What Does God Want Me to Do

“Mission To Work” – living and working for God

Study week 3 What does God want me to do?

A bible study about how we find out how to use what God has given to us

Introduction

We are seeing things happen at Pip’n’Jay which we believe God is directing, and you may be experiencing this too. Are you seeing how people are being drawn to pray more? Are you hearing people getting excited about God’s direction for us? Are you feeling this excitement yourself, or perhaps feeling that you want to be involved with what God wants you to do – but aren’t quite sure what that is? If you are ready to work, but not sure what God wants, you may be feeling a bit frustrated – but you are not alone.

A massive research study* by the Gallup Organisation, taken over 25 years, asked over a million employed workers hundreds of questions about their work. It measured over a long period of time how well they were able to work. Out of this mass of information, Gallup looked for patterns and ways to predict whether people would succeed or fail at work. They found that there was one important question which, more than any other question, could measure the strength of a workplace. If everyone clearly knew the answer to this question, they were likely to succeed. If not, they were almost bound to fail. (*source – “First Break All The Rules” by Buckingham & Coffman)

The most crucial question is this – “Do I know what is expected of me?”

As we set out to work for God, as part of his church, do we know what God expects of us? Do we know what God wants us to do?

This is a real challenge – we don’t just need general answers about what God wants to happen in the world. We know that God wants to be known by the people he made and loves, and that the church has a job to make God’s love known. The plan is that the church should be Jesus’ body – so people should be able to look at the church and see God.

So far in our “Mission To Work” studies we have seen how God has given us a purpose to live and work, to be born again and become part of the church, and to be filled with the Holy Spirit, expecting spiritual fruit and gifts to be given to us as we work out our purpose.

The question is – what do we do with them? We know we are to use our talents, but the question remains, “What is expected of me?” What is my role? Where do I fit in? Where does God want me to be, and how should I spend my time? What spiritual gifts will God give me, and how should I use them? What talents has God given me to use, and what is distracting me from making the most of them? These are hard questions to answer.

The good news is that, although there are no easy answers, the Bible does tell us how to find out what God wants for us. It is a real challenge, and finding God’s will comes at a cost for us. It requires us to change, it needs our minds to be transformed by God, and before this can happen we need to offer our whole bodies to God as “living sacrifices”. This, the Bible teaches, is the true meaning of worship.

This week we’re going to find out how to discover God’s will for us, individually and as part of a body of people. Please tell us how it works for you – you can call me on 07958 483788, or fill in the feedback form at the back of this study.

Bern Leckie – [email protected] What does God want me to do?

Day 1 – Why we don’t get easy answers from God

An opening prayer Lord – It is amazing how much you love me, even though I don’t deserve special attention from you. Thank you that you have given me your Word to guide me - please let me know what you want me to draw from it today. Amen.

Romans 11:33-36 (TNIV)

“Oh, the depths of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgements, and his paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counsellor? Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.”

What is this about? There is a reason we didn’t start this study at Romans 12:1 – the first word in that verse is “therefore”, and when we see that word in scripture it is usually connecting two crucial ideas together. (My chaplain once taught me, “When you see a ‘therefore’, ask ‘what is it there for?’”) In other words, if we’re going to understand why we need to offer ourselves fully to God to know what he wants for us, we need to understand the important idea Paul is connecting to his teaching in Romans 12. We need to know why it is so difficult to know what God wants.

We know that engineers build things. But have you also heard of the term “reverse engineering”? This describes how people try to study what other people have built, to figure out how it works. Armies reverse engineer their enemies’ technology so they can combat it. Companies reverse engineer competitors’ inventions so they can copy or improve them. Scientists try to reverse engineer our brains, so we can figure out how they work. Reverse engineering is done by testing, observing, and figuring out logically how something works, searching for patterns and tracing out connections. If we can get our heads around that, we build up a picture of how something is made, and what we need to do to control it.

