god's will, can we know it?

8/7/2019 God's Will, Can We Know It?

1/7

God's Will, Can We Know It?

'Lord, reveal your perfect will for me, show me what I need to do!'

So goes the sincere prayers of many well meaning Christians, believing that the best of God'sblessings can only be experienced by living in the 'center of God's will'. The fear of making

wrong choices cripples even the deeply spiritual believer when "signs" or that "peaceful feeling"

are clouded during life's most weighty decisions.

The issue of knowing God's will is vital in the day to day of our Christian life. The questionmany of us struggle with is, 'How do I determine God's will?' We presuppose that God has a

personal blueprint for each of our lives, a blueprint that maps out the best for us. This blue print,

we suppose, contains vital information that would guarantee us the abundant life. Weighty

decisions as 'which college to attend; which house to buy; or , which person to marry,overwhelms us, because we realize the long-term consequences of a less then perfect decision. "I

feel led...", or "I think God is telling me...", or "I prayed about it and have a peace about it," is

oftentimes the pivotal factor in confirming significant decisions,.decisions that impact our livesand the lives of others, for a lifetime.

Many well meaning Christians have done extreme and bizarre things because they had baptized

"their ideas" in the Christian lingo of this age without examining the Biblical guidelines for

decision making.

To begin with, I will assert that the Bible does NOT teach that "feeling led", " having a peace",

"fleeces", "open doors" and "confirmations" are to be employed as a means of knowing God'swill in decision making. This study will attempt to expose the light of God's Word on this issue

of "Knowing God's Will". The conclusions are guaranteed to shatter the illusions of many wellmeaning, but misinformed Christians. We will hopefully confirm that the misguided notions the

modern evangelical church has espoused is a blend of out of context scripture, folklore, and bad

teaching. The scriptures speak clearly as to God's design for our decision making process, if ourcommitment is to truth alone.

LED BY THE SPIRIT

A quick look at the scripture passages that have formed these ideas reveal that they are in fact

taken out of context. The term "led by the Spirit" is Biblical, the meaning we pour into it is not.

Luke 4:1 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spiritinto the wilderness.

Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Galatians 5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.


2/7

In the Luke 4:1 passage, it is recorded as a descriptive narrative, not prescriptive. It tells us that

the Holy Spirit at this time specifically led Christ into the wilderness to accomplish a very

specific act; "The proving of the second Adam". To draw from this passage that it is normativefor His followers to wait for the leading of the Spirit before going anywhere is reading into the

text a meaning that was neither intended nor implied. InActs 15:25, we see the apostles saying

"It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you withour beloved Barnabas and Paul"If Luke 4:1 intended to teach to wait for the leading of the

Spirit before going anywhere, the Apostles missed the lesson, as they were not waiting to be led.

We see a different principle of "It seemed good" was being employed. In both the Roman andGalatians text, the context is clearly referring to the Spirit's empowerment to live holy lives, not

individual direction. The Spirit "leads" into righteous living. There are numerous instances in

both the Old and New Testament of God speaking specifically to individuals to reveal to them

some very specific direction. Note that in ALL of the cases, God's voice was audible, themessage was clearly revealed, and each time, it was intrusive. It was never sought. In the scope

of human history, it was also rare. Never were these experiences internal urges, feelings or

intuitions.

PEACE

The "right feeling" about a major decision often times becomes the benchmark of decisionmaking. As Christian's we have baptized this concept in Christian lingo by claiming "peace"

about our decisions. After all Colossians 3:15 says " And let the peace of God rule in yourhearts, to that which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful."After analyzing thisverse in context the following observations need to be noted. 1. Peace here means harmony, or a

lack of conflict between people in the church fellowship. The previous verses are clear that love,

forgiveness and humility are the virtues that enable "peace" to be evidenced. The concept of

decision making is absent from the context of this passage, and was neither intended nor implied

by the Apostle Paul. The danger of adopting the principle of a "right feelings" for our decisionmaking may be catastrophic to a believers spiritual life. The scriptures tell us inJeremiah 17:9

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"Our hearts,being the seat of emotion, should not be trusted, but rather suspected. Ask yourself, How many

times have you kept from doing something your knew to be right because "you didn't feel like

it?", or, How many times have you done something wrong because "you felt like it?" Is itpossible the scriptures know our hearts (emotions) better then we know them ourselves? Though

our feelings are subject to mislead, they may confirm our decisions when we KNOW our

decisions are according to God's will. (more on this later.)

