The Will of God

Acts 9:1-6

Who are thou Lord? (Relates to salvation)

Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? (Relates to service)

There are basically three ways in which we may understand the will of God:

  1. God’s Sovereign Will: This is a decision of God that is always carried out, nothing is ever able to stop it.
  2. God’s Moral Will: This is forever settled and unchanging
  3. God’s Practical Will: God has a will that is particular and peculiar to your life.

False concepts concerning God’s Will:

I.God will Give You a Road Map

₋God does not give road maps, He gives relationships

Exodus 13:21 – “And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light, to go by day and night.”

II.God does Not Want you to Have Fun

Psalms 37:4 – “Delight thyself in the Lord, and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”

-When you surrender to God, God gives you the desires of your heart

III.God Only Speaks to a Certain Few, Holy People

-God’s will is not limited to only a few people

Genesis 24:27 – “I being in the way, the Lord led me.”

IV.You Have to Wait on a Damascus Road Experience

I Kings 19:11,12 – “And He said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind, and after the wind and earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake, after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire, and after the fire a still small voice.”

V.God Only Reveals His Will to the Young

-God calls people of all ages, He never stops using His people

Philippians 2:13 – “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.”

VI.God’s Will is Hidden from Us and we Have to Find it for Ourselves

Ephesians 5:17 – “Wherefore by ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.”

Easy steps in knowing God’s will:

  1. God’s Guidance is Provisional
  1. Be Willing to Obey Him
  2. Display a Spirit of Meekness (Be teachable)

Psalms 25:9 – "The meek will He guide in judgment, and the meek will He teach His way."

  1. Be Open to God

Isaiah 6:8 – "Also I heard the voice of the Lord saying, whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, here am I, send me."

  1. Be Yielded to God

Acts 9:6-8 – "And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. And Saul arose from the earth, and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man, but they led him by the hand, and brought him to Damascus.

  1. God’s Guidance is Practical

Ephesians 5:17 – "Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is."

  1. Through Miracles
  2. Through His Word

Psalms 119:105 – "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."

  1. Through His People

Proverbs 24:6 – "In the multitude of counselors there is safety."

  1. Through His Spirit

John 14:16 – "And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever."

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 show you things to come."

Philippians 2:13 – "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure."

  1. Through Prayer

Jeremiah 33;3 – "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not."

James 1:5 – "If a man lack wisdom, let him ask of God."

Proverbs 4:26 – "Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established."