God’s Will for Our Lives — Bible Study Express

A Life Pleasing to God

1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

KJV ¹ Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. ² For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. ³ For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: ⁴ That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; ⁵ Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: ⁶ That 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. ⁷ For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. ⁸ He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit. CEV ¹ Finally, my dear friends, since you belong to the Lord Jesus, we beg and urge you to live as we taught you. Then you will please God. You are already living that way, but try even harder. ² Remember the instructions we gave you as followers of the Lord Jesus. ³ God wants you to be holy, so don't be immoral in matters of sex. ⁴ Respect and honor your wife. ⁵ Don't be a slave of your desires or live like people who don't know God. ⁶ You must not cheat any of the Lord's followers in matters of sex. Remember, we warned you that he punishes everyone who does such things. ⁷ God didn't choose you to be filthy, but to be pure. ⁸ So if you don't obey these rules, you are not really disobeying us. Instead, you are disobeying God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.

You might have heard the anecdotes that warn against the dangers of random Bible study. One person flipped through her Bible and pointed to a verse to determine what was God’s will for her. She came to Matthew 27:5

KJV ⁵ And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. CEV ⁵ Judas threw the money into the temple and then went out and hanged himself.
: “Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself.” Incredulous, she tried again only to arrive at Luke 10:37

KJV ³⁷ And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise. CEV ³⁷ The expert in the Law of Moses answered, “The one who showed pity.” Jesus said, “Go and do the same!”
: “Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do likewise.’ ” With another prayer and random stab, she concluded at John 13:27

KJV ²⁷ And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. CEV ²⁷ Right then Satan took control of Judas. Jesus said, “Judas, go quickly and do what you have to do.”
, which read, “Jesus said to him, ‘What you do, do quickly.’ ” a

It is important to know God’s will. Jesus said that His true relations are those who know and do the Father’s will: “Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother” (Mark 3:35

KJV ³⁵ For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother. CEV ³⁵ Anyone who obeys God is my brother or sister or mother.”
). In the parable of the two sons, Jesus rebukes the chief priests and elders for failing to do the will of the Father; specifically, they “did not repent and believe” (Matthew 21:32

KJV ³² For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him. CEV ³² When John the Baptist showed you how to do right, you would not believe him. But these evil people did believe. And even when you saw what they did, you still would not change your minds and believe.
). At its most basic, the will of God is to repent of our sin and trust in Christ. If we have not taken that first step, then we have not yet accepted God’s will.

Once we receive Christ by faith, we are made God’s children (John 1:12

KJV ¹² But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: CEV ¹² Yet some people accepted him and put their faith in him. So he gave them the right to be the children of God.
), and He desires to lead us in His way (Psalm 143:10

KJV ¹⁰ Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness. CEV ¹⁰ You are my God. Show me what you want me to do, and let your gentle Spirit lead me in the right path.
). God is not trying to hide His will from us; He wants to reveal it. In fact, He has already given us many, many directions in His Word. We are to “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18

KJV ¹⁸ In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. CEV ¹⁸ Whatever happens, keep thanking God because of Jesus Christ. This is what God wants you to do.
). We are to do good works (1 Peter 2:15

KJV ¹⁵ For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: CEV ¹⁵ God wants you to silence stupid and ignorant people by doing right.
). And “it is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality” (1 Thessalonians 4:3

KJV ³ For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: CEV ³ God wants you to be holy, so don't be immoral in matters of sex.
).

God’s will is knowable and provable. Romans 12:2

KJV ² And 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. CEV ² Don't be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him.
says, “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.” This passage gives us an important sequence: the child of God refuses to be conformed to the world and instead allows himself to be transformed by the Spirit. As his mind is renewed according to the things of God, then he can know God’s perfect will.

As we seek God’s will, we should make sure what we are considering is not something the Bible forbids. For example, the Bible forbids stealing; since God has clearly spoken on the issue, we know it is not His will for us to be bank robbers—we don’t even need to pray about it. Also, we should make sure what we are considering will glorify God and help us and others grow spiritually.

Knowing God’s will is sometimes difficult because it requires patience. It’s natural to want to know all of God’s will at once, but that’s not how He usually works. He reveals to us a step at a time—each move a step of faith—and allows us to continue to trust Him. The important thing is that, as we wait for further direction, we are busy doing the good that we know to do (James 4:17

KJV ¹⁷ Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. CEV ¹⁷ If you don’t do what you know is right, you have sinned.
).

