Someone has well said that the key to being successful in life is to simply find out what God would have you to do and then do it. This is a very profound statement. You see, the true measure of a person’s success in life is not found in the accumulation of possessions, not the acknowledgment of prestige, not the attainment of power, nor even the accomplishments of patriotism. The true measure of a person’s success is always found in direct relationship to that person’s obedience to “The Will of God”.
Whether you realize it or not, God has a special plan for your life. In fact, God has a special plan for the life of every single believer. God has desires to lead you, and guide you, and have you follow His steps. The Bible says, “Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.” (Isaiah 48:17) “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.” (Psalm 37:23) Isn’t it wonderful how the Lord desires to lead us? As Christians, we have a heavenly Father above us sovereignly controlling us; we have a humble Savior beside us carefully directing our footsteps; and we have the Holy Spirit within us tenderly impressing our hearts to do “ The Will of God.”
The purpose of this lesson is to provided an understanding of what the Bible says concerning “The Will of God” in order to accomplish those things that has planned for us to do.
I. THE BIBLICAL DEFINITION OF GOD’S WILL
A. The Will Of God Is Three-Fold.
1. There is the sovereign will of God.
a. There are certain things that God, in His sovereignty, has determined to be so. Some of these things He has revealed and some He has not.
b. What God sovereignly wills to be done is always done, and nothing, or no one, can ever stop it from happening.
c. “I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven… and I blessed the_____, and I praised and honoured him that_____ for ever, whose_____ is everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: And all inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to_____in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his_____, or say unto him, What doest thou?” (Daniel 4:34-35)
2. There is the standard will of God.
a. The Bible teaches that there are certain standards that are always right and others that are always wrong. These things hold true for everyone.
b. For instance, the Bible says, “Pray without ceasing,” and “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” These are general principles that hold true for everyone. They are a part of God’s standard will, and He expects man to obey them.
c. When the Bible says that something is wrong, it is wrong regardless of what anyone else says. When the Bible says that something is right, it is right regardless of what anyone else says.
3. There is the specific will of God.
a. God has a special plan for every single believer, because every single believer is special to Him.
b. God deals with His children as individuals, and He has as many plans as He has people.
c. “ For we are his______, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should_____in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)
B. The Will Of God Is Very Important.
1. We cannot plan our own lives apart from God.
a. “O LORD, I know that the_____of man is not in himself: it is not in_____that walketh to______his steps.” (Jeremiah 10:23)
b. “Man’s_____are of the LORD; how can a man then_____his own way?” (Proverbs 20:24)
c. Someone has described man as “a clever creature who has lost his way in the dark.” Man alone cannot direct his own way. He must have help from above.
2. God wants us to know His will for our lives.
a. “I will_____thee and_____thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will_____thee with mine eye.” (Psalm 32:8)
b. The Apostle Paul said, “For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to _____for you, and to _____that ye might be filled with the_____of his _____in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;” (Colossians 1:9)
c. “Wherefore be ye not_____, but understanding what the_____of the_____is.” (Ephesians 5:17)
II. THE BASIC DISCOVERY OF GOD’S WILL
A. Five Means by Which God’s Will Is Revealed
1. God reveals His will through the Word of God.
a. Much of the will of God is revealed to us in the Word of God, especially as it relates to God’s standard will.
b. “Thy_____is a_____unto my feet, and a_____unto my path.” (Psalm 119:105)
c. We should never pray for guidance concerning what God has already commanded, or forbidden, in His Word.
2. God reveals His will through the Spirit of God.
a. “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath_____them unto us by his_____: for the_____searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.” (I Corinthians 2:9-10)
b. “Howbeit when he, the_____of truth, is come, he will_____you into all truth...” (John 16:13)
c. The Holy Spirit may direct you to do certain things not specifically mentioned in God’s Word, but He will never direct you to do anything that is contrary to God’s Word.
3. God reveals His will through the people of God.
a. Sometimes God uses the advice and counsel of godly people to reveal His special will to others.
b. “Where no _____ is, the people fall; but in the multitude of _____ there is safety.” (Proverbs 11:14)
c. One should not hesitate to talk with a pastor, elder, or other leaders in the church, concerning God’s will.
4. God reveals His will through the providence of God.
a. “These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that _____ , and no man _____ ; and _____ , and no man _____ ; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an _____ , and no man can shut it . . .” (Revelation 3:7-8)
b. “For a great _____ and effectual is _____ unto me, and there are many adversaries.” (I Corinthians 16:9)
c. The Bible speaks of God opening and closing doors, and sometimes He reveals His will to us in this way.
5. God reveals His will through the miracles of God.
a. The Bible tells us that God, in times past, spoke to His people through voices, visions, miracles, and dreams.
b. God can speak through miracles today, and sometimes has, and for all we know, will again, if He so desires, but that is not the primary way in which God speaks today.
c. With the completion of the Word of God, and the availability that we have to God’s Word today, the need for God to speak through miracles has diminished.
B. Three Musts Before God’s Will Is Revealed.
1. There must be a preparation of the heart.
a. You must first be willing to do the will of God.
b. “If any man _____ do his _____ he shall _____ of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” (John 7:17)
c. Sometimes we say we are willing, but in reality our minds are already made up. And so, what we usually end up trying to do is simply force our will upon God.
2. There must be a presentation of the life.
a. You must be willing to yield yourself unto God, and present yourself unto Him for His service.
b. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye _____ your _____ a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may _____ what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect _____ of God.” (Romans 12:1-2)
c. Name the three words the Apostle Paul uses to describe the will of God? (Romans 12:2) _____ , _____ , _____
Note: The Apostle Paul said that yielding yourself to God completely is reasonable because of the mercies of God. You see, the Lord Jesus died for you in agony on the cross. Therefore, you should be able to trust Him, the One who was willing to give His life for you, to always have your best interest at heart.
3. There must be a practice of the Word.
a. “Teach me to _____ thy _____ ; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; _____ me into the land of uprightness.” (Psalm 143:10)
b. “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own _____ . In all thy ways _____ him, and he shall _____ thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
c. You must make it a priority to fulfill the standard will of God in your daily life, and then trust God to guide you in determining, and doing, His special will for your life.
III. THE BENEFITS OF DOING GOD’S WILL
A. Doing The Will Of God Is Pleasurable.
1. There is a real joy that comes with doing God’s will.
a. Joy comes when we know we have allowed God, and not personal desire or human reasoning, to lead us.
b. “He that handleth a matter wisely shall find _____ : and whoso _____ in the LORD, _____ is he.” (Proverbs 16:20)
2. It is the greatest thing that can happen to a Christian.
a. When we willingly follow the leading of the Lord, God will give us peace and rest in our heart and life.
b. “When a man’s ways _____ the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at _____ with him.” (Proverbs 16:7)
B. Doing The Will Of God Is Profitable.
1. It brings lifelong blessings to the believer.
a. “He that _____ the _____ abideth for ever.” (1 John 2:17)
b. “For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no _____ will he withhold from them that _____ uprightly.” (Psalm 84:11)
2. God will never lead you where His power will not enable you, and His grace will not keep you.
a. Always remember where God guides, God provides.
b. God will give you all the strength, courage, wisdom, and ability you will need to accomplish His will.
CONCLUSION: Never forget that God’s will is not a road map, it is a relationship with God. (Memorize Proverbs 3:5-6)
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