God's Will and Instruction for our lives

The purpose of this post is to identify how and where God provides us with direction on His will for our lives.

I will focus on scriptures in the New Testament, but I believe that this will be incomplete if I don’t at least include some key scriptures from the Old Testament as well (all AMP, my underlining).

In Romans 12:2 we are advised to "...be transformed and progressively changed by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."

Per Dr Charles F.Stanley, God reveals His will to us through:

· Scripture

o Psalm 32:8 “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you [who are willing to learn] with my eye upon you.”

o Psalm 119:105“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

o 2 Timothy 3:16-17“All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God’s will, both publicly and privately – behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage]; so that the man of God may be complete and proficient, outfitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.”)

o 1 Thessalonians 5:18 “in every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.”

· Circumstances of life

o Romans 8:28 “And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose.”

· Counsel of other believers

o 1 Timothy 1:5 “But the goal of our instruction is love [which springs] from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”

· Our conscience

o Romans 2:14 “… Gentiles, who do not have the Law [since it was given only to the Jews], do instinctively the things the Law requires [guided only by their conscience]…”

· Common sense

o Titus 2:11-12 “For the [remarkable, undeserved] grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to reject ungodliness and worldly (immoral) desires, and to live sensible, upright, and godly lives…”

· Compulsion (promptings of the Holy Spirit; a strong impulse or desire)

o Philippians 2:13 “For it is God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”

· Contentment when proceeding on a course of action

o Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours].”

· Communication with God through prayer

o Psalm 16:11 “You will show me the path of life; In your presence is fullness of joy; In your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.”

The book of Proverbs was written by Solomon, renowned to be the wisest man who ever lived. It contains details of how to live wisely, and makes it clear that respect for God is the foundation for all the wise sayings contained therein (Proverbs 9:10 “The [reverent] fear of the Lord [that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome] is the beginning and the preeminent part of wisdom [its starting point and its essence]”.)

Proverbs also, in my view, provides us with an underlying principle for life lived in accordance with God’s will. Proverbs 3:5-8 “Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him. And He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way]. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord [with reverent awe and obedience] and turn [entirely] away from evil. It will be health to your body and refreshment (physical well-being) to your bones.”

It is worth noting that, although we are no longer ‘under the Law’ but rather we are under God’s grace through Jesus, the ten commandments in Exodus 20 remain valid as guidance for life today.

God also provides us with the means to understand His will and remain obedient to it.

Jesus said in Matthew 7:7-8 “Ask and keep on asking and it will be given to you; seek and keep on seeking and you will find; knock and keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who keeps on asking receives, and he who keeps on seeking finds, and to him who keeps on knocking, it will be opened.”

James 1:5-6 “If any of you lacks wisdom [to guide him through a decision or circumstance], he is to ask of God, who gives to everyone generously and without rebuke or blame, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith, without doubting [God’s willingness to help]…”

2 Corinthians 3:18 “And we all, with unveiled face, continually seeing as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are progressively being transformed into His image from [one degree of] glory to [even more] glory, which comes from the Lord, [who is] the Spirit.”

2 Peter 1:3 “For His divine power has bestowed on us [absolutely] everything necessary for [a dynamic spiritual] life and godliness, through true and personal knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”

Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep in perfect and constant peace the one whose mind is steadfast [that is, committed and focused on You – in both inclination and character], because he trusts and takes refuge in You [with hope and confident expectation].”

1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation [regardless of its source] has overtaken or enticed you that is not common to human experience [nor is any temptation unusual or beyond human resistance]; but God is faithful [to His Word – He is compassionate and trustworthy]; and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability [to resist], but along with the temptation He [has in the past and is now and] will [always] provide the way out as well, so that you will be able to endure it [without yielding, and will overcome temptation with joy].”

