100:00:00,000 –> 00:00:09,560Your will be done, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. What exactly is God’s200:00:09,560 –> 00:00:16,500will, your will be done? What is meant by God’s will? What are we praying for and asking300:00:16,500 –> 00:00:17,959for here?400:00:17,959 –> 00:00:22,240Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith, I’m David Pick. I’m glad you could500:00:22,240 –> 00:00:27,559be with us today and Colin that’s got to be one of the biggest questions we as Christians600:00:28,400 –> 00:00:31,440I want to do God’s will, but how do I know what God’s will is?700:00:31,440 –> 00:00:36,279That’s right. I wish that I had a dollar for every time I’ve been asked that question.800:00:36,279 –> 00:00:42,419There is a reason as to why that question is asked so often and why it’s framed in all900:00:42,419 –> 00:00:50,840of our minds and hearts. This actually isn’t a simple issue. There is some complexity to1000:00:50,840 –> 00:00:57,200God’s will and what we’re going to do in the programme today is to see from the Scriptures1100:00:57,200 –> 00:01:01,740that the will of God is actually spoken of in the Bible in different ways. That’s why1200:01:01,740 –> 00:01:09,220sometimes we get confused. There’s God’s secret will, God’s will to discern, and then God’s1300:01:09,220 –> 00:01:10,300will that is revealed.1400:01:10,300 –> 00:01:14,940It’s very clear when we’re talking about God’s revealed will that it’s simply a matter of1500:01:15,879 –> 00:01:21,300That’s not difficult to understand. But when you’re in an area where God has not revealed1600:01:21,300 –> 00:01:26,059his will, that’s where we have to exercise discernment. Then the question is, how do1700:01:26,059 –> 00:01:30,580we do that? Well, we’re going to get into that today. It’s a very important subject1800:01:30,580 –> 00:01:35,019and I hope that the programme today is going to be of real practical help in answering1900:01:35,019 –> 00:01:40,779this question. What exactly is God’s will and how do I respond to it?2000:01:40,779 –> 00:01:47,000So join us today if you can in Matthew chapter 26 as we begin the message, God’s will.2100:01:47,019 –> 00:01:48,419Here’s Colin.2200:01:48,419 –> 00:01:54,260As we focus on this third petition, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.2300:01:54,260 –> 00:02:01,820We’re going to focus in on two things. First, the meaning. What exactly is God’s will?2400:02:01,820 –> 00:02:08,020Your will be done. What is meant by God’s will? What are we praying for and asking for2500:02:08,039 –> 00:02:13,199here? And then, secondly, after we’ve got clear about the meaning we’re going to look2600:02:13,199 –> 00:02:21,160at the model. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. So there’s a model in heaven2700:02:21,160 –> 00:02:25,820and there is a model for us on earth.2800:02:25,820 –> 00:02:34,119So let’s turn first then to the meaning of doing God’s will. Your will be done on earth2900:02:34,320 –> 00:02:43,360as it is in heaven. What is meant by God’s will? Now I want you to know that if you sometimes3000:02:43,360 –> 00:02:51,020find yourself confused about God’s will, you are certainly not on your own. One of the3100:02:51,039 –> 00:02:58,399reasons why we often experience confusion over God’s will is that Christians speak,3200:02:58,580 –> 00:03:06,000and indeed the Bible speaks, about God’s will in at least three distinct and different3300:03:06,000 –> 00:03:13,500ways. You can think about these as really three spheres of God’s will. And we’ll3400:03:13,500 –> 00:03:19,720think about them together today. The first is God’s secret will. Deuteronomy chapter3500:03:20,320 –> 00:03:29,800And verse 29 says this the secret things belong to the Lord our God. But the things that are revealed3600:03:29,800 –> 00:03:34,979they belong to us into our children forever that we may do3700:03:34,979 –> 00:03:39,360all the words of this law. Now notice the3800:03:39,360 –> 00:03:45,440important distinction that’s being made here between what is secret and what is revealed.3900:03:46,179 –> 00:03:50,619What is revealed? Well that belongs to us and our calling is to do it.4000:03:50,619 –> 00:03:57,559But then there is that which is secret and what is secret doesn’t belong to us.4100:03:57,559 –> 00:04:06,619It belongs to the Lord our God. Now what exactly then is God’s secret will?4200:04:06,619 –> 00:04:11,179Well the Bible speaks about his secret will in this way.4300:04:11,779 –> 00:04:19,940It is the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will.4400:04:19,940 –> 00:04:22,839That’s Ephesians chapter 1 and verse 7.4500:04:23,140 –> 00:04:25,200Now think about this remarkable statement.4600:04:25,200 –> 00:04:32,000God works all things, everything that happens in this world,4700:04:32,000 –> 00:04:33,839everything that happens in your life.4800:04:33,839 –> 00:04:40,459God works all things according to the counsel of His will.4900:04:40,500 –> 00:04:48,779What that means is that God is sovereign and His plans always prevail.5000:04:48,779 –> 00:04:54,739You see this, of course, supremely at the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ.5100:04:54,739 –> 00:04:56,679All kinds of things were happening around the cross.5200:04:56,679 –> 00:05:04,299People mocking, people scheming, Satan stirring up events5300:05:04,299 –> 00:05:07,380that leads to the crucifixion of Jesus.5400:05:07,380 –> 00:05:09,640What exactly has got the Father doing?5500:05:09,660 –> 00:05:13,299He’s working all things according to the purpose of His will.5600:05:13,299 –> 00:05:21,980And He’s advancing His redeeming purpose, even and especially at the cross.5700:05:21,980 –> 00:05:30,200Now, this is a wonderful comfort for all Christian believers.5800:05:30,200 –> 00:05:38,399What this wonderful truth tells us is that nothing that happens in your life5900:05:38,399 –> 00:05:45,480is ever outside of God’s purpose or beyond His control.6000:05:45,480 –> 00:05:54,359And when you face something really painful in your life, that is a wonderful truth to grasp hold of.6100:05:54,420 –> 00:06:04,179Now, exactly how God will weave the painful events in our lives and in our world into His plan,6200:06:04,179 –> 00:06:09,660we cannot tell because these things are secret.6300:06:09,660 –> 00:06:12,739And the secret things belong to the Lord.6400:06:12,739 –> 00:06:14,320They’re a mystery to us.6500:06:14,320 –> 00:06:18,579And so, of course, we often find ourselves asking the question,6600:06:18,600 –> 00:06:20,799Lord, why?6700:06:20,799 –> 00:06:23,600What are you doing here?6800:06:23,600 –> 00:06:26,519Why did you allow this in my life?6900:06:26,519 –> 00:06:30,440Why did you save her and you didn’t save Him?7000:06:30,440 –> 00:06:34,359What good can you possibly bring from this?7100:06:34,359 –> 00:06:41,859Now, you see all of these questions are questions about God’s secret will.7200:06:41,859 –> 00:06:47,119And the secret things belong to the Lord.7300:06:47,899 –> 00:06:53,640Now, how should we respond to God’s secret will?7400:06:53,640 –> 00:06:59,559Well, we must trust God in what He has kept secret.7500:06:59,559 –> 00:07:04,079We walk by faith and not by sight7600:07:04,079 –> 00:07:07,920until the day when we are in His nearer presence in heaven.7700:07:07,920 –> 00:07:11,119And then what was kept secret will be revealed.7800:07:11,119 –> 00:07:14,500And