The Will of My Father

2023-01-30

Everyone wants to know the will of God for their lives. This is a similar question as to what the Spirit says to us, which we discussed recently. So what is the will of God? It must be an important question, because, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). The people mentioned there thought they were in the will of God, doing all kinds of works in the name of Christ, and yet, they were far off from Him. We will see more in a moment.

Jesus Christ’s Will

Unlike us, Jesus alone perfectly does the will of His Father. “Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work” (John 4:34). And again, “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). And again, “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me” (John 6:38).

Born Again and the Family of God

You must be born into God’s family to be a part of God’s will. “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).

It is the will of God for children not to perish. “Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish” (Matthew 18:14). This is why it is important to raise children in the Lord.

Those who received Christ were born of God’s will. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12-13).

It is the will of God for everyone to hear the Gospel and be saved. “And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:40).

The Talkers Versus the Doers

Those who walk the walk of the faith are the ones doing the will of God, not those who merely talk the talk.

But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. (Matthew 21:28-31)

However, the “doing” comes from the born-again nature. You can be a doer and completely unsaved, finding rejection at the coming of the Lord.

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:21-23)

When We Cannot Persuade

When we cannot persuade someone concerning something, you leave it in God’s hands. They could convince Paul not to go to Jerusalem. So what did they say? “And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done” (Acts 21:14).

Paul’s Journey to Rome

Likewise, Paul left it in the Lord’s hands whether to go to Rome. “For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you” (Romans 1:9-10). And again, “That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed” (Romans 15:32).

The Spirit of God’s Prayers

The Holy Spirit prays within us the perfect will of God. “And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God” (Romans 8:27). We may not know what to pray, or we may pray contrary to His will, but the Spirit prays what is perfect and right on our behalf.

Knowing the Subject Will of God

“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). To know the will of God, we must set our minds completely on the Lord, specifically all the truth that was mentioned in the previous chapters of Romans. This comes with being wise. “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:17).

The Lord wants us to be completely in His will. “Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God” (Colossians 4:12).

Paul the Apostle

Paul was an apostle according to the will of God. “Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)” (Galatians 1:1; cf. 1 Corinthians 1:1; 2 Corinthians 1:1; Ephesians 1:1; Colossians 1:1; 2 Timothy 1:1).

Jesus Christ Died for Our Sins

Jesus gave Himself to die for our sins according to the Father’s will so we can be delivered from sin’s penalty and power and the world system. “Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father” (Galatians 1:4).

He saved us to be holy; this is God’s will. “For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication” (1 Thessalonians 4:3). It is also His will to abstain from sexual immorality.

Again, we read, “Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God” (1 Peter 4:1-2).

Giving Thanks

It is God’s will for us to give thanks in all things. “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

The Will of God and the Promise

If we persevere in the will of God, we receive the promise of eternal life. “For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise” (Hebrews 10:36). And again, “And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever” (1 John 2:17).

The Will of God and Suffering

It is the will of God to suffer for doing good and not evil. It will be a testimony to the world when we suffer for doing what is right. “For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men” (1 Peter 2:15). And again, “For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing” (1 Peter 3:17). And again, “Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator” (1 Peter 4:19).

The Word of God

The Word of God came about by the will of God. “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:21).

Old Testament Saints

Saints in the Old Testament served the people around them by the will of God. “For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption” (Acts 13:36). They are examples for us.