God's Will - How Can I Know It?

It's 112 degrees out today, so I blew off yard work. I know that the dog poop needs to be picked up, but let's face it, the kids get home from church camp in only three short days! One of my biggest struggles is figuring out what I need to DO and DOING it. In the Christian life, it is one of the biggest questions. What is God's will for my life?

People have suggested many ways to approach this question. First, there's the voo-doo, wah-wah method. Ask God a question and wait for a sign. If I can drive all the way home and not hit any traffic lights, that means that God wants me to quit my job and move to Albuquerque. I know a man that decided to borrow $11 million for a business because he saw three identical license plate frames in a row. I'm not kidding.

Other people practice quietism to find God's will. Quietism is the "let go and let God" method. There is no doubt that God does not need us to accomplish His work. It is also true that in Psalm 127:2b "For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep", but some people take this as a command to sleep! This kind of Christian is comfortable with the thought that he/she can wait until Pastor Smith walks right up to them and asks them directly to help in the nursery or with the work day on Saturday. They are also content waiting for that perfect person that God has sent directly in their paths to ask them, "How can I be saved?", in order to have reason to share the Gospel. Typically, you'll hear this person say, "I am waiting for the Holy Spirit to let me know when to share the Gospel", or perhaps, "Share the Gospel at all times, and when necessary use words." Both of those statements have some validity, but frankly MOST of the time they are cop outs.

Another strategy is the practice of pietism. Pietism is the "God helps those who help themselves" approach. This kind of Christian will work themselves to a frazzle and pray that they've made their quota. Some of these folks are just workaholics and have to work because of a compulsion. Others are working because of bad theology. I was was having dinner with a group and I asked one woman how she thought that someone could be saved. She said, "If you work hard and live a good life, then you will go to heaven." I responded, "The Bible says that if you add your good works to your faith, then your faith can't save you!" (See the blog on John 3:16 earlier this week.) She replied, "The Bible also says that 'God helps those who help themselves!' " I almost choked on my taco. Benjamin Franklin said that, not God!

So how can we know what the will of God is? There is a tension between waiting for God to speak and initiating action. In Philipians 2:12-13 it says, "So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure." (Italics mine) Here we see a command from the apostle Paul that seems like pietism, "work out your salvation". On the other hand in verse 13 it he sounds like a quietist, "God is at work in you." So what's the answer?

The answer lies in knowing what to work on. First, there are explicit commands from God, and in keeping them, we know that we are doing the will of God. He has told us to love our neighbor as ourselves, to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together with other believers, to love our wives as Christ loved the church, to subject ourselves to our husbands, to obey our parents and to make disciples of Christ. Hey, let's face it. If you want to know what the will of God is, start with these basics and you're there!

So what about if I want to know if God wants me to pack up my family and move to Albuquerque? Should I look at the tea leaves in the bottom of my cup? Should I wait quietly for God to send a bolt from the blue to show me the answer? Should I work like a tractor until I forge the answer myself?

Here's the answer:

1) Are you saved? If you aren't saved, no matter what you do, you are not in God's will, nor can you know God's will. Romans 8:9 "However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him."

2) Are you Spirit filled? Ephesians 5:18 "And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit." Here, being filled with the Spirit is contrasted to being drunk with wine. Anyone who has had the experience of overindulging in alcohol knows that when you are under its influence it controls you. That is exactly the same thing we should WANT when it comes to the Spirit of God.

3) Are you sanctified? 1 Thessalonians 4:3 "For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality." Sanctified means to be set apart for a purpose. Interestingly, the Hebrew mind doesn't see "sanctification" the way that we do in the West. Sanctification from the Hebrew point of view is when something or someone is not only set apart for a purpose, but that that thing or person are actually in USE for that purpose. As an example, a chair is made for someone to sit on. It is set apart or created, if you will, for someone to sit on. In the Hebrew economy, the chair isn't actually "sanctified" until a butt is planted on it. Notice also in the passage that a part of sanctification is abstaining from sexual immorality. This has always been a killer when it comes to fellowship with God, or knowing His will. In today's world it's even worse. It used to be that if someone wanted to look at pornography, he had to ask the druggist to sell the magazine behind the counter, a feat that very few young men would tackle. Today, with a click of the mouse, you can leave this blog and be looking at the nastiest stuff that the human mind has devised in less than 30 seconds. At a recent Men's conference, held in a huge stadium, Christian men gathered to fellowship and to learn how to be better husbands and fathers. At the gate they were asked to fill out an anonymous survey. The survey asked them if they had viewed pornography in the last week. 70% admitted to looking at porn on the Internet. Over 45% of the PASTORS admitted the same sin. Nothing can kill your sanctification worse than dabbling in sexual sin.

4) Are you suffering? 2 Timothy 3:12 "Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." Persecution for persecution's sake is not what this passage is discussing. You may be a big, obnoxious jerk, and people may be persecuting you because of that. There is no honor there! Our goal is to follow Jesus and then, the natural outworking of that lifestyle will doubtless produce suffering. 1 Peter 2:21 "For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps." Notice that the 2 Timothy passage does not say MIGHT be persecuted, it says WILL.

5) Are you submissive? 1 Peter 2:15 "For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men." This is not a call to become a Harvey Milquetoast. It means that no matter what He asks you to do, you must be willing to do it. In response to the question from the rich young ruler, "What shall I do to inherit eternal life?", Jesus responded, "Sell everything you have, give to the poor and come follow me." I was sharing the Gospel with a fellow the other day and told him that it wasn't a prerequisite for him to sell all of his stuff, but by claiming the name of Christ, he was saying that he would be WILLING to.

6) Are you serving? Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” If you are waiting for an invitation to help, let me be the one to extend it. Many folks come to church like an audience attending a play. They arrive, listen, are either entertained or not, and then render their critique on the drive home. Hogwash! You have an obligation to "wash one another's feet". If you aren't serving, then don't expect any answers from God.

7) Are you satisfied? Philippians 4:11 "Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am." 1 Timothy 6:8 "If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content." Hebrews 13:5 "Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you.” " I cited three verses here, because our modern minds can barely grasp this concept. If Jesus is not like "your necessary food" then you can will never be content.

8) Do whatever you want! If you are Saved, Spirit filled, Sanctified, Suffering, Submissive, Serving and Satisfied, then I promise you that the words of scripture will lead you to the right answers.

His servant,

D. L. Culiver