Per Matthew 6:33 and Luke 12:31, we are first to seek God’s Kingdom (ways) and His righteousness (which is credited to us when we come to faith and cross the line of salvation), and then God will provide all our needs (my paraphrasing). Per John 3:15-16, 24 & 36, 6:24 and 11:25-26, “…whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

Also, in John 8:51 Jesus assures us “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, if anyone keeps My word [by living in accordance with My message] he will indeed never, ever see and experience death.” (see also Matthew 7:21, Luke 6:49, John 15:4 and 1 John 3:24, 5:1-11)

According to Romans 8:1-14, Galatians 5:16-24 and Colossians 3:1-17, we are to live in the Spirit, denying the flesh and the desires of the flesh, focusing on God. 1 Thessalonians 4: 3-8 advises “For this is the will of God, that you be sanctified [separated and set apart from sin]: that you abstain and back away from sexual immorality; that each of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honour [being available for God’s purpose and separated from things profane], not [to be used] in lustful passion…”

Ephesians 6:10-18 advises that we are to put on the full armour of God so that you will be able to withstand Satan’s attacks and tempting you to sin. “So stand firm and hold your ground, HAVING TIGHTENED THE WIDE BAND OF TRUTH (personal integrity, moral courage) AROUND YOUR WAIST and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS (an upright heart), and having strapped on YOUR FEET THE GOSPEL OF PEACE IN PREPARATION [to face the enemy with firm-footed stability and the readiness produced by the good news]. Above all, lift up the [protective] shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. With all prayer and petition pray [with specific requests] at all times [on every occasion] in the Spirit, and with this in view, stay alert with all perseverance and petition [interceding in prayer] for all God’s people.”

Then, in Matthew 10:39 and 16:24-26, Jesus teaches that we are to let go of our old way of life (living in the desires of the flesh) in order to receive a new (eternal) life, and Matthew 18:2-3, Mark 10:15 and John 3:3 advises that we are to become ‘like a child’ or be ‘born again’, changing our inner selves, becoming humble, trusting and forgiving (spiritually transformed, with God’s help through the Holy Spirit, renewed, sanctified), or we will never enter the Kingdom of heaven. Then, in Mark 16:16 and John 3:5, Jesus says “He who has believed [in Me] and has been baptized will be saved [from the penalty of God’s wrath and judgment].”

In Matthew 7:24-29 Jesus teaches us to build our life on a Him, as He is a solid foundation.

I shall now attempt to show how God not only provides instruction in His Word, but also the means to remain obedient to it, through the Holy Spirit who indwells us, in growing the fruits of the Spirit in us (as signs of our growth in spiritual maturity over time), and then combine these two by grouping teachings in the New Testament according to the fruits (Colossians 3:12 covers kindness, gentleness and patience).

Love is defined in 1 Corinthians 13. Love

· Endures with patience and serenity

· Is kind and thoughtful

· Is not jealous or envious

· Does not brag and is not proud or arrogant

· Is not rude

· Is not self-seeking (demanding it’s own way)

· Is not provoked (nor overly sensitive and easily angered)

· Doesn’t take into account/keeps no record of wrongs endured

· Does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices with the truth

· Bears all things,

· believes all things (looking for the best in all),

· hopes all things (remaining steadfast during difficult times), and

· endures all things (without weakening).

Jesus said in Mark 12:29-34 “ ‘The first and most important one (commandment) is: HEAR, O ISRAEL, THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD; AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL (life), AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND (thought, understanding), AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH. This is the second: ‘YOU SHALL [unselfishly] LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR AS YOURSELF.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (see also Matthew 22:37-39, Luke 10: 25-27, John 13:34, Romans 5:5, Colossians 3:14, 1 Corinthians 13:1-5 and 1 John 3:23, 4:7)

We are called to love our enemies in Luke 6:27-30, 35. See also Romans 13:9-10, Galatians 5:13-14, 1 John 3:11, 1 John 4:8, 1 Peter 4:8 and 2 Peter 1:5-7.

