When it comes to knowing the will of God, it seems sometimes we don’t know what to do. We wish there was a way someone could give us help. Wouldn’t it be nice if God just gave a hand-written note from heaven? It would have beautiful clear printing and his signature would be unmistakable at the bottom. Then we could just move forward with confidence.
Let’s take a look at some scripture and guidelines to help us to know and understand the will of God. We are created in the image of God and he has given us a will to exercise on our own. That will can be used for or against God’s will.
Henrietta Mears, a great Christian educator and leader in the Four Square Church wrote this about the human will: “Will is the whole [person] active. I cannot give up my will; I must exercise it. I must will to obey. When God gives a command or a vision of truth, it is never a question of what He will do, but what we will do. To be successful in God's work is to fall in line with His will and to do it His way. All that is pleasing to Him is a success.”[1]
Wow! Now that’s a great statement! I want to do all that pleases God and I hope you do, too. So, really our task is to understand God’s will so that we can employ our human will to be a success in God’s eyes.
There are several different layers to God’s will. Let’s take a look at some of those today by reading some directly from God’s Word.
1. The General Will of God for Humanity
Ephesians 1:9-10 And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment--to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.
John 3:16-17 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
In Matthew 6:10 Jesus taught his curious disciples to pray this way, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
2. General Will of God for Believers
This is found replete throughout the Old Testament and the New—including the Ten Commandments and specific instructions given by Holy-Spirit filled leaders.
Micah 6:8 He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
I Peter 3:8-12 Finally, all
of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be
compassionate and humble. 9Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with
blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10For,
"Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from deceitful speech. 11He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek
peace and pursue it. 12For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are
attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do
evil."
3. The Will of God for a Heavenly Future
It was not only His design to save us, but to also restore us to an eternity of perfection and joy.
2 Timothy 4:8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
1 John 2:28 And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.
Now that’s all well and good—in fact, very good. But what about those times I need to make specific choices and I want to be in as close alignment with God as I can humanly be? Should I marry this person? Should I take this job? Should I go to this church? Is God calling me into ministry? How do I speak to my children about this urgent matter, etc.?
Knowing the will of God specifically can be discerned through a variety of avenues. Thanks to a good outline from Compton’s Interactive Bible[1], multiple ways to seek out God’s will have been drawn up. We won’t take time to read all of these Scriptures; we’ll just pull a few out for the sake of this study. The challenge, then, is to read and study and meditate on the rest of these this month.
Through his Word
Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man/woman of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Through control of thoughts, indirectly
1 Peter 4:12-13 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as something strange were happening to you. 13But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
2 Corinthians 7:8-11; 12:7; 1 Peter 1:6-7; James 1:2-4
Through control of thoughts, directly
Proverbs 16:9 In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
Ephesians 2:13
Through the control of circumstances
Ephesians 1:11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.
Proverbs 16:9; 20:24; Acts 2:23; 4:28
Until revelation is complete, through dreams and visions.
Matthew 2:12-13 in the instance of Mary and Joseph after Jesus’ birth: 12And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
Genesis 15:1 After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision:"Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.
Genesis 20:3,6; 31:11,24; 1 Kings 3:5; Zechariah 1:7-8; Acts 10:10-11
Through the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit
John 16:13-14 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
1Corinthians 2:12-14; 1John 2:27
Through application in testings and trials
Philippians 3:15 All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
Hebrews 5:14; 12:7,11; James 1:2-5
Through yieldedness or self-denial
Romans12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer 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;
Romans 6:13,19; 1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 1:6
Through discipleship
Matthew 16:24-25 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.
Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23
Through willingness to obey daily
Philippians 2:13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23; Romans 6:16; 2 Peter 2:19
Through Faith
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.;
Psalm 37:5; Romans 14:23; 2 Corinthians 5:7; Philippians 2:13; Hebrews 11:17,27
Through Patience
Psalm 37:1 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him.
James 1:5-6
Through Common Sense
Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13while we wait for the blessed hope--the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
Through the Peace of God
Colossians 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
God’s love and goodness are so great that he can make plain his will for every matter—both generally and specifically in our life. And when it is not plain, we need to go forward with what we know at the time and trust God to help us with the consequences. If we engage all these methods of understanding God’s will together, we will find it either presently, in the future, or we will see it in retrospect. And for those times when the answer is not immediately evident, we can wait, keep asking and trust in Him.
James 1:5-6 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
Amen
© M.R.Hyde 2024
[1] Henrietta Mears, Dream Big: The Henrietta Mears Story, quoted in Christianity Today, June 21, 1993, Page 41. www.sermonilllustrations.com, 6.24.06.
