Welcome to Studies with Stearman. Join us as we look deeper into the Bible.

Strengthen your faith with us, even as we see the day approaching. And now, here's Gary.

I don't know how many hundred times I've had people come to me and ask me this question.

How do I determine God's will for my life?

There has been a real sales job done in Christian circles on determining God's will for your life.

Oftentimes, people are made to jump through hoops and dance around in circles in order to achieve

God's will for their life but it does raise the question what do I do or do I have to do anything

or is there something that I'm doing this very very wrong but I need to correct or why is my

prayer not being answered or why is my prayer not being answered? Or why is my prayer

not being answered in just the way I want? Maybe it's because I'm not in God's will. Well, as you look at

Ephesians, from that perspective, you begin to get lots of insight. Paul begins, and you'll recall

in past weeks, that we talked about having been chosen

before the foundation of the universe and predestinated to adoption into his family for the purpose

of glorifying his name. Basically, that's why we exist, is to glorify God. And immediately, you got the red flag

that's waving in your face. Who? Me? Glorify God? I don't think so. I'm not very good of

glorifying God. You know, I'm not all that. I'm a failed person. I've got all kinds of

problematic areas in my life. I've been redeemed, been sealed by the spirit.

I'm bathed in prayer, bathed in power of the Holy Spirit, but I don't feel like I'm glorifying God,

and furthermore, I don't feel like I'm just exactly in His will. Well, if you're in that

condition mentally, you are a prime target for Satan, or for one of his guys who will come along and say, oh, I've got just the solution.

I can show you how to get in the will of God.

That's where deviations, schisms, that's where heresies come from.

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