20160114 The Will of God

The Will of God

Matthew 12:46-50 As Jesus was speaking to the crowd, His mother and brothers stood outside, asking to speak to Him.  (47)  Someone told Jesus, "Your mother and Your brothers are outside, and they want to speak to You."  (48)  Jesus asked, "Who is My mother? Who are My brothers?"  (49)  Then He pointed to His disciples and said, "Look, these are My mother and brothers.  (50)  Anyone who does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother!"

We do not know the reason for His mother and brothers visit to the Messiah. There is much we could speculate about, but that would not aid us in being disciples. What we do know is that Jesus chose to do the will of the Father over pleasing His fleshly relatives.

He asks and answers the question. Who is my mother and who are my brothers? The answer, “Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven.” Okay, so what is the will of the Father? How often I’ve heard people ask, “What is the will of God for my life?” For years I thought God’s will for my life would be revealed to me in some magnificent way and I would then go do some great deed. Then in one reading through the scriptures these verses all stood out…

John 6:40  For it is My Father's will that all who see His Son and believe in Him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day."

1 Thessalonians 4:3  God's will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin.

1 Thessalonians 5:18  Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 10:10  For God's will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.

Ephesians 6:6-7  Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart.  (7)  Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.

What is the will of God for all of us?

1.   Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. (John 6:40)

2.   Stay away from sexual sin. (1 Thessalonians 4:3)

3.   Be thankful in all circumstances. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

4.   Walk in the holiness that was purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ. (Hebrews 10:10)

5.   Do what you do for the Lord (rather than for people) and do it with enthusiasm, or with all your heart. (Ephesians 6:6-7)

So you see the will of God for all of us is very plain. And according to Romans 12:2 when we get these down we will learn the rest of the will of God for us.

Romans 12:1-2  And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all He has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind He will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship Him.  (2)  Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

1Peter 4:1  So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude He had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin.

1Peter 4:2  You won't spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God.

How do you get a desire to do the will of God?

1.   Change the way you think. Agree with God on what is important and be a living sacrifice. Don’t copy the world. Copy God.

2.   Have the attitude of Jesus. Be ready to suffer for the truth.

3.   In that you will be finished with sin. It will lose its luster and appeal. You will see it for the lie that it is.

Father in heaven, help us to walk in Your perfect will today. May we be found walking in faith and purity and holiness gratefully and with enthusiasm. May our thoughts agree with You. May we be ready to suffer for the Gospel and may we be done with sin. In Jesus Name, AMEN!!!