what was a mystery to us,7900:07:14,700 –> 00:07:17,799we will see with new eyes.8000:07:17,799 –> 00:07:23,200So here is how you pray8100:07:23,200 –> 00:07:25,799when you are staring into a mystery8200:07:25,799 –> 00:07:28,279that you simply cannot understand.8300:07:29,820 –> 00:07:33,559You’re struggling with God’s secret will.8400:07:33,559 –> 00:07:36,380You can’t see what He is doing.8500:07:36,380 –> 00:07:39,140You pray this third petition of the Lord’s Prayer.8600:07:39,140 –> 00:07:44,140You’re saying, Lord, strengthen my faith.8700:07:45,459 –> 00:07:49,380And may your will be done.8800:07:50,420 –> 00:07:54,899That’s this prayer in regards to God’s secret will.8900:07:56,079 –> 00:08:00,160Now, secondly, the scripture speaks of9000:08:00,160 –> 00:08:04,940and Christians speak of God’s will in another way,9100:08:04,940 –> 00:08:09,619and I’m going to describe this as God’s discerned will.9200:08:09,619 –> 00:08:12,279And I’m doing that because of the word that is used9300:08:12,320 –> 00:08:15,600in Romans chapter 12, and verse two.9400:08:15,600 –> 00:08:18,720Do not be conformed to this world,9500:08:18,720 –> 00:08:23,720but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,9600:08:23,839 –> 00:08:28,839that by testing, you may discern what is the will of God,9700:08:30,959 –> 00:08:32,260that you’ll discern it,9800:08:33,179 –> 00:08:38,179what is good and acceptable and perfect.9900:08:39,239 –> 00:08:41,580So here we’re being told very clearly10000:08:41,599 –> 00:08:46,599that there is a will of God that can be discerned.10100:08:47,539 –> 00:08:52,520So it’s not secret and it’s not revealed,10200:08:52,659 –> 00:08:54,919it’s somewhere in between.10300:08:54,919 –> 00:08:56,679It is discerned.10400:08:57,780 –> 00:09:02,460Now all of us have to make and on a fairly regular basis,10500:09:02,460 –> 00:09:05,340important decisions.10600:09:05,340 –> 00:09:10,239And we wrestle sometimes with life-changing questions.10700:09:10,239 –> 00:09:13,640What college should I attend?10800:09:14,960 –> 00:09:16,859Who should I marry?10900:09:16,859 –> 00:09:17,900Should I marry?11000:09:19,200 –> 00:09:20,719Where should I live?11100:09:21,659 –> 00:09:23,659What work should I pursue?11200:09:24,700 –> 00:09:26,780What money should I spend?11300:09:26,780 –> 00:09:28,179What money should I save?11400:09:28,179 –> 00:09:29,780What money should I give?11500:09:29,780 –> 00:09:31,359What church should I join?11600:09:32,239 –> 00:09:35,719What responsibilities should I take on my shoulders?11700:09:36,700 –> 00:09:39,820And every time you come to a fork11800:09:39,820 –> 00:09:41,200in the road of your life,11900:09:41,200 –> 00:09:43,659you will find yourself as a Christian believer12000:09:43,659 –> 00:09:48,599asking the question, now what is God’s will?12100:09:50,239 –> 00:09:51,320And here’s the thing.12200:09:52,460 –> 00:09:53,719In all of these questions,12300:09:53,719 –> 00:09:55,380and many more that we could add to the list,12400:09:55,380 –> 00:09:59,140there isn’t a Bible verse that gives you the answer.12500:10:00,419 –> 00:10:01,880It’s not revealed.12600:10:01,919 –> 00:10:03,500But on the other hand,12700:10:03,500 –> 00:10:05,820the will of God in regards to these things12800:10:05,820 –> 00:10:07,979is not kept secret either.12900:10:07,979 –> 00:10:09,599It’s not unknowable.13000:10:09,599 –> 00:10:11,539What is good?13100:10:11,539 –> 00:10:13,739What is acceptable and perfect,13200:10:13,739 –> 00:10:17,599we are told in this verse, can be discerned.13300:10:19,159 –> 00:10:24,159Later this year, I hope to do a series on the 23rd Psalm,13400:10:25,239 –> 00:10:28,260the Lord is my shepherd.13500:10:28,299 –> 00:10:30,500Lord is my shepherd.13600:10:31,580 –> 00:10:33,539And that Psalm, as you will know well,13700:10:33,539 –> 00:10:37,020says that he leads me.13800:10:37,020 –> 00:10:39,400He leads me beside still waters.13900:10:39,400 –> 00:10:40,940Here’s the wonderful truth.14000:10:42,000 –> 00:10:47,000You are not alone in the major decisions of your life.14100:10:48,539 –> 00:10:53,299The decisions that will shape the direction of your days.14200:10:53,299 –> 00:10:55,059You’re not alone.14300:10:55,099 –> 00:10:58,419Your shepherd walks beside you14400:10:59,460 –> 00:11:02,099and he will lead you.14500:11:03,460 –> 00:11:08,460Now, how then are we to respond to God’s discerned will?14600:11:08,460 –> 00:11:11,619Well, when we’re in this area of decisions14700:11:11,619 –> 00:11:14,760in which we have to exercise discernment,14800:11:15,700 –> 00:11:19,619notice that we are to pursue the path of wisdom14900:11:19,619 –> 00:11:20,979and here’s how we do it.15000:11:20,979 –> 00:11:22,619In this verse we’re told,15100:11:22,659 –> 00:11:25,400that we discern by testing.15200:11:26,539 –> 00:11:27,979By testing.15300:11:28,859 –> 00:11:33,000Testing of course involves looking at our own experience,15400:11:33,000 –> 00:11:37,080the wisdom of others, listening to wise counsel.15500:11:37,080 –> 00:11:39,299It involves looking at the fruitfulness15600:11:39,299 –> 00:11:41,539and the effectiveness of things that we may have done15700:11:41,539 –> 00:11:43,099or attempted in the past.15800:11:43,099 –> 00:11:46,419It means looking carefully at our own circumstances15900:11:46,419 –> 00:11:50,219and how they play into a decision that needs to be made.16000:11:50,219 –> 00:11:53,380It means looking at open doors of opportunity.16100:11:53,380 –> 00:11:56,099Where has God opened a door16200:11:56,099 –> 00:12:00,200and placed a desire within your heart to pursue it?16300:12:01,020 –> 00:12:03,059We respond to God’s discerned will16400:12:03,059 –> 00:12:08,059by seeking the path of wisdom, by testing, by discerning.16500:12:09,419 –> 00:12:11,780And here’s how you pray16600:12:12,599 –> 00:12:16,239when you are faced with a major decision in your life.16700:12:17,200 –> 00:12:21,599You say, Lord, give me discernment,16800:12:23,239 –> 00:12:27,440cause me to be wise in my evaluation16900:12:27,440 –> 00:12:31,940of all the factors that play into this,17000:12:31,940 –> 00:12:37,059and let your will be done.17100:12:38,380 –> 00:12:39,700You’re listening to Open The Bible17200:12:39,700 –> 00:12:43,179with Pastor Colin Smith and a message called God’s Will.17300:12:43,179 –> 00:12:44,940If you ever miss one of the messages,17400:12:44,940 –> 00:12:48,580which is part of our series, Six Things to Ask of God,17500:12:48,580 –> 00:12:51,580you can always catch up or go back and listen again online17600:12:51,580 –> 00:12:55,419at our website, Openthebible.org.uk.17700:12:55,419 –> 00:12:57,419We’ve been hearing about God’s will17800:12:57,419 –> 00:13:00,299and we’ve thought about three aspects of God’s will,17900:13:00,299 –> 00:13:03,479God’s secret will, God’s discerned will,18000:13:03,479 –> 00:13:06,219and now as we get back to Matthew 26,18100:13:06,219 –> 00:13:08,359we’re going to hear about his revealed will.18200:13:08,359 –> 00:13:10,739So I hope you’ll join us in your Bible.18300:13:10,739 –> 00:13:11,979Here’s Colin.18400:13:11,979 –> 00:13:15,400God’s secret will, God’s discerned will,18500:13:16,520 –> 00:13:18,239and then God’s revealed will,18600:13:18,239 –> 00:13:21,919again, back to Deuteronomy and chapter 29.18700:13:21,919 –> 00:13:23,520You noticed the contrast there18800:13:23,520 –> 00:13:26,080when we looked at it a few moments ago, I’m sure,18900:13:26,080 –> 00:13:29,400the secret things belong to the Lord, our God,19000:13:29,400 –> 00:13:32,260but the things that are revealed.19100:13:33,159 –> 00:13:37,000Well, they belong to us and to our children forever, why?19200:13:37,000 –> 00:13:41,780So that we may do them, do all the words of this law.19300:13:44,479 –> 00:13:49,479So God’s revealed will is found in the Scriptures.19400:13:51,940 –> 00:13:53,280Here’s what that means.19500:13:54,820 –> 00:13:57,140The revealed will of God for us today19600:13:57,140 –> 00:14:00,659includes the great commandment.19700:14:01,559 –> 00:14:04,460You’re to love God with all of your heart and soul19800:14:04,479 –> 00:14:07,780and mind and strength and love your neighbor as yourself.19900:14:07,780 –> 00:14:11,479That’s God’s will for us today.20000:14:13,000 –> 00:14:15,960And God’s revealed will for us today20100:14:15,960 –> 00:14:18,880is that we pursue the great commission,20200:14:18,880 –> 00:14:22,359go make disciples of all nations.20300:14:22,359 –> 00:14:26,059We’re to do that in every way that we can.20400:14:26,059 –> 00:14:27,979That’s his will for us.20500:14:29,179 –> 00:14:32,619God’s will for us today includes the 10 commandments.20600:14:32,760 –> 00:14:34,859God’s will for you20700:14:34,859 –> 00:14:37,200is that you should not commit adultery,20800:14:37,200 –> 00:14:39,960not even in your mind or heart.20900:14:39,960 –> 00:14:42,640It is that you should be content.21000:14:42,640 –> 00:14:45,419It is that you should tell the truth.21100:14:45,419 –> 00:14:50,419It is that we should have no other gods before the Lord.21200:14:52,260 –> 00:14:55,400There’s a marvelous snapshot of God’s will21300:14:55,400 –> 00:14:59,739that’s given to us in 1 Thessalonians 5.21400:14:59,739 –> 00:15:01,500See to it the apostle says21500:15:01,539 –> 00:15:05,599that no one repays anyone evil for evil,21600:15:05,599 –> 00:15:10,599but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.21700:15:12,400 –> 00:15:17,400Rejoice always, pray without ceasing.21800:15:17,419 –> 00:15:19,940Give thanks in all circumstance21900:15:19,940 –> 00:15:24,340for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.22000:15:25,580 –> 00:15:27,119Take that in.22100:15:27,179 –> 00:15:30,400Here’s God’s will for us this week.22200:15:31,380 –> 00:15:34,159That we will, despite difficult circumstances22300:15:34,159 –> 00:15:37,500rejoice in all that is ours in him.22400:15:37,500 –> 00:15:40,679That we will pray continually22500:15:40,679 –> 00:15:42,679and that we will always be thankful22600:15:42,679 –> 00:15:45,140for every mercy of God in our lives.22700:15:45,140 –> 00:15:47,960That’s his will for us and we must pursue it.22800:15:47,960 –> 00:15:50,400It’s revealed, it’s absolutely clear,22900:15:50,400 –> 00:15:53,619and we must be very careful not to repay evil for evil23000:15:53,619 –> 00:15:57,159in regards to anyone, but seek to do good towards others23100:15:57,159 –> 00:15:59,919at every opportunity and at every occasion.23200:15:59,919 –> 00:16:04,919This is God’s will and it’s absolutely clear.23300:16:06,200 –> 00:16:09,859Now of course, God’s revealed will is not limited23400:16:09,859 –> 00:16:12,440to verses of the Bible that actually23500:16:12,440 –> 00:16:15,000use the words, God’s will,23600:16:15,000 –> 00:16:18,260all that God has called us to in scripture23700:16:18,260 –> 00:16:20,960is his will for our lives.23800:16:21,900 –> 00:16:23,880And here’s the thing friends,23900:16:23,880 –> 00:16:28,880God’s revealed will should always be our first concern.24000:16:32,320 –> 00:16:33,760And here’s why.24100:16:35,039 –> 00:16:40,039God will not