are interested in hearing about the differences in Biblical and Secular thought. Regards
@@gregthomas82 I have seen so many videos from this kind of thinking, this thinking is based of a old story made up over 4,000 yrs ago, at a time when only a few people could read or wright,it seems strange this so call god of everything would not do anything or even ask people of the time to take down what he knew or was talking about ,so everyone would know in yrs to come, I know I would if went back in the past to the same time, if I was this god the you would know so much more .but as its just a story of the time and as I can see the only one left about its strange people take it so seriously, as far as we know parts and storys are made up yrs after at times 100s of yrs later even ,the first part is made up by someone we do not know yrs later and added to the list.
@@djustaviewer3181 “Progressive revelation” is the Christian doctrine you are describing. Wikipedia has a good definition for it. I can relate to what your writing, I sat in a small countryside church for most of my life hearing preachers teach from the Bible. Then at age 35 Jesus saved my soul. The best description explanation I have found is called the doctrine of Regeneration. Now that my heart has been regenerated (Ezekiel 36:26) His Spirit works through me like so many others reaching out in love and hope. It may seem like a made up story but once God changes a human through regeneration the truth comes to light. ❤️ Will be praying for you my friend. 🙏
@@gregthomas82 It nice you find love and hope in someone who has over time brought cancer, illness and others things to all kind of not only living things but all plants over 4,6 billion yrs and even as life still got over this came back with a flood to murder everything on the planet with a flood, and not only on earth but all over the universe ,if you do pray for me please ask to keep this monster away from not only everyone but you as well so you can see who you worship is not the one who you think it is, only good thing its just a story and not real but its a nightmare just thinking it could be true