The Will of God: Part III Wow, another day, another QT. I have had some strange dreams the last couple of days. Rather entertaining, actually. Giant Three Stooges and Spiderman... and a large bald man. You can't forget the bald man. That's all I'm going to say about that, though... I'll just let that role around in your head... So, on the the Quiet Time.
The scripture of the day:
Honor God with everything you own; give him the first and the best. Your barns will burst, your wine vats will brim over. Proverbs 3:9-10 (The Message)
Romans 8:22-30
We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
The Spirit intercedes for those who are saved and love God.
Romans 12:1-8
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.
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
Prophesying: prophēteia (pronounced: prof-ay-ti'-ah):
- Prediction (scriptural or other): - prophecy, prophesying.
A discourse emanating from divine inspiration and declaring the purposes of God, whether by reproving and admonishing the wicked, or comforting the afflicted, or revealing things hidden; especially by foretelling future events.
Used in the NT of the utterance of OT prophets - of the prediction of events relating to Christ’s kingdom and its speedy triumph, together with the consolations and admonitions pertaining to it, the spirit of prophecy, the divine mind, to which the prophetic faculty is due; of the endowment and speech of the Christian teachers called prophets; the gifts and utterances of these prophets, especially of the predictions of the works of which, set apart to teach the gospel, will accomplish for the kingdom of Christ.
Will: thelēma (pronounced: thel'-ay-mah)
A determination (properly the thing), that is, (actively) choice (specifically purpose, decree; abstractly volition) or (passively) inclination: - desire, pleasure, will.
What one wishes or has determined shall be done; of the purpose of God to bless mankind through Christ; of what God wishes to be done by us - commands, precepts.
Will, choice, inclination, desire, pleasure.
So it is the will of God that we have gifts and we use them. We could be prophets, which are people who declare things that relate to God's kingdom and purpose. We could serve. We could teach or encourage. We could give $$ to help the needs of others. We could be leaders and we could be merciful. My personal opinion is this: we should do all of these things, and maybe more. But our strong suit, well we should be excelling in that particular area over the others.
2nd Corinthians 8:1-7
And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will. So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
It is God's will that we exceed expectations. It is God's will that we exceed in giving, faith, speech, knowledge, earnestness, and in love for others.
1st Thessalonians 4:1-8
Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; and 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. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.
It is the will of God that we should be sanctified and to avoid sexual immorality and that there should be a controlling of one's own body that would glorify God in a holy and honorable way. If I were to live a life of impurity, then I would not be rejecting a person, but rejecting God instead.
Sexual Immorality: porneia (pronounced: por-ni'-ah):
- Harlotry (including adultery and incest); figuratively idolatry: - fornication.
Illicit sexual intercourse; adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, intercourse with animals etc.; sexual intercourse with close relatives; sexual intercourse with a divorced man or woman.
Metaphorically the worship of idols; of the defilement of idolatry, as incurred by eating the sacrifices offered to idols.
This study is awesome. I like keeping it to just four scriptures, because that way I do not feel overwhelmed in a whole bunch of passages... I can focus more and get more out of it. Anyway, Johnny Out.
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