hold you or me accountable24200:16:41,260 –> 00:16:43,400for what he has kept secret,24300:16:44,900 –> 00:16:48,400but he will hold us accountable24400:16:49,080 –> 00:16:53,520in regards to what we did with what he revealed.24500:16:55,280 –> 00:16:56,119Now,24600:16:57,700 –> 00:17:02,700this should come as an enormous relief24700:17:04,040 –> 00:17:07,040if you have been worried24800:17:07,040 –> 00:17:10,839that somehow you have missed God’s will24900:17:11,719 –> 00:17:15,880because of some bad decision or a decision that you regret25000:17:15,880 –> 00:17:18,239that you made earlier in your life.25100:17:19,300 –> 00:17:21,119Let me put it to you this way.25200:17:22,459 –> 00:17:24,020On the last day,25300:17:25,000 –> 00:17:26,880God is not going to say to you,25400:17:26,880 –> 00:17:31,780now you went to Alabama and lived there25500:17:31,780 –> 00:17:34,420when you should have gone to Michigan and lived there.25600:17:36,339 –> 00:17:40,380God has not revealed whether you should live in Alabama25700:17:40,380 –> 00:17:44,199or in Michigan or in Illinois or anywhere else,25800:17:44,199 –> 00:17:47,780but God will hold you and be accountable25900:17:47,780 –> 00:17:49,459for how we lived,26000:17:50,339 –> 00:17:52,680whether it was in Alabama,26100:17:52,680 –> 00:17:53,619or Michigan,26200:17:54,560 –> 00:17:56,479or here in Illinois26300:17:56,479 –> 00:18:00,060or wherever you may be.26400:18:00,060 –> 00:18:01,219Here’s the question.26500:18:01,219 –> 00:18:06,060Did you pursue the great commandment?26600:18:07,260 –> 00:18:10,000Did you pursue the great commission?26700:18:11,459 –> 00:18:15,479Did you pursue a holy life?26800:18:16,479 –> 00:18:19,180So when you might find yourself26900:18:19,180 –> 00:18:22,619sometimes getting distraught over the question,27000:18:22,619 –> 00:18:25,260Oh, I need to find God’s will,27100:18:25,260 –> 00:18:27,260remind yourself of this.27200:18:28,180 –> 00:18:29,420God’s will27300:18:30,319 –> 00:18:33,400is first and foremost that I should live27400:18:33,400 –> 00:18:36,400as he has described in the Bible27500:18:38,160 –> 00:18:39,500and then for the rest27600:18:39,500 –> 00:18:42,939make the wisest and most discerning decision27700:18:43,119 –> 00:18:45,839that you possibly can.27800:18:47,500 –> 00:18:51,380Now, how are we to respond to God’s revealed will?27900:18:52,380 –> 00:18:56,739We responded to his secret will with faith,28000:18:56,739 –> 00:18:58,760trusting him and what he’s not made known.28100:18:58,760 –> 00:19:02,680We responded to his discerned will28200:19:02,680 –> 00:19:06,160in seeking the path of wisdom by testing,28300:19:06,160 –> 00:19:07,959how do we respond to his revealed will?28400:19:07,959 –> 00:19:08,819Well, very simply.28500:19:08,819 –> 00:19:10,900In obeying that is what we are called to do28600:19:11,300 –> 00:19:15,640in regards to what God has revealed.28700:19:15,640 –> 00:19:16,880So John says,28800:19:16,880 –> 00:19:21,060”The world is passing away along with its desires28900:19:21,060 –> 00:19:25,640but whoever does the will of God,29000:19:25,640 –> 00:19:30,400that’s the person who abides forever.”29100:19:32,380 –> 00:19:37,260Now, friends, do you see how important it is29200:19:37,280 –> 00:19:42,180to distinguish between these three spheres of God’s will29300:19:42,180 –> 00:19:46,180because we are called to respond to each of them29400:19:46,180 –> 00:19:48,959in a distinct and in a different way.29500:19:49,920 –> 00:19:52,819God’s secret will we cannot know29600:19:53,739 –> 00:19:56,739and we are to respond in faith.29700:19:56,739 –> 00:20:00,140God’s discerned will we can test29800:20:00,140 –> 00:20:02,040and so we are to seek