How to Know God’s Will
General Concepts
1.1
What should our attitude be when making plans?
James 4:13-16. “13Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: 14Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. 15For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. 16But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.”
1.2
What is the pathway through which the will of God is made known?
Revelation 1:1, 2. “1The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: 2Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.”
1.3
Where do we begin in knowing God’s will?
Psalm 111:10. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.”
1.4
What is God’s assurance regarding a knowledge of His will?
Psalm 32:8. “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.”
1.5
How much does God know about us?
Hebrews 4:13. “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.”
1.6
Does God know the future?
Isaiah 46:9, 10. “9Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, 10Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:”
1.7
What is the motive for doing God’s will?
Ephesians 6:6. “Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;”
1.8
What is needed in doing the will of God?
Hebrews 10:36, 37. “36For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. 37For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.”
1.9
How are we to prove the goodness and perfection of God’s will?
Romans 12:2. “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
1.10
Who helps us to conform to the will of God?
Romans 8:27. “And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”
1.11
What was included in Paul’s prayer for the church at Colosse?
Colossians 1:9. “For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, 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;”
1.12
What is the tie between doing God’s will and our relationship with Jesus?
Mark 3:32-35. “32And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee. 33And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren? 34And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! 35For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.”
1.13
How is God’s will tied to our spiritual gifts?
1 Corinthians 1:1. “Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God and Sosthenes our brother.”
1.14
What is the goal of prayer for others?
Colossians 4:12. “Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.”
1.15
Who gets taught God’s will?
Psalm 25:9. “The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.”
1.16
What is the benefit of doing God’s will?
1 John 2:17. “And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”
Urim and Thummim
2.1
How did God reveal His will to His people in the days of Moses?
Exodus 28:30 (Leviticus 8:8). “And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron’s heart, when he goeth in before the Lord: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the Lord continually.”
2.2
Who communicated God’s will to the people?
Numbers 27:21. “And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask counsel for him after the judgment of Urim before the Lord: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation.”
2.3
What three ways did God usually reveal His will?
1 Samuel 28:6. “And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.”
Angels
3.1
Who also reveals God’s will to earth’s inhabitants?
Acts 8:26. “And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.”
3.2
Who instructs men regarding their course of action?
Acts 10:7, 8. “10And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually; And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.”
God’s Word
4.1
How should we discover Jesus?
John 5:39. “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.”
4.2
What shines light on God’s will?
Psalm 119:105. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
Nature
5.1
How can the unseen will of God be known?
Romans 1:20. “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:”
5.2
What in nature speaks God’s will to us?
Psalm 19:1-3. “1The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork. 2Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. 3There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.”
Visions, Dreams, and Prophecy
6.1
What has God used to communicate His will to us?
Genesis 31:11. “And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here am I.”
6.2
How did an angel communicate God’s will to the parents of Jesus?
Matthew 2:19, 20. “19But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child’s life.”
6.3
How was the prophet Ezekiel shown God’s will?
Ezekiel 40:2-4. “2In the vision of God brought he me into the land of Israel, and set me upon a very high mountain, by which was as the frame of a city on the south. 3And he brought me thither, and, behold, there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed; and he stood in the gate. 4And the man said unto me, Son of man, behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, and set thine heart upon all that I shall shew thee; for to the intent that I might shew them unto thee art thou brought hither: declare all that thou seest to the house of Israel.”
6.4
How does God communicate His will to His people?
Numbers 12:6. “And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.”
6.5
How does God communicate His will to His people?
2 Peter 1:19. “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:”
Providence
7.1
What should we do that God may direct our path?
Proverbs 3:5, 6. “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
7.2
What is God’s part in directing our path?
Psalm 32:8. “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.”
Influence of the Spirit
8.1
Who reveals God’s will?
John 16:13-15. “13Howbeit 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. 14He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. 15All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.”
8.2
How much of God’s will can the Holy Spirit reveal?
John 14:26. “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
8.3
What guides us in the Christian life?
Isaiah 30:21. “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, this is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.”
Counsel
9.1
How permanent is the advice of God?
Psalm 33:11. “The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.”
9.2
What happens when no advice is given?
Proverbs 11:14. “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.”
9.3
Who gives the best counsel?
Proverbs 19:20, 21. “20Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end. 21There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.”
Signs
10.1
How did Gideon determine the will of God?
Judges 6:16-22. “16And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man. 17And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then show me a sign that thou talkest with me. 18Depart not hence, I pray thee, until I come unto thee, and bring forth my present, and set it before thee. And he said, I will tarry until thou come again. 19And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid, and unleavened cakes of an ephah of flour: the flesh he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out unto him under the oak, and presented it. 20And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so. 21Then the angel of the Lord put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the Lord departed out of his sight. 22And when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the Lord, Gideon said, Alas, O Lord God! for because I have seen an angel of the Lord face to face.”
10.2
What did the Jews rely upon to determine truth?
Matthew 12:38, 39. “38Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. 39But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:”
10.3
What is better than signs or wisdom?
1 Corinthians 1:22, 23. “22For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;”
Conditions to See God’s Will
11.1
When seeking to know God’s will, what must we exercise?
James 1:5-8. “5If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”
11.2
What condition insures we will know God’s will?
John 7:17. “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.”
Things that are God’s Will
12.1
What is God’s will regarding character?
1 Thessalonians 4:3 “For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication.”
12.2
What is God’s will for meeting opposition?
1 Peter 2:15. “For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.”
12.3
What is God’s will regarding thankfulness?
1 Thessalonians 5:18. “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
12.4
What is God’s will regarding Jesus?
Galatians 1:3, 4. “3Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ. 4Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father.”
12.5
What is God’s will regarding our actions?
1 Peter 3:17. “For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.”
Our Response
13.1
What should be our desire regarding God’s will?
Psalm 143:10. “Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.”
13.2
Who is our example in submitting to God’s will?
Luke 22:42. “Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.”
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Scriptures taken from the King James Version.