Understanding the Will of God

Understanding the will of God comes with the awareness that we are here for more than enjoying life. It is when you start seeking, you understand that there is more than life. Yes, it is with that seeking and desire to know that you come to a point where you seek to know what Life and life are all about. Seeking is the beginning, the being and it is what determines what the end result is.

• What are you seeking right now?
• How committed are you to seek until you find it?
• Do you believe you can find it?

What is God telling us about seeking?

From the beginning of the Book to the end, God has charged man to seek Him. From the days when He brought the seed of Israel from Egypt God has commissioned man to seek Him. Let my people go so that they may offer worship. Worship which is also service is the reason for salvation, then and now.

Exodus 7:16, Exodus 8:1, Exodus 9:13, Exodus 8:20, Exodus 10:3. Worship comes with knowing, and knowing comes with seeking Psalm 63:1. Seek with all your heart Jeremiah 29:13, Deuteronomy 4:29, Isaiah 55:6, Seek to submit Proverbs 3:6 and yes, seek to worship Psalm 105.

What to seek in the Kingdom of God?

In the days when Jesus walked among men, He pointed to the same facts. Seek you first the Kingdom of God and all shall be added. Seeking the Kingdom comes with knowing and surrendering to the Kingship of the King. Seek to obey, seek to find (wisdom, knowledge, understanding etc), seek to follow, seek to do.

And in these last days, days that those who lived before desired to witness. The days when God lived among men, with His power, His presence and there is direct access to the throne of the Father through the Grace of the sacrifice made by the Lamb of God. God poured Himself out to live among men to help them to seek Him for He is found.

Hebrews 11:6, seek to believe; seek His face; 1 Chronicles 16:11, seek the Lord and His strength; James 4:8, seek to draw near, know, relationship 2 Chronicles 7:14; Luke 9:23 seek to walk with Him; Colossians 3:2 seek to become. In a sentence, seek Him to know, believe and walk with Him.

Seek to Know the Truth

Man is just flesh a breath and He, God the merciful one made a way to be sought and found. Only desire and seek, He is here. He came and made it possible. And this is why it is the Mercies Season. 1 Tim 2:4-7

His Spirit is here, His holiness, power, presence. He is walking among men. His desire yet, is all to know the truth and live it. God desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. How then ought we to walk? What will happen when you deny the call to seek the truth and know Him?

God admitted in Hosea 4:6 that His people perish due to lack of knowledge. Jesus in John 17:3 stresses eternal life, which is knowing God and Jesus Christ, His sent one. Doesn’t that mean understanding the will of God, obeying God, and knowing God and His Christ saves us from all loss and perish?

The Will of God

In Mathew 6, When the disciples saw Jesus praying, they asked him to teach them as well just as John did. And Jesus taught them the Lord’s prayer. Mathew 6:9-13
Our Father who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name,
Thy Kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven,
Give us this day our daily bread,
Forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us,
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,
For thy is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.
Amen.

Thy Will be done.

We have been praying this prayer for as long as we can remember.
But, what is the will of the Father who is in heaven?
How do we live to do and fulfil life fulfilling it?
Does it matter to fulfil it?

“Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

James 4:15 – A reminder to submit our plans to God’s will.
“Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.’

What is the will of the Father?

Seek first His kingdom
Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

This includes obedience in doing what we are told to, accomplishing it faithfully and ensuring they surely testify of Him who is eternal. Understanding the LORD’s desires is important. Because once we choose what we want, there is separation with us from He who called us.

• John 5:30 I can of myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is righteous; because I don’t seek my own will, but the will of my Father who sent me.

• John 4:34 Jesus said to them, My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.

• John 5:36 But the testimony which I have is greater than that of John, for the works which the Father gave me to accomplish, the very works that I do, testify about me, that the Father has sent me.

• Matthew 26:39 He went forward a little, fell on his face, and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me; nevertheless, not what I desire, but what you desire.”

…that also comes with knowing God
Trusting Him in faith, our alignment with Him, and our abiding in Him helps us bear and not dry up. Like branches and the tree. Vines and branches. Jesus explained it as such.

• Matthew 18:14 – “In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.”

….Live as sons He made, created and formed us to be in the beginning.
Ephesians 1:5 – God’s will is to adopt us as His children. “He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.”

How do you live to fulfil?

(i) He helps us to live and fulfil it

• Romans 8:27 – His Spirit in us helps us to
  “And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.”

(ii) He makes it possible for us to become, do and accomplish, as partakers in what He has made.

• Ephesians 1:5 “He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.”

(iii) We have access to Him as sons. As sons, we have more access than servants.

• Psalms 143:10 “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.”

(iv) He makes it all possible,

• Proverbs 3:5-6 He makes your path straight
  Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

• Philippians 2:13 – He works in us to be able to
  “For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfil his good purpose.”

(v) With prayer for knowledge, wisdom, and understanding of the Will of God, the Holy Spirit gives

• Colossians 1:9 –
  “For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives.”

(vi) Live, walk and be obedience, and in obedience ALWAYS

• Hebrews 5:8-9 Though he was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which he suffered. Having been made perfect, he became to all of those who obey him the author of eternal salvation,

Why the Will of God?

