Knowing God’s Will

finding God’s guidance

the basis for knowing God’s will

• two meanings:
– moral decisions as to what is right or
wrong (how I should live)

– matters of direction (which job I should

take; what house should I buy, etc)
the basis for knowing God’s will
• the foundation of our faith
– “I appeal to you therefore, brethren,
by the mercies of God,
to present your bodies as a living sacrifice,
holy and acceptable to God,
which is your spiritual worship.
Do not be conformed to this world (this imperfect,
transient age),
but be transformed by the renewal (the Spirit’s
supernatural work in the Christian) of your mind
(way of thinking, attitude, total mental and moral
state of being),
that you may prove (learn, discover, prove by doing)
what is the will of God, what is good and
acceptable and perfect. –Romans 12:1,2
 the basis for knowing God’s will
• will – good pleasure

• not so much a legalistic purpose or plan, but that in

which one delights.

• “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of

the Lord, are being changed into his likeness from one
degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord
who is the Spirit – 2 Corinthians 3:18

• “conformed to this world” (Rom. 12:1,2) and “changed

into his likeness”

• the world molding you or you being transformed by the

Spirit
discovering God’s direction
• 7 signposts:
– the Bible
– inner peace
– personal desires
– specific direction
– circumstances
– godly counsel
– common sense
God’s will and the Bible
• 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

• 1 Thessalonians 4:3

• Ephesians 5:15-20

from these verses, what things do we

know are “God’s will”?
God’s will and the Bible
• “And so, from the day we heard of
it, we have not ceased to pray for
you, asking that you may be filled
with the knowledge of his will in all
spiritual wisdom and understanding,
to lead a life worthy of the Lord, full
pleasing to him, bearing fruit in
every good work and increasing in
the knowledge of God” – Colossians
1:9,10.
God’s will and the unknown
• “But I will come to you soon, if the Lord
wills…” – 1 Cor. 4:19
• “I hope to spend some time with you, if
the Lord permits. – 1 Cor. 16:7
• “I will return to you if God wills.” – Acts
18:21
• “…I mention you always in my prayers,
asking that somehow by God’s will I may
now at last succeed in coming to you. –
Romans 1:9,10
God’s will and the unknown
• “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans
will be established.” – Prov. 16:3

• “A man’s mind plans his way, but the Lord

directs his steps.” – Prov. 16:9

• Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it

is the purpose of the Lord that will be
established.” – Prov. 19:21

• What principles do you discover in these verses

which you can apply in your own planning?
The Holy Spirit’s Guidance
• Walking in the Spirit
– Galatians 5:16-26
– What must you do for the Holy Spirit
to enable you to walk in God’s ways,
producing His fruit?
• Inner peace
– Philippians 4:4-7
– By what steps may we overcome
anxiety?
The Holy Spirit’s Guidance
• supernatural guidance
– Paul’s experience (Acts 22:17-21)
– Commissioning the first missionaries
(Acts 13:1-4)
– Second missionary journey (Acts 16:6-
10)
• Should you seek “unusual guidance”
today?
• Should you expect it?
God’s guidance & personal preference

• “Therefore, my beloved, as you have

always obeyed, so now, not only as
in my presence but much more in
my absence, work out your own
salvation with fear and trembling;
for God is at work in you, both to
will and to work (to be able to
accomplish) for his good pleasure –
Philippians 2:12,13
God’s guidance & personal preference
• Why are we so often afraid we will not
want what God wants for us?

• “Take delight in the Lord, and he will

give you the desires of your heart.” –
Psalm 37:4

• How far can you trust your own desires as

an indication of God’s will?
God’s guidance & good sense
• using reason
– Acts 15:38
– 1 Timothy 3:14,15
– 1 Corinthians 16:8,9
– 1 Corinthians 16:4
• What place did intelligence and logic have
in these decisions or actions of Paul’s?
• How much importance do you attach to
your reasoning facilities?
• Have you been using them enough?
God’s guidance & good sense
• We find Paul trusting God, walking
in the Spirit, and using all the
resources at hand, including his
human intelligence, to accomplish
the job God had given him. As a
result there was boldness and
freedom in Paul’s planning and
working to do God’s will.
God’s guidance & good sense
• Related to the concept of “reason” is
“wisdom”.

• James 1:5-8

• What kind of doubting do you think

James is referring to?
God’s guidance & circumstances
• during Paul’s 3rd missionary journey:
– “somehow by God’s will”
• Romans 1:9-13

• during Paul’s imprisonment in Rome:

• Acts 28:30,31
– “served to advance the gospel”
• Philippians 1:12-14

• How did Paul make use of circumstances?

• How did God overrule Paul’s difficult
circumstances for good?
God’s guidance & circumstances
• What kinds of circumstances are
automatically “God’s will” for you
because of the circumstances of your
life?
• What things are not God’s will,
regardless of your circumstances?
• What things are God’s will, regardless
of your circumstances?
• Philippians 4:11-13 – “I have learned,
in whatever state I am, to be content.”
God’s guidance & human counsel
• Acts 15 – “it has seemed good to us
in assembly…it has seemed good to
the Holy Spirit and to us…”

• By what steps or means did the

groups of Christians come to
conclusions?
• How was the Holy Spirit involved in
their decisions?
God’s guidance & sovereignty
• How does a realization of God’s
sovereignty help you to develop a proper
concept of “God’s guidance”?

• Acts 4:23-31
• Nehemiah 2:1-8

• Looking back, how do you see the “good

hand” of God active in your life?
Trusting God for guidance
• Proverbs 3:5-8
– “acknowledge” = “know”
– What does it mean to know God in all
your ways?
– According to this passage, what results
show up in a life that is lived in
childlike trust? Are these results
evident in your life? Why or why not?
Trusting God for guidance
• Psalm 32:8 – “I will instruct you nad
teach you the way you should go; I will
counsel you with my eye upon you.”

• John 10:2-5 – “…the sheep hear his voice,

and he calls his own sheep by name and
leads them out. When he has brought out
all his own, he goes before them, and the
sheep will follow him, for they know his
voice.”