Making Decisions By The Book: Discerning God's Will #1

Defining God's Will

Audio Podcast Link

Powerpoint with all Scripture written out.

 

Types of God’s Will

1) Sovereign Will of God

Sometimes called the efficacious or decreed will of God

That which is decreed in God’s sovereign will cannot be resisted, changed or postponed. God has set those things in His power and plan based upon his omnipotence and omniscience and things within the sovereign will are inviolable.

2) The Moral Will of God

Also called His perceptive or permissive will. It is revealed in the precepts that give us guidelines for life. God’s moral reveals God’s expectation for believers. It gives us direction, guidance and wisdom. It can and is violated daily by our sin, rebellion and weakness. Permissive does not imply that God permits us to sin, only that due to our creation in God’s image we can choose differently than God would desire.

3) The Secret Will of God

The will of God that is not revealed or will be revealed in the future. It is unknowable by us today and therefore falls under His sovereign will not His Moral will.

The Only Will I Must Be Concerned About

The only will of God that concerns me in the area of decision making is the moral will. It is in that arena of choice that I can decide to follow, rebel, grow or shrink in my relationship with God and His blessings in my life.

The Moral Will of God

Definition: The expression of the expectation of God for us.

1Peter 1:16

Leviticus 11:44-45

It touches every part of our life.

Goals

1Peter 4:10-11

1 Cor 10:31

Attitudes

1Corinthians 13:1-3

Galatians 5:16

Philippians 2:5-8

Methods and Means

Ephesians 5:1-14

Ephesians 5:15-17

God's Moral Will is fully revealed in Scripture and is our final and complete authority for faith and practice.

2 Timothy 3:16

Hebrews 1:1-2

It is able to equip believers for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:17

The Christian therefore must understand what is covered in God's moral will.  Read the following scripture, how is God’s will understood and found?

1 Timothy 4:13 

Reading (studying), Exhortation (teaching), doctrine (practice of truth)

2 Timothy 2:7 

Considering (Critical Thinking)

 1 Peter 1:10-11

Searching (in depth study and research)

2 Timothy 2:15

Study (Be diligent, hard-working, conscientious)

Psalms 1:2

Meditate (Let your mind dwell on them)

Psalms 119:11

Memorize

Philippians 4:9 

Mentoring.

The Christian must be obedient to Gods moral will

Deut 10:12-13

1 Samuel 15:22
John 15:14

The Principle of Freedom

 

Within boundaries given by God, we must analyze, evaluate, judge and freely choose.

Genesis 2:16-17 In the Garden

Numbers 6 Dietary Law

Leviticus 22:18-22 Freewill Offering

Deuteronomy 18:6-7 Levite Vow

Romans 14:12 & 1 Corinthians 8:1 Food and holidays

Illustration:

 

For God's Children, all things within the moral will are lawful. 1 Corinthians 6:12; 10:23

Conclusion:

 

In seeking God’s Will we must understand that the moral will is the only one that affects my life. It is this will that I must seek, know and obey.

I must think through, study, research and especially obey that will of God.  If God gives a precept, command or guidance for me as a New Testament believer then there is no permissiveness. I obey and am blessed or I disobey and suffer the consequence of sin.

But in those areas where the Bible gives no definite command or principle (a non-moral decision) the believer is free and responsible for choosing their own course of action.  Any decision made within the limits of the moral will of God is acceptable to God. It is not a matter of any kind of perfect or center of God’s Will but a simple matter of learning and then doing what He wants us to do.