God's Will For You in 2022 - Mark 16:9-20
Have you ever ignored good advice? Somebody offered you financial advice and if you had taken it, you would be in a completely different financial position than you are at present. Perhaps you were offered some moral advice and thought better of it, only to find that years of ignoring that advice has left you hardened and years have been wasted though poor moral choices. Maybe even with the year that we have just had, you were determined that you weren’t going to make the same bad decisions you made in 2020, only to find that you fell right back into the same lifestyle choices; the diet or the exercise plan never stuck.
Jesus says He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. If this is the case, then why would we go against anything that He has said? Do we have any logical reason for ignoring it or to justify taking a different path?
So, here we are at the start of another year. 2 questions. 1. What is God’s will for me for this year? and 2. How can I stay focussed on it? Where our eyes are directed, that’s the direction we take. How can we remain constant and steady in our knowing and remaining in God’s will for the next 12 months?
Jesus had told the disciples on at least three separate occasions that he would rise from the dead. We know from Matthew’s account that this was so well known that even the enemies of Jesus knew that He had said this. That’s why they sealed the tomb and set a guard over it - to make sure it wouldn’t happen. No-one was leaving that tomb.
We don’t believe you. Verses 9-13. 1. Mary Magdalene was not believed. Imagine how Mary felt when no one believed her story. 2. The 2 disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke went into further detail); Mark just said, “2 who were walking into the country.” Luke explained that they went back to Jerusalem.
Then Jesus showed up. The other gospel writers said His first response to them was to say, “Rejoice!” which is what they needed to hear. There was Jesus literally in the flesh! However, they had unbelief in their hearts even while He was standing there, Matthew told us. But what did He do? It says in verse 14, “he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen.”
They ignored the ones Jesus showed Himself to, which means they didn’t believe Jesus! They ignored the best advice, the best news in the world. Jesus corrected their thinking and focused in on whose advice they should be taking. This is half the battle. Most of us know this – we have heard many times how to listen to God’s voice – simple! You read His word.
When people say I don’t really hear from God, it’s not prophetic to say to them, ‘that’s because you’re not reading His word.’ The 2 go hand-in-hand.
Don’t ignore sound advice.
But what is God’s will for me in 2022? It hasn’t changed from 2021. In fact, it hasn’t changed from when you first became a Christian. It hasn’t changed for Christians for over 2000 years.
What is it? Verse 15. “"Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” Matthew put it this way: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:19, 20)
What is the gospel that we should tell others?
1. You’re a sinner - get them to admit it - not difficult (no one is perfect, except Jesus)
2. Ask what they know about Jesus. Then help them to see any false understanding
3. Jesus is the only Saviour from sin
4. Ask them if they would like to ask Jesus to forgive their sin – right now.
5. Pray with them to do that.
We are back from holidays. Put yourself in your workplace, with your neighbours who you know don’t know Jesus or your unsaved family friends. Those of you going back to study this year; your friends who you didn’t share the gospel with last year, the times when you thought you should but didn’t.
This does not negate our primary purpose of why we get paid or why we study or spend time training, but doing those things without sharing our faith is rebuked by Jesus. You are being like those 1st century disciples: not believing and therefore not acting on God’s truth.
What is the promise for those who act on the Lord’s will? Blessing through obedience!
1. Signs will follow, demons go - verse 17– new language in Christ.
2. Protection – verse 18. Not folly. Anything done without faith is sin, Paul told us. Picking up poisonous snakes is folly – a bit like when the devil tempted Jesus to jump off the Temple roof in Matthew 4.
3. Blessing follows – verse 20. They preached; signs followed. What signs of spiritual life should we expect? E.g., prayer answered, conversions, people built up in Christ.
Pray with your family or a person near you to give you boldness and grace, for carrying out the Lord’s will to witness this year and expect the miraculous – accompanying signs.
It’s one thing hearing good advice and not taking it, but it’s another when the advice comes from the judge of Heaven and Earth. (verse 16) “but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” Warning others is simply showing the love that was given to us when someone told us about the saving message of Jesus.
This is a big part of the Lord’s will for all of us in 2022.