And he said, the God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou should know his will, and see that Just One, and should hear the voice of his mouth. For you shall be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. Acts 22:14-15.
Note: we are not a programmed machine like a robot as it is our duty to seek and pursue after the execution of the will of God in our life, in other’s life, in the church and in the world. From the above text, four things are made known which are: (a) the election of God which the bible says that took place in eternity, that he has chosen us in him before the foundation of the word, ever before the mountains were brought forth, even before our mother conceived us in the womb, he knew us and determined that we should become what he has called us to do or fulfil on earth. Ephesians 1: 4 a (b) the purpose (s) of the election is our holiness, that we may be partaker with God in his holiness: to live and manifest his divinity in our mortal body, according as his divine power as given unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who has called us to glory and virtue, that we might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lusts. Ephesians 1: 4 b: (c) to see the Just One as the present communion and revelation of Christ to his saints or children on earth, as it is written, for yet a little while, the world will not see me again: but you see me; because I live, you shall also live. John 14:19: (d) and should hear the voice of his mouth which is the spiritual communication between the Shepherd and his sheep, and between God and his adopted children in Christ Jesus as it is written, I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shall go: I will guide thee with mine eye. Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee. Psalms 32:8-9
As soon as the Lord met with Saul of Tarsus, who is now known as Paul the apostle when he was on his way to Damascus to persecute and imprison the disciples of Christ, he asked the Lord to reveal the purpose of his encounter with Christ – what would you have me do Lord? What do you want of or from me? The Lord gave instruction that he should go to the right place where he can follow the process of regeneration before his assignments on earth (the will of God) be made known unto him. Acts 9:6.
After his first encounter with Christ, apostle’s Paul’s life has never been the same, for he walked and lived his life constantly by revelation of the spirit or been led by the spirit of God. Romans 8:14. Galatians 2:2. Note: the ability to discern and able to walk in the revelation of the indwelling spirit of God is believer’s responsibility to acquaint himself with the Lord, first, by obedience to the written word: second, by the blessings and effect of such obedience as it is written, at that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves me: and he that loves me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. John 14:20-21.
The written Testaments will of God.
The believer must seek after the execution of the will of God in all its generalization. Christ made it plainly known that only the few men and women who are after the execution of the written testament will of God shall be accounted worthy of the kingdom of heaven because they have chosen not to despise any of the word of God than to live for it as Christ put it before the Jews that if anyone is willing to do God’s will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether he speak from Myself. John 7:17. The word of God is the written will of God with all the instructions in righteousness revealing the practical written will of God as principles to live for. For example, the testament reveals the displeasure of God against conformity to the world, but if any live in conformity to the world in any pattern, they are living contrary to the will of God, though they speak in tongue, prophesy and do mighty miracles in His name, at the end, the Lord will address and reject them as workers of iniquity. The word of God should seriously and judiciously apply, lest an access to heaven be denied us because we will not live by the written will of God as Christ forewarned that it is only those who are doing the will of his Father in heaven shall have access at end into heaven. Whatever is God’s pleasure as written in the Holy Scripture are the Testaments, if we do them, we are fulfilling the will, counsel and purposes of God. Matthew 7:21-23.
Ignorance of the written Testaments of God will make any believer an old and foolish king who will no more be admonished. Ecclesiastes 4:13. Believers should delight themselves in the written word of God. It is their greatest riches and inheritance because in it is the written will and promises of God been revealed to them. Whosoever despises the word shall be destroyes: but he that fears the commandment shall be rewarded. Proverbs 13:13. When Christ came into the world, he declares by saying, Sacrifice and offering thou would not, but a body hast thou prepared me: in burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. Hebrews 10:5-7.
The personal revelatory and prophetic will of God. John 4:34.
Jeremiah chapter 1 verses 5, it says, before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou came forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations, meaning that your divine assignment is your purpose on earth which is found in the unfolding will of God for your life. Believers are kingdom of priests unto God, and they must stand and shine for God as lights in the world by playing or performing their spiritual priestly offices and roles wisely and diligently at the level of their professional careers as the light of the world and the salt of the earth.
Either by personal revelation (Galatians 2:2) or by prophetic guidance, the Lord is still revealing his will and guiding his children into his will by these two spiritual means. Today, some people thinks that the era of the prophetic guidance and revelation is over, but others are exalting the prophetic above the written word of God to give more power to the voice of the false and deceitful prophets. Let two or three prophets speak, and let others judge. 1 Corinthians 14:29. Though, the prophetic ministry will be functional and operational in the present church until Christ come back, we should be very careful of the present increase and operation of false prophets in the church today as foretold by the Lord Jesus that they shall increase in the last days.
Brethren should be encouraged, and not to be scared away from fulfilling the will of God, even if they have to drink the bitter cup. Is it not the will of God that we suffer for well doing as Christians, than evil doing, that by doing right we may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men? Yes it is! 1 Peter 2:15. 1 Peter 3:17. Peter once tried to stop Christ from going up to Jerusalem to fulfill the will of God on the cross, but Christ resisted the Satan who was trying to get to the Lord through the man of his right hand, let us therefore, be ready to resist any man or woman in our life who may probably be an easy contact to stop us from completing the will of God. Matthew 16:21-23.
