God’s Will for Us

We are told in Scripture that Christ (who is the sanctifier) was also sanctified for our sakes, and therefore He was on the same plane of sanctification as we are, and we can call Him our brother (as well as our great Exampler). John 17:19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Heb 2:10,11 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, DA pg 294 God takes men as they are, with the human elements in their character, and trains them for His service, if they will be disciplined and learn of Him. They are not chosen because they are perfect, but notwithstanding their imperfections, that through the knowledge and practice of the truth, through the grace of Christ, they may become transformed into His image.

Christ suffered the things that we must suffer, to give us an example. He takes us as we are, into a partnership with Himself, that we might come into harmony with Him. In this sense, we become His apprentices, following His example.

FLB pg 139 Conversion is a work that most do not appreciate. It is not a small matter to transform an earthly, sinloving mind and bring it to understand the unspeakable love of Christ, the charms of His grace, and the excellency of God, so that the soul shall be imbued with divine love and captivated with the heavenly mysteries. When he understands these things, his former life appears disgusting and hateful. He hates sin, and, breaking his heart before God, he embraces Christ as the life and joy of the soul. He renounces his former pleasures. He has a new mind, new affections, new interest, new will; his sorrows, and desires, and love are all new . . . .

Heaven, which once possessed no charms, is now viewed in its riches and glory; and he contemplates it as his future home, where he shall see, love, and praise the One who hath redeemed him by His precious blood. The works of holiness, which appeared wearisome, are now his delight. The Word of God, which was dull and uninteresting, is now chosen as his study, the man of his counsel. It is as a letter written to him from God, bearing the inscription of the Eternal. His thoughts, his words, and his deeds are brought to this rule and tested.

He trembles at the commands and threatenings which it contains, while he firmly grasps its promises and strengthens his soul by appropriating them to himself . . . . All need to understand the process of conversion. The fruit is seen in the changed life. In order to receive the transformation talked about, we must perfectly understand the will of the Master. 1 Thes 4:1-3 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication. Titus 2:11, 12 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.

1 John 3:2, 3 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

As we read these passages of Scripture, we see that God’s will for us involves sanctification, holiness in our lives, and for us to reflect Christ’s character and life. Phil 2:12, 13 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

In this verse of Scripture, we read that we are to ‘work out our own salvation’ yet it is God who works in us to achieve this. We though, have a part to play . . . . we must know and do the will of God. Heb 10:35, 36 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God. If there is a perfect will of God (as this verse has stated) is there a secondary will of God? This verse seems to hint that there are two wills of God, and if there are two wills of God, then shouldn’t we want to know what that second will is? We can find out, if we examine the history of the children of Israel.

Eze 20:7, 8,11, 24, 25 Then said I unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am the LORD your God. But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me: they did not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt: then 1 said, I will pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.. . . And I gave them my statutes, and showed them my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them . . . .

Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had polluted my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers’ idols. Wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments whereby they should not live. Here we read how the perfect will of God for His people was trampled upon, and so a secondary will was presented for them to walk in, which was the way (the will) they wanted.

Mat 19:3-8 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.

Again we are referred to the children of Israel for an illustration of God’s perfect and His permissive will. We read how Moses (through the instruction of God) gave permission for the Israelites to divorce (an illustration of God’s permissive will) yet Jesus confirmed that it was God’s intention that man should remain together, and ‘let no man tear them asunder’, and that it was designed to be this way from the beginning (God’s perfect will). 2 Sam 12:7, 8 And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul; And I gave thee thy master’s house, and thy master’s wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.

God blessed David by giving him more than one wife. Plurality of wives was not the design in the beginning – God’s perfect will was for one marital partner – however His permissive will allowed David more than one wife. 1 Sam 8:4-11,19-22 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the
nations. But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD. And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee. Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and show them the manner of the king that shall reign over them. And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king. And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots . . . .

Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us; That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles. And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD. And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king.

God, against His perfect will, gave the people a king, according to His permissive will.
Ex 23:20-23, 27-28 Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him. But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries. For mine Angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the Amorites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites: and I will cut them o f f . . . . I will send my fear before thee, and will destroy all the people to whom thou shalt come, and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee. And I will send hornets before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee.

God’s perfect will was to send hornets before the people to remove all their enemies, however this perfect will was given on a condition. This would only happen if they obeyed the Lord’s voice… but we know the result, how they had to fight to obtain the land that God had said He’d provide for them, and this became His permissive will.

Ps 78:18-22, 27-31 And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust. Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table’in the wilderness? Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? Can he provide flesh for his people? Therefore the LORD heard this, and was wroth: so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel; Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation . . . . He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea: And he let it fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations. So they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire; They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths, The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel.

Yet another illustration is given, of God’s perfect will and His permissive will, and the Scriptures are full of many more illustrations also. These God’s Will for Us – His Perfect and His all show us, that the apprentice of God must learn, somehow . . . . and if the apprentice has a strong will of his own, God says, “All right. Here’s My permissive will. Do what you want – I’m giving you laws according to your desires . . . . I will give you what you desire then . . . .” Why does He do this? We find the answer in the following passage of Scripture.

Eze 14:1-6 Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me. And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumbling-block of their iniquity before their face: should I be inquired of at all by them? Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols; That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols. Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations.

God tells Ezekiel, “See these people coming? They’ve got idols in their hearts and they are going to ask for something from Me. Tell them exactly what they want, according,to their idol desires.” Why does He say this?

Because, if we the apprentices don’t really want to co-operate with Him, then He gives us what we want, the way we want it, until we mess things up and want His perfect will and way.

God does have a permissive will and this is exercised when ignorance and self-will press upon God. He gives us what we want, until we suffer, and then after we’ve suffered and we’re down on our knees, we cry out to Him, “help”, and He kindly says “Well look, you got what you wanted, and it wasn’t so good. Now look at My perfect will – which way do you want to go?”

When we finally plead for mercy, after we have done our own will, the Permissive Will following passage of Scripture comes into operation. Acts 17:30, 31 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by mat man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. So, we have learnt how in the past when God’s children stubbornly resist His will, God’s permissive will conies into action. We are going to be judged by Jesus – by His example, and therefore at the time of our ignorance God winked, now He has given us Jesus Christ, who shall judge us all.

Rom 9:27, 28 Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved: For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth. EW pg 67 I saw that those who of late have embraced the truth would have to know what it is to suffer for Christ’s sake, that they would have trials to pass through that would be keen and cutting, in order that they may be purified and fitted through suffering to receive the seal of the living God, pass through the time of trouble, see the King in His beauty, and dwell in the presence of God and of pure, holy angels. Some of us have had time to get the truth and to advance step by step, and every step we have taken has given us strength to take the next. But now time is almost finished, and what we have been years learning, they will have to learn in a few months. They will also have much to unlearn and much to learn again.

Time is short, and we need to make a decision. We need to be able to distinguish between God’s permissible and perfect will for us, and build up the ways of old, the foundations which were laid for us – which is God’s perfect will for us, as so often it has been discarded. Isa 58:12 And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shall raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in. God isn’t going to return until His foundations are restored, and the breach, repaired. He shall not return until we are obedient to His perfect will. COL pg 69 Christ is waiting with longing desire for the manifestation of Himself in His church. When the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim them as His own. Jude 24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy . . . .

He can present us faultless because He can keep us from falling, if we will be a submissive apprentice – and that’s all that God is asking us to do; follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Learn how to pray, learn how to study, learn how to repent, learn justification and then follow the process of sanctification through and understand God’s perfect will in this matter. For…

Deut 4:29-31 But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice [His perfect will]; (For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.

By John Thiel
Australia