Spirit-filled -- Ephesians 5:17-18: Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. 18Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

Sanctified --1 Thessalonians 4:3-7: It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; 6and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. 7For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.

Submissive  -- 1 Corinthians 10:31: So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Peter 2:13-15: Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, 14or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.

Suffering - 1 Peter 4:15-16: If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.  Philippians 1:29; 29: For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him. 2 Timothy 3:12: In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 

 "If all those things are true in your life," says MacArthur, "you may do whatever you want. Psalm 37:4 says, 'Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart.' That means that if you are conforming to God's will in all the five ways listed above, He will place in your heart desires that reflect His will. So do what you want to do!" [4]
 
There you have it.  The six qualifications for knowing the will of God are first and foremost a person must be saved.  What follows is the infilling of the Spirit… sanctification (being made holy)…submission to Christ's Lordship (emptying ourselves)…suffering that glorifies God.  When we do these things we are demonstrating that we genuinely love God.  Thus, God will give us the desires of our hearts.

 
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God -- this is your spiritual act of worship.  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is -- his good, pleasing and perfect will" (Romans 12:1, 2).

 
Footnotes:
[1] Mysticism-Part 1 by Gary Gilley

[2] Knowing the Will of God by Bruce Waltke, with Jerry MacGregor--Published by Harvest House Publishers, Eugene OR

[3] A Private Hotline to God? by Gregory Koukl 


[4] The Plan of My Life: God's Will by John MacArthur

Copyright by Marsha West.  All rights reserved.

Back to the beginning

Contact Marsha                                                                 Marsha West Archives

Marsha West is the founder and editor of the Email Brigade News Report.  Join today!

Prints 1 page at a time                            Home   |   Bible Resources   |  Up                 Page 5