God will personally speak to us (and though the Lord gives you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but your eyes shall see thy teachers: and your ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left. Isaiah 30:20-21) and he can send a prophet to guide us as well – watch out.
We should never mistake the gift of prophesy (Acts 21:9) to the ministry of the prophet in the church, for they are not the same category of office and anointing. If God send a prophet to speak to you, the spirit of God will also confirm the word because his sheep will hear his voice, and his spirit is one. If you are able to discern the voice of God through the prophetic, it means you should be ready to fulfill his will – good or bad, – and as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus And when he was come unto us, he took Paul’s girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, thus says the Holy Ghost, so shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owns this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, what mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? For I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, the will of the Lord be done. Acts 21:10-14.
God can lead us into the life of anyone to fulfill his will in their life which has nothing to do with carnal affection of sinful interest, because we are ordained by God to help them –the Lord takes my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me. Psalms 118:7.
For example, Barnabas was personally led by the Spirit of God to look for Saul after his conversion and to bring him to the company of other disciples at Antioch where the disciples, including him (Saul) who once fought after the way of Christ was called Christians. Acts 11:25-26. Through the same guidance of the Spirit of God, as certain prophets and teachers of the word were praying, the Spirit of the Lord chose Barnabas to become Apostle’s Paul first gospel and evangelistic partner for the first missionary journey and work as recorded in Acts of the Apostles chapter 13 verses 3.
God dislikes or hates insubordinate children or those with lack of self – control, who by their ignorant or overzealousness should think that they can just do or say anything in the name of liberty in Christ to destroy their foolish souls in the kingdom. God is the God of orderliness, peace, respect and humility.
Verses 13 of the Acts of the Apostles verses 13 says, so they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia……we should make sure that we are assign into any activity in the church by the Holy Ghost to remain in the will of God, so that God who has appointed us may also give us a back up for defence. I f anyone appoint himself to do another’s man’s work for whatever reason, his intrusive spirit may also cause him a lot of spiritual damages if his ignorant spirit has lead him into the area of exercising power gifts he’s not gifted to function in the body of Christ, or he or she is giving fake prophecy from their deceitful heart or by divination to deceive others. Iron should sharpen iron, but not with men and women of perverse and corrupt minds in the church, destitute of truth, supposing that gain is godliness, for they will remove you away from the testament of his will that godliness with contentment is a great gain. 1Timothy 6:6. Who is your mother, brethren, sister and father? Whosoever is doing the will of God in heaven is your mother, father, sister and brother (Matthew 12:50): no one should be allowed in your life for so long, if their present is an occasion to sin, and is not helping you to fulfill and abide in all the will of God.
The labourious, fruitful and productive will of God for individual’s member of his body in the church
Remember that when you first received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, there are certain spiritual gifts which came along the baptism so that you can function as a member in the mystical body of Christ as it is written that there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: but all these works that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. 1 Corinthians 12:4-11.
Your spiritual gift is your placement in the body of Christ. it is your personal spiritual platform to operate among the brethren, but should be in orderliness and submission to the leadership of the local pastor. The gift (s) is not given so that you can exalt yourself above others to be rude and disrespectful, or to compete against your brethren in the church. To seek to manifest or try to operate beyond those gifts for whatever reason is to go against the will of the Spirit of God who has given to every man several as he will. This means that you have decided to set up a strange fire (exercising false gift to deceive others, and to make mockery of the Spirit of God – he that boast himself of a fasle gift, is like clouds and wids without rain. Proverbs 25:14) contrary to the will God. This kind of spiritual behaviour is so bad for you in the presence of God, the judge of all because it is evil evil, rebellious, and self glorification which will ultimately burn, consume and destroy you, if you will not abide in the will of the Spirit of God by abiding in your calling, and exercising your gifts and not another’s. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teaches, on teaching; or he that exhorts, on exhortation: he that gives, let him do it with simplicity; he that rules, with diligence; he that shows mercy, with cheerfulness. Romans 13:4-8.
This is the will of God, that each branch (a believer), abiding in the vine (Christ), must bear or produce fruits (the fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that win souls is wise. Proverbs 11:30) converting souls unto salvation and eternal life, if they should not be cut off from the vine (John 15:2): none can hide, run or shies away from this very important will and expectation of God from them. Proverbs 24:11-12.
The spiritual comportment will of God
Study your bible to learn about spiritual civility on how to live, speak, behave, approach and how to do other things in the kingdom whether with your brethren or with the outsiders- unbelievers. Our behaviour as children of God is of untmost impotance lest his holy name be blasphemed and evil spoken of by strange behaviours which are not fitted or befffiting the saints. We are not in the will of God if our physical or moral comportment and expression is not according to the writen testament of his word. There are so many behavioral instructions such in the scripture which are given as the Testaments will of God, but breaking those means that you are a covenant breaker. Shall any break a covenant and still escape? Ezekiel 17:18.
