THE WILL OF GOD

The will of God is a deep and sometimes mysterious subject. The Bible is a book of principles and knowing those principles will help us to know the will of God for our lives. All Christians have wrestled with it at one time or another in their lives. The will of God is always revealed in the Word of God. And at times, it is a difficult task.

 

Let me give you 7 words with 7 Scripture references:

 

1.    Knowledge – Romans 2:18

2.    Discernment -- Romans 12:1-2

3.    Purity of life – I Thessalonians 4:3

4.    Thanksgiving – I Thessalonians 5:18

5.    Submission – I Peter 2:15

6.    Peace – I Peter 3:11

7.    Perseverance – Hebrews 10:36

 

The above seven words --- with the references to the will of God --- will do you absolutely NO GOOD unless you take the time to open your Bible and read them for yourself. However, if you will take the time to look these passages up AND actually read them, they will really help you to better know the will of God for your life! Pray and ask the Lord for direction and assistance and He will help you. Try it!

JUST TAKE IT EASY...?

We live in a world that teaches us --- in a simplistic sort of way --- to get a job, work hard for 30 years, then retire and take it easy the rest of your life. Just sit on the porch in a swing, go fishing, golf, just do whatever you want to do. THAT is the life or so we think. By the way, where is that taught in the Bible?

 

That mindset can lead to slothfulness, vanity, self-indulgence and obesity! As a child of God, we are called to always be moving upward and forward and growing.

 

Martin Luther King, Jr. said this:

 

“If you can’t fly, then run

If you can’t run, then walk

If you can’t walk, then crawl

BUT BY ALL MEANS, KEEP MOVING FORWARD!”

 

Caleb was still climbing mountains at age 85! Look in Joshua 14:10-11.

Moses was as strong at 120 years old as he was at 40! See Deuteronomy 34:7!

Or you could be like ole Eli. Turn to I Samuel 4:18

Take a minute and read those verses!

 

The old ship of Zion (the Church) is filled with people who are content to sit and soak. Content to live and die as do-nothing Christians, basking in the glory of their earthly retirement. I am not saying that you should not enjoy and appreciate the years of your labor. What I am saying is that God does not pay Social Security because we never retire from serving the LORD! How are you serving the Lord? What difference does your life make in the Kingdom of God? Maybe a twinge of guilt? You never stop serving the LORD!

A DOXOLOGY FROM II TIMOTHY 4:18

 

A person’s last words are usually pretty significant. Paul’s letter to Timothy are his last written words. He is incarcerated, in Rome, awaiting execution and picks up his pen and writes a letter to Timothy, to encourage him in the faith. In II Timothy chapter 4:18 we find these final words of Paul:

 

“The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom. To him be glory forever and ever! AMEN.”

 

Here is a man, a godly man, on death row, and his thoughts are turned to God. Look at what he tells us about God in this doxology.

 

He tells us that his God is a deliverer, a rescuer and that his God will rescue him from all evil. Paul not only knew that intellectually; he knew it experientially. Read the account of some of his trials and tribulations in II Corinthians 11l23-28.

 

Paul knew that the God who had delivered him time and time again in all his trials, would ultimately bring him home safely to heaven. Paul had no doubts about that at all.

 

As he awaited his death and wrote this letter to encourage Timothy his thoughts turn Godward and he says “to Him, to this God of salvation and rescue and deliverance; this God who would take him immediately into the presence of Christ upon his physical death ---- to this God be glory forever and ever.”

 

Who can do that? Who can praise God like that on his death bed? Who can have thoughts like this? Only a man who knows Christ intimately! 

 

Like Paul, you will die. What will you say on your death bed?

A DOXOLOGY FROM EPHESIANS 3:20-21

The letter to the Ephesians is one of four of the epistles that the Apostle wrote while he was imprisoned. Probably written around 61-62 A.D. In chapter 3 Paul is discussing the “mystery” of the gospel and how it has now been fully revealed in Christ. Verses 14-21 is really a prayer that Paul prays for the Ephesian church. That prayer concludes with these words:

 

“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all we can ask or think, according to the power that works in us

 

To Him be glory in the church, and in Christ Jesus throughput all generations, forever and ever. AMEN!”

 

Again, I ask you: what do those words say about the greatness and majesty of God?

 

1^st – there is nothing that God cannot do. God can do greater things than we can ask or even think. That is how great our God really is.

 

2^nd – That God lives IN us, in our hearts.

 

3^rd – The greater glory of God will be found in His church, which is the Body and Bride of Christ. Let that sink in deeply! In the CHURCH!

 

4^th – That glory is found in a world without end, forever and ever!

 

That is the God of our salvation!

A DOXOLOGY FROM ROMANS 16:25-27

After discussing the wonder and grace of our salvation and after detailing what our response should be in relation to that salvation, Paul closes the powerful epistle with still another doxology. This is the third one we have looked at in just the book of Romans alone. In chapter 16:25-27, Paul says:

 

“Now to Him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages

 

But has now been revealed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith,

 

To the only wise God, be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! AMEN.”

 

I ask you --- where is the God-centeredness in those verses?

 

Easy-peasy! God encourages us and gives us strength and power through the truth and preaching of the gospel. It is the power of God unto salvation (see Romans 1:16)

 

Mystery in the New Testament refers to something that was previously hidden but has NOW been revealed! Mystery is not a puzzle or an enigma. It is a revelation of truth! That mystery is a mystery no longer. Christ has been fully revealed! In the New Testament and at the Cross! Jesus Christ is God! (John 14:9)

 

God be praised for His eternality, His wisdom and His strength!

A DOXOLOGY FROM ROMANS 15:5-6

We find in chapter 15 of the book of Romans another nugget of a doxology of praise. You must remember that doxologies are words and expressions of praise to God for who He is and thanksgiving to God for what He had done. They can be spoken, read, sung or chanted, but they are God centered and God glorifying in their nature.

 

The context of Romans 15 focuses upon our responsibility to consider the state and condition of a brother in Christ who may be weaker than you are. We have a responsibility to encourage them and build them up.

 

Open your Bible (or Bible app) to Romans 15:5-6:

 

“May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such   harmony with each other, in accord with Christ Jesus,

 

That together you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

 

Notice its God-centeredness first!

God encourages, upholds and preserves His own.

 

Secondly, live in harmony with each other as did the Lord Jesus with you.

 

Thirdly, together, the strong and the weak, can lift their voices and focus their lives upon God and exalt, magnify and worship Him!

 

I hope you are beginning to see the greatness of these doxologies and how they are so God centered and focused!

A DOXOLOGY FROM ROMANS 11:33-36

I personally believe that Romans is the greatest book in the Bible. It talks about the greatness of our salvation by a Trinitarian God (chapters 1-11) and then expands

upon our what our response should be to that wonderful salvation. We see that in chapters 12-16. If you can understand all the truths that are taught in Romans, then you can probably understand what is taught in the rest of the Bible.

 

Take your Bible (or Bible app) and open it to Romans 11:33-36.

 

Chapter 11:33-36 concludes the treatment of our salvation and at the end, the Apostle Paul erupts with an outburst of praise:

 

“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable are His ways!

 

For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been His counselor?

Or who has given Him a gift that he might be repaid?

 

For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. AMEN”

 

That is a doxology! Those are expressions of praise and adoration of the Lord. Those words are God exalting and God glorifying. That doxology praises the Lord for His infinite wisdom and power and providence. You read those verses and you come away with awe and wonder. And thanks! What a great and mighty God we serve! And Romans 11:33-36 is one of many!