WILL OF GOD

1. We sometimes hear the expression, “the will of the people.”

2. If we look at the Scriptures, we find references to the “will of God.”

MORE THAN 20 TIMES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT DO WE FIND THE WORDS, “THE WILL OF GOD.”

a) When Jesus went about teaching people, He emphasized the will of God.

b) Were He to preach today, this would surely be one of His sermon topics.

c) In Mk. 3:35 Jesus said He had brothers, sisters, and a mother.

d) He didn’t have in mind Mary and the children she produced with Joseph.

e) Jesus said “whosoever shall do the will of God” is His spiritual relative.

2) God has a will, and according to the Word of God, we choose to either obey or disobey it.

3) Obedience means being in Jesus’ family; disregard for it means being out of the family.

a) In the opening verses of Romans we find that Paul wanted to visit some Christians.

b) A visit to and with these brethren was Paul’s desire (will).

c) Paul knew enough about God and Christianity to avoid doing something like this:

i) “I will be there in two months; expect me.”

d) “I want to come, and I am going to come.”

e) Plans were laid, but the apostle’s plans were tentative—subject to change.

f) Rom. 1:10 says “I may be prospered by the will of God.”

g) As a Christian and an apostle, God’s will was foremost in the mind of Paul.

h) As a Christian Paul realized that his will and God’s will might not always match.

4) There are two basic aspects to God’s will for our lives.

a) First, there is what we might call God’s “universal will.”

b) God’s universal (general) will applies to each individual.

c) God’s general will is that each person who is accountable for sins seek and find salvation.

d) God wants all to be saved, 2 Pet. 3:9.

e) After salvation, God’s general will still applies to all people.

f) After becoming a Christian, God wants all His children to live as Christians.

g) Aside from God’s general will is what we might refer to as God’s “individual will.”

h) This area is similar to Rom. 1:10.

i) God may have willed for some Christians to go to Rome, but not for all Christians to go there.

j) Today, God’s will may be for some (a certain) Christian to live in California.

k) For another, God’s will may be life in Alaska or Indiana.

l) As we pray and live our lives, it is always wise to pray about and search for God’s will.

m) We want to search for His universal will and His individual will in our lives.

5) Towards the end of First Corinthians (1 Cor. 16:9) we read about a “door” being opened.

6) In this case God’s will was being indicated by an opportunity.

7) Today God can sometimes reveal His will in this same manner.

8) Opportunities in life can guide us to fulfilling God’s will.

9) Care needs to be used in this regard, but open doors are things to consider.

10) As we look open doors, we must also always look at the Scripture.

11) Any opportunity that conflicts with the Scriptures cannot be an opportunity from God.

12) For clarity, let’s consider the thought this way.

13) We are hungry—very hungry, and we pass by a table that has a delicious meal on it.

14) No one is at the table; it is just a table full of food.

15) Supposed that someone said “here is an open door.”

16) I am hungry, God has provided, I will take the food and eat. God has showed me the way!

17) While this might look like an open door, taking the unattended food would be stealing.

18) God’s will must always be sought in light of the Bible.

19) Concern for God’s will must be shown because God’s will is important.

20) It is so important the Holy Spirit pays attention to it.

21) Rom. 8:27 says that Holy Spirit helps in prayer “according to God’s will.”

a) The Holy Spirit has no interest in trying to override or defeat God’s will.

b) The Holy Spirit wants to always be in accordance with God’s will.

c) This should be our approach as well in this area of life.

d) We want to find God’s will and do it, even if heaven’s will is not quite what we want.

22) Romans 12:2 goes a little further.

a) This verse will be read — READ.

b) God has a will. Part of His plan is “not being conformed to this world.”

c) If we act like the world instead of Christ, a warning light should go off in our heads.

d) Acting like the world means we are doing the will of the world instead of the will of God.

e) God’s will is for our mind to be “renewed.”

f) God wants us to change our thinking so it reflects what is found in His word.

23) We can demonstrate God’s will in our lives, Rom. 12, and this is heaven’s plan for us.

24) Some may look at God’s will and think, “yuck. That doesn’t sound very fun.”

25) How can God’s will instead of our will possibly be enjoyable to anyone?

26) From Rom. 12 I would direct your attention to Rom. 15:32.

27) Here Paul associated an attitude or emotion with God’s will.

28) His reaction is clearly expressed.

29) Rom. 15:32 – READ.

a) It is possible to look at and do God’s will with joy.

b) God’s will is not pictured as drudgery or an awful chore.

c) Someone might ask, “How can people view God’s will as a good thing?”

d) We first realize that following God’s will is the best approach to our existence.

e) There is not a better way to live than this way.

f) Second, living in this manner allows us to be Jesus’ spiritual relatives, Mk. 3.

g) A third reason is found in 2 Cor. 8, a text that will be read.

30) We often hear 2 Cor. 8 associated with a weekly collection.

31) As this chapter is usually read, we hardly ever focus on a particular part of the text.

