Author: Michele at ScriptureStudy.Guide
Posted: August 8, 2022. Updated December 26, 2022.
Comparing our walk with God with the walks of others is the absolute wrong thing to do… the Spirit-strong may become high-minded and the meek may feel they are not in God’s will, so my daily prayers have always been to renew my heart today and everyday, and to break my own will and keep me in His.
We know that through our salvation through grace, Jesus gave us 2 commandments which God has written on the tables of our fleshy hearts: Love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength; and love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew chapters 5, 6, 7). Those things are second nature for one who knows Jesus Christ. God’s word also goes further and admonishes His children to “do the will of God” (Mark 3:35, John 1:13, Ephesians 6:6, Hebrews 10:36, 1 John 2:17)… so what all does God’s will entail?
Spiritual Gifts
Apostolic gifts ended with the 1st century church who set up Christ’s kingdom on this earth, but we are all born with certain talents. These talents are spiritual gifts from God that we are to use to support the brethren and complete God’s will on earth.
The Will of God
Being a “details, please” type of person, I sought out the specifics of exactly what God’s will is, knowing that it would look different for each person based on the gifts, abilities and calling that God has given each of us. Here is a summary of what I found:
- We must submit to the Divine will.
- Avoid sin (a how-to is here).
- Keep God’s commandments (details here).
- Adhere to the 27 teachings of Jesus (list is here).
- Adhere to the specifics of God’s will explained by Paul.
- The purpose of God’s will is to sanctify His called-out saints.
Please do check out the 3 links above. The remainder of this article will cover the specifics on what God’s will is, and how we submit to it.
What exactly is God’s Will?
God TOLD Moses the commandments for His people, even inscribing them onto stone tablets.
God TOLD Abraham to sacrifice Issac, and then not to do it.
God TOLD Noah to build an ark and gave him the specific measurements.
Jesus TOLD Paul to spread the gospel far and wide and strengthened him to do it.
I was left wishing that God would just give ME a list of such direct specifics!
Well, God has provided us everything that we need in His word. In 1 Thessalonians chapters 4 and 5, Paul explains specific things that are God’s will for us. They are as follows:
- Know how to possess your physical vessel in honor and sanctification.
- Abstain from fornication (includes idolatry and spiritual adultery).
- Do not lust after abnormal desires (covetousness).
- Do not defraud any man (stealing).
- Do not despise any man for that is despising the Maker, God Himself.
- Love one another and increase the church.
- Study to be quiet/calm/at peace.
- Mind and do your own business.
- Work with your hands so you may walk honestly among unbelievers and lack nothing.
- Do not sorrow over the brethren who have passed for they will rise again.
- Edify/encourage one another.
- Take care of and esteem in love those who labor among you, counsel you, and are over you in the Lord (teachers and elders).
- Be at peace among the brethren.
- Warn them who are unruly (lacking restraint, law-breakers).
- Comfort them who are weak in mind and wavering.
- Support the weak.
- Be patient toward all men.
- Do not render evil for evil to any man.
- Follow that which is good.
- Rejoice evermore.
- Pray without ceasing.
- In everything, give thanks to God.
- Quench not the Spirit (pray and study God’s Word).
- Do not despise true biblical teachings.
- Prove all things and hold fast that which is good.
- Abstain from any appearance of evil.
We see the different types of persons among the church body: Teachers, counselors, those who work with hands, the unruly/law-breakers, the physically weak, and the poor in spirit. The diversity of brethren all adhere to these specific things listed above to keep themselves and the church within God’s will.
Other sins which we are warned to avoid are pride, gluttony, idleness, arrogance/haughtiness (pride mingled with contempt for others), hatred, vanity, love of self, and believing our wisdom and goodness is of us (Ezekiel 16:49-50, Genesis 11:4). Romans 1:18-32 lists the sins of unbelievers who broke covenant with God. See this article for how to deal with temptations and sin.
Spiritual Gifts
Spiritual gifts are not supernatural-type gifts that were given to Jesus’ apostles during the 1st century to establish the spiritual kingdom on this earth. Church age spiritual gifts are talents and abilities that God gives each person to use for His kingdom on this earth (see New Heaven & New Earth is Not What We’ve Been Taught).
We know that we cannot do ANYTHING without Jesus Christ and the strength and abilities given to us by God (John 15:5). There are many online “spiritual gifts” quizzes to help you identify yours.
Also helpful is knowing in what areas we are not gifted so as to build a strong church where everyone is serving the brethren in the way that God intended.
Click here for a comprehensive list of spiritual gifts with their descriptions.
Submission to the Divine Will
Our being able to submit to God’s will is the RESULT OF INWARD LAW which God writes on the fleshy tables of our heart (2 Corinthians 3:3) — this spiritual law comes as a gift from God which we can do nothing to receive (Ephesians 2:8-9).
“I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart” (Psalms 40:8).
Wholeheartedness is required
“Not with eye-service, as men-pleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;” (Ephesians 6:6).
“Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen” (Hebrews 13:21).
Prayer is essential
“Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness” (Psalms 143:10).
“Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).
It’s the rule of everyday life
“For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that” (James 4:15).
“Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning” (1 John 2:7).
It tends to spiritual knowledge
“If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself” (John 7:17).
“And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done” (Acts 21:14).
“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” (Romans 12:2).
It establishes a divine relationship
“For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother” (Matthew 12:50).
Christ is the perfect example
“He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.” (Matthew 26:42).
“I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me” (John 5:30).
God’s Purpose of His Will
Our very God of peace will sanctify us wholly, and our whole spirit and soul and body will be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Faithful is He who calls you for He will also do it (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).
I love you all…. God bless!
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