314. Doing God's Will

How to Support the Rob Skinner Podcast.  If you would like to help support my mission to multiply disciples, leaders and churches, click here:  https://www.buymeacoffee.com/robskinner   Today, I’m talking with Mari Sawamura.  Mari was born in 1998 in Japan to Japanese nationals and ministers.  She grew up there until the age of ten and then went to live in China.  She became a Christian, graduated high school and then went to college at Boston University.  She graduated and now works in the Boston Church as the face of that church’s social media program.  She is a driver in the church’s Instagram outreach program that has over 1.6 million views and is bringing 200 seekers to church every week throughout the Boston metropolitan area.  Listen as I ask her about her journey to the states and her work for God’s Kingdom.   You can reach Mari Sawamura at:  [email protected]

How to Support the Rob Skinner Podcast.  If you would like to help support my mission to multiply disciples, leaders and churches, click here:  https://www.buymeacoffee.com/robskinner    Doing God’s Will   1.        Jesus came to do God’s will:  Hebrews 10:5-10   5 Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said:   “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,     but a body you prepared for me; 6 with burnt offerings and sin offerings     you were not pleased. 7 Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll—     I have come to do your will, my God.’”   8 First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”—though they were offered in accordance with the law. 9 Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Jesus changed eternity by his willingness and surrender to God’s will.  God’s will for him was to suffer and die for each one of us.  Jesus embraced that will, no matter how difficult it was for him and changed our lives.  We are called to imitate him and to seek and pursue God’s will for our lives.  That’s not easy and yet it’s the most exciting thing we can do with our lives.  We know that God wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.  If you repented and got baptized, you submitted to God’s will for your life.  However, there is so much more to look forward to. 2.       God has a purpose for your life:  Ephesians 2:8-10 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. None of us is saved by our good works.  However, we’ve been created and called by God to do good works once we’ve been born again.  God has prepared good works for you to do in advance.  It’s already in the mind of God the good you can and will do.  You were called into the kingdom to do God’s will and to do some amazing things.  You just have to continue to follow and discover the good works God has planned for you.  God had some surprises for me: Saving people Overseas missionary work Church plantings   3.       Be a person after God’s own heart:  Acts 13:22 22 After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’ David and Saul are contrasted in this passage.  Saul was a natural leader.  He was tall, handsome and courageous.  He built and developed the nation of Israel.  However, he got removed from his position.  Why?  God had a will for him, a mission to accomplish and Saul said no.  He didn’t actually say no, he just didn’t do everything God wanted him to do.  God had called him to destroy the Amalekites.  Saul partially obeyed.  He wasn’t willing to do everything God had called him explicitly to do.  David, on the other hand, is commended by God as “a man after my own heart.”  Why?  He was willing to do everything God wanted him to do.  Was he perfect?  No.  However, there was something that was submissive to God’s will.  When he sinned in the affair with Bathsheba, he fasted and prayed for 7 days and returned to God in repentance.  I think each one of us wants to be known as a person who is after God’s own heart.  You want God to commend you as a man or woman after his own heart.  What does that look like?  How do you define it?  It starts with a willingness to do everything God wants you to do.  It’s so tempting to pick and choose and simply do the part of God’s will that is appealing to us.  That’s where we are often so different than Jesus. 4.      Ask to do God’s will and not your own:  Matthew 26:39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Jesus didn’t want to go to the cross even though his whole life and ministry were directed toward the cross.  When he got there, he faltered, he shook, he cried, he sweated blood, he was in emotional agony.  He honestly told the father to give him a back door, an exit strategy, but finally he said, not as I will, but as you will.  Jesus is the perfect example of a person who fulfilled God’s will and reaped the fruit of perfect obedience.  All nations will say, Jesus is Lord and acknowledge him.  There is power in submitting to God’s will. 5.       How do you know when you are doing God’s will? God is calling us to do his will.  We have a choice in this life to live small or live big.  Doing God’s will is choosing to live big, to live dangerously, to fulfill the intention of God and his creation of us.  When you start doing God’s will and asking to fulfill it, you’ll experience: Fear Emotional turmoil A desire to find an exit strategy   When you resist doing God’s will you will experience: Depression Boredom Lack of meaning Unease Confusion Restlessness Why?  Because God’s Spirit is gently calling you to the good works you were created for and you are resisting.  You weren’t meant to live small, you were meant to do God’s will, even though that is scary. I recently read a book that said each morning we are confronted by two gremlins sitting at the foot of our bed when we wake up.  Those gremlins are fear and lethargy.  We fear taking risks to do God’s will and we have to overcome our lethargy that says stay in bed and do God’s will tomorrow.  Monday, I woke up and thought I don’t want to get up and go to a service activity.  I wrestled back and forth.  That gremlin of lethargy and laziness was saying, “don’t do it Rob!”  I finally forced myself out of the house and had a great time serving with other disciples.  The battle is real. How do you fight the gremlins of fear and lethargy?  You need to ask God for faith and love.  Faith overcomes fear and love beats out laziness.  “Whoever loves much does much” Thomas A’kempis said.  6.      Understanding the difference between your career and your calling:  Acts 18:3-4 3 and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. 4 Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. Paul had a career, a way to make money, that was tentmaking.  He relied on it when he couldn’t find support from churches.  However his calling or vocation was to spread the gospel.  Here’s the definition of vocation:  A vocation (from Latin vocatio 'a call, summons'[1]) is an occupation to which a person is especially drawn or for which they are suited, trained or qualified. Though now often used in non-religious contexts, the meanings of the term originated in Christianity.   You have a job, a way to pay the bills and that is important.  But you also have a vocation, something that God’s Spirit is calling you to.  That is God’s will for your life.  It may include your current job, but it’s a lot more than that.  When Pam and I wanted to plant a church in my hometown, my career changed from full time ministry to Real Estate sales, but my vocation remained the same to preach the gospel and make Jesus known, to build a church of dedicated believers and try to reach my family with the gospel.  What’s your calling?  You have to seek it.   Seek God’s Will for your life:  Psalm 138:8 The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;     your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.     Do not forsake the work of your hands.  Psalm 57:2 I cry out to God Most High,     to God who fulfills his purpose for me.   Cry out to God that he gives you the courage and the strength to make the tough choices to do God’s will.  To say no to: Distractions Sin Temptations Shadow missions Alternate purposes Greed These lead to a sense that you aren’t living up to the high calling that God called you for originally.   Say yes to the challenges and risks associated with doing God’s will.  It’s scary. Becoming a Christian Going into the ministry Moving to Japan Planting a church bi-vocationally Moving to Tucson Doing missionary work in the future   Let’s pray to do God’s will.     Reflection Questions:   What do you sense God is calling you to do?  What is God urging you to do? What is keeping you from it? 