People want to know how God works, and it’s tempting for us to try and “reverse engineer” God – to take control and discover the secrets of God’s reasoning and will for us by testing and studying God. But Romans 11:33-36 warns us against this. It explains why we will fail if we are after “quick fix” answers, or if we want to master getting our heads around how God works. This is why we don’t find it easy to know what God wants: . God’s wisdom and knowledge are too deep for us to follow . God’s paths are beyond tracing out – we can’t reverse engineer him! . God is not our equal – we don’t know his mind or advise him . God has not received anything from us which he needs to repay . God is the source and creator of everything we have . God deserves all of the credit, or glory, for everything – we don’t!

So if we think that our cleverness, maturity, wisdom, experience, or anything else we build or control can take us closer to knowing what God wants, we are wrong. But everything we have comes from God – so we receive because of his mercy, not because we have worked to deserve anything – and we should credit God for that.

To consider and pray throughout today . Have I been trying to get to know God’s will, but keeping myself in control? . Have I thought I could work God out, and build my own understanding of him? . Have I believed that a portion of my time and talent made a good offering for God? . How do I feel about putting God in control and relying entirely on him? . How can I show that I give God the credit/glory for what he has given me?

A challenge for today When someone thanks you for a job you’ve done or tells you how good you are at something, see what happens when you give others some credit – maybe it’s even an opportunity to credit God, but if you don’t feel you can say this, write it in your diary and ask God what to say tomorrow. (And if you don’t get praised very often at work, try praising others some more and see if that changes things!) What does God want me to do?

Day 2 – The cost of knowing God’s will

Romans 12:1-2 (TNIV)

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your proper worship as rational beings. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

What is this about? From what we read yesterday, we know that we can’t get our heads around God. So does this mean that our spiritual life doesn’t involve our heads? Can we ever know and think about God’s will, or is this impossible?

Paul goes on to tell us that it is not just possible to know God’s will, but urgent and necessary, and that our minds are essential to our relationship with God.

However, it is not easy to know God’s will. Look carefully at the steps involved: . Realise God’s mercy is what makes everything possible for us – not our earnestness . Offer our bodies (our whole selves) as living sacrifices – we need to give up our control, and commit ourselves completely to God. This is the true meaning of worship. . Offer ourselves holy and pleasing to God – this is only possible by receiving forgiveness through Jesus and committing to follow him . Stop conforming to what the world does – our “patterns” or habits should come from God . Be transformed – change. Change is difficult, but it is the price of what is to come. . Be transformed by the renewing of your mind – we are not changed by adopting new religious habits and behaviours. God is not telling us just to go to church more, or to be nicer to people, or even just to pray more. If we are to be transformed, it is by the ongoing renewal of our minds. That is where God needs to work on us, he needs to do it constantly, and we need him to renew our minds before we know what God wants for us. . THEN you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – not only know God’s will, but “test and approve” it – in your mind it will stand up to scrutiny and feel right.

It is only when our minds are transformed, following our self sacrifice in response to God’s mercy, that we can know God’s will. The bonus is that when have done this, we also realise that his will is good, pleasing and perfect – our transformed minds will know God’s love for us and we will be pleased to do what God wants us to do.

To consider and pray throughout today . Have I offered myself completely to God, or am I only offering a portion of what I have? . Have I been made holy and pleasing to God today – have I asked forgiveness for my sins? . Have I forgiven other people when they have hurt me today? . How would I feel if God asked me to leave my job and work differently for less money? . What does God want me to do differently today?

A challenge for today Have a short time of prayer each hour to commit the next things you do to God – write a brief note in your diary about what you need to do. Ask God to take control as and when he wants to, so you can know if God wants you to do something differently from how you would have done it otherwise. If you do something differently, note it down and share what happened with some other Christians later this week. What does God want me to do?

Day 3 – The attitude which should go with knowing God’s will

Romans 12:3 (TNIV)

“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgement, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.”

