Scripture Colossians 3:17-25
Faith is an act of the will. Living
right with God is an act of the will. How we respond to adversity and trials
and complications and difficulties and heartache is an act of the will. To say “I can’t do it anymore” is an act of
the will.
If everything can be overcome by an
act of the will, why are we overweight? Why did we not finish college? Why did
we not meet our sales quota last month? Why did I not ace my math test? Why
can’t I get a hole in one? Can everything be overcome by an act of the will?
NO! But our lives will never get better until we exercise the free will God
gave us.
We always associate Free-Will with
sin. But what if Free-Will were a gift and not a curse? It is a gift. It gives
you and I the ability to be the best version of ourselves instead of a
predetermined robotic version of us.
Those two words perfectly describe what it is – Free & will. We are
free to exercise our will OR….not!
Olympic athletes exercise their will to run faster, jump higher, or curl
more precisely. People who build giant skyscrapers not only believe they can do
it but exercise the will to do so – but think about the first person who ever
thought about building a two story building when it had never been done.
Neighbors must have thought he was mad. Or consider Noah building a giant boat
on land with no water in sight – an act of free will – he was free not to build
it as well.
Why do some people achieve great
things and others do not? Ability? Hardly! Jan
Paderewski was asked by a fellow pianist if he could be ready to play a recital
on short notice. The famous musician replied: “I am always ready. I have practiced
eight hours daily for forty years.” The other pianist said, “I wish I had
been born with such determination.” Paderewski replied, “We are all born
with it. I just use mine.” We
are all born with Free Will!
I trust anyone here today, regardless
of your spiritual awareness can identify with all I have been saying. But we
are in church and are curious about what the bible teaches us and how we can
live within the framework of a personal relationship with Jesus. THEREFORE:
Colossians 3:17-24
Whatever you do, whether in word or
deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father
through him. Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your
parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not embitter your
children, or they will become discouraged. Slaves, obey your earthly masters in
everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their
favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23 Whatever you
do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the
Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive
an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are
serving.
This is not just for pastors – this is
for all people in every walk of life – Married people, Parents and children,
employees and employers. In every area of life – do it as though you are doing
it for the Lord! That changes everything.
I am no longer working just for a pay check, rather for the King of kings.
PRESSING ON
In a
far country lived a band of minstrels who traveled from town to town presenting
music to make a living. They had not been doing well. Times were hard; there
was little money for common folk to come to hear the minstrels, even though
their fee was small. Attendance had been falling off, so early one evening the
group met to discuss their plight. “I see no reason
for opening tonight,” one said. “To make
things even worse than they may have been, it is starting to snow. Who will
venture out on a night like this?” “I agree,” another
disheartened singer said. “Last night we performed for just a handful. Fewer will come
tonight. Why not give back their meager fees and cancel the concert? No one can
expect us to go on when just a few are in the audience.” “How can anyone do his best for so few?” a third
inquired. Then he turned to another sitting beside him. “What do you think?” The man appealed to was older
than the others. He looked straight at his troupe. “I
know you are discouraged. I am too. But we have a responsibility to those who
might come. We will go on. And we will do the best job of which we are capable.
It is not the fault of those who come that others do not. They should not be
punished with less than the best we can give.” Heartened by his words,
the minstrels went ahead with their show. They never performed better. When the
show was over and the small audience gone, the old man called his troupe to
him. In his hand was a note, handed to him by one of the audience just before
the doors closed behind him. “Listen to this, my
friends!” Something electrifying in his tone of voice made them turn to
him in anticipation. Slowly the old man read: “Thank you for a beautiful performance.”
It was signed very simply-“Your King.”
1 Corinthians
15:58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always
give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor
in the Lord is not in vain. You are
working for the King!
The King has never given up on you.
Jesus exercised his free will on your behalf, even when he was tired and didn’t
want to. An example of that is in John 4:4-6
Now Jesus had to go through
Samaria. So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground
Jacob had given to his son Joseph.
Jacob's well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat
down by the well. It was about the sixth hour. Tired as he was he shared
eternal life with a woman living in sin – the result, she and her entire
village were saved.
Jesus had been up all day, he knew
what was coming, Judas was on his way to betray him, his closest disciples would
not stay awake and support him in prayer. Jesus could have checked out and said
I can’t do this anymore – in fact he felt that way – he prayed – if possible
take this death curse away from
me – if not, your WHAT? “will” be done. Jesus free will was to live and act
according to God’s will.
2 Cor 8:10-12
And here is my advice about what is
best for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give but
also to have the desire to do so. Now finish the work, so that your eager
willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your
means. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to
what one has, not according to what he does not have.
Have you had big intentions to read
the bible more, to pray more, to give more money to the church, to volunteer
more, to attend church more, to get involved in mission work, but somehow your
free will allowed you not to see it through?
Today is the day to re-enlist until the job, whatever it may be is
completed for the King.
Phil 1:3-6
I thank my God every time I remember
you. In all my prayers for all of you, I
always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first
day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you
will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Optional “IT
IS FINISHED”
John 19:28-30
Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture
would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty." A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they
soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and
lifted it to Jesus' lips. When he had
received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed
his head and gave up his spirit.
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