How to Support the Rob Skinner Podcast.  If you would like to help support my mission to multiply disciples, leaders and churches, click here:  https://www.buymeacoffee.com/robskinner   Today I’m talking to Mark and Annie McCune.  Mark and Annie have planted churches in Boise, Idaho and Spokane Washington and have led ministries in Colorado, LA, Seattle, Salt Lake City.  They recently retired from secular jobs in education and have gone to Eastern Europe to do missionary work with ReviveEE.  Listen as they share about their career, retirement and work in Eastern Europe.   More about Mark and Annie McCune: Mark and Annie McCune are currently living in Sofia, Bulgaria and participating in RevivEE, a mission effort led by Shawn and Lena Wooten to strengthen and revive churches in Eastern Europe.  They have been married 34 years and have 3 grown children one of whom is married.  They were in the ministry, full and part time, for 25 years and were blessed to have the chance to plant churches in Boise, Idaho and Spokane, Washington as well as serving in the ministry in Salt Lake City, Los Angeles and Seattle. They transitioned into parallel careers and worked as a school counselor (Mark) and elementary school teacher (Annie) for 10 years.  In 2023 they retired and moved to Fort Collins, Colorado, eager to find new ways to serve God.  In August they moved to Eastern Europe to be part of RevivEE 5.0 where they will serve for 10 months.  If you have any questions for them they can be reached via email: [email protected], [email protected],or iMessage or Telegram: 509-280-6099, 509-368-0655.    You can reach Rob at [email protected]

How to Support the Rob Skinner Podcast.  If you would like to help support my mission to multiply disciples, leaders and churches, click here:  https://www.buymeacoffee.com/robskinner   Transcript for "How to make 2025 great"  New Years is a great time to remember time is passing, another year is gone.  We are getting closer to seeing God every year. 11 And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.  Romans 13:11-14 ·        Paul says our salvation is nearer now ·        We should be “clothing ourselves with Christ.”  Living as Jesus did.  Representing him to our friends and family. ·        We need to use this time to review, repent and resolve to become the people God has called us to be.    1.      Review:  5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?   2 Corinthians 13:5 a.     Examine yourself, test yourself.  This is a great time to do it right now. b.    List out all the good you did this year                                                  i.      What did you do well this year?  What are you proud of? c.     List out all the bad actions                                                  i.      Bad actions                                               ii.      Lack of good actions d.    How’d you do? e.     How do you feel?                                                  i.      You will know the areas you need to focus on. f.       The goal is growth and peace of mind     2.     Repent:  a.     3 We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. 4 Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. 5 But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.  1 John 2:3-6 b.    Get your eyes on Jesus.  What is Jesus like?  What does he stand for? c.     Who are you?  What’s your identity?  What do you stand for? d.    Obedience to Jesus is how we express our love for him.  We are called to live like Jesus.                                                   i.      His purity of thought                                               ii.      His purpose for living                                             iii.      His humility to serve other people daily e.     Repentance is when we get our mind right and stop conforming to this world and our bad habits and instead conform ourselves to our identity as followers of Christ and sons of God. 3.     Resolve a.     Definition:  “decide firmly on a course of action” or “firm determination to do something.” b.    Examples from the Bible                                                  i.      Jehoshaphat:  2 Some people came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army is coming against you from Edom,[a] from the other side of the Dead Sea. It is already in Hazezon Tamar” (that is, En Gedi). 3 Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah.  2 Chronicles 20:2-4 1.      He decided firmly to fast and it brought about a miraculous victory.                                               ii.      Daniel:  But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.  Daniel 1:8 1.      He chose to diet and not eat or drink certain foods.                                             iii.      Malachi:  14 “Cursed is the cheat who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but then sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord. For I am a great king,” says the Lord Almighty, “and my name is to be feared among the nations.  “And now, you priests, this warning is for you. 2 If you do not listen, and if you do not resolve to honor my name,” says the Lord Almighty, “I will send a curse on you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have already cursed them, because you have not resolved to honor me.  Malachi 1:14, 2:1-2 1.      The sin was giving God second best, leftovers, “tipping, not tithing to God.” c.     If you want to make 2025 great, you have to decide to take action, you have to decide firmly that things will be different this year.  You have to resolve to honor God. d.    What one thing would make the difference in how you feel about your relationship with God? e.     What one thing would make the biggest difference in how you feel about yourself? f.       What one thing would make the biggest difference in saving people and rescuing people? g.     What one thing would make the biggest difference in serving people around you and around the world? Next Steps: ·        Review ·        Repent ·        Resolve:  I resolve to __________________ in 2025.

