“…this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything ACCORDING TO HIS WILL HE HEARS US. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that WE HAVE THE REQUESTS THAT WE HAVE ASKED OF HIM.” (1 John 5:14-15)
Jesus said: “Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. YOUR KINGDOM COME, YOUR WILL BE DONE, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:9-10)
Jesus demonstrated this when He as praying in the garden before He was crucified: “And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, NOT AS I WILL, BUT AS YOU WILL.” (Matthew 26:39)
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God–THIS IS YOUR TRUE AND PROPER WORSHIP. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing YOU MAY *DISCERN WHAT IS THE WILL OF GOD…” (Romans 12:1&2) *dokimazō (dok-im-ad’-zo): to test, examine, prove, scrutinize (to see whether something is genuine or not), as metals tested by fire.
God’s will is what he commands us to do. The will of God is what WE MUST DO whether we believe in it or not. Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but THE ONE WHO DOES THE WILL OF MY FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN.” (Matthew 7:21)
Not all do the will of his Father. He says so. “Not everyone will enter the kingdom of heaven.” Why? Because not all do the will of God.
Paul says: “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality…” (1 Thessalonians 4:3) Here we have a very specific instance of what God commands of us: holiness, sanctification, sexual purity. This is God’s will, but oh, so many do not obey.
Then Paul says: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for THIS IS GOD’S WILL FOR YOU in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) There again is a specific aspect of God’s will: Give thanks in all circumstances. But many do not do this will of God.
One more example: “And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever DOES THE WILL OF GOD abides forever.” (1 John 2:17) Everyone will not abide forever. Some will. Some won’t. The difference? Some do the will of God. SOME DO NOT. The will of God, in this sense, does not always happen.
So, we must seek God so we will know what His will for us!
“…I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For EVERYONE WHO ASKS RECEIVES, and the one who seeks FINDS, and to the one who knocks it WILL BE OPENED.” (Luke 11:9-10)
God want’s us to know His will…Bill Stockham