wisdom.29900:20:03,040 –> 00:20:07,239God’s revealed will there in front of us in scripture30000:20:07,239 –> 00:20:08,880we can know for sure30100:20:10,239 –> 00:20:13,439and we are called with absolute clarity to obey.30200:20:15,420 –> 00:20:19,959So we cannot test what God has kept secret30300:20:21,300 –> 00:20:24,140and we dare not test what God has revealed.30400:20:25,160 –> 00:20:26,020See, think about it,30500:20:26,020 –> 00:20:28,560we do not come to what God has revealed30600:20:28,560 –> 00:20:31,339in the scripture and say, well, let’s just test this.30700:20:31,339 –> 00:20:32,640I mean, what do other people think30800:20:32,640 –> 00:20:34,479and how does this fit with my experience?30900:20:34,479 –> 00:20:38,439No, we open the Bible to see what God has revealed31000:20:38,439 –> 00:20:42,079and then we rule out what God has forbidden31100:20:42,079 –> 00:20:47,060and we rule in everything that he has revealed.31200:20:48,839 –> 00:20:50,699So here’s how you pray.31300:20:53,079 –> 00:20:56,079When God revealed will31400:20:57,459 –> 00:21:00,239and the inclination and the desires of your heart31500:21:00,280 –> 00:21:03,359are pulling in different directions.31600:21:04,359 –> 00:21:09,359Lord, help me to obey you.31700:21:11,359 –> 00:21:15,819May your will be done.31800:21:17,199 –> 00:21:19,520Now, do you see then that when we pray31900:21:19,520 –> 00:21:21,900this third petition of the Lord’s Prayer,32000:21:23,000 –> 00:21:24,920your will be done,32100:21:25,920 –> 00:21:29,800we are actually asking God for three distinct things32200:21:29,859 –> 00:21:32,500in the different spheres of God’s will.32300:21:33,839 –> 00:21:37,119We are asking for faith32400:21:37,119 –> 00:21:39,699in regards to what God has kept secret.32500:21:40,640 –> 00:21:43,400We’re asking for wisdom32600:21:43,400 –> 00:21:46,880in regards to what God has called us to discern32700:21:47,780 –> 00:21:52,780and for obedience in regards to what God has revealed.32800:21:54,300 –> 00:21:57,199The meaning of God’s will,32900:21:57,199 –> 00:22:00,199your will be done.33000:22:01,319 –> 00:22:03,439You’ve been listening to Open the Bible33100:22:03,439 –> 00:22:04,819with Pastor Colin Smith33200:22:04,819 –> 00:22:07,359and a message called God’s Will,33300:22:07,359 –> 00:22:11,280part of our series Six Things to Ask of God.33400:22:11,280 –> 00:22:14,520And if you ever miss any of the messages in this series,33500:22:14,520 –> 00:22:16,880you can always catch up or go back and listen again33600:22:16,880 –> 00:22:20,880online at our website openthebible.org.uk.33700:22:20,880 –> 00:22:23,060And you can also find them as a podcast33800:22:23,060 –> 00:22:23,900if that’s a better way33900:22:23,900 –> 00:22:27,020for you to keep up with Pastor Colin’s teaching.34000:22:27,020 –> 00:22:29,079Those are on all the main podcast sites.34100:22:29,079 –> 00:22:32,560You can find them by searching for open the Bible UK,34200:22:32,560 –> 00:22:35,660or you can follow a link from our website.34300:22:35,660 –> 00:22:37,219The open the Bible website34400:22:37,219 –> 00:22:39,400contains a number of resources34500:22:39,400 –> 00:22:41,619which are designed for individual Christians34600:22:41,619 –> 00:22:43,459as well as church fellowships.34700:22:43,459 –> 00:22:47,199For example, go to openthebible.org.uk34800:22:47,199 –> 00:22:50,359forward slash articles.34900:22:50,359 –> 00:22:53,020There, you’ll find a number of written articles35000:22:53,020 –> 00:22:55,160based on Pastor Colin Smith’s teaching,35100:22:55,160 –> 00:22:57,599which are designed to help individual Christians35200:22:57,599 –> 00:23:00,180with particular issues in their