August 21, 2005
Knowing God’s Will
Introduction
Every sincere Christian must ask from time to time, “How do I know the will of God for my life? I have a major decision that needs to be made. Should I marry that person? Should I take that job? Am I called to this ministry? Am I called to the mission field? How can I know what God wants for my life? Where is my wallet?”
After I was converted my senior year in high school, I joined a short-term missionary group called Youth With a
However, I did have several experiences in which God did clearly speak to me. I told Dave a story about how I lost my passport right before a short-term missionary trip I was to take. On the other hand, I could tell you other stories of times I really believed God had spoken to me and time proved me wrong. On the other hand (I’m running out of hands), our move to Barbourville involved little more than common sense decision-making (prayerfully made to be sure) and this has also proved to be God’s will. We embrace our being here with you joyfully as God’s will. So we have these extremes.
Our Text
Our text today really does speak to this issue. I want to start by saying that these stories of God’s direction are wonderful special cases. But the norm for Christian living, I believe, involves this other factor – the “common-sense” approach to knowing God’s will.
There are two important aspects to this passage which Paul brings to our attention. First, we encounter an appeal to be a living sacrifice. Notice the phrase “by the mercies of God.” In light of God’s great compassion for you as seen in Christ, we are called to respond. This relates to what Paul has said in the first 12 chapters. Because of the great sacrifice Christ made, here’s what to do. Present your bodies as a living sacrifice.
Sacrifices of the OT were not living but dead. If it didn’t die, it wasn’t a sacrifice, it was a botched job. Paul is transforming the notion of sacrifice into a spiritual reality that didn’t actually demand the death of animals. “Present your bodies to God for his full use, not by dying, but throughout your whole life.” This is your reasonable worship, he claims. NIV reads “Spiritual act of worship.” I like the translation “reasonable worship.” The Greek word is logistike – which sounds like “logical” and logical fits the context better.
This only makes sense. Christ gave himself up totally for us in death. We should give ourselves totally back to God in life. Don’t be transformed by the world. Don’t let the non-Christian way of doing things fit you into its mold. Don’t let the structures of society make you behave in ways that are not Christian. No, you are being continually transformed (pres pass impv) by means of the renewal of the mind. You need to continually be learning to think the Christian way about everything. When you were converted, you received a new mind – a new approach to life – a new way of looking at life. Now, learn to apply this to all of the rest of your life.
Testing God’s Will
What is the purpose of this? It is so that we can learn how to test the will of God. We have a purpose/result Clause – “in order that and resulting in” – kind of grammatical connection. “Both the purpose and result is this. “You will be able to test so as to determine or discern what God’s will is.” “Prove” implies thought, pondering, testing, determining. Paul does not say, “If you belong fully to God, God will tell you what to do.” But if you are God’s, you will know by testing what his will is. You will have a sanctified common sense about what God’s will is.
What is God’s will? Paul provides for us what we could call some diagnostic questions. “What is good, acceptable, and perfect.” There are two ways of looking at these descriptions. First as a description of God’s will: “So that you may know the will of God which is a good, acceptable and perfect will.” Then there is the correct interpretation – these are not just a description but a means to know God’s will.
How do I know God’s will? By asking, “What is good? What is acceptable to God? What is perfect?” My translation: “so that you may know God’s will; namely, that which is good, acceptable and perfect.” This second way gives us the means by which we can test God’s will. Three diagnostic questions – what is good, acceptable, perfect?
This fits the context much better which specifically states that we can test and prove the will of God. You’re able to test and prove (using your own mind) God’s will. In other words, if the first part of this is true - if you really are offering yourself up as a living sacrifice and presenting yourself to God wholly and being transformed in your thinking by the gospel, then you have everything you need to determine the will of God. If your mind and heart are right with God, you simply ask, “What is good, acceptable, and perfect?” God expects you to figure out what his will would be.