Joy is a deep and enduring state of our soul that no circumstance, event or human can steal away from us. We can remain in an inexplicable place of contentment. (Matthew 25:23, Romans 14:17, 1 Thessalonians 1:6)

Peace is a deep well of confidence that God is who He is and that He will do what He says He will do. Peace comes from resting in the promises of God. Peaceful people don’t go to war with their actions or words. (Per John 14:27, the peace God gives transcends all circumstances. Per Ephesians 3:17 and Isaiah 32:17, trust in God, and His righteousness, and you will find peace. See also John 16:33, Romans 5:1, 8:6, 14:17, James 3:17 and Hebrews 12:14)

Patience is exhibiting calmness during the midst of stressful situation. It’s showing empathy toward others when they are not doing things to our standard. Patient people don’t become easily annoyed or agitated, nor do they show intolerance. (John 15:5-8, Romans 8:25, Ephesians 4:2, Philippians 4:13, 1 Corinthians 13:4, 2 Corinthians 6:6, Colossians 1:11)

Kindness is being genuinely kind to anyone and everyone. It assumes that all people deserve kindness no matter the differences, viewpoints or cultures. Kindness celebrates others and serves whenever there is a need. It looks out for the well-being of others and shows compassion when needed. Kind people do not display animosity, ill will or envy towards others. (Romans 14:1, 15:2,7, Galatians 6:1-2, Ephesians 4:32, Philippians 2:2-5, 2 Corinthians 6:6)

Goodness is truly desiring to help others. Good people don’t just do the right thing; they make things right and challenge others to do the same. (same scriptures as under Kindness, and Goodness and Kindness go together, also Galatians 6:10 and Ephesians 5:8-9, 2 Peter 1:5-7)

Faithfulness is being dependable in our relationships with God and others. It’s being reliable in a world that isn’t. (2 Timothy 2:13)

Gentleness is allowing God to deal with others so that we don’t have to take matters into our own hands. Gentleness includes being calm, serene and tranquil, and it includes humility. Humility is a lack of contentiousness, i.e. don’t be disagreeable and seek arguments. (Matthew 23:10-12, Mark 10:43-44, Ephesians 4:2-3, James 3:13, Galatians 6:1, Titus 3:2)

Self-Control is being able to keep one’s self in check. It’s not letting our circumstances cause us to lose control. (1 Thessalonians 4:4-6, 2 Peter 1:5-7, 2 Timothy 1:7, Titus 1:8)

(the above, from Joy down, is per a You Version devotional on the fruits of the Spirit, and I have added associated scriptures in parentheses)

It is also noteworthy that the beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-11 and Luke 6:20-21 list what behaviour God blesses, and Matthew 5:22-7:11 contains various teachings about anger, adultery, divorce (see also Matthew 19:9), vows, revenge, love for enemies, giving to the needy, prayer and fasting, money and possessions (see also Luke 12:22-33),and not judging others.

Other scriptures containing various instructions for life include 1 Corinthians 1:10, 5:11, 6, 7, 10, 11:27-29, 12 & 14, 2 Corinthians 6:6, 14, 7:1, 8:11-13 & 9:5-7, Ephesians 4:22-6:18, Philippians 1:27,28, 2:12,14,15-16, 4:4-9, Colossians 4:2,3,5&6, 1 Thessalonians 4:1-11 (live to please God), 5:12-22, 1 Timothy 2:1, 3:1-12, Hebrews 6:1, 10:23-27, 12:14-16, 13:1-9, 15-17, James, 1 Peter 1:13-17, 22, 2:1-2, 11-13, 3:1-17, 2 Peter 1:5-10, and 1 John 2:4-7, 15, 24-25, 28, 3:9, 5:16-17.

Then, in Matthew 7:12 Jesus utters what is sometimes referred to as “The Golden Rule”, i.e. “So then, in everything treat others the same way you want them to treat you…”

Per Philippians 4:8 “Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things.”