KNOWING GOD'S WILL

“Let us know, let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, like the latter and former rain to the earth” (Hosea 6:3 NKJV).

God has a plan and purpose for each of our lives. We need to discover that plan and then pursue it with all our heart. To ignore God’s will for our life is to play the fool and experience great loss in time and eternity. Our verse gives us three ways of knowing God’s will. It involves our walk, our will, and the Word.

Walk – “Let us know, let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord.” If we continue to follow the Lord in our daily walk, we will learn the will of God; God reveals His will step by step, day by day. He seldom reveals much in advance but only what we need to know at the time. So, if we want to know what God wants us to do tomorrow, we will learn it by obeying what God wants us to do today. Tomorrow’s directions are dependent on today’s obedience. If we are struggling to know the will of God, our problem may be that we are not obeying God in our present situation.

Will – “Let us know, let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord.” If we are going to know the will of God, our will or desire must be set on doing His will. Desire will be manifested by faithfulness in following the Lord regardless of the difficulties. This is where many folks flounder in learning the will of God – they are simply not very earnest about learning it. Yes, most of the time our desire is weak because we lack the necessary zeal to faithfully follow the Lord in knowing His will.

Word – “Let us know, let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord.” We cannot say we are following the Lord and at the same time ignore His Word; both are inseparable. The disciples were constantly being instructed by the Word of Christ when they followed Him. Likewise, if we follow the Lord, the Word must become prominent in our lives.

(Adapted from Butler's Daily Bible Reading 2)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“If you are ignorant of God’s Word, you will always be ignorant of God’s will!”

William (Billy) Franklin Graham (1918 – 2018)

American Evangelist and Southern Baptist Minister

Word Study

Enemies

In 2 Tim. 4:5 we read, “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life!” (NKJV).

Enemies is the Greek word echthrós (ἐχθρός =ekh-thros'). It means hated, odious, hostile, and opposing another. It is used of men at enmity with God because of their sin. In classic Greek echthrós means hostile or hated. In the Septuagint, echthrós usually referred to enemies. In the New Testament, echthrós primarily referred to those who oppose God. Sin is rebellion against God; it is not only a failure, but a refusal to do God’s will. We were all enemies of God: we toward Him in rebellion, and He toward us in wrath. Therefore, we all needed to be reconciled to God. There would be no hope without the removal of His wrath and our rebellion. That sinners are God’s enemies is stated a number of times in Scripture. However, God took the initiative in bringing about reconciliation through the death of his Son.

“Fear Nots” Found in the Bible

“And Elijah said unto her, fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son” (1 Kings 17:13 KJV).

Did You Know…

There are seven Old Testament quotations describing the Lord Jesus Christ in the first Chapter of Hebrews (Heb. 1:5-14).

Bible Quiz

What amazed the crowd of international Jews who heard the disciples speaking on the Day of Pentecost?

**Answer to last week’s Bible Quiz: How did Peter view baptism? As a pledge of “good conscience towards God” (1 Peter 3:20-21).

Names For the Lord Jesus in the Bible

“ALL IN ALL”

"Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all!” (col. 3:11 NKJV).

1. Meaning – ALL IN ALL speaks of the Lord Jesus as the Pre-eminent One, the only and All-Sufficient Savior.

2. Insights – Here the absolute supremacy of the Lord Jesus Christ is affirmed and extolled. He is the Creator of all things; all the universe has its source and continuance in Him. He rules all of human life, and all conditions are disposed and regulated by His providence. He alone is the source from which all have proceeded, and to Him alone all must return. He is the Maker, Preserver, Savior, and Judge of all men. Therefore, He is all that matters.

Did You Know – Christian History

James Hannington was born September 3, 1847, in Hurstpierpoint, Sussex, England. He was an English Anglican missionary and first bishop of Eastern Equatorial Africa.

Hannigan’s early education was in the hands of a tutor, but at age thirteen he was sent to the Temple School at Brighton, where he remained for the next two-and-a-half years. After school he naturally joined his father’s counting house in business in Brighton.

In 1867 the chapel which his father had built on the grounds of his property was licensed for Anglican services. Hannigan’s attendance there led him to make a decision about ordination, and in 1868 he entered St. Mary’s Hall, Oxford, and was ordained on March 1st 1874. However, it was not until he read the book ‘Grace and Truth’ by Dr. Mackay some months later that he realized what it means to have sins forgiven. He later wrote, “My eyes were opened.”

In 1875 Hannington became curate-in-charge at St. George’s, Hurstpierpoint. In 1878 his thoughts were turned to mission work by the murder of two missionaries on the shores of Lake Victoria. Therefore, in 1882 Hannington volunteered for service in Uganda with the Church Missionary Society. He left England in May 1882 and arrived in Africa on June 29th. The next year was one long trek into the heart of Africa during which Hannigan suffered recurring fevers from which he was never to completely recover.

He returned to England in 1883 to be told that he must never again visit Africa, but by April 1884 his specialist told him that he was well enough to return. On June 24th he was consecrated by the Bishop of Eastern Equatorial Africa and returned. His last expedition was into Masai territory with a group of about 200 porters. The journey of his ‘army of peace’ left base on July 23rd but on October 12th Hannigan left the main party with 50 picked men to visit missionaries in Uganda. On October 21st his party was ambushed.

After eight days of captivity, King Mwanga II, ordered the porters killed, and on October 29, 1885, Hannington himself was speared to death. His last recorded words were “go tell your master that I have purchased the road to Uganda with my blood.” Widespread persecution of Christians followed, many were either killed or sold to Arab slavers. Hannington and his companions were among the first Martyrs of Uganda. Hannington’s feast day in the Church of England is October 29th. A dedication stone, erected in his memory along with the Bishop Hannington Memorial Church, Hove, England in 1938, bears the inscription “Thou hast turned my heaviness into joy.”

A Little Humor

As the offering plate was being passed, 10 year old Patty put the following note in the plate – “I’m sorry I can’t leave more money in the plate; my father didn’t give me a raise in my allowance. Could you have a sermon about a raise in my allowance? Love Patty.”

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“Follow God’s lead - He will never direct you wrong!”