II. How to Know God’s Will Part 2
Dr. Russell K. Tardo
The prophet Jeremiah speaks saying:
11For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. [Jer. 29:11]
God has thoughts about His people; He has thoughts about us. This is God’s heart for His people, i.e., His plan, His desire. His plan is for thoughts of peace and not of evil. His thoughts are not to do us in, but rather how He can bless His children. The Hebrew word for peace is shalom. It’s a wonderful word with all sorts of meanings, i.e., wholeness, wellness, harmony, peace, to rest, to be blessed, to be happy, to prosper and to be in health. All of these things are included in the concept of peace. God says that His plan toward His people is thoughts of peace. It’s interesting to note that when God said this to Israel, they were in Babylonian captivity. Just prior to having said that, God told the people:
For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place. [Jer. 29:10]
God told the people through Jeremiah that He would bring them back to their land, but only after seventy years. What brought the people of Israel to that place of captivity? It was their sin of disobedience to God’s will and God’s Word. God gave Israel a revelation of Himself, something that He gave no other nation on earth. He gave them His prophets, a priesthood, a sacrifice and law that they were to live by and obey. God wanted the people to embrace His Word and teachings with a whole heart. Israel’s revelation of God was a blessing. It made Israel unique in all the world for no nation on earth had what Israel possessed. God gave them great light and great revelation, revealing to them His will. He commissioned the people to walk in what they had been given. They foolishly chose not to follow God’s will and went their own way. Israel’s choice was to follow their own desires, their own plans, their agenda and to follow their own thoughts. Their response to God’s plan was to say through their conduct that they didn’t like being different from the world.
Much like the Christian church in America today, the people of God wanted to be just like everyone else in the pagan world. The people of Israel were unwilling to march to the step of the different drummer. Their desire was to fit in among their pagan neighbors. They wanted to dress like them, act like them, talk like them, etc. The contemporary Christian church has the same attitude. Their message is, "We’re not different. We’re just like you! We just believe in Jesus." The church’s message should be entirely different. "We’re not like you at all. We may look a lot like you, i.e., human, but that’s where the likeness ends. We don’t have your heart. We don’t have your values. We don’t have your goals or your philosophy of life. We’re not like you at all."
The call of the church to the world is to be like Christ. It’s not enough to just acknowledge, "I believe in God; I believe in Jesus." Believers are to follow Christ, to be like Jesus. The call of Christianity is for total transformation of life in that we throw away our old life. We can’t live like we used to live and be a Christian. Putting on a happy face and continuing in sin is not the behavior of a true believer. Live-in sexual relationships, continued use of alcohol and drugs has to go if we’re going to call ourselves Christian. Just because we are happy in sin doesn’t make it acceptable to God. The message of Christianity is that sinful patterns of living cannot be continued. Believers are called to come out of the world, out of their old patterns of living and become Christ-like.
Believers must lay down their lives in complete surrender to Jesus. The Christian throws the old life away because he now considers the old life of no value. No matter how much pleasure our old life styles brought, they have to go because we can’t carry that into eternity. The Bible clearly states that drunkenness, fornication, gambling, drug abuse, etc. have no part in the eternal kingdom and therefore, have no place in the life of the believer. The old life and all its allurements and passions must go. When a person comes to Christ, the Bible says:
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. [2 Cor. 5:17]
All things become new. Just how much is included in the word all? We might look like others in the world because our bodily frames are like theirs but that’s where the likeness ends. We look like them but we’re not like them. The things the world loves, we don’t love. The things that we love, they have no regard for. The things that make us happy, the world finds laughable. The things that the world laughs at cause us grief. We’re no longer like this world. Saints, get used to that for we will never be like this world. If we find ourselves fitting in to their lifestyle and behavior, marching to the tune of their parade, then we’re in a backslidden condition. Should that occur, it’s a sign that the world is rubbing off on us and it should be just the opposite. As believers, we should be rubbing off on them.
