This is God’s Will
“Full of Wisdom”
Ephesians 5:15-21

If God's will is so important, why does it seem so hard to find it?

Facing any decision – big or small – can, at times, be paralyzing, especially when you want to be confident your choice is within God's will. And what about the decision that falls into "grey areas?"

Often people make some of life's most crucial decisions based on things that seem more like a "flip of a coin." Can you really know what God's will is?

Decisions
	We make 35,000 decisions in a day
	226.7 are about food 
	Source: tinyurl.com/thisisgodswill

Believe it or not, the answer is less mysterious than you think.  Let's sort out Biblical truth from experiential fiction in knowing - This is God's will!

God desires lordship more than giving you advice!

God’s will includes…

God’s sovereign will
	God’s absolute will, only completely known to Him, in which no person can change the 
	eternal purpose

God’s directive will
	What God has revealed in His word as His desires for us in our lives as followers

Our Decisions
	Decisions we make informed by God’s directive will, which the Holy Spirit empowers us 
	to do

God’s directive will
	The right outlook on life
	Full of wisdom (Spirit-filled)

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.”
– Ephesians 5:15-21

“…be filled with the Spirit…” – v. 18

Holy Spirit
	“Receive the Holy Spirit” – John 20:22
	“Be baptized with the Holy Spirit”
	– Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33; Acts 1:4-5, 11:16
	“Be anointed (or sealed) with the Holy Spirit”
	– Philippians 2:12-13, 3:12-14; Colossians 2:6

Starting Place
	Every follower of Jesus has the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9)
	The Holy Spirit does not control every follower of Jesus (Ephesians 5:18)
 
Why are we NOT all filled? 
	Some don’t know or understand the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:1-3)
	When there is sin in our lives (Ephesians 4:25-32)
	Unwillingness to surrender an area of life (1 Thessalonians 5:19)
	Lack of desire to go all-in (Matthew 5:6)
	
Two ways to live
	Foolish	 or wise 
	Stagnate or growing
	Our will or His will
	Controlled by something or controlled by the Spirit

Decisions toward a Spirit-filled life
	Surrender – you cannot make yourself more holy than you are through salvation
	(Romans 6:11, 12:1-2)
	Live as you are free (Galatians 2:6, 20)
	Abide in Jesus (John 15:1-11)

“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” – Luke 11:13

God’s will is to be filled with the Spirit to give direction and discretion.

Further Study and Sources
Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine, pp. 746-762

The Christian and Missionary Alliance Positional Statement: Sanctification & Holy Spirit
cmalliance.org/about/beliefs/sanctifier

At the point when we are born again, we become members of God’s family. We believe He paid the price for our sin, and we are positionally sanctified, or set apart from those who are not born again, and are seen as holy because of what Christ has done.

“But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.” – 1 Corinthians 1:30 NKJV

The Bible teaches three tenses of salvation.
	I have been saved (Justification)
	I am being saved (Sanctification)
	I will be saved (Glorification)

Sanctification means separation
	Separation from sin: “But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it 
	is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’” (1 Peter 1:15-16)

	Separation to God: “(He) has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve His God and 
	Father…” (Revelation 1:6)

We read in John 1:29, 33 that Jesus is…
	The one who is taking away the sin of the world
	The one who is baptizing with the Holy Spirit

Two realities—two experiences. All Christians understand the first promise. But many Christians do not understand the experience of the second. It is the experience of Christ’s sanctifying work in a believer’s life. For those who neither understand nor allow for the Spirit’s control in their lives, the results will have profound effect. Ongoing and unsuccessful struggle against sin and a lack of power in life and ministry frustrates the believer. Doubts creep in about the assurance of salvation; there is a lack of joy in the walk with Christ.

Holy Spirit
In the context of the following Scriptures, the Greek word for Spirit is pneuma.

	Every Christian is indwelt by the Holy Spirit. “If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, 
	he does not belong to Christ.” (Romans 8:9)

	Many Christians are not (and never have been) filled with the Holy Spirit. “…be filled with 
	the Spirit.” (Ephesians 5:18)

Two realities – two experiences. With the decision to believe Christ is Savior, the One who was sacrificed for the sin of the world, the believer is immediately indwelt by the Holy Spirit. The believer who forsakes the flesh, allowing the Spirit’s infilling, experiences victory and deliverance not only from the penalty of sin because Christ’s righteousness is imputed to him. The Christian who is filled with the Christ’s Spirit knows deliverance from the power of sin as Christ’s righteousness is imparted to him.

Not only does the follower of Christ experience freedom from eternal death because Jesus lives in him but also freedom to live an abundant life in the present because Jesus lives through him. With the indwelling of the Holy Spirit he is equipped to fight the temptations of the future.

A Sad Reality
	Most American Christians show little evidence in their lives that they have been 
	separated from sin.

	Most American Christians behave in ways that make it difficult to believe that they have 
	been “set apart” for the service of God.

According to John 1:29-33, Jesus is…
	The one who is taking away the sin of the world
	The one who is baptizing with the Holy Spirit

These two realities offer the believer two experiences. All Christians understand the first but most Christians do not understand or experience the second.

Two Realities – Two Experiences
	Deliverance from penalty of sin
	Deliverance from the power of sin
	Freedom from death
	Freedom to live
	Release from the guilt of the past
	Equips for the temptations of the future
	Christ’s righteousness is imputed to us
	Christ’s righteousness is manifest in us
	Jesus lives in us
	Jesus lives through us

True Or False?
According to the New Testament, there are two realities for Christians.
	Romans 7- 8; 1 Corinthians 3:14 – self-propelled and Spirit driven
	Ephesians 5:18 – filled and not filled

What does this look like?
	It’s all about purity.
	It’s all about power.
	It’s all about joy.

Jesus tells us in John 15 that He is the Vine and we are the branches. 
Because of our relationship with Jesus:
	We will bear much fruit – Purity
	We can ask whatever we want – Power
	Our joy will be complete – Joy

Abiding and the Word of God
	John 17:17 — “Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.”
	John 15:3 — “You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.”
	John 15:7 — “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish 
	and it will be given you.”
	Ephesians 5:18
	Colossians 3:16

Two Great Errors

Avoiding the Holy Spirit out of fear: Many Christians run from God because of sin or preconceived notions of inability or worthiness. When we remember to live Jesus’ words from John 15, “Apart from Me you can do nothing,” we realize that our daily sanctification is dependent on our willingness to surrender to Him.

Seeking an experience or feeling as the evidence that we have been filled: Experiences are temporary and feelings are fleeting. God’s Word is true and everlasting. We cannot put our faith in experience or feeling but only in His eternal Word.

A Final Thought
If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to you children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! (Luke 11:13)
– Rev. John Soper