What is this about? We have been reading about how it is impossible to get our heads around God and prise from him the secrets of how he works and what his will is for us. We then read how God’s will can be known to us if our minds are renewed by God and transformed, and that this is done by God’s mercy when we give up control, seeking forgiveness, committing and offering our whole selves “as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God.”

When we start to be transformed and know God’s will, there is still a danger that we will go back to our old habits of thinking we are in control. Knowing God’s will does not mean that we are now perfect like God. So Paul is quick to remind us to stay humble.

Look at how even Paul, a well renowned teacher the church is looking at in order to find God’s will for them, starts his warning by acknowledging how he knows what he is about to write. “By the grace given me” – Paul does not teach us about knowing God’s will because he is a clever teacher, or has worked it out by himself. Paul only teaches because God has mercifully given him what to say. “Grace” refers to something given but not deserved, and Paul is confessing that he has not earned wisdom – God has given it even though Paul did not deserve it. We are no more deserving ourselves.

So how highly should we think of ourselves? Some people think Christians hate themselves, and this would be a mistake. God loves us, and is the source of our love for ourselves and each other. This isn’t something to get carried away over (God chooses to love us, it’s not because we’re especially lovely), but we can think of ourselves “with sober judgement” – our transformed minds can recognise and think about how we relate to God and each other. We do this “in accordance with the faith God has distributed.” In other words this thought and faith, like everything else, come from God. (Now here’s an interesting question – what do you think “faith” means here?)

To consider and pray throughout today . How do I think of myself? How does this compare with how I think of others? . How much do I feel loved, ready, proud, humble, clever, blessed, talented… what else? . What is the faith that God has distributed to me? . How do I see that faith being put into practice through what I am doing?

A challenge for today Pray for God’s guidance, then write a list of . at least seven things you love and are good at doing, . at least seven things you have to do but feel bad at doing, . at least seven things you would love to do but don’t have time or the chance to do, . and at least seven things you fear being made to do. Show this list to someone you trust who has made the same lists to show you. Consider how your similarities help you to understand each other, and may even be why you are friends, but also think about how your differences present opportunities to work together and complement each other. What does God want me to do?

Day 4 – The gifts God has distributed to those who know him

Romans 12:4-8 (TNIV)

“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”

What is this about? We have seen that it is possible, although costly, to know what God has in mind for us, and that this knowledge should not make us proud, but humble. Here Paul explains why we cannot act as if our relationship with God makes us not need strong relationships with other people.

Paul’s picture is that, in Christ, we form a body of people much like a human body, with many parts, each with a different function. In this way, we have our unique, individual purpose, but we are not separated from other people in the body – we rely on them, and they rely on us. Paul puts it very strongly here – “each member belongs to all of the others.” It’s already clear that we belong to God –how can we also belong to other church members? The body of believers we call the church is Christ’s body – we all belong to God, and God’s will is that we belong together. Whatever we think we have discerned about God’s will for us, it needs to be consistent with this. (See also 1 Corinthians 10:17 and 12:12-27, and Ephesians 4 for more of Paul’s writing about the church as a body.)

Spiritual gifts are given by God, according to “grace” – we don’t deserve them, so we shouldn’t boast about them. We should get on and use them, however. They are given so that we can serve each other and make the body effective. They are distributed so that we need to get together as a body in order to work. Between us, we are given all of the gifts and abilities that Jesus has, and this body stretches across workplaces, cities, countries, the whole earth – so it is no wonder that Jesus said:

John 14:12-14 (TNIV)

“Very truly I tell you, all who have faith in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”

Earlier we looked at what “faith” means. Many of our work colleagues probably think it means a weak form of belief, without proof. The biblical definition of faith is more of a challenge – it is always linked to action. Faith is not belief minus proof, it is belief plus action – the strongest kind of belief.

Paul tells those with the gift of prophecy to use it “in accordance with (their) faith” – in other words, in accordance with the willingness and commitment to get on and do something with the knowledge God gives a prophet. God does not speak to us so that we know things, but don’t put them into practice. God does not call us to speak his words but not do anything about them ourselves. “All those who have faith in me will do the works I have been doing,” said Jesus. Faith = belief + action.

