Rose Publishing - Growing: Fruits of the Spirit

Figuring Out What God Wants You to Do

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what Gods will ishis good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:2

R ead the hypothetical situations described below. Try to identify what these three very different situations have in common.

• A new bestselling book by a well-known celebrity is creating a firestorm of controversy. Titled Chruddism, it offers a new kind of spirituality that blends the teachings of Christ with the tenets of Buddhism. Several of your Christian friends have read it, and say they loved itthat it opened up their eyes to some truths theyd never thought of before. What is your response?
• A bright high-school senior with test scores through the stratosphere has been offered full scholarships to three very different but equally prestigious colleges. Theres much to commend each one. She likes them all, and is freaking out about which one is the best decision. What is your advice?
• Youve been asked to help out with the shut-in ministry at your church. There is a huge need there, and you worked with senior citizens when you were in college. Part of you feels like this would be a good thing; another part of you just feels tired and frazzled. Your thoughts vacillate wildly between I probably should do this and I already feel pulled in ten directions. In the end, what is your response?

Did you figure out the common thread through all these examples? In each of the situations above, whats needed is discernment .

1. Name a situation in your life that causes you to struggle with whats right and true, or what may be the best course of action.

Biblically speaking, discernment is the ability Gods Spirit gives us to distinguish and decide between that which is true, wise, and good and that which is false, foolish, and evil.

God wants all of his children to have and exercise this ability. Consider these passages from the apostle Paul, written to the ancient Christians in Colossae and Philippi:

• So, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding (Colossians 1:9, esv ).
• This is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ (Philippians 1:910).

1. What does Paul request for Christians here? What ability does he want them to develop?

In 1 Corinthians 12, the apostle Paul discusses spiritual giftsspecial God-given abilities for building up the body of Christ. Here we discover some Christians are given a special ability to discern between right and wrong, spiritual truth and spiritual error. Its like the Holy Spirit functions in their life like a built-in bad theology detector.

He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. (1 Corinthians 12:10, nlt )

1. Do you know any Christians with this extra-special ability to correctly analyze situations and messages and say, Thats a bad idea or That works well with biblical teachings? Give an example or two.

Here are four truths about figuring out what is true, wise, and good:

Dangerous Assumptions About the Will of God

• He probably wants to send me to someplace miserable.
• Ill have to marry a boring, mean, or unattractive person. Or Ill never get married!
• Hell have me do something dreadfulsomething that I hate.
• His plans for my life wont be nearly as exciting as my plans for my life.
• Ill probably end up poor.
• Obeying God will take all the fun out of life.
• Hell make me suffer.
• His will likely involves a frustrating existence in a foreign country.