Volume 2 Number 6 February 9, 2003 Knowing the Will of God (and doing it) Part 1 The Foundation

Knowing the Will of God
(And doing it) Part 1
The Foundation

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies
a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
And do not be conformed to this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,
that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.'
(Romans 12:1-2 in the Holy Bible)

I am going to do one of the most exciting things I have ever done. I trust this discussion of the will of God will bless and enrich you life. There is nothing so wonderful and living and 'Knowing' that every day, every moment you are 'in' the will of God. Such peace, such a security, such and empowerment! It is totally liberating and gives great joy. When you know you are in God's will you can face anything! I will share my thoughts and the teaching of the Word of God about 'Knowing the Will of God and Doing it'. I am going to open my heart and share things I have never before written or talked about. For months I have prayed about this. Now is the time.

I do not know how many weekly columns it will take to complete this mission. I will just start and see how long it goes. Many people have requested that I write about this subject. All my life as a teenager, then in college, and ministry and around the world people are always asking the question 'How do I know the will of God?' Well, let's start. I know you are ready.

Since it is impossible to write all I have to say in one column I will just start slowly and lay the foundation.

I will not be giving a 'plan' or a 'prescription' or 'formula'. I pray what I will share is Jesus! I trust that you will see the love of God and desire to live and walk and talk in His will and way. That you will be filled with the Holy Spirit and learn to live in the Spirit.

Before I even begin this series of columns I want to say, “Knowing the Will of God' is so simple even a new convert can know God's will for their life and begin doing it.

Saul whose name was later changed to Paul was one of the key leaders trying to kill, persecute and put in prison the early followers of Jesus. Here is his account of how Jesus saved and then revealed to him the will of God.

"While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me. And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.'
So I said, 'Who are You, Lord?' And He said,
'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand on your feet;
for I have appeared to you for this purpose,
to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen
and of the things which I will yet reveal to you.
I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles,
to whom I now send you,
to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light,
and from the power of Satan to God,
that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.'
"Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.'
(Acts 26:12-21 in the Holy Bible)

This shows clearly that a new convert can hear and know the Will of God and start doing it. Why is this possible?

There is in most new converts a simple freshness and total commitment to Jesus. They are in love with Jesus and Jesus is everything to them. First, foremost and totally! Even like a baby, completely trusting in God this person wants nothing more than to live in the way of Jesus.

Tragically this often does not last. Slowly they learn to be 'normal' and the early fire and love and thrill turns into religious structure and routine and the love grows cold and the passion is quenched.

For me, thank God this did not happen. From the time I was saved at the age of 7 I have felt and known the call and will of God as He dealt with me through the years. Now I am not perfect. Don't get me wrong. I am a sinner. But I am saying that there has never been a time when I did not feel and know the call of God and the direction to go in His will and way.
As a child Jesus would speak to me and tell me things to do and say. I will cover that later.

All I want to do at this moment is emphasize that all the teaching I will be doing is 'Not' necessary in order to know the will of God. However is very necessary to grow in one's walk with Jesus. You can be a baby believer and that is great but you cannot stay a baby all your life. This is why this subject is so important.

The Foundation

Does God know me?

This is a vitally important question. The God who created the world and who made all that is made knows you and me? We must lay this foundation stone in order to build.
The scriptures below are just a sample of the many that could be used.
Consider the following scriptures:

“The LORD has called Me from the womb;
From the inter part of my mother He has made mention of my name.
And now the LORD says,
Who formed me from the womb to be His Servant.'
(Isaiah 49:1,5 in the Holy Bible)

“For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother's womb.
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.
My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them'
(Psalms 139:13-16 in the Holy Bible)

The answer to the above question is a unqualified YES! God knows Me! Even before I was born He knew my name and all my body parts. Halleluiah!

Does God care about me?

Consider the following scriptures:
Jesus said,

“ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.'
John 3:16-17

"As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.
This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.'
John 15:9-14

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written:
" For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.'
(Romans 8:34-39 in the Holy Bible)

YES, God cares about me and love me. The Almighty God, the maker of heaven and earth 'knows' me and 'loves' me! Nothing could be better than this news.

Does God desire to communicate with me?

In the Garden of Eden just after God created Adam He spoke to him and began to instruct Adam about how to live.

“Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to tend and keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."
(Genesis 2:15-17 in the Holy Bible)

And I will make your descendants multiply as the stars of heaven; I will give to your descendants all these lands; and in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed; because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws."
(Genesis 26:4-5 in the Holy Bible)

Jesus said:
“ He who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. I and My Father are one."
(John 10:2-3,27-30)

“The LORD is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD
Forever.'
(Psalms 23 in the Holy Bible)

Does God have a will or plan for my life?

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD,
(Jeremiah 29:11-14 in the Holy Bible)

In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of His glory.
(Ephesians 1:11-12 in the Holy Bible)

As Jesus called His disciples He said to them

“Follow me and I will make you fishers of men (People).'
(Matthew 4:19 in the Holy Bible)

Jesus had a plan for them and He told them at the beginning what that plan for them was.

I think this is a great start and God willing the next column with pick up where this left off.

Rejoice, God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. You can know and live in His will and way! Glory.

Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life no one comes to the Father except through Me'
(John 14:6 in the Holy Bible)

A pilgrim follower of Jesus,

Arthur Blessitt Editor
Luke 18:1

Denise Blessitt Associate Editor