Grammatically “will” is referred as a means to express desire, intention or the power to make choice to accomplish something. God gave man who He created in His image the power to make choice. While man’s ‘will’ is driven by man’s emotion, God’s will refer to God’s sovereign plan, desire, direction and command as it pleases Him to accomplish His purpose. His will is based on His divine power that knows the end from the beginning and from ancient times things that are not yet done. (Isaiah.46:10) Because He knows the end of a matter from the beginning of the matter, He does what His soul desires, and what He desires does not change. It stands for ever. (Job.23:13) God’s will is not based on emotion like the will of men. For example, it was God’s will that Samson marry a Philistine wife, but Samson’s parents perceive it not right based on their emotion. (Judges.14:6) It affirms the fact that God has a purpose for every action of the past, present and future. His will is perfect.

Jesus' life and teaching bear witness to the importance and profitability of God’s will. Jesus while praying in the garden of Gethsemane acknowledges the strength of His own will but subscribes to God’s will. While His will is for the cup to pass from Him (Matt.26:39) He preferred to drink of the cup if that is the will of His Father. (Matt.26:42) Jesus doing the will of His Father enables the accomplishment of His Father’s purpose. Jesus also highlighted the effectiveness of God’s will in prayer when He taught His disciples to ask for God’s will to be done when they pray. (Matt.6:10)

It is often asked, how do I know the will of God? And I say that the will of God is the word of God that tells believers what to do and what not to do towards God and towards his neighbours. Jesus is the word of God. The Holy Spirit teaches and gives understanding of the word of God. He also gives the ability to obey God. The will of God is simply to imitate Christ’s self-sacrificing love. Our Lord Jesus says, “If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine...” (John 7:17a) It means that for one to do God’s will, he must be of willing heart to hear the word of God and exercise his own will to obey the word of God. No wonder the Psalmist says, “Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God, Your Spirit is good...” (Psalm.143:10) It is therefore expedient to deliberately exercise one’s free-moral choice to align one’s will with God’s will. Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, for the will of God to be fulfilled in our lives, and work on our behalf to give us that which is in our best interest, we must align our will with His will. The Bible says, “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.” (1 John.5:14, 15) The scripture is telling us that there are two conditions upon which our prayer is answered that we may receive that which is best for our interest even beyond that which we desire. First, we must ask upon the condition that we have surrendered our own will to be obedient to God’s will. Second, we must ask according to God’s will because God does not act contrary to His will. It is when we have done these that we can have confidence and assurance that He will work on our behalf according to His will to give us that which is in our best interest. May the grace to be obedient to God’s will and pray according to His will be made abundant to us that we may receive that which is best for our interest in the name of Jesus. Amen

Evangelism

The will of God is that all be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. Share the good news with someone now.

Rev. Shobayo Kayode The Gospel Study Centre