32) The givers in 2 Cor. 8 were people who did not have very much.

33) They were poor, but they begged for an opportunity to help others.

34) Why did they do this? Verse 5 – READ.

a) God’s will is that we be willing to make sacrifices, Rom. 12:1-2.

b) In 2 Cor. 8, we find that joy comes through sacrifice.

35) A little over a year ago I was at a funeral service conducted by others.

36) I did not know the deceased too well, so what was said about this person intrigued me.

a) A preacher said the deceased was always helping others.

b) If you needed helped, this person would be right over to fix whatever needed fixing.

c) His projects at home were set aside so he could aid others.

d) Living in this manner gave this individual great joy, though he had many unfinished projects.

e) A similar thing is true in 2 Cor. 8.

f) Doing the will of God means sacrifice, but it also results in joy.

37) In order for joy to be achieved, there is a prerequisite.

a) Imagine someone who says, “I am going to do the will of God no matter how much it hurts,”

b) Such a person will not find any joy in doing God’s will.

c) The key to doing the will of God and finding pleasure in it is found in Eph. 6:6.

d) If we take nothing else home with you toady from this sermon, let’s grasp this verse.

e) Doing God’s will and finding pleasure therein, even when difficult, can be pleasurable.

f) For that to occur, a desire to do God’s will must be in and from the heart.

38) Eph. 6:6 – READ.

39) Paul wrote to slaves—people who were often mistreated.

40) Paul told these slaves to be obedient and respectful.

41) Though owned by others and mistreated very badly, they were to be good workers.

42) How could people living under such conditions be nice and good to those who afflicted them?

43) They knew they were doing God’s will (being a good example).

44) Since this was in the heart, God’s will could be done day after day, and it could be done with joy.

45) All this information goes back to Rom. 12:1-2.

46) Until a person is ready to change their thinking process, God’s will shall always be hard.

47) When a person’s thinking process is filled with the way in the Scriptures, things begin to change.

48) As the mind changes, God’s will becomes easier and easier.

49) Study the life of Christ and you will see a connection between Jesus’ mindset and God’s will.

50) Someone might say, “I would like to try to do God’s will, but it just sounds too hard.”

51) Right after Ephesians we come to the book of Colossians.

52) At the end of this book (Col. 4:12) we have a very helpful statement regarding God’s will.

a) Here we are told that we can pray for people regarding God’s will.

b) In the context, the thought relates to Christians doing God’s will.

c) In principle, we can apply the thought to other things.

d) We may pray for a wayward Christian to return and again do God’s will.

e) We might pray for a non-Christian to begin conforming to God’s will.

53) Here is how Christians did it in first century times – Col. 4:12 – READ.

54) Pray for people that they will do God’s will. This is one of the things we find in God’s word.

55) God’s will is expressed in text after text.

56) 1 Thess. 4:13 says it means we avoid fornication.

57) 1 Thes. 5:18 says God’s will is being “thankful.”

58) Following God’s will results in our receiving the promise, Heb. 10:36.

59) Doing God’s will can cause people to rethink their conclusions about us, 1 Pet. 2:15.

60) Even if suffering is the will of God—and sometimes it is—this is okay, 1 Pet. 4:19.

61) God’s will is so important that it is even joined with a congregation’s elders.

a) 1 Pet. 5 (the first part of this chapter) was written to elders.

b) Peter said that he was serving as an elder.

c) Peter also said that elders need to serve (work) according to the will of God.

d) Every facet of Christianity can be related to the will of God.

e) God’s will relates to how the church is organized, supervised, and energized.

f) Heaven’s will applies to how Christians live in their homes and in public.

g) God’s will applies to preachers, deacons, children, and all adults.

62) Too many people in our world are unconcerned with the will of God.

63) This was not the attitude of Jesus.

64) Christ said if we do heaven’s will, we are His brother, sister, and mother.

65) Jesus did not say if we believe on Him we have this kind of relationship.

66) Neither is confessing Him enough.

67) We must find God’s will and do it to have this kind of union.

68) Belief and confession are part of God’s will, but they are not the complete package.

69) We must seek out and do all that is involved for a very simple reason.

70) John gave this reason in 1 Jn. 2:17.

71) John promised that the world will one day pass away.

72) God did not design this earth to be a permanent home.

73) It is a temporary place to allow us to demonstrate our character.

74) Those who demonstrate God’s will in their lives have a promise.

75) Here it is — 1 Jn. 2:17 – READ.

a) There is a sense in which all people will “abide forever.”

b) The unsaved will also abide forever, but they will not be with God.

c) If we are not the Lord’s brother, sister, or mother, we are His enemies.

d) Those who have this classification will be destroyed.

e) All who abide by God’s will be saved in eternity with God.

76) We have some basic choices regarding God’s will:

77) Ignore it, follow some of it (what we want), follow most of it, or follow it all.

78) Only one of these options leads to eternal life: the choice of complete compliance.