This week Bro. Leo continues us in a study of following the guidance and will of God. For the last several weeks we have learned about the object of our faith and the action of our faith.

Today’s study concentrates on the “mechanics” of recognizing God’s will and actually doing God’s will.

In Matt.16:24 “let him deny himself, and take up his cross” speaks to salvation. This is the point when we realize that we can not do enough good works to earn our salvation (self) and we become completely dependent upon Christ’ work on the Cross for our salvation (His Cross), Eph.2:8-9. “and follow me” happens after salvation with the help and inspiration of His Holy Spirit indwelling us, Matt.4:19-20, Psa.48:14. His Holy Spirit will put desires and thoughts in our minds and hearts that will lead us to His will. God will not force us to do His will, we always have the choice to follow or not.

Here are two reasons why we sometimes choose to not follow His will, 1) herd mentality, a lot of the time we don’t like to do things that our friends aren’t doing, we would rather fit in with the crowd than stand out as different. 2) We like our comfort zone, we don’t like to venture outside of what we are comfortable doing (Heb.12:1).

In Psa.16:11 and Matt.7:13-14 we are told that God has a narrow, detailed, outlined and specific plan for our life. We see in Matt.4:19-20 that Peter and Andrew followed Jesus, for the next 3-1/2 years, so they were in His presence and He was in their presence all the time. It is the same with us after we are saved, His Holy Spirit is in and with us all the time. 1) His presence is constantly with us. 2) He is fully aware of everything we say and do, He has a complete awareness of us and He will reveal to us things about ourselves that we don’t know (John 1:47-48, Psa.139:1-10).

We are capable of recognizing God’s will through His Holy Spirit (John 10:2-5, 9-10, 27, Rev.3:20, Psa.32:8-10).

Scriptures used in today’s study:

Mat 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Psa 48:14 For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.

Mat 4:19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
Mat 4:20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.

Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Psa 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Mat 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Joh 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

Mat 4:19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

Joh 1:47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!
Joh 1:48 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.

Psa 139:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.
Psa 139:2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
Psa 139:3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
Psa 139:4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.
Psa 139:5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
Psa 139:6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
Psa 139:7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
Psa 139:8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
Psa 139:9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
Psa 139:10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

Joh 10:2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
Joh 10:3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
Joh 10:4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
Joh 10:5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
Joh 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
Joh 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Joh 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Php 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Psa 32:8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.
Psa 32:9 Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.
Psa 32:10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.