2008-12-07 Ronnie Stevens Acts 1:14-26

FINDING THE WILL OF GOD TOGETHER
Acts 1:14-26

I.  The First Agenda of Prayer is Prayer   v. 14

II. The Role of Scripture    vv. 16-20

    A.  Scripture provided the interpretation for what had happened.   
(Psalm 69:25) v. 20a
    B.  Scripture provided the interpretation for what should happen. 
(Psalm 109:8) v. 20b

III.  They Found God’s Will together   vv. 14, 23-24

IV.  They Applied a Biblical Method   (Proverbs 16:33) v. 26

        Should we cast lots today to find God’s will?

V.  Applying their Pattern in our Experience

     1.  To “find” God’s will is to understand God’s will.  
Ephesians 5:17
     2.  Finding God’s will is holistic and perpetual
—not mechanical or episodic.
     3.  God’s will is to be found in Holy Scripture.
     4.  God’s will is to be found in community.  vv. 14, 23-24
     5.  God’s will is to be found in immediate obedience.  
    a. Our persistence   (Luke 18:1; James 1:5;
       Eph. 5:10; 2 Cor. 12:8)
    b. Our resistance     (James 1:5-8)
    c. Our confidence    (John 2:5)