What is the Will of God?

According to Webster 1828, the will of God also means the command or direction of God. We have a choice whether or not to yield to the command/direction of God.

Our prayers should be made according to the will of God.

Demands For The Will of God

  1. The will of God is demanded in our lives

    It is not an option. God wants us to become like Jesus Christ.

    1 Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

    a. Jesus followed the Lord’s will (and we are supposed to follow the pattern of Jesus).
    We are to follow and complete and finish the will of God.

    Hebrews 10:5-7 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
    Hebrews 10:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
    John 17:4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

    b. Paul also followed the will of God and finished it

    Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
    2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

  2. Abstain from fornication.

    Abstaining from not just the sin (sexual immorality) itself but all appearance of evil as well.

    1 Thessalonians 4:3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:

  3. Give thanks always

    1 Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

  4. Good deeds (testimony)

    It is not for our salvation but for our walk with Jesus Christ according to His will.

    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:

What are God’s plans for us?

  1. After we got saved in the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s will was already set.
    Even though we already have salvation in us, we got to get it out of our life and show it to others because that is God’s will. When we got saved God already planned out His will in our life, God’s will was already set in motion so knowing God’s will helps a saved believer to progress in their Christian living.

    Philippians 2:12-13 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

  2. A person follows the will of God at a specific measure of faith.
    God is not going to plan out a will in our life that’s going to be greater than we can bear.

    Romans 12:2-3 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. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
    Romans 12:6-8 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

  3. God wants us to do His will.Contrary to popular belief, God’s will is not a secret will. He wants His children to find it, fulfilling God’s will and bring Him glory.

    Acts 22:14 And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.

    What are the characteristics of God’s will?

  4. Personal

    Psalms 32:8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.

  5. Detailed

    Psalms 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

  6. Certain

    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.

  7. Continuous

    God’s will is not done in our life no matter how much we’ve grown in our Christian life.

    Isaiah 58:11 And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.

What are the types or positions of the wills in the Bible?

There are several “degrees” of wills in the Bible. One can choose to do their own human will (not of God). Or according to Romans 12:2a, they can do a good will, followed by an acceptable will, but the best position of all is the perfect will. Very few people and definitely not everyone gets to the perfect will of God, i.e. doing all that God wills, 100% of the time.

A Christian would have to discern and find out what’s God’s will and then strive to carry it out to perfection.

  1. Own will

    Jeremiah 10:23 O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.

  2. Good will
    Doing something good in God’s will in our life

    Romans 12:2a 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.

  3. Acceptable will
    We accept anything in God’s will. We surrendered all to the Lord and God tells us a specific category to do and we do it.

    Romans 12:2b 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.

  4. Perfect will
    Not only accepting God’s will but doing it 100% consistently till the day he dies. Perfect will is self-explanatory, “Perfect Will”

    Romans 12:2c 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.

How does a Christian do the will of God?

  1. Pray
    Here are questions we can pray when seeking God: ‘Lord, I want to follow your will, can you show me your will in my life?’ ‘Am I currently in your perfect will?’

    Psalms 143:8 Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.

  2. Trust
    If we’re going to follow God’s will, we can’t follow if we doubt or critique it. Do not expect God to “bless” your plan every time.

    Psalms 32:8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.

  3. Delight in the Lord

    Psalms 37:4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

  4. Commit

    Psalms 37:5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

  5. Rest in the LordIn our human life, it’s easy to get busy but it’s a very crucial point to wait on the Lord. He answers in His timing.

    Psalms 37:7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

  6. Separate to the LordIf one continues to be in the world, they cannot understand the things of God. Therefore, be not conformed to the world but be transformed by the renewing of the mind (reading God’s word).

    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.

  7. Spiritual mindedness

    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.
    cf     1 Corinthians 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

  8. Right doctrineGod reveals His plans through God’s word. It’s therefore important to study the Bible, reading the KJV only and dispensationalism.

    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.

How does a Christian find God’s will?

  1. Read, study and memorize the word of GodIf we do not know God’s written word through Bible studies, we will not be able to understand God’s perfect ways.

    1 Samuel 3:7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.
    1 Samuel 3:19 And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.
    1 Samuel 3:21 And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.

  2. Patient prayers
    The will of God can take a long time to get revealed. It’s not our timetable, it’s His. God’s plans and not our plans.

    Daniel 10:12-14 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.

  3. Inner conviction by the Holy Spirit

    Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
    cf John 16:13 Howbeit 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 shew you things to come.

  4. Circumstances

    Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
    cf     Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

  5. Advice from counselorsThis is not just advice from anyone, but wise counsel from mature Christians.

    Proverbs 11:14 Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

  6. Fleecing

    Judges 6:37-39 Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said. And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water. nd Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew.

  7. WisdomWe pray for wisdom to discern God’s plan and to “hear” God speaking through His written word.

    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;

    Note that the above often work together to give us a whole picture.

Conclusion

1 Thessalonians 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

We prove everything and hold fast to the one (Jesus Christ) that works for us.

For further reading, refer to: