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Part One: According to the Will of God
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I really want to discuss this phrase in Scripture; “according to the will of God.” There are so many people in the body of Christ that are confused as to when they should use this terminology or whether they should use this phrase when they’re praying for the sick or praying for some catastrophic situation for a member of the body of Christ, or even the world for that matter.
“What does it mean; and how will I know His Will?”
I want you to consider the scriptures below. They both use the phrase “according to the will of God.”
Romans 8:26–27
26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
The passage above employs the phrase “according to the will of God” specifically in reference to the intercessory work of the Holy Ghost during prayer. This divine intercession, which aligns perfectly with God’s intent, expresses itself through unutterable groanings.
Let us consider what this truly communicates to the believer. When we present our requests before the Lord, two distinct avenues of prayer are set before us: we may pray with our human understanding, as the apostle Paul instructed the believers at Corinth, or we may pray directly in the Spirit.
The Will of the Father
One of the most sobering statements ever spoken by Jesus Christ is found in Matthew 7:21:
Matthew 7:21
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 7:21 makes doing the Father’s will the decisive issue: When we allow Scripture itself to define the will of God for the Christian’s manner of life, the New Testament is remarkably explicit. In several places, it actually uses the words “the will of God” and then tells us what that will requires.
1. The Will of God is our Sanctification - Including Sexual Purity
1 Thessalonians 4:3–7
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.
This is perhaps one of the clearest answers to the question because Paul actually says, “This is the will of God.” God’s will includes:
Sanctification
Abstaining from fornication
Possessing our bodies in sanctification and honor
Refusing to live according to lust
Refusing to defraud or take advantage of others
Living in holiness rather than uncleanness
Therefore, when Jesus says that the one who enters the kingdom is the one who “doeth the will” of the Father, holiness cannot be separated from that statement.
2. The Will of God is Doing Good Rather Than Evil
1 Peter 2:15–16
15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
Here again Scripture directly identifies God’s will. The Christian is to be characterized by “well doing.” Christian liberty is never permission for maliciousness or sinful conduct. We are to live as servants of God. Peter returns to this principle:
1 Peter 3:17
17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
And again:
1 Peter 4:19
19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
Notice how repeatedly Peter connects God’s will with well doing.
3. God’s Will is That We cease From Sin and Live for Him
This passage is especially important in connection with Matthew 7.
1 Peter 4:1–2
1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
Peter establishes a contrast: the lusts of men versus the will of God. The believer is no longer to spend his earthly life governed by human lusts. He is to spend “the rest of his time in the flesh” living “to the will of God.” The following verse describes the former lifestyle:
1 Peter 4:3
3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:
So Peter presents two different wills:
- The former sinful life.
- The life the Christian is now commanded to live.
4. God’s Will Includes Giving Thanks In Everything
1 Thessalonians 5:16–18
16 Rejoice evermore.
17 Pray without ceasing.
18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Thus God’s will also concerns the believer’s inward disposition and relationship with God: rejoicing, prayer, and thanksgiving.
5. God’s Will Requires a Transformed Rather Than Worldly Life
Romans 12:1–2
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.
This is extremely relevant to your question because Paul connects the will of God directly with how the Christian lives in this world. The believer is commanded to:
Present the body to God
Be holy
Be acceptable unto God
Refuse conformity to the world
Be transformed
Have the mind renewed
And Paul calls God’s will “good, and acceptable, and perfect.”
6. God’s Will is to Live According to God’s Commands Rather Than The Lusts of the World
1 John 2:15–17
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
This passage has a particularly strong correspondence with Matthew 7:21.
- "he that doeth the will of my Father"
- "he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."
And immediately before making that statement, John describes what is not of the Father: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, the pride of life, and the love of the world. Therefore, Scripture is again defining the Father’s will in terms of actual conduct and affection, not merely confession.
7 The Will of God is Obedience from the Heart
Ephesians 6:5–6
5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
This adds another important dimension. God’s will is not merely external compliance. Paul says, “doing the will of God from the heart.” That makes the matter inward as well as outward.
8 The Will of God Includes Walking Worthy of the Lord
Paul’s prayer for the Colossians is very revealing:
Colossians 1:9–10
9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Knowing God’s will was intended to produce a particular walk. Notice the progression:
9 God’s will is something the Christian is expected to actually perform
Hebrews 10:35–36
35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
This language is strikingly similar to Matthew 7. It does not merely say know the will of God or believe that God has a will. It says, “after ye have done the will of God.” Again, Scripture presents God’s will as something that must be done.
10 God’s will is a life that is complete in obedience to Him
Colossians 4:12
12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
This is especially significant because the goal is not partial conformity to God’s will: “perfect and complete in all the will of God.” That language fits directly into the New Testament’s doctrine of obedience and perfection.
A Thorough and Precise Definition
I want to make sure that you completely understand what is being taught here. All of the above gives us a thorough and precise definition of the “will of God.” This phrase defines the character the sons of God must walk in. It is not implying a position of servitude wherein we may or may not know what God’s heart or intent is in a matter. The walk in the Spirit places us in a place to follow the leading of God’s Spirit.