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BY THE WILL OF GOD

Text: Colossians 1
6 March 2011

(I) DEFINING THE WILL OF GOD

“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother” Colossians 1:1

1. Meaning of the word “will” (thelema)

a) Simply, it is what one wishes or desires

b) It has to do with one’s desire or will to do something

2. Man’s will

a) Superficial

b) Most uncertain

c) No guarantee

d) Many times the will of man remained unfulfilled

3. Some elements of God’s will

a) It is the wishes and the desires of God

b) Much thought involved

c) Planning

d) Depth

e) Always fulfilled

v) Most certain

(II) AN EXAMPLE OF APPLYING THE WILL OF GOD

“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother” Colossians 1:1

How do we see the will of God being applied in Paul’s life?

1. Paul’s life was determined by the will of God

a) By… “dia”…by means of, instrumental

b) “Means” would indicate that Paul’s life was pre-determined by the will of God

2. The will of God was decreed as His calling for Paul

a) He was specially chosen and called by God

“But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.” Acts 9:16

b) It was God’s will for Him

“Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will,” Acts 22:14

3. The will of God was confirmed in the life of Paul

a) The direction for his life

b) The destiny of his life

(III) THE CHALLENGE OF FULFILLING THE WILL OF GOD

1. Paul was able to respond to God’s will

a) He had a deep understanding of the will of God

b) He submitted to the will of God

c) He proved himself by following the will of God

d) He could speak of being an apostle of Christ by the will of God

2. A personal challenge

a) Do we truly understand by definition what the Will of God is?

b) Do we have an example as to how we should apply the will of God?

c) Do we have the outworking of the will of God in our lives?