God's Will?
Pastor J. R. Wilhite, author
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One of the most asked questions I get is: What really is God's will? The best way to answer the question is with scripture. Matthew 6 (KJV)
In teaching the Lord's Prayer, Jesus stated "Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." We need to understand this verse in order to know God's will.
Do any of you think that any of the following is in heaven?
I only listed 24 items but could have gone on exceedingly. If you think any of the above are in heaven, read the scriptures from Galatians 5 below.
Galatians 5 (KJV)
19. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20. Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21. Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
{Of course, the above is not in heaven; then by the Lord's Prayer it is not God's will that it be in the earth either. So, what is His will for us? Let's look at the fruit of the spirit:}
Galatians 5 (KJV)
22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23. Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
God's will for you and me is the same as it is for everyone in heaven. Understand, there is no flesh in heaven; heaven is a spiritual realm. Foremost, you must understand that God's will for you and me is the same as it was for Adam. Now what did Adam loose when he sinned?
Genesis 2 (KJV)
17. But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
We know Adam ate of the fruit and that he lived past eating of the fruit; so what happened? Adam did die; he died spiritually. He died in the area most important…his spiritual connection with God.
Jesus re-united us with God in the Spiritual. Through this we could have everything those in heaven have and Adam had; a one-on-one relationship with God. He is our Father, and like any Father, He wants a relationship with His children (us). So many try to justify why this cannot be; that He no longer talks to us as He did in the old.
Hebrews 13 (KJV)
8. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
God is the same, so that is not it. Some then say that we are only to have a relationship through His word. If that is the case, why then did Jesus tell us we would be taught everything via the Holy Spirit?
John 14 (KJV)
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.
Before you think I am saying or Jesus said we do not need the Bible get it right, the Holy Spirit teaches us as we read the Bible. Then after we read it, He will explain even more, go into great depths of the scripture with us.
Next I hear we have church, and with each other and the church we need no more.
1 John 2 (KJV)
27. But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
But the problem with that is we are told we are not to be taught of by man, but by the Spirit that resides in us only. (For more about the anointing and church read the study "Life Starts Here" at godsgifttoyou.com)
The last group justifies because they are either to lazy or just do not have the desire to do what it takes to hear from God. At first, it is work and it requires your daily devotion, and I mean everyday, not just a few times a week. You for 30 minutes or more daily find a quiet place where there will be no distractions, and you listen for the voice of God. If it takes a day, weeks, or months, you do it until you hear. Then once you hear, you spend more and more time listening until you hear Him constantly.
Let me ask you this - do you watch television on an average of 30 minutes a day? Be honest. If you said "yes" - then what do you get out of the 30 minutes? Not much right; some instant enjoyment, but in a short time you will not even remember what you watched.
But with 30 minutes a day with God you get the following:
At the bottom of the page is the Strong's definition and number for the two words I changed above so you can see that what I substituted was correct as well. I did this to make them a little easier to understand.
So what is God's will, it is for us all to have a one on one relationship with Him, and then from that we will have all of the fruit of the Spirit. In addition, it is His will that we are not sick, in debt, depressed, etc, that happens as a result of sin in the world. God's overall will for you is love, joy and peace; that you are prosperous in all ways.
Strong's Ref. # 3115
Romanized makrothumia
Pronounced mak-roth-oo-mee'-ah
from the same as GSN3116; longanimity, i.e. (objectively) forbearance or (subjectively) fortitude:
KJV--longsuffering, patience.
Strong's Ref. # 1466
Romanized egkrateia
Pronounced eng-krat'-i-ah
from GSN1468; self-control (especially continence):
KJV--temperance.
God Bless You as you hear His words and follow His leading.
2-25-04 H.O.M.E.