The Will of God
I. Intro
The Importance of God’s Will
Matt. 7:21
Matt. 12:46-50
Eph. 5:15—17
1 John 2:15-17
will – thelema (2307) – a determination, desire, pleasure, will
The Will of God is expressed in three ways.
1. God’s Will of Decree (Sovereign Will)
2. God’s Will of Desire (Will of Command)
3. God’s Will of Direction (Specific Will)
II. Will of Decree
God’s will of decree refers to what he has sovereignly ordained.
Eph. 1:11
Isaiah 46:9-10
All that God decrees will ultimately come to pass, and everything that comes to pass is according to His decree. His will of decree is immutable and fixed, and it cannot be thwarted.
Sovereignty and Providence
Matt. 10:29-30
Matt. 6:25-26
Prov. 16:1,9,33
Romans 8:28 (Gen. 50:2, Deut. 8:15-16)
Heb. 1:3
What should be our reaction to God’s Will of Decree?
James 4:13-15
Romans 8:28
We must have the correct perspective, realizing that God is sovereign and in control, and we must trust that His will of decree is good.
Deut. 29:29
Secret things = God’s inscrutable purposes and sovereign will
Revealed things = His commands and His Word
III. God’s Will of Desire
This refers to what God has commanded. If His will of decree is the way things are, then His will of desire is how things ought to be.
His will of decree cannot be thwarted; however, His will of desire can be ignored, disregarded, and disobeyed.
Psalm 40:18 correlates God’s will of desire to His law.
1John 2:15-17 teaches that God’s will of desire is the opposite of the lusts (desires) of the world.
God’s Will of Desire is that you be…
1. Saved – 2 Peter 3:9, 1 Tim. 2:3-4, John 6:37-40
2. Spirit-Filled – Eph. 5:18-21
3. Sanctified – 1 Thess. 4:3-7
4. Submissive – 1 Peter 2:13-15
5. Suffer – 1 Peter 4:14, 1 Peter 3:14-17
6. Prayerful, Rejoicing, & Thankful – 1 Thess. 5:16-18
These are God’s direct desires for our lives. Our response to these and to the other commands in Scripture should be faithful obedience.
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