The Will of God?

The following is a message I wrote 8 years ago, while pastoring in Hazlehurst.

Dec 13 2001 12:13PM

The Will of God?

All through scripture, we find the will of God and The Kingdom of Heaven being promoted and built up when people are acting upon what they know to do. Much can be said about seeking the will of God. How difficult it is to find and understand the mind of God in decisions we must make. So often we are presented with more than a yea or nea, but an either or. I know in my own life when I have been faced with a decision, it has been one of choices. It seems to be that in these times that we desire so badly for God to speak from heaven in an audible voice?. And heaven is silent.

So much of what is accomplished is formed in us in the crucible of these soul searching times when we are seeking and desiring to know the will the God. Nose to the ground, sniffing, every sense alive but the one that we wish most, that we SEE. We want to know beyond a shadow of a doubt what we are supposed to do, but so often people make a choice and put on a show of confidence, when in reality they still have questions in their gut, "Did I do the right thing?"

Most people have missed it. I am sure I have at times. The lack of surety is not because assurance is not available, but our flesh does not like to rest in what it does not understand or see the ultimate destination. We like some assurances. However, I do believe assurance is available. You can feel confidence inside, when at the same time you feel and are experiencing the unsteady circumstances shifting. ...our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears." This is how Paul described how he felt in Macedonia, when he had direction from God to go to Macedonia.

Oh I know, we all want a cake walk. Doing the will of God is a struggle, continually, with what we want to do, what is comfortable and convenient and logical. Doing the will of God is rarely comfortable and in the beginning don't seem to be the best thing.

The Greek word used in the scripture for Confidence means freedom in speaking, unreservedness in speech, openly, free and fearless confidence, cheerful courage, boldness, assurance. So often God can give us an assurance in prayer when our eyes are closed and we are caught up the spirit. When we come back down to earth and open our eyes, we can be shaken from our confidence.

I believe with all that is within me that God can cause us to know the will of God. I believe the will of God is known by a certain peace that you can feel, in spite of swirling trouble and uncertainty that is associated with it. I don?t think we need to run off and do something foolish on a whim, but when you have heard from God, you make every preparation you can make and set off to do his will.

So many think that there is a door prize for obeying the will of God. They operate in the realm that has been created by all this false doctrine of prosperity that flows in the Christian world. Show me one Apostle that had it made in the shade? Everyone of them died a martyrs death except John, and he was boiled in oil, put on a desert island and suffered unspeakable things. Who are we to think that we should expect a new car, house and boat because we have done the will of God" Some body needs to drink some very strong coffee and get a clue in how God works.

Oh I believe in blessings. I have more than I deserve. I am trying to keep them coming by keeping them going. Freely receive, freely give.

I have heard it, "God blessed me with a new car." I think new cars so often are really just decisions. Don't tell me God gave it to you if you have a fifty year mortgage and a 10 year car note. That is not the blessings of God. That is called a decision we made. Does not mean it is sin, just means God did not give it, because his blessings are not attached to the First National Bank. We try to help God bless us, when he does not need help. What we need is some old fashioned patience and quit rushing God to do what he said he was going to do.

I have more promises, visions and prophecies than I can shake a stick at. Are you impressed? I am still waiting for most of it. I pastor where I am because of God. In my flesh it was not what I wanted to do, I had a peace about it and after much agonizing, I told God ok if he made it happen. I was relieved when I did not hear anything for three or four months and thought I had passed some test, " I don't have to go because I am willing to. However, when I was asked by someone I had not talked to if I would, I felt that familiar swirl of fleshly preference. However I had settled it before hand and followed as God opened the doors. I am still convinced now as I was in that little time of prayer that this is the will of God. In fact it has been confirmed to me in so many ways.

Doing the will of God does not mean that everything just clicks and flows and happens like minute rice. We walk into the will of God with this expectation and find we have to dig the field, flood the field, plant the rice, and wait, . wait and then go get it out of that muddy wet field.

Finding the will of God is not near as hard as doing the will of God. I have heard and have said myself that Calvary was accomplished in Gethsemane, but think about it. Jesus may have relented to do the will of God in the Garden, but doing the will of God was harder on the flesh than a deep prayer meeting.

Most the times, it is not that we don't know the will of God, but to do what we have before us at the moment. If we will stay faithful and diligent in our current assignment, in time God will open the next door for us.

His will can be found and accomplished,

In Him, By Him, Through Him,

Scott Phillips

" Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report." Heb 10:35-11:2