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Discerning His Perfect Will

If you're just joining us, this post is part of a duo-session (previous was Living in Perfect Peace). Merry Christmas again - with everything being Christmassy, we'll ride on for the session.

Romans 12:1-2;
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service. 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.

The scripture in Romans lets us know that discernment and direction is a bye product of wholehearted devotion to God. The Old Testament usually refer this as 'the fear of God' - e.g. Psalms 25:12,14, Proverbs 1:10, Psalm 111:10. Three points to note here:
  1. Present your bodies as a living sacrifice : 'holiness - the fear of God'
  2. Be not conformed to this world : 'holiness - the fear of God'
  3. Be transformed by the renewing of your mind : 'holiness - the fear of God'
You might say: hold on a minute, the three points mean the same thing. Well, you're right, they imply he same thing. Sometimes in scripture God reveals a promise by repetition - which is a certainty. Like the case of Hebrews 13:5 (See Every Minute - A Testimony post).
Jesus said in John 10:27; my sheep hear my voice...and they follow me. So why do we most times not discern? there's the secret - "my sheep..."

So, who is a sheep? In the old testament a lamb/sheep was an instrument of sacrifice - which brought sweet smelling savour (glory) to God. This signifies total yieldedness. We can see from the life of Jesus - He continually yielded to God in obedience to His command - He is referred as THE LAMB upon the throne.
Sacrifice - sheep - back to Romans 12.

*The presence of God is all that matters in discernment.
  • Living sacrifice: not living for the flesh, but alive in the spirit. As living in the flesh means crawling away from the alter of sacrifice Romans 8:7.
  • Not conformed to this world: our pattern/way of life should not be based on worldly things. If your mind is continually set on carnal things, it's difficult to discern which is God's voice and which is the flesh [Matthew 6:20-21], as a carnal mind is dead to the Holy Spirit's effective work [Romans 8:6].
  • Transformed by renewing your mind: our mind is renewed by the Word of God - and faith is built by the Word [Romans 10:17]. The word keeps us alert in the spirit - and only in the spirit can we discern [1 Corinthians 2:15].
**The presence of God is all that matters in discernment.
Christ lives in us by His Spirit - The Holy Spirit - who always reveals the will of God to us.
1 Corinthians 2:7-12,16; verse 10 lets us know that God reveals all things to us by His Spirit.

Now when you get a promting from God:
- test it by His Word in Scriptures [God never contradicts His Word - 1 Corinthians 14:33]
- be patient in faith [James 1:4-5] as most times God's intentions is beyond your want, He seeks to mature your faith. His perfect will is always beyond our comprehension.

I'll finish with this: In every situation God is saying [Jeremiah 33:3, Psalms 46:10]:
*Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
*Be still, and know that I [am] God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

Call on God and wait on him - listen in His presence. You will definitely hear and discern His voice as you live in his presence.

Remain forever blessed.
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