B-Group Lesson Part 6 of 7
“For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised” (Heb. 10:36, NASB1995).
Endurance is connected to the will of God. When you know that what you are doing is the will of God for your life, you have to “stick to it.” Some people think that any time you encounter resistance, you must be outside of the will of God. If that were the case, Paul the apostle was outside the will of God almost all the time!
“Everything in the will of God will be contested.”
Satan and the powers of darkness are aware when you step over into the will of God and out from under “their will.” When you submit to God’s will, you become a target for the enemy.
“We wanted to come to you—I, Paul, more than once—and yet Satan hindered us” (1 Thess. 2:18)
a. There are three “wills”: God’s will, your will, and Satan’s will. People think that everything that happens is “God’s will” when it may be Satan trying to impose his will on your life.
b. Was the storm on the sea of Galilee the will of God? If so, why did Jesus rebuke it? Was the death of Lazarus the will of God? If so, why did Jesus reverse it? We can see that Satan rises up against us the moment we are in the will of God.
Question: Some people don’t realize that Satan actively resists the will of God. Discuss how demonic power may be attacking your life right now to keep you from God’s perfect will.
“The will of God is the Word of God.”
A “will” is the eternal desire of someone. God’s “will” is not mysterious but is revealed in the Scriptures (“Old Testament and New Testament”). We do not have to wonder what the will of God is; we can read it! God has revealed important things like:
Healing is the will of God. That is why Jesus went around Israel healing multitudes of people.
God wants to meet your needs. He supplied the physical needs of 3 million people for 40 years in the wilderness.
God wants everyone to be saved.
“The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (1 Pet. 3:9).
When we quote Scripture to the enemy, we are enforcing the will of God and demanding that it be done. No wonder Jesus told us to pray, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done” (Matt. 6:10 KJV).
Question: Share with the group a Scripture that is helping you right now to come through a difficult battle in the will of God (If you don’t have a verse, tell the group the battle and let them help you with one.).
“We cannot quit because we think we have missed the will of God.”
When we go through difficulties in our business, ministry, and marriage, we want to “quit.” We even get “spiritual” and say that God didn’t want us to marry that person in the first place!
There are mistakes we make in life where we realize we probably “missed it” on the will of God. What do you do? When a pilot realizes he is off course, he does not return to the airport from which he came. Instead, he draws a new line from where he is to where he is going. That is his new “flight plan.” If you miss the will of God, repent, and ask Him to put you “back on track.”
Question: Is there an area of your life where you believe you made a mistake and have missed the will of God? What should you do about it now?
“Jesus is our example of endurance” (Heb. 12:1)
a. When you feel like quitting, look at Jesus. He endured more suffering on his last day of life than you will encounter in your entire lifetime! The cross is our example of enduring in the will of God.
b. Paul reminded the readers of Hebrews that some “were
stoned, sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated, wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground” (Heb. 11:37).
Question: Discuss the power of the cross to give us courage and endurance when we feel like giving up.
“The Spirit prays through you according to the will of God.”
“In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us…because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God” (Rom. 8:26–27).
The baptism in the Holy Spirit produces in us greater effectiveness in our prayer life since we often do not know how to pray effectively. Paul told us that the Spirit of God helps us by interceding according to the will of God. Because He is part of the Holy Trinity, He knows the perfect will of God for any situation.
“No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit.” (1 Cor. 2:11, NLT)
App. Point: If you have not read Life 01, now would be a great time to learn more about who Jesus is and what He did for you. Many men have been exposed to, and even participated in, immoral practices and need a time of cleansing. The Freedom Encounter is a great place to receive healing and deliverance from your past. Ask your B-Group Leader about attending at the end of this semester. Do you have another man with whom you are accountable? If not, would you like one, or is that a future step for you?
Leader: Take a few minutes and lead your group in a new commitment to practice the will of God for their life. Challenge them to have an accountability partner that they can trust to encourage them through their challenges.