Often, we want God to give us specifics—where to work, where to live, whom to marry, what car to buy, etc. God allows us to make choices, and, if we are yielded to Him, He has ways of preventing wrong choices (see Acts 16:6-7

KJV ⁶ Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, ⁷ After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. CEV ⁶ Paul and his friends went through Phrygia and Galatia, but the Holy Spirit would not let them preach in Asia. ⁷ After they arrived in Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not let them.
).

The better we get to know a person, the more acquainted we become with his or her desires. For example, a child may look across a busy street at the ball that bounced away, but he doesn’t run after it, because he knows “my dad wouldn’t want me to do that.” He doesn’t have to ask his father for advice on every particular situation; he knows what his father would say because he knows his father. The same is true in our relationship to God. As we walk with the Lord, obeying His Word and relying on His Spirit, we find that we are given the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16

KJV ¹⁶ For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ. CEV ¹⁶ The Scriptures ask, “Has anyone ever known the thoughts of the Lord or given him advice?” But we understand what Christ is thinking.
). We know Him, and that helps us to know His will. We find God’s guidance readily available. “The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight, / but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness” (Proverbs 11:5

KJV ⁵ The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. CEV ⁵ If you are truly good, you will do right; if you are wicked, you will be destroyed by your own sin.
).

If we are walking closely with the Lord and truly desiring His will for our lives, God will place His desires in our hearts. The key is wanting God’s will, not our own. “Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4

KJV ⁴ Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. CEV ⁴ Do what the Lord wants, and he will give you your heart's desire.
). b

Dying Comes Before Knowing God’s Will

Posted on September 11, 2022 by Sabbath School Lessonavatar

Many Christians sincerely seek to know God’s will for their lives. “If only I could know God’s will for my life, I would sacrifice everything for Him.” But even after promising God this, we still may be confused about what His will is. The reason for this confusion may be found in Romans 12:1-2

KJV ¹ I 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. ² And 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. CEV ¹ Dear friends, God is good. So I beg you to offer your bodies to him as a living sacrifice, pure and pleasing. That's the most sensible way to serve God. ² Don't be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him.
. Paul is describing how we can know God’s will, and he makes an important point: if you want to know what God’s will is, you have to sacrifice first!

Read Romans 12:1-2

KJV ¹ I 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. ² And 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. CEV ¹ Dear friends, God is good. So I beg you to offer your bodies to him as a living sacrifice, pure and pleasing. That's the most sensible way to serve God. ² Don't be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him.
. Paul writes that we will be able to “test and approve what God’s will is” (Romans 12:2

KJV ² And 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. CEV ² Don't be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him.
, NIV) when:

We have a true understanding of “God’s mercy” for us (Romans 12:1-2

KJV ¹ I 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. ² And 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. CEV ¹ Dear friends, God is good. So I beg you to offer your bodies to him as a living sacrifice, pure and pleasing. That's the most sensible way to serve God. ² Don't be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him.
).

We offer ourselves as living sacrifices to God ().

Our minds are renewed (Romans 12:2

KJV ² And 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. CEV ² Don't be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him.
).

It is only the renewed mind that truly can understand God’s will. But this renewal hinges on our death to self first. It was not enough that Christ simply suffered for us — He had to die.

Ask the Holy Spirit to show you any areas in which you are not completely “dead.” What things does the Holy Spirit need you to give up in order for you to become a “living sacrifice” for God?
When areas of our lives are not completely dead to self, God permits crucibles to bring them to our attention. However, our suffering not only helps us confront our sin — it also gives us an insight into Jesus’ giving Himself up for us. Elisabeth Elliot writes, “The surrender of our heart’s deepest longing is perhaps as close as we come to an understanding of the cross … . our own experience of crucifixion, though immeasurably less than our Savior’s, nonetheless furnishes us with a chance to begin to know Him in the fellowship of His sufferings. In every form of our own suffering, He calls us to that fellowship.” – Quest for Love (Grand Rapids, MI: Fleming H. Revell, 1996), p. 182.

Read and pray over Romans 12:1-2

KJV ¹ I 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. ² And 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. CEV ¹ Dear friends, God is good. So I beg you to offer your bodies to him as a living sacrifice, pure and pleasing. That's the most sensible way to serve God. ² Don't be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him.
. Think about the things you need to give up in order for you to become a sacrifice. How does this help you to understand the sufferings Jesus faced for you on the cross? How can this knowledge help you enter into fellowship with Jesus and His sufferings? c

a SS 2020-2 [URL:http://sabbath-school.adventech.io/en/2020-02-cq/02/01]

b Know God's Will [URL:https://www.gotquestions.org/know-God-will.html]

c Dying Comes Before Knowing God's Will [URL:https://ssnet.org/blog/monday-dying-comes-before-knowing-gods-will/]