OPEN DOORS

Are Open Doors the way of knowing God's will? When a "door opens" is God telling me

something? The Apostle Paul declares in 1 Cor 16:8-9 "But I will tarry at Ephesus until

Pentecost. For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.

Again in 2 Cor 2:12-13 Paul states "Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ'sgospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord, I had no rest in my spirit, because I found

not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia."A patternseems to be developing with the Apostle Paul and "doors of opportunity", for again in Col 4:3 it


3/7

says, "Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak themystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:"InActs 16:26-28 we read again about "open

doors" "And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were

shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed. And the

keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his

sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. But Paul criedwith a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here". Note in this last passage

doors were opened but the Apostle Paul stayed. From these texts, the obvious conclusion we

draw is that open doors are "opportunities". These may either be acted on or ignored dependingon other factors. An open door is not necessarily God's voice of direction and guidance, but

rather an opportunity to act.

SIGNS and FLEECES

I have been disturbed more then once when a new Christian announces that they know to have

found "peace" with God because "a song about peace" was song at church, or they opened the

Bible and they saw the word "peace". This type of behavior is more consistent with mysticismthen with Biblical Christianity. The only mention the scriptures make of anything even remotely

similar is inJudges 6-7when Gideon put out a fleece to confirm direction that had already been

supernaturally given. The fleece became a sign of a supernatural act that acted as confirmationfor Gideon's doubt and disbelief AFTER an angel of the Lord spoke directly with him. The

scripture records this descriptively and not as a model for God's people to employ. God did not

commend Gideon for his doubts, but rather accommodated him by this secondary 'sign' afterhaving received audible instructions. Both the explicit teaching of the scriptures and the model

employed by God's people throughout history, do not support signs and fleeces as a method of

knowing God's will.

If we do resort to this means of confirmation of our decisions, may it be only after God's audiblevoice is heard, and we still have doubts. Secondly the "fleece" needs to be a supernatural sign in

both directions. This means first to validate in the positive, to say yes, and then in the negative,

to say no, so that the possibility of coincidence is absolutely negated. A supernatural sign impliesan act that cannot be interpreted to be normative. The single incident recorded in Judges, at best,

may be understood to be a tool to be employed when our faith and trust in God's clear revelation,

the scriptures, is wavering. It is dangerously presumptuous to expect God to communicate with

us through supernatural signs, when we avoid to learn the principles He has revealed to us in Hisword.

CONFIRMATION OF OTHERS

Some people feel that God has laid it on their hearts to tell others some very specific instructionsor directions. They may seem like God's mouthpiece, but one always wonders, why God would

tell them so assuredly but not the one the message was intended for? Will God tell a mother who

her son should marry, and keep this revelation from her son? Does God need to speak throughother people to make His will known? Is God's voice heard through the voice of others? Though

they may proclaim to speak for God, the question needs to be asked " How do they know it was

God speaking?" Is the "messenger" prepared to set his or her own life on the line as to the


4/7

truthfulness of the message? To declare a "Thus says the Lord" is a very serious matter. The

scriptures teach that if anyone claimed to speak on God's behalf and was proven to be false, they

were to be stoned to death. God takes very seriously the false prophet. (seeDeut 13:1-11). God'srevelations to man at one time was through the means of prophets.Hebrews 1:1,2 make evident

the passing away of prophets in these last days. "In the past God spoke to our forefathers

through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken tous by his Son," (NIV) The testimony or witness of two or three is foundational to the judicial

structure and function of both the law of Israel and the disciplinary matters of the church.

Passages in both the Old and New Testaments support this. There is however absolutely NOprovisions in the scriptures for God to be directing or validating instructions to His people

through the means of speaking through others. Unfortunately, too many misguided but well

meaning Christians have fallen prey to obey the voice of someone other then the good shepard,

thereby causing shipwreck of their faith.

To summarize what the Bible DOES NOT teach is that we get guidance and instructions of

God's will through FEELINGS, PEACE, OPEN DOORS, SIGNS and CONFIRMATIONS. How

do we then learn God's Will? What then is God's Will? The scriptures speak volumes about thewill of God and it must be understood in its proper context. Two distinct 'wills' of God areevident in the scripture. The first is recognized as 'God's Sovereign Will', the second as God's

Moral Will. There is no third catagory of God's personalized will for me.

