I have never met a Christian that has not struggled with discerning God’s will about a particular decision or action. Almost every week we face paramount decisions concerning employment, or health, or money, or relationships, or family, or church. How do we find the wisdom to make the right judgments? If we leave these determinations up to our flesh, we will certainly make the wrong choices.
I believe God has outlined for us in His Word some guidelines that if followed will result in finding His perfect will in any matter. Dr. Barnhouse once said, “It is impossible for the Christian who wants to know the will of God, for him not to know it.” Paul said to the Colossian Christians, we do not “cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding” (Colossians 1:9).
BE PREPARED IN FINDING GOD’S WILL
- There must always be a proper vertical relationship with God- I Chronicles 28:9; Matthew 6:33; Isaiah 6:5-13; Psalm 66:18
“If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me”
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There must always be proper horizontal relationships with co-workers, church members, loved ones, spouse, and superiors- Matthew 5:23-24; Mark 12:31; Genesis 45:4,5
- A sensitivity to the leading of the Holy Spirit is crucial- Acts 8:29; Acts 16:6-10; John 16:13
“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”
- Follow God’s method in determining His Will (see below)
BE FAITHFUL IN DOING HIS GENERAL WILL
What has God already revealed to you? We can not know His specific will in important decisions if we are not obedient and faithful to His general will.
- It is the will of God for you to give THANKS- I Thessalonians 5:18
Are you continually giving thanks regardless of your circumstances? The Apostle Paul said, “giving thanks always for all things unto God” (Ephesians 5:20).
- It is the will of God for you to be PURE- I Thessalonians 4:3
“ For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication.”
Are you living a pure life in thought and deed and word? Are you unclean? God is not obligated to reveal His will to the Christian whose life is unworthy of knowing it.
- It is the will of God for you to SUFFER- I Peter 4:19
Are you complaining about your problems and present sufferings? The Bible admonishes us that all that “live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (II Timothy 3:12).
- It is the will of God for you to SERVE HUMANITY- Acts 13:36
David served his own generation by the will of God. Are you active in helping people in your own community and city? Are you serving your fellow church members and neighbors, or have you shut yourself off to others?
- It is the will of God for you to have an ETERNAL FOCUS- Galatians 1:4
“Christ gave himself for our sins that He might deliver us from this present, evil world.”
Are you holding onto the materialism of this world? Is your focus heavenward? We cannot be overly preoccupied with the things of this life and still long for the mind of Christ (Colossians 3:1,2; James 4:4).
If we are searching for the will of God in any kind of decision (medical, vocational, family, dating, etc.), it’s imperative that we be faithful in doing what God has already revealed in the Scriptures, His general will. One Christian said: “Paint out one room, and when you are finished, God will give you another room which is probably bigger.” In other words, just be faithful and steadfast in what God has already told you to do.
BE COMMITTED TO FINDING HIS SPECIFIC WILL
- Through His WORD- Psalm 40:8; Psalm 119:24
“ Thy testimonies (the Word) also are my delight and my counselors.”
Search the Bible for an event similar in nature to your problem- a direct command; an illustration of obedience and disobedience; a parable, etc.
Remember that the Word of God is always the Will of God (Colossians 1:9). This is a basic, yet fundamental principle. If our desire or choice (job, mate, vacation, and movie) violates the Word of God, it is never the will of God. It is that simple!
Never ascertain the will of God by feelings, passions and emotions (i.e.-“I just feel like it’s the thing to do. I know it will put me in severe debt or a place of temptation, but I just want to do it.”). Our decisions must naturally be in harmony with the Bible (Psalm 119:105).
God often leads in successions (building one choice on another). This is what dispensation theology is all about. God deals with man in respect to sin and responsibility in different ages; therefore, each age receives more information then the previous one.
Don’t be impulsive! If there’s no peace in your decision, continue to wait on the Lord (Isaiah 40:31; Psalm 38:15, 46:10). Too often we rush into matters and miss the will of God.
- Through PRAYER- Psalm 143:10; I Chronicles 28:9
“Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.”
Be honest with God and yourself. Am I committed to finding God’s will and doing it? Am I willing to wait? Am I Spirit-filled? Tell God your struggles. He already knows all about you (Psalm 139).