Results of the Two Extremes
The belief that God’s will is known through an inner voice can be very dangerous. This is my former way of thinking – I found it very confusing and undependable. I was so easily deceived or confused – I would pray before buying clothes, a watch, etc. I always wondered – why does the Bible give us instructions in wise decision making (Proverbs for example) -- if in every case we are to get our instructions directly from God.
In other words – this extreme makes the Bible of less importance – who needs it? God will tell me personally what to do. (Dan Keller’s experience on staff in YWAM) This theology makes difficult the organization of group activities. How do you organize people who are getting their directions from God? If you say, “Be there at 9:00 a.m.” they can say, “What if God tells me to sleep until 10:00 a.m.?”
They often respond, “But you need to use your common sense.” To which I would respond, “Yes, which is the way we make all our decisions, sanctified common sense.” With all my problems with this method, we should note at least they are seeking God’s will sincerely. Too many of the rest of us just go throughout life without ever wondering, “What does God want me to do?” Taking the search for God’s will seriously can be a model to us.
That really is the other extreme. We all see how silly it is to think we need God to tell us what to do. So we end up doing whatever we like. We don’t really care what God’s will might be. The problem here is addressed in the first part. If this is the case, we are not offering our bodies as living sacrifices. We are doing the opposite; we are keeping our lives to ourselves. We are being transformed by the world.
That is why both parts of this section are critical. In order to know the will of God, we must belong completely to God. This means we should pray over decisions – not for God to tell us what to do, but for God to help us make wise choices. When we belong completely to God, we can know His will. It will become evident through prayerful examination – by what is good, acceptable and perfect.
Sober Self-Assessment
I want to bring your attention to verse 3, “Don’t think of yourselves more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.” This is really a warning against arrogance and the belief that we can make it in our Christian lives on our own. The idea is something like, “Don’t think you are too important to need the rest of us. Avoid the lone-wolf Christian mentality.” We are a body, and each of us has a role to play. Spiritual gifts are the roles we play in the body that make the whole functional and beautiful. You are not so super-spiritual that you don’t need the rest of us. So get off your high-horse and get to church and get involved in the spiritual life of this community of faith.
My Story
I have made virtually all the major decisions of my life this way. Like I said, I’ve had the “God’s voice” kinds of experiences. My testimony is this: I have never made a major decision on the basis of wise and prayerful decision-making that I regretted. My decision to go into pastoral work came not as an inner voice calling me – but because, after prayerful consideration, it seemed good, acceptable and perfect. My decision to marry Kitty, move to Kentucky, go on to graduate school, even to pastor this church – all were made with prayerful common sense. God has been faithful to lead me.
My Affirmation
My affirmation for you is this. You can know God’s will and direction. First, completely offer up your life and heart to God as a living sacrifice. Second – use your sanctified common sense to ask, “What is good, what is acceptable, what is perfect?” Pray for God’s wisdom – and trust that God will guide. Don’t be frightened of getting and using all the resources of wisdom at your disposal. Ask God to lead you, and if he speaks directly – praise Him. If not, make the wisest choice you can make.
This is a compliment to you. God doesn’t want slaves but sons and daughters. Slaves go to their master for orders. Sons and daughters are raised to be mature adults – to think for themselves, to make wise decisions. Let’s take a few moments to think about the decisions we have to make. Have you given it prayerful consideration? Is your life totally offered up as a living sacrifice to God? Do you really want to do what is good, acceptable, and perfect? Then, you can prove by examination what God’s will is for you today.
On the other hand, there are times when God speaks directly to us. Let’s not be closed to this at all. I love hearing testimony of God’s providential and direct guidance. They build our faith. But let’s not underestimate our own ability to figure out God’s will. The real will of God is this; that our lives be living sacrifices, wholly and acceptable and pleasing to him – that is our true spiritual service. If you aren’t really asking “How can my life be of service to Christ?,” and if you are not placing your heart and soul on the altar of service, you are truly missing out on God’s will for you.