How to Support the Rob Skinner Podcast.  If you would like to help support my mission to multiply disciples, leaders and churches, click here:  https://www.buymeacoffee.com/robskinner Listen as I talk to Murvi Baba, a 30-year-old disciple living in the Boston Metro Area.  Born in the US and raised in Nigeria and Ghana, he returned to the states to go to college at Tufts University.  After becoming a Christian, he went into the ministry.  He currently works as a songleader, the European Missions Society and for the Boston Church doing Online Outreach.  Listen as he shares about his life and journey.

How to Support the Rob Skinner Podcast.  If you would like to help support my mission to multiply disciples, leaders and churches, click here:  https://www.buymeacoffee.com/robskinner   Valdur Koha moved to the US in the eighties with his wife Irene.  Listen as he shares about how he became a Christian, his success as a business founder during the 90's Dot.Com boom and how he navigated the Dot.Com bust and challenges in the church.  In the early 2000's he reinvented himself as a spiritual teacher and applied his business skills to guiding and directing the Beam Foundation to provide support for mission plantings and leadership development.   More about Valdur: Valdur serves as Elder and Teacher in the Boston Church of Christ. He also serves as the president of the European Missions Society and the executive director of the CHORD Leadership Center which promotes holistic, biblical leadership around the world. Valdur currently chairs the ICOC Teacher’s Service Team. Born in Germany in 1955, Valdur lives with his family in Boston since 1985. Valdur and Irene have been married since 1980; they have five sons and one daughter (all disciples) and ten grandchildren.   Contact Valdur here: [email protected]

How to Support the Rob Skinner Podcast.  If you would like to help support my mission to multiply disciples, leaders and churches, click here:  https://www.buymeacoffee.com/robskinner If you are struggling or have ever struggled with the temptationy toward pornography, you are definitely not alone. Statistics reveal that 68% of church-going men and over 50% of pastors view porn on a regular basis. Of young Christian adults 18-24 years old, 76% actively search for porn.  In this episode, originally published in 2022 in episode 150, I interview Jeff Hernandez, a disciple I've known for over 30 years.  Of my 300+ episodes, this is one of the most listened to and highlights the challenge of pornography and sexual addiction.  Listen as Jeff shares about his: ·         Descent into sexual addiction ·         Divorce from his wife of 22 years. ·         Remarriage outside of the church ·         Recovery from his sexual addiction ·         Conversion of his second wife ·         Return to the church ·         What he learned along the way ·         How to overcome sexual temptation and addiction.   You can reach Jeff Hernandez at https://www.lovingwingsrecovery.com/ (https://www.missionfrontiers.org/issue/article/15-mind-blowing-statistics-about-pornography-and-the-church)

How to Support the Rob Skinner Podcast.  If you would like to help support my mission to multiply disciples, leaders and churches, click here:  https://www.buymeacoffee.com/robskinner   Today, I’m talking to Glenn Petruzzi.  Glenn is an experienced missionary, minister and church planter.  He led a young church in Tirane, Albania for two years, revitalized the Boston campus ministries in the early 2000's, planted a church in Portland, Maine and is now working in the Boston Church of Christ.  He has a dream to win the world with the Gospel and today he’s going to talk about that dream.

How to Support the Rob Skinner Podcast.  If you would like to help support my mission to multiply disciples, leaders and churches, click here:  https://www.buymeacoffee.com/robskinner   Today, I’m talking with Moses Singh, missionary to India, Bangladesh and the USA.  Moses and was converted in New York City and went on mission to India, Pakistan and Bangladesh before returning to the US.  He and his wife have planted two churches in the US while working full time secular jobs.  Listen to Moses story of mission and how he plans to live to 120 by eating right and living right.

How to Support the Rob Skinner Podcast.  If you would like to help support my mission to multiply disciples, leaders and churches, click here:  https://www.buymeacoffee.com/robskinner   Today, I continue my exposition of Matthew in Matthew 16:1-20.