Let’s remember that we are not like them! The heart of the world is toward recreation, pleasure, worldly pursuits and selfishness. The heart of the Christian is to follow God and honor Him in lifestyle and behavior. The desire of the worldly is to follow hard after their own desires, their own pleasure. The Christian’s desire is to be, "Not my will, Lord, but yours." The world says, "Get rich any way that you can." The Christian’s desire is to be right with God and sometimes being right with God will cost the believer money. Don’t think that by being a pastor the pleasures that the world has to offer are being missed out on. In fact, it works just the opposite in that we experience joys and pleasures that the worldly can never hope to encounter.
For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. [Jer. 29:11 NIV]
Look what else God has for His children:
12Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. [Jer. 29:12-13]
God’s plan for His own includes communion and fellowship. That’s God’s plan for His people. If our past has led us away from God, it’s still not too late to change direction. Here Israel was in the midst of Babylonian captivity yet God said to seek Him and find Him. God wants to know us if we truly want to know Him.
And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I cause you to be carried away captive. [Jer. 29:14]
God tells us to return to Him with our whole heart(s) and He will bring us home. God says that He will receive us. Saints, what a comfort that is to those who have wandered or strayed from their relationship with God. To the backslidden, to the estranged, God has said to return to Him. There is no sin that God cannot forgive provided we turn to Him with a repentant heart.
Last week we began a teaching on How to Know God’s Will. The fact that God has a plan for each life and it’s a good plan was discussed. Also discussed was that man often chooses the wrong way. This morning we will be a bit more specific concerning God’s plan, God’s direction for our lives. Aren’t we glad that we don’t have to flip a coin to determine what God has planned for us as individuals? God has specific instructions for us and I want to give them to you this morning.
- SIX SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS GOD HAS FOR OUR LIVES -
Those instructions are: (1) Get in; (2) Get out; (3) Get on; (4) Get off; (5) Get over; and, (6) Get under. Following those six instructions will reveal God’s plan for each of us.
- Get In! -
What is it that we’re to get in? We’re to get into the Word of God.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. [Ps. 119:105]
This is God’s direction for us. Be a man or woman of The Book. Christianity is said to be a religion of The Book. It’s a religion whereby we know God and all that He’s revealed to us through the Holy Bible. Christianity is not a religion where we try to figure out in our own minds what God wants us to do. He plainly tells us in the Bible. His will is revealed in the sixty-six books that we call the Bible. Getting into the Book enables us to grasp His will and direction and His plan for our lives. His Word really does show us the way.
The Bible describes this world as darkness. It is darkness in the sense that it’s a world of sin and degradation. It’s a world of rebellion against God. It’s a dark world. What does the world have to say in describing itself? It’s a jungle! What is meant by that? It’s a place where danger lurks on every hand. The jungle contains vicious animals, poisonous insects and snakes, etc. The Bible says the world is darkness and the world says of itself that it’s a jungle. How bad is that? It’s a dark, dangerous place from every perspective.
Isn’t it grand that we have a Light to show us the way in the dark and dangerous world? There is a Light that shows us how to live, the choice to make, the path to follow in this dismal, perilous world. If we’re ignorant of God’s Word to the degree of our ignorance, we lack sensitivity and discernment to know God’s direction for our lives. Why is that? It’s because God speaks to us primarily through His Word. We read it, meditate and understand God’s ways and the principles that govern our lives. We understand that as Christians there are modes of conduct that are unacceptable to godly living and we avoid those practices and activities. All this is learned through God’s Word.
Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. [Ps. 119:9]
How can we live godly lives in this gloomy and obscure world? By taking heed to God’s Word. We get direction from the Word and the Word will always lead us aright. Even those whom we hold in high regard and in whom we have the greatest confidence and trust may not always tell us what is truly right or lead us in the way that is truly right. How many of us have gotten bad advice or bad instruction from members of our own family? It happens because they’re not perfect people. They give advice through their own knowledge, their own background or experience, concepts or philosophy of life. Though they may have the very best intentions, their advice can sometimes be flawed and unwise.
From my own personal experience, I can attest to that. An incident occurred in my childhood when another kid was picking on me and my best friend gave me his advice. His advice was, "Hit him!" Now it seemed to me to be good advice at the time so I hit the kid. As it turned out, it was terrible advice. But saints, the Lord never gives us bad advice; He never gives us bad instructions. Get into God’s Word; His advice is sure and sound.