lives.35300:23:00,180 –> 00:23:02,739You’ll find articles on subjects such as35400:23:02,739 –> 00:23:06,319seven virtues to pursue for spiritual growth,35500:23:06,319 –> 00:23:08,439how to overcome your fears,35600:23:08,439 –> 00:23:10,619and what does watch your life35700:23:10,619 –> 00:23:13,300and doctrine closely actually mean.35800:23:14,180 –> 00:23:17,739Open the Bible is broadcast and available online35900:23:17,739 –> 00:23:21,959as a result of the generous donations made by our listeners.36000:23:21,959 –> 00:23:25,119So if you already give to support the work of Open the Bible,36100:23:25,119 –> 00:23:27,300we want to thank you so much.36200:23:27,300 –> 00:23:29,520If you’re considering giving to support36300:23:29,520 –> 00:23:31,359Open the Bible in that way,36400:23:31,359 –> 00:23:34,780this month if you’re able to set up a new direct debit36500:23:34,780 –> 00:23:37,699in the amount of five pounds per month or more,36600:23:37,699 –> 00:23:40,560or a one-off gift of 50 pounds or more,36700:23:40,560 –> 00:23:42,140we’d love to say thank you.36800:23:42,140 –> 00:23:44,359Here’s Open the Bible’s Amanda Cunningham36900:23:44,359 –> 00:23:47,020to tell you about our offer this month.37000:23:47,020 –> 00:23:48,219Thanks, David.37100:23:48,219 –> 00:23:50,239This month at Open the Bible UK,37200:23:50,239 –> 00:23:52,800we’ll be thinking about the theme of grief37300:23:52,800 –> 00:23:55,479and the pain of sorrow and loss37400:23:55,479 –> 00:23:59,079that are a sad reality of this broken world.37500:23:59,079 –> 00:24:00,140As part of that,37600:24:00,140 –> 00:24:02,239we’re offering a free copy37700:24:02,239 –> 00:24:05,719of Colin Smith’s book, For All Who Grieve,37800:24:05,719 –> 00:24:10,160written after Colin counseled grieving couples in his church37900:24:10,160 –> 00:24:11,520and found himself turning38000:24:11,520 –> 00:24:14,060to the book of lamentations for help.38100:24:14,060 –> 00:24:17,280As a result, it’s full of both biblical wisdom,38200:24:17,280 –> 00:24:21,260but also really practical suggestions and observations38300:24:21,300 –> 00:24:24,239from people he counseled at that time.38400:24:24,239 –> 00:24:26,859We would love to send you a free copy38500:24:26,859 –> 00:24:29,140when you set up a new direct debit38600:24:29,140 –> 00:24:31,380of at least five pounds per month38700:24:31,380 –> 00:24:34,660or give a one off gift of at least 50 pounds.38800:24:34,660 –> 00:24:38,780We will also be including five specially designed postcards38900:24:38,780 –> 00:24:41,339with a verse from Psalm 23,39000:24:41,339 –> 00:24:45,020ideal for sending to a friend for encouragement.39100:24:45,020 –> 00:24:46,500And if you would like to know39200:24:46,500 –> 00:24:48,739what other resources we have on grief,39300:24:48,780 –> 00:24:53,300do visit at openthebible.org.uk39400:24:53,300 –> 00:24:57,219and scroll down until you see our section on grief.39500:24:57,219 –> 00:24:58,239Thanks Amanda.39600:24:58,239 –> 00:25:00,459And you can find full terms and conditions39700:25:00,459 –> 00:25:05,459and you can give online at our website openthebible.org.uk.39800:25:06,760 –> 00:25:09,300For Open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smyth.39900:25:09,300 –> 00:25:10,540I’m David Pick.40000:25:10,540 –> 00:25:13,760I hope you’ll join us again soon for Open the Bible.40100:25:13,959 –> 00:25:15,760The Extraodles.40200:25:19,660 –> 00:25:21,479Jesus taught us how to pray40300:25:21,479 –> 00:25:23,199Your will be done on earth40400:25:23,199 –> 00:25:25,060as it is in heaven.40500:25:25,060 –> 00:25:27,800But how is God’s will done in heaven?40600:25:27,800 –> 00:25:30,239Find out next time on Open the Bible.