Finding the Will of God - A Bible Study

How can we know God’s will for our life? Guidance 101. A crash course.

Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 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.

May we be living sacrifices, surrendered to the will of God. Let us yield to God’s best for our lives, even if it is costly.

God reveals us His will for us in some clear ways: 1 John 3:23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

God’s will for the unbeliever is Salvation: 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

God’s will for the unbeliever is Spirituality. Ephesians 5:17-18 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. 18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

The will of God can be: Directive, Permissive, and Overruling.
- God’s “Directive” will is what He directs.
- God’s “Permissive” will is what He allows.
- God’s will can also be “Overruling” where he acts to intervene and overrule what is happening.

Here are some Principles of Guidance:

Firstly, Apply your knowledge of Biblical principles. Psalms 32:8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. Don't go contrary to scripture.

A second principle is: Surrender to the Holy Spirit. Romans 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

A third principle is: Aim to grow spiritually: to mature in Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:1-4 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ…

As to categories of the will of God, we see the Viewpoint will of God - What does He want me to think? Do we seek after that? Isaiah 55:6-9 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near… For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD… Do we seek to see things from God’s point of view? God’s perspective?

Secondly, consider the Operational will of God? What does He want me to do? Does what we are doing or contemplating to do bring God glory? 1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Thirdly, there’s the Geographical will of God - Where does God want me to be? Jonah, for example, went to go the opposite way to where God directed him. We need to be sensitive to where God is leading us, and go there!

God’s will encompasses all of life:
• Salvation - 1 Timothy 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
• Sanctification - 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication…
• Spirituality - again - Ephesians 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
• Thanksgiving - 1 Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
• Suffering - 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.
• 1 Peter 4:16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
• Trusting - Psalms 91:2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
• Good Works - 1 Peter 2:15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

In seeking God’s will is about a matter we can receive Guidance through…
- Prayer
- Applying the mind to carefully consider the matter
- The Word of God
- Providential circumstances
- The filling of the Spirit
- Fellowship and confirmation concerning the matter
- Applying the scriptures we know, and
- Heeding the godly counsel of others.

What will our response be to the will of God?
• Will we SUBMIT to it? Yield to His will. Romans 6:13 … yield yourselves unto God…
• KNOW it. Romans 12:2 …be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
• GROW in it… 2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.