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. [Ps. 119:11]
This is what we treasure. This is where we differ from the world. The world has no appetite for God’s Word or the things of God. If anything, the world wonders what the Christian means by spending all that time in an old book. The world just has no comprehension of our attraction to the Word. Through His Word God speaks to us, offering encouragement and inspiration. Through His Word God tells us how to live in order to have a blessed life.
We can spend time reading magazines, newspapers, etc., but saints, nothing will better serve us than reading and studying the Word. Spend time in Bible reading and study and it will prove to be time well spent. Each time we take the time to read the Bible, it brings peace and comfort that nothing else can supply.
- Get Out! -
Get out of the world! We said, "Get into the Word," and now say, "Get out of the world!"
1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. [Rom. 12:1-2]
The will of God is to Get out of the world! This is the language of the altar and the language with which the apostle Paul and his followers would have been familiar. They saw the Jews bringing their daily sacrifices to the altar. In fact, the apostle Paul had done this himself. The language was that of sacrifice, of peace. What God desires from His people is not a dead offering but the individual offering himself in sacrifice. God’s call is for every believer to become a living sacrifice. God desires that His children be holy, consecrated, acceptable and set apart. That is God’s calling to His people. He’s saying, Get out of the world! Don’t be conformed to this world. Remember that this world is perishing. Don’t embrace its ways, its philosophy or its standards.
14Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. [2 Cor. 6:14-18]
That’s God’s call and these verses plainly say: Get out of the world! God is zealous to reveal His will to us.
3For this is the will of God, even your sanctification [there’s that word again -- set apart, separate], that ye should abstain from fornication: 4That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor; 5Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: 6That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. 7For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.... 11And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; 12That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing. [1 Thess. 4:3-7, 11-12]
God’s will is revealed very clearly in these verses. God’s will is our sanctification, i.e., our personal purity (verse 3). God’s will for our lives is that we be pure and separate from the world. His will is that we be holy, that we abstain from fornication (sexual sins). God’s will is that we get out of the world! This world is drowning in sin, particularly sexual sin and immorality. Oh, but everyone’s doing it! Yes, the world is submerged in sexual perversion and sin of every description, but we don’t become ensnared by it. Remember saints! We are no longer like the world. We have come out of the world and are now set apart. We are now sanctified, holy vessels set apart unto our God.
In these verses we have examples of the language of good King James. In speaking of possessing your vessel (verse 4), that is a reference to your spouse. It simply means, "Men, don’t look for a wife in the way that the world looks for a wife." In looking for a wife today, most worldly men seek only one quality, asking, "Is she sensual?" The world looks only at appearances. The Word warns men not to look for a woman or wife in the passion of lust, i.e., concupiscence (verse 5). Lust for a woman is not a good basis for marriage. Lust is never a good basis on which to choose a life’s partner.
Paul is writing to Christians and in these verses, he tells them God’s will. Saints, we’re not like the world! Our values are different and should be reflected in our lifestyles whether married or still just dating. Why would a believer want to date an unsaved person? Is it because they happen to look good? Is that a basis on which to build a meaningful relationship? The world is driven by that which gratifies the sexual urges. You and I have a different set of values. We esteem the woman who loves God and wants to glorify and serve Him. Women, you likewise value the man who has a heart for God, loves and values God and serves Him wholeheartedly. Don’t make your choice based on the world’s standards. What looks like "a hunk" might well prove to be a hunk of something for which you didn’t bargain.
Worldly values for both genders today are all about appearances. Believers aren’t like that and neither is the God we serve. Aren’t we glad that He isn’t? I’m very much afraid that if God was interested in appearances, He would look at me and say, "Better get on that treadmill, boy!" Not that getting on the treadmill wouldn’t do me some good but thankfully, God doesn’t make appearances the basis for His acceptance. Praise God! He loves us like we are and because He loves, He wants us to be transformed into His likeness. That’s only possible as we surrender to Him and the work that He does in and through us.
