by Bob Picard, Pastor, God’s Grace Bible Church
There are many different ideas in the church today regarding the question, “How can I know the will of God? Can you find the will of God by taking a “so called” spiritual gifts inventory? The short, and simple, answer is an emphatic, “No!”
You, and those around you will begin to know your gifts, as you study, and grow in the grace of the Lord
Another method of finding the will of God that is so prominent in Christianity today is that your dreams and desires can be answered by God. One common mantra of this movement is, “You have to dream God sized dreams in order for God to do His will.” This also is a false view, which really is the opposite of the true will of God.
There are some that say that you must have “audacious,” or “adventurous” faith in order to know the will of God.
These things all sound like plausible arguments to the untrained new convert. Yet, trying to accomplish them is actually an impossible task.
The will of God, simply, is found by a consistent reading, studying and applying the Word of God, with the help of the Holy Spirit. In short; there are no magical shortcuts in
determining His will. Simply put; when a Believer practices what is taught through the Word, he, or she, will begin to know what to do.
One of the first ways (along with reading, studying and applying) to know His will is church attendance. It’s amazing how many people are looking for a quick answer to knowing the will of God, yet they forsake the assembling together of the Saints (Hebrews 10:25) How can someone be in search of His will without partaking in the most basic tenet of the believer’s life? Dare I say it? But, would the same people miss their favorite television program, or sporting event? I’m just saying…
Secondly: How about the seemingly mundane things of everyday life
I was on a missions trip to the Yucatan, in Mexico. At one of the village church buildings I noticed that their was litter strewn about the area in front of the building. I recommended (through an interpreter) to an elder of the church, that someone needed to clean the mess up. At first he was rather annoyed. But then later, in church service, he thanked me for pointing that out. You see; no one needs a specific “calling” from the Lord when it comes to normal, everyday things. Those everyday things, and how they are handled, show that one is growing in God’s will.
Another thing to think of is this: If you are employed, do your job as unto the Lord. When you carry out your job as the will of God, you are actually ministering to others. This is the will of God If you are a husband, be a good husband. A wife? Be a good wife. A parent? Be a good parent. Attend to those everyday things as they were a vocation from God. Do you know what? They are
Paul’s first epistle to the Thessalonians sums it up:
Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort [you] by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, [so] ye would abound more and more. For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, [even] your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: That no [man] go beyond and defraud his brother in [any] matter: because that the Lord [is] the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit. But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more; And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and [that] ye may have lack of nothing. (1 Thessalonians 4:1-12)
I emphasized “study to be quiet” for a reason. It all comes down to growing in the Word of God. As a Christian does these things, the will of God is made known. It is never God’s will to do anything which contradicts His written word. Sadly, I have heard people say that it is the Lord’s will to do things which I will not even mention here. The reason they “believe” that it is God’s will is because they do not believe that the Bible is THE source for knowing God’s will. Ascribing to other authorities will simply lead to deception.
Sadly, this is happening…
I submit one of our logos for your examination. We do need the Bible back into our churches as the sole authority for life and godliness:
-RJP
