“To will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not” (Romans 7:18).

I would never sin again! I would be generous, quick to forgive, forget all past injustices toward me, and take the lowest seat in the room. I would be rid of all pride, all bad motives, all sinful and selfish desires. I would never harbor a judgmental thought to anyone again. I would love and pray for those who wish me ill. I would be just like my Lord! To will is present with me. But it is equally true that to perform what I desire, I find not! Not one time have I ever performed the good that I would! The will is the will of the new man! The inability to perform what I would is because of the old man that I still possess. As frustrating as this is, the blessed day is coming when I will no longer have the old man to contend with! That will be when we see Him as He is, and be just like Him! (I John 3:2). Pastor Todd Nibert

A Hindrance To Finding The Will Of God

Often people will come to me for advice, and too often they have already made up their minds about what they want to do and what they intend to do. It is not so much that they seek advice, rather they are seeking APPROVAL of their decision. And any counsel to the contrary only damages our fellowship. Is this the way that we seek the will of God?

We make up our minds as to what we DESIRE to do and what we really INTEND to do and then we pray, “Lord, show me what I ought to do.” We like God’s directions and God’s will as long as it is in agreement with our own!

I am certain that one characteristic essential to finding the will of God is A WILLINGNESS TO WAIT for His leadership and for some evidence of His direction. Another characteristic might be THE WILLINGNESS TO LISTEN to those who have some experience and wisdom in that field. Another help to finding God’s will might be A DESIRE FOR HIS GLORY, even at the expense of our own success and comfort.

Paul said. “For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s” (Phil. 2:21). Can this really be true of us? If it be true, then we have the answer to the question, “Why is it so difficult to find the will of God?” Pastor Henry T. Mahan (bulletin 1991)

Salvation is of the Lord

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ”

(Phil. 1:6).

We have every reason to be confident concerning the salvation that is of the Lord (Isa. 46:9-12).

His purpose cannot be defeated; Rom. 8:29-30; Eph. 1:11.

His grace cannot be frustrated; Gal. 2:20-21; 2 Tim. 1:9.

His love cannot fail; 1 Cor. 13: 8; Rom. 8:39.

His promise will be fulfilled; Rom. 4:20-21; 2 Cor. 1:20.

His blood cannot be shed in vain; Heb. 9:11-12; 9:26.

His power cannot be resisted; Psalm 135:6; Dan. 4:35.

His people cannot perish; John 6:37-39; 10:27-30.

“He Also Did Predestinate” Romans 8:29

Do not be afraid of predestination. And do not be ashamed of it. We are predestinarians, because we believe the Bible; and predestination is a Bible doctrine, full of comfort and joy for God’s saints. Predestination is God’s infallible purpose of grace regarding his elect whom he foreknew. It simply means that our eternal destiny was settled by God, and infallibly secured by him before the world began.

In sovereign predestination, God eternally and immutably determined WHO he would save, HOW he would save them, WHEN he would save them, and WHERE he would save them. Then he sovereignly arranged everything necessary, both to accomplish their salvation and to bring them to glory at last, perfectly conformed to the image of his dear Son. Predestination marked the house into which grace would come, paved the road by which grace would travel to that house, set the time when grace would enter, and guaranteed that grace actually would come and enter in at the appointed time. Nothing was left to chance, blind fate, luck, or man’s imaginary free will.

Pastor Don Fortner

NO DEALINGS

“Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, how is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.” (John 4:9).