(i)We did not bring ourselves here

• John 6:38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me.

Yes, there is more in this life than our desires, greed and comparisons. As long as we believe and choose to be changed, led and in surrender transformed to become like Christ every day.

• Romans 12:2 “Do not conform 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.”

(ii) We are here for God

• John 5:30 –“By myself, I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.”

• Galatians 1:10 – “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

(iii) He guides us to live it

• Psalm 25:8-9 — Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.

• 1 Thessalonians 4:3 – “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality;”

• 1 Peter 2:15 – “For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.”

• 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

(iv) He is our light and always a light on our path and in this life

• Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

(v) For the love of God, because of the love of God, in the love of God and out of the love of God, we are forever.

• Colossians 1:16-17 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.
  
• John 3:16 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
  
• 1 John 4:8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love
  
• John 15:9-10 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love
  
• Psalm 100:5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations

Does it matter to fulfil it?

Yes. That is a simple answer. It matters and is important for a believer, follower, son and servant in the House of the Lord to fulfil the LORD’s Will.

(a) It is wise and right to understand first His will, do and live accordingly

• Ephesians 5:17 “Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”

Acts 4:19-20, says, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard”

(b) Jesus himself sought to accomplish it.

We as the children born of His blood and sacrifice, are to live following and accomplishing what we are given to do for the glory of God as well. Jesus showed us and taught us how He loved God in obedience and death for God’s will. We as well are to live a life of surrender, sacrifice pointing others to God in love and yes, even to the point of death.

• John 17:4 I glorified you on the earth. I have accomplished the work which you have given me to do.

• John 14:31 But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father commanded me, even so I do.

(c) Knowing, doing and living God‘s will help us to be and become the sons we are born to be, in Spirit and Life.

• Matthew 7:21 – “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

Thus, we shall be able to live in obedience, doing what we are to do, and building the Home and Kingdom we are in. Just like in any country, citizens live, work to develop and obey laws, the Kingdom of Heaven is for those who understand that it is in faith, obedience, and surrender. There is more to fight against when it comes to light and darkness. If one says is a child of light but lives in darkness, he has no part in the light.

Do you believe there is one God?
Good.
Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
James 2:19

Living in the Kingdom as a citizen is only for those who respond to the call, accept, believe, are saved, and surrender to Him.

(d) There is an ending to everything we see and experience here.

There is an ending where the Lord will surely testify on the Lord we followed, believed surrendered and lived under.

• Matthew 7:21 – “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

There is a part for us to play. The Lord’s will is our choice to stand BUT with His power, love, assurance and strength.

• Hebrews 10:36 – “You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.”

(e) A call only for sons and daughters; those who are servants and co-builders and co-workers with Christ

Only sons obey and do the Father’s will, even in our families. Because sons understand their position and the job to be done. Not because the Father can not do everything but because as He loves us, we learn to love Him, desiring what He wants and are transformed to do what He wills, willingly. Like in any intimate relationship, His goal, will, and desire become ours.

• Matthew 12:50 – “For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

(f) And when everything is over, Only God is forever and so is His Will

Understanding that where we are now, is not our destination or home. When we begin our walk with God, He teaches, guides, instructs and builds in us a desire to learn and see what is lacking here and who we are in Him now and then, forever. With this, we are strengthened in faith that, we shall see the LORD because this is His will. Where He is, we also shall be. But like in any journey, preparations are everything that we are here to live to become for that life.

Imagine, you are on a life journey of like 32 hours flight. Your prep will be different from the one with an hour’s flight. Yet, with life, the mystery is, that a day at a time is all it takes for that journey. And we all are not exactly sure that our prep time will be shorter or longer. Only that, whether you fly longer, or shorter, using every day to prep makes the journey bearable and of impact in this life and that to come.

• 1 John 2:17 – “The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”

• Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

The Will of God

If Jesus taught about the will of the Father, if Jesus came, lived to see the will of the Father accomplished, and if He called for us to live a life to accomplish it. It is something to take heed of early and always as a believer. Doors and gates will be shut; access will be denied on that day. Jesus will deny us that day if we do not seek to know, understand, live and do the will of the Father now when GRACE is available.

As you live your day today, remember what the Lord has spoken about the Father’s will in your life and yes, what has the Lord been directing you to fulfil His will in your life. For, the Will of God is for His glory, the same goal but, we all are assigned a journey to live to see this accomplishment give Him glory. And yes, for all to see the LORD through us as we are live born of God. (Read 1 John ~ The Holy Spirit will teach you more, to know, stand, become, strengthened)

Sometimes when we feel like we lack direction, we start fixating on figuring out God’s will. Part of that comes from our desire to please God, and part of it arises from a desire to have the answers laid out for us. But it’s seldom as simple as we desire.

After all, man should always seek to know God (in-depth– Him as God), seek and believe God (wholly), seek and worship God (fearfully), desire (love) God intimately (faithfully), and obey God (trembling in surrender).

NB: All photos by Tara Winstead