July 19, 2000, WE: Lord, what will Thou have me do?

July 19th, 2000, Wednesday Evening

"Lord, what will Thou have me do?"
Ask for His will, not yours

OPENING: Acts 9:1-6, KJV

Today, many people wear bracelets that say "WWJD" which stands for, "What Would Jesus Do?"
- This bracelet confronts any situation with the question of how Jesus would handle it.
- Rather, ask "what would I do?" What would the Lord have you do in that situation?
Today, Christians are pursuing temporal (temporary) rather than eternal things.
- Only those things that relate to Jesus Christ, done His way, will count in Heaven.
Many don't have a clue that Jesus Christ is calling their life.
- You must acknowledge with "Lord, what will Thou have me do?"
- Many receive him (become saved) as Savior but do not acknowledge him by calling him "Lord."
- When you say "Lord", you acknowledge His presence and are submitting to Him.
Luke 9:48: Remember that we treat Christ the way we treat others.
Acts 9:1-6: Consider the story of when Saul, a great Christian persecutor, was confronted by Jesus.
- Acts 9:6: You'll find Saul sincerely asked a personal question: "...what wilt thou have me to do?"
  - Today's Christian is too relaxed and content as just saved. Once saved, they just drop everything else because they'll have nothing to worry about since their eternity is secure in Heaven.
  - On the contrary, we should urgently and sincerely ask what God wants of you in your life. Seek from Him counsel, information, and instruction.
  - Do not reserve your level of will to God. I.e., don't say, "Lord please let me go anywhere in the world BUT this place." Don't place limitations on your will to God. Admit it, we've all made up our mind on how much/little we'll help before the ask the Lord where we can help at.
  - Very simply say, "Lord, you're my Savior and Lord. I'll do whatever You say."
- Acts 9:6: The Lord's answer is "Arise, and go..." Sound familiar? This is a quote that is defined by an earlier sermon. The term "go" in "Arise and go" implies "doing." All the events below are synonymous with what we should do as Christians.
  - Acts 9:8: Saul had a mission of his own device but now God changed His mission. Hasn't this happened so many times in your life? You have one plan you constructed but God is the director of your path.
  - Jesus warns us we must suffer when witnessing for Him. That doesn't mean we should go without food or basic needs but rather to be ridiculed, outcast, and/or humiliated by the world who doesn't know him.
    - Acts 9:16
    - Philippians 1:29
  - Acts 9:17-18: Now Saul was filled with the Holy Spirit after being lost and was immediately baptized. NOTE this baptism came AFTER being saved. Baptism before being saved doesn't mean anything because you didn't come to know Jesus yet.
  - Acts 9:20: Now Saul is preaching in the synagogues.
  - Acts 9:22: And as he does the Lord's will, Saul continues to grow in spiritual strength.
  - Acts 26:19: And finally, Saul (now named Paul), after being lost, saved, baptized, goes out and witnesses to the world. In this verse, the king of Agrippa.
God has not saved you to be idle--to watch others serve while you do nothing. When you go to church, a man of God (usually the pastor who preaches the Word of God) will direct you to greater learning and responsibility within the church.

CLOSER
So in summary, Paul (formerly Saul) did what we do today. Follow our own ambitions, make the Lord angry with us, be confronted by the Lord (usually in prayer during a time of personal crisis), be filled with the Lord, be baptized, and follow what the commands the Lord would have you do (ideally). Be filled with the Holy Spirit, follow obediently, suffer for witnessing, grow in spiritual strength.
One year, this church's pastor saved only two souls in one whole year! Then the pastor got down on his knees and sincerely asked, "Lord, what would You have me to do?" And since he submitted to the Lord, things have only gotten better.