05 May What Is The Will Of God?
Pastor Vincent - 3 October 2013
The Way Of Evangelism: Christ Convictions
Conviction means a believing heart, and it's the prayer of a convicted remnant that mobilizes angels to work. Convictions come from deep prayers as you confirm the truth and inscribe it unto your heart, so that it can be the strength in your heart and give you the ability to do the good in you. Convictions come from the the many unresolving problems in your life that drives you to have the continual need to turn to God and be comforted by His truth, again and again. Conviction comes when you train yourself to live before God, not man. And very importantly, conviction certainly comes through brethren living. After crossing the Jordan river, God made Joshua circumcised the people before the enemy, in a state which the Israelites were so vulnerable and could be easily attacked by the enemy. What does it tell us? Be afraid of not your enemy (problems); rather, be really afraid when your heart is stolen by the enemy. Even before the storm, before the big and challenging problems, God was more concerned with His people's circumcision than fighting the war. God has every ability to fight and win the war and give His people the promised land, but the reason why He wanted them circumcised is to set them apart and put His covenant in their hearts first - their identity, their purpose of living, and that they must not forget the works of the Lord in their lives. Live as one circumcised, be convicted by the truths.
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Common mistakes in understanding the will of God:
- Constrain the will of God simply to a scripture verse or two.
- Absolutize desired outcomes as the will of God.
- Liken God’s will to a positive decisional outcome.
- Blaming God for ordaining our pain and suffering in His will.
<Col 1:16>: For in him (Jesus) all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.
<Pro 19:21>: Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.
<Gen 6:6-7>: The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. So the Lord said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created…
⟹ “Personification” (God using the attribution of human form and characteristics to speak to us)
<Mat 5:45>: He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
<2 Peter 3:9>: God is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
The Will of God in 4 notable meanings:
God’s Sovereign Will (Also known as Decretive Will or Hidden Will)
⟹ God sovereignly ordains everything that comes to pass. No one can frustrate it.
E.g. God decreed: “Let there be light”, and there was light.
* Unless God’s will is absolutely sovereign, goodness can never be guaranteed in a world of evil. (Notable Examples: Joseph, Job)
* The only problem we have with God’s Sovereign will is that it is hidden.
⟹ Therefore, God has given us His promise, and instruct us to live by faith.
- <Ro 8:28>: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, whohave been called according to his purpose.
- <Jer 29:11>: For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
* <Deu 29:29>: The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.
God’s Preceptive will
⟹ The will of God which is revealed through His holy laws and commandments.
E.g. Do not steal, Do not, commit adultery, Observe the Sabbath, Repent of our sins, etc.
* We have the power and ability to thwart God’s preceptive will, yet will not escape its consequences. (Notable Example: King David)
⟹ <2 Samuel 12:10>: Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.
* In some cases, God brings His sovereign will to pass even through and by means of the sinful acts of men. (Notable Example: Judas)
* The obedience of Preceptive will render us fearless.
⟹ <1 Peter 3:6-7> like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear. Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
God’s Salvational will
⟹ God’s ultimate intent to save His elect through His Son Jesus Christ.
* <John 6:40>: For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.
* <2 Ti 2:10>: Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.
* Ponder through: How should we minister to a non-believer living in sin?
God’s will of disposition
⟹ The attitude of God, as in what pleases Him.
* <Eze 33:11>: As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live.
* God’s will of disposition tells us:
(1) that our God is a loving and patient God, giving people ample chance to repent
(2) to join Him in saving His elect
Conclusion: The true mark of spirituality is to be led by the spirit to live the way Christ would have lived through acquiring these profound knowledges about God’s will.
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