GOD'S SOVEREIGN WILL

God's Sovereign Will affirms His absolute and total control over the minutest details of the entire

universe. This also embodies God's will of decree. The sovereign will of God is neither known toman prior to its execution, nor dependant on man. Man cannot frustrate or hinder this aspect of

God's will. Examples of God's sovereign will are God's will to create the world. When God

willed and declared the world into existence, nothing could resist God's will of decree. Anotherexample is God's sovereign will to provide His son as the sacrificial lamb to atone for our sins. In

the latter case we see God's sovereign will being enacted through the hands of sinful men. God is

able to use and does use many means to enact His sovereign will. This is evident through thesepassages:

Daniel 4:35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according

to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay hishand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

Acts 2:23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have

taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

Acts 4:27:28 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod,and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, For to do

whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

Exodus 9:16 And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power;

and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.


5/7


6/7

personalized decision making revelations. They only direct specifically or principally when a

decision is moral in nature. God's moral will is evident through the 10 commandments and the

moral teachings of the scriptures. A few examples through these passages will clearlydemonstrate this.

Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but islongsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to

repentance.

Though God wills non to perish, it is obvious that many do. It is God's moral will that all men

everywhere repent. God commands (not invites) all men everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30)

Ephes. 5:17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

Paul here correlates wisdom with knowing the Lord's will. What is wisdom? 2 Tim. 3:15 And

that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto

salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Wisdom is likened to knowing the scriptures.

1 Thes. 5:18 In every thinggive thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerningyou.

1 Peter 2:15 For so is the will of God, that with well doingye may put to silence the ignorance

of foolish men:

The scriptures give specific guidance and direction in the manner that establishes principles by

which our decision making needs to be governed. God does not tell you which person

specifically to marry, (except that person be also a believer). It is wise to seek out a godly

spouse, one who demonstrates a commitment to godliness and a sincere love for Christ. God'swill then is concerned with what kind of a husband or a wife to be. God does not tell you which

job to take, but rather what kind of employee He desires you to be. God does not tell you whereto live, but rather what kind of a neighbor you ought to be. God does not tell you which area of

ministry you need to focus on, but rather to recognize your gifts and exercise and serve His body

in the power of the Holy Spirit. God's will for you is that the decisions you make are based on

biblical godly principles. Humility, self sacrifice, servanthood, the furthering of His

kingdom and God's glory, needs to be the foundations of our decision making. It is our

responsibility to seek out His (moral) will as it is revealed in His word. When decisions have no

moral component, we are free to chose employing godly wisdom which he has promised to givegenerously when we ask.

God, as our loving father in heaven, demonstrates His love by dignifying us with the

responsibility of making significant choices. Our heavenly father, like a good father, teaches his

children to make good decisions based on the principles he has revealed to us. My goal as afather is to teach my children to make wise and good decisions based on the same principles my

heavenly father has revealed to me. I challenge my children to make decisions based on the

principles I teach them. It is through this process that they mature and grow. Their immaturity isexposed when they cannot chose between right and wrong, left and right. Their maturity is


7/7

revealed when they can decide for themselves based on what their father has taught them. Their

foolishness is exposed when they don't take the time to properly evaluate a situation and decide

as to the proper action. Their wisdom is revealed when they diligently give themselves to theproper application of their father's instructions. Their disobedience is revealed when they

willingly chose to violate that which they know is their father's will because he has taught them.

Their obedience is made known, when inspite of their feelings, inspite of peer pressure, inspite oftheir own selfish desires, they yield themselves to that which they know is their father's will.

The circumstance of our lives are ultimately and primarily not governed by us, but rather by the

sovereign hand of God. When the difficult decisions of life face us, may we be driven to a better

understanding of God's moral will, and the assurance that God's sovereign will is being revealedthrough the decisions we make. When the difficult circumstances of life lead us to focus on

ourselves and say "My life is a mess because I am out of God's will" may it be understood that

the only will of God we could be out of is His moral will. The "mess" is a tool God sovereignlyuses to conform us into the image of His son, Jesus Christ. When we make a decision and it

doesn't work out as we would hope, may we rest in the peace that God works ALL things for our

good (Romans 8:28). The 'good' that we need is known much better to God, then the 'good' thatwe want. God uses even our foolish decisions to expose our own sinfulness and immaturity, andthen to teach us valuable lessons and truths. He also confirms the truth of His word when through

our godly choices and decisions, His wisdom is made known.

In conclusion, may our energies be directed not in trying to figure out the secret things of God,but rather in understanding and employing the revealed truths, our heavenly father has made

known to us. May we mature in Christ as we learn and apply biblical truth to our decision

making that it be, according to God's will.

RM

god's will, can we know it?

Documents