Will of God

1
Finding the will of God in Decision Making
Suresh V Mathew sureshvmathew_at_gmail.com You
can use this ppt for study purpose .Please get
my permission for using this in full or part as
a presentation
2
Why Should we seek the Will of God

• We need Gods guidance Isa 53.6, Pslam 23
• God promises us to know His will
• Eph 5 17
• Gods will is best for us John 1010 , Ps .
  8411
• Mark of Lordship of Christ Mat 721, Luke
  646
• Praying for the right things 1John 514

3
What God promised about His will

• God revealed His will in His word
• 2Tim 317, Ps 119.105
• It is the nourishment for the believer
• John 434

4
Types of Gods will

• Sovereign or Determined Will
• Moral or Desired Will
• Permissive Will

5
HIS Determined Will or Sovereign Will
(Greek Boulema( Meaaning will) , Eph 111,
Rom 919,20)? Eg Creation of Earth
heaven Redemption of mankind Second coming
of Lord Characteristics Not controlled by us
Does not change even if we pray or not pray
Often it is puzzling and incomprehensible (
Deut 2929)?
6
HIS desired will or biblical principles

• ( Greek Thelema 1 Thes 43,2 pet 39, Gen
  217)?
• Examples
• ONE, it is the will of God that you be a
  believer.
• The Bible says, "For this is good and acceptable
  in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all
  men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of
  the truth" (1 Timothy 23-4 NKJV). Also, 2 Peter
  39 says, "The Lord is not slack concerning His
  promise, as some count slackness, but is
  long-suffering toward us, not willing that any
  should perish but that all should come to
  repentance" (NKJV).
•  

7
Desired Will-2

• TWO, it is the will of God that you be filled
  with and controlled by the Holy Spirit.
• Ephesians 5 tells us, "Therefore do not be
  unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord
  is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is
  dissipation but be filled with the Spirit." (v.
  17-18 NKJV). In the original Greek, the phrase,
  "be filled with the Spirit," could be translated,
  "be constantly filled with the Spirit." You
  constantly need the power of God in your life.
•  

8
Desired Will-3

• THREE, it is the will of God that you live a pure
  life. You need God's help to do that.
• As 1 Thessalonians 43 says, "For this is the
  will of God, your sanctification that you should
  abstain from sexual immorality" (NKJV).
• All the commandments in the bible constitute
  Gods moral will

9
Permissive will of God

• God allows things to happen against His Will
• Eg Disobedience of Adam and Eve
• Prophet Balam Num 22 23 Chapters
• Characteristics
• You are knowingly disobeying one or more
  commands of Lord given in Bible .
• God may or may not allow things you wish
  depending on His sovereign will.

10
Types Of Decision We make

• Non Moral decision
• What Colour of Shirt should I wear ?
• Gray Decisions
• Should I watch this Movie ?
• Complex Decisions
• Whom should I marry
• Moral Decisions
• Should I cheat ? Should I copy in Exam ?

11
Types of Decisions we make

• Decisions varying with degree of morality

MORALITY
Gray
Complex
Non Moral
Moral
12
Pre Conditions of decision Making

• God has foreknowledge of actual path we make (
  Property of Omniscience )?
• God usually reveals only the one step at a time
• Gen 12 1-2( Abraham ) , Acts 96, Pslam 119105
• Seeking foreknowledge of sovereign events not
  encouraged Acts 16-7
• Seeking foreknowledge in ungodly ways prohibited
  Deut 1810,11

13
Parameters in our Decision Making
Sovereign Will
Moral Will
Love for Christ Phil 19
14
Decision Making

• Non Moral decisions
• Should go by the best judgment
• Can use scientific methods like Probability,
  Game theory etc
• Eg which shirt to wear ?
• Gray Decisions
• Our under standing based on Character of God
• Jer 924, Phil 25
• WWJD ( What Would Jesus Do in that circumstance)?

15
Complex Decisions

• Should be within the three Circles
• ( Sovereign will, Desired will , Love for
  christ)?
• Enough freedom for a personal choice based on
  circumstances
• Where believers were called Christians ? (Acts
  11 19-25)?
• Enough freedom for a personal preference
• ( Acts 15 36-41-Paul Barnabas fighting over
  Mark)

16
Complex Decision
Circumstances
Desired Will
Desired Will
Personal Preferences
FINAL DECISION
17
Does God constraints you in decision making ? NO
18
Moral Decision

• Clearly given in Bible
• No compromise expected
• Easy to take but very difficult in practical life
  
• Hence need strength to stand up and fight
• Eph 610-12

19
Are these the only methods for God to guide you
decision making ?

• NO
• We cannot rule out Lord using super natural
  methods like dreams, visions .
• Acts 169 ( Pauls Vision on Macedonia)
• But all the above should not violate the boundary
  conditions .

20
Some Examples

• Gideons Fleece (Judges 640)
• Casting Lot for 12th disciple ( Acts 126)
• Prophesies to Paul (Acts 2110-13)
• Note Pauls attitude towards that

21
Are we anxious about unknown will of God ?

• Our mission in life should not be to search for
  Gods hidden will (Gods specific and futuristic
  plan for the individual), but rather it should be
  in doing Gods revealed will (Gods laws
  concerning lifestyles and righteous living).
• Lois Amari

22
Are you waiting on the Lord ?
23

• Thank You