To consider and pray throughout today . What am I doing today that demonstrates my faith? Is it something like Jesus’ works? . What difference would Jesus make at my workplace? What does he want me to do today?

A challenge for today Make a list of the things Jesus did which you – along with others in the church – have also done. Make another list of things Jesus did which you have not seen done in the church. This is a “to do” list to pray for with others in the church. Think especially about how these things would make a difference to those we work with. Why would our colleagues care about Jesus or the church working with them? What does God want me to do?

Day 5 – The point of having and using gifts from God

John 14:12-14 (TNIV)

What is this about? These verses we considered yesterday answer a very important question - why does God give us spiritual gifts? We know that one reason is for us to live the purposeful, satisfying lives God designed us to live, by putting the gifts into action. Another reason is for us to have an effective church body, where we rely on each other putting the gifts into action so that we can, together, achieve works as great or greater than Jesus. Our church should be famous for its good works. But why? The overall reason, and the greatest purpose of spiritual gifts, is “so that the Father may be glorified” – in other words, so God will be recognised, known by our friends and colleagues to be real, and given the credit for what he has done. The change this can cause in our workplaces is immense!

Jesus promised to do whatever we ask “in (his) name” – in other words, consistent with his will and purpose (to obey God the father), and in consultation with Jesus. How will Jesus keep this promise? He will act – he will use his body. Guess what – that involves us, because we are part of the body! So when we ask for God to do things, expect God to give us things to do – within the abilities God has given us. We should be ready to work together and act, and give God the credit for making this possible. So what kind of things should we be looking and asking to achieve, to glorify God?

Philippians 2:3-8 (TNIV)

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same attitude of mind Christ Jesus had: ‘Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a human being, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death - even death on a cross!”

We have this amazing ability to ask God to do what Jesus did, and be used to achieve what we ask for, so that God will be recognised. Paul is clear on how to decide what to do – it’s all about service to others, rather than selfish ambition. Jesus demonstrated this with his attitude and actions. Even though he was God (and not just connected to God, in the way that we are), he was human and showed us the way to glorify God – obey God, and serve other people.

Regardless of our status at work, this is what God is telling us to do with our talents, our gifts and our lives – serve our colleagues. At work we may be expected to show a certain amount of ambition, and to act in our own interests rather than the interests of others. What we need to agree before God is what we’re aiming to do – what are we really ambitious for? It’s not wrong to want to do a great job – far from it. But we also have to keep God’s greater purposes for us in mind. These are achieved by working for God, obeying him, and following his orders to put others’ interests ahead of our own.

To consider and pray throughout today . What is my greatest ambition? How does it reflect God’s call for me to serve others? . What do my colleagues need? How can I serve them and help to meet their needs?

A challenge for today Write down a list of people you work with every day, and what you think their greatest needs are – practical, emotional, personal and spiritual needs. What makes them happy? What is holding them back from being fulfilled? You may not be able to address these needs, but ask God to give you wisdom to see them and pray, in Jesus’ name, for the needs to be met. Expect to be involved somehow, maybe with others in church, with the answer to this prayer!

Next week – It may be easy to agree to serve, but hard to do in practice. We have to know others in order to serve them, else we’re only serving our own vanity. What do we actually know about our colleagues’ interests? What do we think they need? How are we able to offer them practical support? We should pray about this now, and we’ll consider it in more detail next week. “What does God want me to do?”

Feedback form

The bible study you have tried may form part of a future “Mission To Work” course at Pip’n’Jay. The aim is to equip people to work in the way God wants us to work, serving him even when we are on the job for someone else, and it would help us to get your thoughts on how useful this study has been for you.

You can reply anonymously if you like, but it would be even more helpful if I can discuss your answers with you. Everything you share will be treated in confidence. Please drop the form into my pigeon hole or email me.

Many thanks, Bern Leckie – email [email protected]

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