Chapter 39—How May We Know God'S Will?

BIBLE GEM

“I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also.”—1 Corinthians 14:15CWG 94.1

“Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.”—Ephesians 5:17CWG 94.2

“If any man will to do His will, he shall know of the doctrine.”—John 7:17CWG 94.3

QUESTION

How may I know God's will? How may I know that my will is in accord with His will?CWG 94.4

ANSWER

Will of God expressed in His law: “God will draw near to every seeking soul.”—Selected Messages 1:116CWG 94.5

“The will of God is expressed in the precepts of His holy law, and the principles of this law are the principles of heaven. The angels of heaven attain unto no higher knowledge than to know the will of God, and to do His will is the highest service that can engage their powers.”—Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, 109CWG 94.6

Some ways in which God's will is revealed: “There are three ways in which the Lord reveals His will to us, to guide us, and to fit us to guide others. How may we know His voice from that of a stranger? How shall we distinguish it from the voice of a false shepherd? God reveals His will to us in His Word, the Holy Scriptures. His voice is also revealed in His providential workings; and it will be recognized if we do not separate our souls from Him by walking in our own ways, doing according to our own wills, and following the promptings of an unsanctified heart, until the senses have become so confused that eternal things are not discerned, and the voice of Satan is so disguised that it is accepted as the voice of God.CWG 94.7

“Another way in which God's voice is heard is through the appeals of His Holy Spirit, making impressions upon the heart, which will be brought out in the character. If you are in doubt upon any subject you must first consult the Scriptures. If you have truly begun the life of faith you have given yourself to the Lord to be wholly His, and He has taken you to mold and fashion according to His purpose, that you may be a vessel unto honor.”—Testimonies For The Church 5:512CWG 95.1

Attraction and desire not enough: “But many are attracted by the beauty of Christ and the glory of heaven, who yet shrink from the conditions by which alone these can become their own.... They look toward the narrow way and the strait gate; but selfish pleasure, love of the world, pride, unsanctified ambition, place a barrier between them and the Saviour.... They desire the good, they make some effort to obtain it; but they do not choose it; they have not a settled purpose to secure it at the cost of all things.”—Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, 143CWG 95.2

To know His will, faith and prayer needed: “True faith and true prayer.... are as two arms by which the human suppliant lays hold upon the power of Infinite Love. Faith is trusting in God,—believing that He loves us, and knows what is for our best good. Thus, instead of our own way, it leads us to choose His way.”—Gospel Workers, 259CWG 95.3

SUMMARY AND PRAYER THOUGHT

When we receive Heavenly guidance, it is always in harmony with God's revealed truth and His ten commandments. The Bible and the Bible only is our only sure guide to distinguish between light and darkness, truth and error.CWG 95.4

A lady thought that she was listening to the voice of God while she still loved one pet sin. Sometime later she was told by the same voice to go and kill somebody. She did it. And she is still sitting in jail today. It is obvious that she was listening to the voice of the devil. We must make sure that every sin has been confessed and forsaken and then we need to pray, read the Bible, and meditate on Christ's love filled life. Even then, we will hear two voices, the tempter's and the still small voice of the Holy Spirit. By God's Word alone we will know whose voice is speaking to us. We cannot go by feelings. We must depend on the Word of the living God.CWG 95.5

Dear Jesus, please help us to so read the Bible and pray that we may at all times know the difference and follow only that which is right and honorable and in harmony with Your revealed will.CWG 95.6