Title: What is the Will of God?
Contents
Romans 12:2 What is the will of God?
We often pray like this. “Lord, what kind of job should I get? Lord, what kind of business should we do? Lord, where should we live? Lord, who should we choose as our spouse? Lord, where and what should we study? Do I have to go?" When we pray like this, unbelievers may make fun of us and say this. "Hey, what are you asking God for? Can't you just do what you want?"
Gentlemen, if there is a clear difference between those who believe in God and those who do not believe in God, those who believe in God are those who seek to follow God's will in everything, and those who do not believe in God are those who follow their own will. But why do we try to follow God's will? The reason is that God's will is much better than mine.
Of course, my will may seem better at first. And God's will can be detrimental to me right away and look bad. But if you look later, you will always see that God's will is good. Therefore, Christians who know this fact try to discern God's will first and follow God's will. Because if you follow my will, you will be a failure and unhappy, but if you follow God's will, you will be happy and successful. How, then, can we discern the will of God?
1. The Bible is an encyclopedia containing the will of God.
When we study a foreign language, if we do not know the meaning, we look up the dictionary. No matter how many times I searched for an English dictionary while studying English, the dictionary was worn and worn and taped, and on every page of the dictionary, the marks of pencils and ballpoint pens remain in all natural colors. Likewise, to know God's will, you need to search the Bible a lot and know a lot of the Bible. The Bible is an encyclopedia where you can know the will of God.
Now, the Bible is more worn out than the English dictionary. It seems that there are ten books of the Bible that are so worn out. Why do you read the Bible so much? It is to know the will of God. However, it is absurd to say that you are looking for the will of God and build walls with the Bible. It's nonsense. Is there anyone who earnestly seeks God's will? Open the Bible that contains God's will right away. And meditate on the Bible. I pray that you will find God's will for you in the Bible.
2. The Bible is the lamp through which we can know God's will.
I seem to have some night blindness. That's why, in the military, night shots don't score well. Even today, I rarely drive at night unless I am familiar with the road. However, there was a shortcut to the military base at the time, and you had to go through a narrow and winding mountain road. It's fine during the day, but when I walk on a mountain road in the dark at night, it almost crawls. So I always carried a small flashlight with me.
Everyone, as we go through life, we are at an important crossroads in life, and there are times when it is dark as to where to go and what to choose. There is also the risk of falling off a cliff if done wrong. You may get lost and wander. How lucky would I be if there was a lamp that illuminates my way at this time? But the Bible is our way, that is, it becomes a lamp that illuminates the will of God toward us. Therefore, the psalmist confesses. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105).
3. The Bible is the way to God's will.
A long time ago, a man took a lamp and went deep into the earth to inspect an already abandoned mine, and the lamp went out and went out. I went deep into an abandoned mine shaft and the lights went out, so it was pitch black all around. I can't quite find my way out. He thought he was dead and despaired, and as he sat still and prayed, wisdom came to his mind. "Since it's a mine shaft, there must be a railroad where wagons came and went."
So he fumbled through the tunnel with his toes in the dark. Because when mining minerals, they were loaded on wagons, so I decided that there must be a railroad track. After a while, he felt a railing against his feet. So it is in the dark where you can't see even an inch ahead, but as you follow the railroad tracks, you come out to the heavens and fields of Gwangmyeong. Ladies and gentlemen, no matter how dark we are, if we continue to follow the word, the railroad that guides our lives, eventually the problem will be solved. I pray that you will discover God's will, the way to happiness in life, in the Bible.
Members of the congregation often ask the pastor for the will of God. Why? It is not that the pastor is asking because he has learned more about the world. It's not even the pastor has more life experience. Not even a pastor knows the future like a fortune teller or a prophet. One thing. Because the pastor is always close to the Word, he is an expert who is accustomed to discerning the will of God in the Word.
Perhaps you want to know God's will for you, but do you not know the Bible, which is an encyclopedia, a lamp, and a way that contains God's will? Or have you never read the Bible properly? Just ask someone familiar with the Bible. And those who answer, please teach us the will of God in the Bible, not our own thoughts.
4. With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we can discern God's will.
Air is invisible to our eyes. But no one says that there is no air just because you can't see it. Likewise, since the Holy Spirit is a Spirit, it is invisible to our eyes. However, the Holy Spirit is always with us and guides us toward the will of God. Especially when Jesus passed away.
“The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26) “But when the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own, but will speak what he hears and will make known to you things to come” (John 16:13).
In the Bible, we can often see scenes where people of faith are led by the Holy Spirit and fulfill God's will. The expression looks like this: “The Holy Spirit said,” (Acts 13:2) “He was led by the Holy Spirit” (Luke 4:1), “I was instructed by the Holy Spirit” (Luke 2:26), and “I was moved by the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 22:43). “The Holy Spirit commanded me” (Acts 11:12) “I was sent by the Holy Spirit” (Acts 13:4) “The Spirit taught me” (1 Corinthians 2:13)
Regarding this, the Bible says: “But God has revealed these things to us by the Spirit, which searches all things, even the deep things of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:10) “For the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God” (Romans 8: 27) "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (Rev 2:11) I pray that you will receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit and discern God's will well.
5. What will you do after knowing God's will?
A young man who was about to get married asked the will of God. "Lord, whom shall I marry?" Even as he asked God like this, the young man had his own thoughts. “This woman has a good character, but no money, that woman has a lot of money but a different character, that woman has a medium personality, medium money, medium education, medium personality, medium faith. ... Lord, isn't there a woman who has a good personality, a lot of money, a good personality, a good trust, a good education, and all of them are good?"
In other words, people ask about God's will, but in reality, there are many things that people choose based on their own will and greed. For example, to a young man who asks God's will for a spouse like this, God said, "You should marry any woman." But the young man does not like the woman. So this young man said, "Blood of Jesus! Go away, Satan." and continue to disobey God.
Everyone, if you do not want to follow God's will, what are you trying to ask about God's will? What do you go to early morning worship for, and what do you fast for? In other words, we must first have a determination to obey and follow God's will before we ask for it. And even if God's will does not match our thoughts, we must have the determination and will to follow God's will. That is, “Not my will, but your will be done.” We need a prayer like Jesus.
And once you know the will of God, you must accept it with gratitude. For nothing, "God, why did you do that? Why did you do that?" and don't complain. It may be difficult to follow God's will right now, but later believe that God's will is better and say, "Lord, thank you." and obey to the end.
Gentlemen, our God is a good God, a good God. God's will never drives us into misery. God even gave His only begotten Son for us. In other words, God wants us to do well. God's will is ultimately our happiness. I pray that you will taste the happiness and success in this foreign land by discerning God's will well, obeying it, and following it with thanksgiving.