Serving By The Will of God (Acts 13:36) 

Acts 13:36 says that David served his generation by the will of God. When we think about a generation we typically think about just one age group. But in reality we can impact on average 3 generations. We can affect our age group, those who can just before us and those who are coming up after us.

David  served his generation by dong the will of God. To have the best affect on the generations we serve, we must also serve them by the will of God. What is interesting about David is that even though he messed up from time to time the word of God calls David a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22). The key for us in doing the will of God is also to do it from the heart (Ephesians 6:6).  Not from a ritualistic or man pleasing point of service.

Some things that are the will of God for us:

Many times saved people get caught up in trying to understand the big picture that God has for their life. While this is important it may not be God’s will for you to know it at the moment. So when you are worried about whether you are doing the will of God for your life go to the scriptures and see what they say are the will of God for every saved person.

1)  Possessing your body in sanctification and honor and abstaining from fornication

(1 Thessalonians 4:3-4)

• The verse talks about our vessels which are our bodies. A vessels is something that carries or transports some substance.
• We are to keep our bodies clean and have a good testimony so that when God does reveal the specific will for our lives we can perform it.
• Note also that fornication (sex outside of marriage) is to be abstained from. Fornication is not just a worldly problem but it has also become a problem for saved people in the world today. Look at what 1 Corinthians 6:15-20 has to say about the matter and you will understand why abstaining from it is the will of God for your life.

2)  Giving thanks in everything (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

• Giving thanks in everything means the good things as well as the bad things. One of the main reasons that being thankful is so hard is because it requires humility.

3)  Suffering well for wrong doing (1 Peter 2:11-20)

•  Verse 15 says that suffering well and being in subjection to those in authority may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.

These may sound like simple things and not much in the grand scheme of what you may think is God’s will for your life. But in reality these are the things that will help you to later prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God (Romans 12:1-2). In 1 John 2:17 there is also an eternal blessing for doing the will of God. it is that he who doeth the will of God abideth forever.

So the question becomes how you will serve your generation. Good or bad, it will depend on what you do with the will of God.

Serving By The Will of God (Acts 13:36)

Handout

1)  How is David the example in the lesson and what is significant in regards to David being our example?

2)  What are some things that the word of God plainly says are the will of God for us?

3)  What will doing these things lead to in our lives? Give references.

4)  What is the great eternal benefit connected with doing the will of God? Give the reference.