Seeking Jesus First - July 4, 2023

Part Two - The will of God.

Why do we find it so hard to know the will of God?

Because we want specifics.

The specifics are learned by following the known or general will of God…

Faith begins where the will of God is known. As soon as we understand and believe God’s word is God’s will, we are empowered to believe it and receive it and do it. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God and our faith is the victory that overcomes the world. We CAN believe, receive, keep and do the word of God.

So do what you know to do because this is what you have faith to do. That being said, the general will of God for all of us is quite clearly written in God’s Word. Be faithful over little and you will become ruler over much. Be faithful over what you know. Be faithful over the general will of God.

We will go deeper into the specific will later, but.suffice it to say this for now. Let the desire of your heart - your inner man - lead you in the specifics until God interrupts you and tells you to do something different. Being led by the spirit who is one with your inner man is not being led by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes or the pride of life. It is following after peace.

What is the general and known will of God for all believers?

“who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,” (Galatians 1:4, NKJV)

• It is the general and known will of God to deliver us from evil. John 10:10 tells us that the enemy comes to steal, kill and to destroy. He wants to steal the word sown in our hearts, kill our faith, and destroy our chances of receiving our inheritance. But Jesus came to give life and life n more abundantly. It is the will of God for us to have victory over all evil.

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16–23, NKJV)

“For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor,” (1 Thessalonians 4:3–4, NKJV)

• It is general and known the will of God for us to honor our bodies and each other’s body as the temple of Holy Spirit.
• It is the general and known will of God for us to rejoice always - to have a heart of continual praise and worship toward God.
• It is the general and known will of God for us to pray continually - to keep ourselves attentive to His voice.
• It is the general and known will of God for us to give thanks - to give God thanks in the midst of every situation.
• It is the general and known will of God for us to listen to his Spirit and obey - as sons who are led by His Spirit.
• It is the general and known will of God for us to keep our hearts open to the prophetic utterances. But to test them and hold onto what is good and reject what is evil.
• It is the general and known will of God for us to allow God to complete our sanctification: spirit, soul and body.
• It is the general and known will of God to sanctify you and that you should abstain from sexual immorality and that you should possess your body in sanctification and honor.

“For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” (Galatians 5:13, NKJV)

“And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.” (1 John 3:23, NKJV)

“For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”” (Romans 1:17, NKJV)

• It is general and known the will of God for us to love and serve each other.
• It is general and known the will of God for us to live by faith.

Faith begins where the will of God is known. Faith says, “I can do what God wants me to do”. If it is His will, God Himself has empowered me to do it. Faith says, “I can have what He wants me to have.” Faith says, “I am who God says that I am.” His word is His will. Believe it!