Ask questions of God. What are you teaching me through your Word? What would Jesus do? Is this what I want or what you want? What decision should I make? Where am I disappointing you?
Choose counselors wisely. We can always find someone who will tell us what we want to hear. Seek heavenly counsel first, and then find objective, godly people to help you.
After chapter two of Acts and the coming of the Holy Spirit, we never again see believers casting lots to make choices. God’s Spirit communes with our spirit as He guides us into all truth.
- Through CIRCUMSTANCES- Proverbs 3:5-6
Don’t put circumstances in first place (i.e.- “Wow, everything is so perfect and falling into place, it must be of God”).
Consider how this is going to effect your testimony for Christ (i.e.- I heard of a Christian man who drove a beer truck for years and justified it because of the money he was making).
Will this hurt my spiritual growth? (I.e.- “I love my job, but it keeps me out of God’s house 3 times a month.”) Some Christians put themselves in a place of rock music or sensuality in the workplace, and then wonder why their appetite for Christ is diminished.
Whatever our choice is, if it’s going to tear us down and not edify us spiritually, it is almost a “no brainer.” (I.e.- “I know she is not a Christian, but I’m going to continue a relationship with her and pursue marriage.”)
Will this decision enslave and control us as a family? Paul said in I Corinthians 6:12: “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.”
- Through INNER PEACE- Colossians 3:15-17; Galatians 5:22
It is dangerous to move forward in a decision without inner peace. God may be giving us a “restless spirit” for a specific reason. F. B. Meyer said:
“When the Word of God, the impulse of the Holy Spirit in my heart, and the outward circumstances are in harmony, then I’m convinced that I am acting in accordance with the will of God.”
Beware of a false peace! We can try to convince ourselves that something is right when it is wrong.
BE WILLING TO ACCEPT THE CONSEQUENCES OF HIS WILL
- Accepting His will may require personal CHANGES & CORRECTIONS
In our attitude (how we think, feel, and view certain individuals…it will shatter prejudices)
In our actions (not doing what we used to do; not going to places we used to go; not reacting wrongly) It will require some sacrifices made on our part (i.e.- Luke 18 and the rich, young ruler). Missionary Jim Elliot made famous the statement: “He is no fool to give up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”
In our ambitions(we die to our wants, ways and will) One Christian leader said:
“You will never know the will of God if you are actually seeking your own will.”
- Accepting His will may not be COMFORTABLE
Examples:
Jesus went to Calvary
Every disciple but John died a cruel death
Noah stood by himself
Gideon was despised by his neighborhood for destroying the groves and idols
Daniel was thrown to the lions
Joseph was hated, mistreated, sold into slavery, lied about, imprisoned and forgotten
Paul was beaten, stoned, shipwrecked and cast into prison
Jeremiah was starved, chained, rejected, put in stocks, threatened and thrown in a sewer hole for telling people the truth about God’s Word
It is never easy to do God’s will! There is usually a price or cost attached to it. It often requires us to come out of our “comfort zone” and live exclusively by faith. However, the pain and price of doing God’s will pales in comparison to the consequences of rejecting His will (Revelation 2:5).
- Accepting His will is PROFITABLE
It puts our lives at God’s disposal- James 4:15 says, “For that ye ought to say, if the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.”
It provides wisdom for our Christian life- John 7:17 says, “If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God…”
It develops Christlikeness in us (Matthew 26:42- “thy will be done”)
It proves the genuineness of our faith- John 21:15
CLOSING THOUGHTS
God is very concerned about whom we marry, where we work, what friends we choose, how we respond to trials, what entertainment we choose, what decisions we make, and what our children do. He had a specific will for who would build the temple (Solomon, not David). He wanted Ruth to marry Boaz and Isaac to marry Rebekah. God desired some individuals to be born blind and deaf (John 9; Exodus 4:11).
Do you want to find God’s will? Do you want to have clear direction in all decisions and choices? Follow these biblical guidelines for determining His will and you will experience what Proverbs 20:24 says, “Man’s goings are of the LORD.”
“ O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps” (Jeremiah 10:23)
“ The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD” (Proverbs 16:1)
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