Sunday Service Sermon 48.24

                                                                     Discerning the Will of God Acts 1:15-26
1. The Providence of God
Providence is God’s personal involvement with his creation. Divine providence is the governance of God by which He, with wisdom and love, cares for and directs all things in the universe. Providence is God designing and managing the purpose and plan for which all things were created. It is distinct from His Sovereignty. Providence is God seeing everything and providing a plan for everything. Sovereignty is His right and power to implement the plan.
          a. God ______________ everything
                     Psalm 104:14 Jeremiah 10:13 Matthew 5:45
                     Psalm 22:28
          b. Everything that happens is ______________ by God
          c. God brings ultimate ___________ out of everything
                     Genesis 50:20 Romans 8:28
          d. God is to be _____________ no matter what happens
                     Job 1:21
          e. God works out His _______________ through all our ________________.
                     Proverbs 16:9 Proverbs 21:1
          f. Divine providence does not _____________ our ________________.
         g. God’s providence contains His ________________ will and His _________________ will.
                     i. His __________________ will is that which only He knows in His infinite wisdom
                    ii. His _______________ will is that which has been written in His Word.
                   iii. God invites us to _________ and _______________ His ______________ will, and to trust His providence and sovereignty to accomplish His _________________ will.
2. Discerning the will of God
         a. God’s ________________ _____________ for what Judas would do.
                   i. Jesus knew Judas would do it. John 17:12
                  ii. The Old Testament predicted it
                          1. Psalm 69:19-28; Psalm 109:1-8
         b. God’s ___________ sought His _______ for what to do next.
                   i. They were _____________ in their __________ to do everything in accordance with God’s ___________ purpose.
                  ii. They were ______________ to letting God’s Word be their __________.
                 iii. They ______________.
                 iv. They _____________ God’s Sovereignty and _________ ___ ______________.

SUMMARY: When you have a decision to make…
1. Consider the Greatness of God, who is always in control and submit to His authority.
2. Consider the Redemptive purpose of God and choose only those things that do not conflict with that purpose.
3. Consider the revealed will of God and weigh every decision in the evidence of His Word.
4. Ask the Holy Spirit to direct you according to God’s Providence.
5. Trust God’s Sovereignty and make a decision.