God’s desire for us is that we be honest and fair. His desire is that we treat our brother and all that belongs to our brother with respect, not defrauding or betraying him in any way. God wants both men and women to keep themselves in line, not going beyond that which is considered right and proper. A holy kiss, saints, is not for a man or woman to kiss another of the opposite gender on the mouth. It’s acceptable to have and display Christian love for our brothers and sisters in Christ, but we must be watchful and not go beyond that which is appropriate. When we wisely adhere to the boundaries, we need never fear taking advantage or offending our fellow Christians. Sadly, even those in positions of leadership sometimes fail to adhere to the wisdom of Paul’s admonitions. They are in the position of watching over "the sheep" and fall into the devil’s entrapment of sexual betrayal, financial chicanery, etc. God has not called His people into any kind of uncleanness, i.e., that which is immoral or unethical.
It is God’s will that we study to be quiet (verse 11). It means we do our best to live quiet lives. Who wants to live a boisterous life filled with turmoil, agitation and strife? Paul is literally saying here, Mind you own business and work with your own hands. These are simple instructions for believers to follow in leading a godly, Christian life in the midst of an ungodly world.
We may ask, "What should we do, Lord?" Which way is going to lead into tumult, upheaval and pandemonium? Which way will allow us to lead quiet, peaceful and amicable lives? Those are our choices. As we get into the Word, the more sensitive we become to God’s will, His call and His direction for our lives.
Throughout history the principles of both Judaism and Christianity placed value on physical labor. The ethic in both cultures was that work had dignity. This is one of the major differences between the standards of the Judeo-Christian society and the Greek and Roman world. The Greek’s outlook toward work was that it was for fools and idiots whereas the Romans believed that work was for slaves. On the other hand, both Jews and Christians said that work was for all and as long as the work was honest and ethical, it was acceptable in God’s eyes. The concept was that if it rendered a service to humanity and was honest, then the occupation was appropriate.
For the Christian and the Jew, this concept has not changed through the years. It matters not if your work is that of mechanic, carpenter, plumber, etc. The only criteria: "Is it honest and ethical work?" There are some jobs that render a disservice to others even though there may be some good done in the course of fulfilling the job’s responsibilities. Someone once made the argument that being a bartender is acceptable because the bartender does some good to others. How is that, you ask? Well, the bartender listens to the patron’s problems as he downs his alcoholic beverages. Does that sound like something a Christian should do to make his living? The bartender renders a grave disservice in serving alcohol to the public. That is certainly not an occupation that can be done for the glory of God.
Saints, don’t view work from the world’s viewpoint. The world’s standard for work is: Get rich quick! Whatever the job, the goal is to make a million dollars just as fast as possible. The biblical work ethic however, is that any job, no matter how menial, if ethical and honest, has dignity. The Bible says to do an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay in order that the believer can walk honestly in this world and lack nothing. God provides for the needs of His own. God’s will? Get into the Word and out of the world!
- Get on! -
Get on the cross, i.e., die to self, overcome, crucify the flesh and its lusts and affections. Jesus called those who followed Him to take up their cross daily.
And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. [Lk. 9:23]
- Get off! -
Get off your high horse! Christians must not allow pride to invade their thoughts and actions in any way. A wise man once said, "The ground is level at the foot of the cross," and the person who is dead to self won’t think more highly of himself than he should.
- Get over! -
We must get over ourselves and all the petty offenses and grievances. As true believers, we must rid ourselves of all bitterness, anger, unforgiveness and anything else that might serve to hinder our spiritual growth and maturity. All those traits go to the cross where they are nailed and left there.
- Get under! -
Lastly, God wants His people to get understanding.
Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. [Eph. 5:17]
5Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.... 7Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. [Prov. 4:5, 7]
God wants us to understand what His will is. He wants us to know Him, serve Him and follow Him. He has called us to take up our cross, to come out of the world and be holy, be separate. Many cry out to God, "Lord, show me your will." What we must all understand is that He has showed us His will in thousands of ways and we’re not yet doing what’s been shown to us. Understanding is obtained by getting into the Word. It is in and through diligent study of the Word that we learn and grow. The Father then helps us to do what is right, to live and walk rightly. He lights our path so that we can walk a straight path in this dark and deceitful world.
- Closing Prayer -
Father, bless the Word to our hearts, I pray. I pray that you give us understanding and a desire to know and do your will. Help us toward that end. In Jesus Name we pray ... amen.
