1.
Biblical Discernment Weighing God’s Truth against a World in Error

2.
The Application of Biblical Discernment: Lesson 6

3.
Introduction <ul><li>Discerning God’s Will </li></ul><ul><li>Discerning other Practical Matters </li></ul>

4.
Discerning God’s Will <ul><li>Incorrect View of God’s Will </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Desires Crystal Ball </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Doesn’t encourage trust in God </li></ul></ul>

5.
Discerning God’s Will <ul><li>Correct View of God’s Will </li></ul><ul><ul><li>2 aspects to consider: </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><ul><li>The secret or sovereign will </li></ul></ul></ul><ul><ul><ul><ul><li>Will of decrees </li></ul></ul></ul></ul><ul><ul><ul><li>The revealed will </li></ul></ul></ul><ul><ul><ul><ul><li>Will of command </li></ul></ul></ul></ul>

6.
The Sovereign Will of God <ul><li>Proverbs 16:1 The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD. </li></ul><ul><li>Proverbs 16:33 The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD. </li></ul><ul><li>Matthew 10:29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. </li></ul>

7.
The Sovereign Will of God <ul><li>Ephesians 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: </li></ul><ul><li>James 4:15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. </li></ul><ul><li>1 Peter 3:17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. </li></ul>

8.
The Revealed Will of God <ul><li>Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. </li></ul><ul><li>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. </li></ul><ul><li>1 Thessalonians 4:3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: </li></ul><ul><li>1 Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. </li></ul>

9.
The Revealed Will of God <ul><li>Matthew 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. </li></ul><ul><li>“ In the Lord’s Prayer, ‘Thy will be done’ is a prayer that people would obey God’s revealed will, his commands…This could not be a prayer that God’s secret will (that is, his decrees for events that he has planned) would in fact be fulfilled, for what God has decreed to happen shall certainly come to pass…That would be a hollow prayer indeed, for it would not be asking for anything at all. Furthermore, since we do not know God’s secret will regarding the future, the person praying a prayer for God’s secret will to be done would never know for what he or she was praying. It would be a prayer without understandable content and without effect.” </li></ul><ul><li>-Wayne Grudem </li></ul>

10.
The Joy of Both Wills <ul><li>“ Both [aspects] correspond to a deep need that we all have when we are deeply hurt or experience great loss. On the one hand, we need the assurance that God is in control and therefore is able to work all of my pain and loss together for my good and the good of all who love Him. On the other hand, we need to know that God empathizes with us and does not delight in sin or pain in and of themselves.” </li></ul><ul><li>-John Piper </li></ul>

11.
Discerning God’s Will <ul><li>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. </li></ul><ul><li>God’s will for my life is to do what He commands. </li></ul>

12.
3 Stages to Know & Do God’s Will <ul><li>God’s will of command is revealed with final, decisive authority in the Bible. </li></ul><ul><li>Our application of the biblical truth to new situations that may or may not be explicitly addressed in the Bible. </li></ul><ul><li>The vast majority of living where there is no conscious reflection before we act. </li></ul>

13.
Discerning God’s Will <ul><li>“ Be transformed by the renewing of your mind…That’s the great challenge. That is what God calls you to. You can’t do it on your own. You need Christ and the Holy Spirit to lead you to truth and to work in you truth-embracing humility.” </li></ul><ul><li>-John Piper </li></ul><ul><li>“ You can’t discern God’s will by just sitting there. You have to act on God’s truth.” </li></ul><ul><li>-CJ Mahaney </li></ul>

14.
Discerning Other Practical Matters <ul><li>In General </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Gray Matters </li></ul></ul><ul><li>In Specific </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Media Consumption </li></ul></ul>

15.
Gray Matters <ul><li>There are None </li></ul><ul><li>“Places where we work harder to know God’s will.” </li></ul><ul><li>“Being transformed into God’s kingdom has redefined your identity…the cross levels the playing field.” </li></ul>

16.
3 steps to discern and decide what pleases God in gray matters <ul><li>Think Biblically </li></ul><ul><li>Distrust your heart </li></ul><ul><li>Imitate your Father </li></ul>

17.
Media Consumption <ul><li>Galatians 6:7-8 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (8) For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. </li></ul><ul><li>“ To discern is to perceive the true nature of something. Because the popular media so often speak to us through our emotions, we must grow in discernment. Otherwise, when violence comes disguised as justice, when lust masquerades as romance, or when greed and selfishness pose as success, we’re likely to be deceived.” </li></ul>

18.
Media Consumption <ul><li>Biblical ways to help us discern whether a certain </li></ul><ul><li>activity glorifies God. </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Does it present a temptation to sin? (Rom 13:14; II Tim 2:22) </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Is it beneficial? (I Cor. 6:12; 10:23) </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Is it enslaving? (I Cor. 6:12) </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Does it honor and glorify God? (I Cor 10:31) </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Does it promote the good of others? (I Cor 10:33) </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Does it cause anyone to stumble? (I Cor 10:32) </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Does it arise from a pure motive? (Jer. 17:9) </li></ul></ul>

19.
Media Consumption <ul><li>“ Susanna Wesley Test.” </li></ul><ul><li>“ Whatever weakens your reason, whatever impairs the tenderness of your conscience, whatever obscures your sense of God, whatever increases the authority of your body over your mind, whatever takes away from your relish for spiritual things, that to you is sin, no matter how innocent it is in itself.” </li></ul><ul><li>1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. (22) Abstain from all appearance of evil. </li></ul>