THE WILL OF GOD
Anita Clark – PastorGrace Chapel Carbondale, Kansas
What is meant by “God’s Will” or doing the will of God? He has a plan, which is His divine working and will. There are many references in the Bible that speak of “God’s Will.” What God will do is always according to His plan. This plan was made before the foundation of the world” (Ephesians 1:4). The word “will” speaks of his “determination” according to His plan.
Psalms 143:10 says, “Teach me to do Thy will for Thou art God, lead me in the land of uprightness.” This should be our desire. God wants us to do His will, and honor Him, yielded to His desires in our lives. He wants to be first place in our lives always. We are either in the will of God, following what He wants, or out of the will of God through our disobedience.
Psalms 50:15 says, “And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.” Psalms 91:14-15 says, “Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble.” Note, God is willing to help us.
In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus says “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. “Labour”- in the Gk. “speaks of hard work, or to have fatigue.” In Matthew 12:50, Jesus said, “For whomsoever shall do the will of my Father, which is in heaven, the same is my brother and sister and mother.”
Romans 12:1-2, tells us what the will of God is, holding nothing back, responding to His mercy (Vs.1). This is the will of God that we give ourselves to God, presenting our bodies to Him (“as living sacrifices”). Paul and many others have done the will of God, walking in His will for their lives. How about us? The word “present” in Vs.1, means offer, as a willing sacrifices. Verse 2, “..that ye may prove what is that good, acceptable and perfect will of God.” These three words are descriptive words of the will of God, and they are adjectives in this sentence. The word “good” means “of benefit, or well” while “acceptable” means “fully agreeable.”
When used in other places in the New Testament it is clear it is not a word trying to show an inferior place to be in, but our yieldedness to God in His divine will. Then, we have the word “perfect” which means - “complete, of full age.” We are to enter into the Will of God for our lives. Some walk after the flesh, in half heartedness toward God and His will for them. Yielding to the will of God or else not walking in the will of God, that is the question.
In Romans 9:28, Paul says, “For He will finish the work, and cut it short (speedily) in righteousness because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.” In Galatians 1:3-4 Paul says “...our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father.” Jesus prayed in the garden before His crucifixion, “He prayed saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt.” He hated the sin which would be upon Him, but He was willing for God the Father’s will to be done. This will speaks of God’s plan from before the foundation of the world. Jesus went to the cross to do His Father’s will.
In Romans 8:26-27, we learn that the Holy Spirit is making intercession for us “with groanings that cannot not be uttered.” Verse 27 says that the Holy Spirit is “...making intercession according to the will of God.” Isn’t this a precious thought? The scripture says that Jesus Christ is interceding for us (Vs. 34). Psalms 44:21 says, “Shall not God search this out? For He knoweth the secrets of the heart?” Psalms 139:23 says “Search me , O God and know my heart; try me and know my thoughts.”
Many times the Word introduces Apostle Paul, as “by the will of God.” We should always be in the will of God, what He wants for our lives and in our lives. I Thessalonians 4:3 states, “This is the will of God, even your sanctification...” God is working in us, setting us apart from the world and sin. This is what “sanctification” means. Hebrews 10:36 says, “For ye have need of patience, that, after you have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.” God’s will for each person to know Him as Saviour, to grow up in Christ from babyhood to adulthood as we learn the Word, our Spiritual food, to overcome daily by leaning on Him, to be learning more about Jesus everyday, and to be ready for the coming of Jesus at anytime.
