CHURCH CHRISTMAS PARTY ON SKATES
TOMORROW 6:30 – 8:30
ROMP & ROLL ON SALEM ROAD
Beats From Your Pastor’s Heart:
Romans 12:2, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Knowing God’s will is sometimes a difficult thing for us as believers.
We all want to find God’s will for our life.
But often the motivation in seeking God’s will is self-centered.
It is God’s will for me, with the emphasis upon ME.
Of course, God has a will and purpose for each of us, but many times we may have no idea that God’s will is for GOD!
It is not just His will for me.
It is His will for Himself.
Vision gives us the ability to prove what is not only the “good” but also the “well pleasing and perfect will of God.”
Romans 12:2 indicates that in order to prove the perfect will of God, we need the transformation that comes from the renewing of our mind.
Transformation and mind-renewing are related to vision.
The vision of the major things on God’s heart automatically imparts the ability to prove the will of God.
Without vision, we will be trying to figure out what God’s will is.
Finding God’s will for our life becomes a major pursuit.
We look for some indication of His leading.
We look for impressions.
We are expecting that perhaps God will speak to us in a dream.
We often are eagerly waiting for an open door.
This is not to say that the Lord does not use various means to reveal His will to us, but many times we are seeking for something that has nothing to do with God’s own will for Himself.
We are without the overall vision of the mystery of His will, which is Christ and the church–the governing vision of the universe.
Let me illustrate.
When a person joins the Army, he/she is under the direction of the big will of the Army.
Their decisions and their little will about where I live, how I spend my time, and when I am going on vacation are all within the scope of the big will.
The big will is really the will that controls and directs my life.
My little will moves within the sphere of the big will.
We all must know that there is a big will for every believer.
That big will is Christ and the church!
That is God’s revealed will for you and for me.
My little will–who I am going to marry, where I am going to school, where I am going to live–is to be discerned within the sphere of God’s big revealed will.
And this revealed will of God is identical to the heavenly vision that Paul obeyed.
Thus, like Paul, we can prove and know the perfect will of God.
It is vision that gives us the ability to prove it!
Until Tomorrow
With a Shepherd’s Love
Pastor
TODAY’S PRAYER LIST
Sadie Harpers Family In Her Passing
Shawn & Susan Bankston In Passing Of His Dad
Bill Lawhead – Much Prayer needed
Jill Haines Surgery on Thursday
Tammy Shelnut’s Dad
The Graham Family – Brandon’s Friends
Amy Garner’s Mother/Dad
Ashley Burn’s Sisters
Barbara Shed’s Family
Bill Moody
Carol Lawhead’s Brother
Charles Rambles
Charlie Sessom – Waiting
Colby/Connor – Allison’s G’sons
Darlene Thaxton
Denise Stubbs – Kim Allison’s Mom
Greg Payne – Lisa’s Brother
Hanna Hall – Pray for Grace
Kimberly – Dustin’s Sister
Larry Barker
Linda Breedlove’s Sister – Sarah
Mary Sims
Marynell Ford
Michael Stanley
Nora Allison – Dustin’s Mom
Paula Ferus’ Missionary Friend
Ricky Stubbs
Rod Gustafson – Cancer
Roseleigh Osborn
Scott Lanier – Linda’s Son
Shaelyn – Jill’s Friend
Sheila Simmons Cousin
Tom Witcher