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1. God's will is for everyone to be saved

This is the first thing about God's will: He wants people to be saved.

Salvation is the starting point. God's primary desire is for all people to come to salvation through Jesus Christ. This is the foundation of understanding and living in God's will. Without salvation, one cannot truly begin to comprehend or fulfill God's purpose for their life.

God's patience demonstrates His desire for salvation. The apparent delay in Christ's return is not due to God's inability or unfaithfulness, but rather His longsuffering nature. He is giving people time to repent and turn to Him.

• Key aspects of salvation:
  • Recognizing one's sin
  • Accepting Jesus Christ as personal Savior
  • Experiencing God's forgiveness and new life

2. Being Spirit-filled is essential to knowing God's will

The Spirit-filled life is nothing more than living in the conscious presence of the indwelling Christ.

The Holy Spirit empowers believers. When a person becomes a Christian, the Holy Spirit indwells them. However, being filled with the Spirit is an ongoing process of yielding control to God's Spirit in every aspect of life.

Spirit-filled living transforms behavior. As believers submit to the Holy Spirit's guidance, they experience:

• Increased love and compassion
• Wisdom in decision-making
• Power to resist temptation
• Boldness in sharing their faith

The key to being Spirit-filled is saturation with God's Word. Regular Bible study and meditation allow the Holy Spirit to shape one's thoughts, desires, and actions to align with God's will.

3. Sanctification and purity are crucial aspects of God's will

God's will is that you be holy—sanctified.

Holiness is a process. Sanctification is the ongoing work of God in a believer's life, making them more like Christ. This involves:

• Abstaining from sexual immorality
• Controlling one's body
• Subduing passions
• Treating others fairly

Purity impacts effectiveness. A holy life is a powerful witness to the world. When Christians live distinctly from the culture around them, it draws attention to Christ and silences critics of the faith.

• Areas of focus for purity:
  • Thoughts and attitudes
  • Speech and actions
  • Relationships and interactions
  • Use of time and resources

4. Submission to authority is part of God's plan

Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution.

Godly submission is a witness. When Christians respectfully submit to authorities, even when they disagree, it demonstrates Christ's character and silences critics. This applies to various spheres of life:

• Government and laws
• Workplace and employers
• Church leadership
• Family relationships

Exceptions to submission. The only time believers should not submit to human authority is when it directly contradicts God's clear commands. In such cases, respectful non-compliance may be necessary.

5. Suffering for doing right is within God's will

For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right than for doing what is wrong.

Suffering is expected for believers. Following Christ often leads to opposition from the world. This suffering is not due to wrongdoing but because of alignment with God's ways.

Persecution produces growth. When faced with suffering for righteousness:

• It strengthens faith
• It provides opportunities for witness
• It deepens dependence on God
• It aligns believers with Christ's experience

Suffering should be met with joy and continued faithfulness, knowing that God uses it for His purposes and the believer's ultimate good.

6. Boldly confront the world with the gospel

They confronted the world head-on with the claims of Christ, in love, and they let the chips fly.

Boldness is required. Effective evangelism involves lovingly but firmly presenting the truth of Christ, even when it's unpopular or leads to persecution.

God provides opportunities through opposition. When believers face resistance for their faith, it often opens doors for powerful witness. Examples from Scripture and modern times show how persecution can lead to:

• Unique platforms for sharing the gospel
• Deeper impact on listeners
• Supernatural empowerment from God

Boldness in sharing Christ should always be coupled with love, wisdom, and reliance on the Holy Spirit's guidance.

7. Do what you want when aligned with God's principles

If you are doing all five of the basic things, do you know what the next principle of God's will is? Do whatever you want!

God shapes desires. When a believer is fully committed to God's revealed will (salvation, Spirit-filled living, sanctification, submission, and willingness to suffer), their desires become aligned with His purposes.

Freedom within boundaries. This principle doesn't mean complete autonomy but rather the freedom to make choices within the framework of God's revealed will. It involves:

• Trusting God's guidance through transformed desires
• Using wisdom and discernment in decision-making
• Being open to God's redirection

When believers are fully surrendered to God, they can trust that He is working through their desires and decisions to accomplish His purposes, even when the specific outcome is unclear.

Last updated: October 12, 2024