Knowing the will of God

Eph. 5:17

God expects us to know what His will is

I. Refer to the various philosophies that attempt to explain the purpose of life, and how to live life to the fullest.

A. Knowing the will of God is not something you feel, it is something you know.

B. Heb. 10:36 - We receive the promise of God after we have done the will of God, not before.

C. I John 2:17 - He that doeth the will of God abideth forever. The opposite is true for those that don't do the will of God.

II. Faith comes first - before understanding what the will of God is concerning these things.

1. Watch out for tradition.

2. Watch out for feelings.

3. Make sure we have done everything the scriptures demand before we start trying to do what we think we ought to do.

4. The Key to Success in knowing the will of God: Always do what you know to do before you try to do what you don't know to do.

III. Eph. 5:17 - "...Be ye not unwise...", refer to the difference between knowledge and wisdom.

  1. Col. 4:12 - It is possible for every saint to stand perfect and complete in the will of God.

  2. Romans 12:2 - We can prove what is that good and perfect and acceptable will of God.

C. Before we can find the will of God, we must first find the God of all wisdom and knowledge.

1. Proverbs 1:7 - The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.

2. Proverbs 9:10 - The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

3. I Tim. 3:1-7 - In the last days, knowledge shall increase, but men shall also be ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

IV. Two Parts to the will of God.

A. Revealed. I'm going to show you what is revealed, so you will be more able to find out what the un-revealed will of God is.

B. Not revealed. (You will find out the un-revealed will of God only after you do the revealed will of God.)

1. Who to emulate.

2. Who to marry.

3. Which job.

4. How many children.

5. Which house to buy.

6. Which car to buy.

7. What furniture do I need.

8. Which church do I join.

9. Which pastor.

11. What about a vacation?

V. Scriptures that teach us what the will of God is.

A. I Tim. 2:4 - It is the will of God that all men be saved.

B. Gal. 1:4 - It is the will of God that we be delivered from this present evil world.

1. Eph. 6:6 - We are to do the will of God from our heart.

2. Mark 3:35 - Those who do the will of God are the brothers, sisters, and mother of Jesus Christ.

C. I Thess. 4:3 - It is the will of God that every saint be sanctified, and know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour.

1. I Thess 5:18 - It is the will of God that we give Him thanks for everything that happens to us.

2. Rom. 8:28 - All things work together for the good of those that love God: to the elect.

3. Phil. 4:4-9 - Rejoice and thank God for everything.

4. II Cor. 12:10 - Paul came to the place where he could rejoice in weakness because in Christ, he could find strength.

5. Are you doing those things in I Thess 5:18-22? All these things are the will of God.

D. I Peter 2:15 - It is the will of God that we, with well doing, put to silence every opposition.

1. I Peter 3:17 - Suffering for evil according to the will of God.

Suffering

2. I Peter 4:2 - There should come a time when a saved person will stop living to his own lust and live according to the will of God.

3. I Peter 4:19 - If God wants us to suffer according to His will, let us commit our souls unto Him.

VI. You must have faith to do the will of God, and you must have the Word of God to have faith.

A. Rom. 10:17 - Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.

B. Heb. 11:1 - Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Faith is simply believing what God said. But you have to know what God said before you can believe what He said.