In the days of prosperity or in the days of adversity, regardless of time or seasons of life we may be found in life, the fundamental scriptural principles of pattern of behaviours should be maintained and kept before God if we are to please him in all our ways.
Whosoever is glad at calamity shall not go unpunished (Proverbs 17:5), therefore, rejoice not when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles: lest the Lord see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him. Proverbs 24:17-18.
It is the will of God that you rejoice evermore. 1 Thessalonians 5:16. Your joy is an inward expression of the fruit of the spirit of God and not an outward satisfaction of any situation, reward and accomplishments; Success or dissapointment, delayed or fulfilled, the kingdom of God is joy in the holy Ghost. As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing. 2 Corinthians 6:10. It is your duty to be mindful of your labor to cultivate the fruit of joy by the walking in the spirit at all times – the joy of the Lord is your strenght. While you are waiting on God’s promises, you should rejoice in hope, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
It is the will of God that you should pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17. Afflictions and troubles should draw us closer to the throne of grace to obtain strenght and help in the time of need, and not to remove us from his presence. Is any man afflicted, let them pray! James 5:13. When you pray…this is a duty and obligation (Matthew 6:5), for men ought to pray, and not to faint (Luke 18:1), and they should continue instant in prayer, and watch in the same with thanskgiving (Romans 12:12): to watch and pray, lest they should enter into temptation (Mark 14:38): praying with all kinds of prayers and supplications in the spirit. Ephessians 6:18. As soon as Zion travails she bringd forth, pray without ceasing, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
It is the will of God that in everything you should give thanks. 1 Thessalonians 5:18. Good or bad situation, be ye thankful. Murmuring, grumbling, grudging, ungodly- self pitying weeping in time of trouble, altercation spirit among brethren – strife or complaining are all damnable iniquities before God – let us not murmur, as some of them murmured, and they were destroyed by the destroyer. 1 Corinthians 10:10. It is not the will of God for you to disruot the ordeliness and peace of his house, let nothing be done through strife or vain glory – competition or comparison in the heart towards one another. Philippians 2:3.
Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.
This God is our God, forever and ever: he will be our guide, even unto death. Psalms 48:14. God is not your God, if he is not your guide. Is it not written that as many as are led by his Spirit are his children? Romans 8:14.
Divine guidance and the will of God are two inseparable things which should not be separated from one another. If you are not at the right place, it is evidence that you are not in the will of God to do the right thing for him: this is amounted to wasted time, wasted energy and loss of reward. We need to constantly ask ourselves these questions, what God did wants from my life? Where God did wants you to be? As a bird that wanders from her nest, so is a man that wanders from his place. Proverbs 27:8.
As a born again Christians, you must seek and wait for God’s guidance (at the commandment of the Lord the children of Israel journeyed, and at the commandment of the Lord they pitched: as long as the cloud abode upon the tabernacle they rested in their tents. And when the cloud tarried long upon the tabernacle many days, then the children of Israel kept the charge of the Lord, and journeyed not. And so it was, when the cloud was a few days upon the tabernacle; according to the commandment of the Lord they abode in their tents, and according to the commandment of the Lord they journeyed. And so it was, when the cloud abode from even unto the morning, and that the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they journeyed: whether it was by day or by night that the cloud was taken up, they journeyed. Or whether it were two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle, remaining thereon, the children of Israel abode in their tents, and journeyed not: but when it was taken up, they journeyed. At the commandment of the Lord they rested in the tents, and at the commandment of the Lord they journeyed: they kept the charge of the Lord, at the commandment of the Lord by the hand of Moses. Numbers 9: 17-23) always in all things, so that you may be led by the Spirit of God into his will and purposes for your life. Do not be in haste to go out to do anything for God if you are not led, not being influenced, either by fleshly or carnal pressure and reasoning of doing nothing, nor by the mockery of the bad influences around you, as it is written, for ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off. Isaiah 55:12-13.
Ask yourself this question if there is spiritual growth, fruitfulness, fear of God and increasing holiness in your life? Are you in the right place to serve the Lord? Except you are at the right place for God, you are not with God or God’s presence is not with you, and you are just wasting your time and energy, being in a wrong place, and he may not speak to you because as long as you are still where you are, you will not hear him until you go out from them, and you may never discover and fulfil our true purpose – the purposes of his laborious will. God does not speak anyhow, though he can speak anywhere as the Omnipresent, but the scripture is clear on this that he will only speak to Elijah for further instructions after he ran away to Beersheba from the threats of Jezebel unto the wilderness where he was met by an angel sent to instruct to go to the at mount Horeb where divine appointment is fixed, for there will be no further revelation of divine purposes unto Elijah for the next assignments or any further revelation of God’s will to his overwhelmed servant, except he get himself unto Horeb the mount of God; 1 Kings 19:8: (b) except Ezekiel get himself to the potters house, he will never have the communication shared with him by God because that was the intended place of their conversation. Jeremiah 18:2.