The Apostle Paul prays for the church in Colossians 1:9 that we might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. Hallelujah! Let’s pray in agreement with the Apostle Paul that we, all saints, will know the will of God.

Can we know the will of God? There are 23 exact matches in the KJV Bible for the “will of God,” and many more direct references to His will. I would say that is a resounding YES! All of these verses are in the New Testament!

My Brother, My Sister, My Mother

Jesus explains that those who are spending time in communion with Him are His family. Those who “hear the word of God and do it” are the ones who are doing the will of God!

And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it. (Luke 8:21 KJV)

For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother. (Mark 3:35 KJV)

We have unlimited access to an ongoing intimate conversation with Jesus Himself through His Word, which is His flesh or strong meat. We can hear His voice. But the only way to recognize His voice over all of the other voices/distractions is by studying the Bible and talking with Him about it.

You Should Know His Will

And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.

Acts 22:14

Ananias is saying this directly to Saul/the Apostle Paul in Damascus. But God is no respecter of persons (Romans 2:11). And Paul tells us in Romans that we should know the will of God too. He says that we may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God! We should know Him and His will so much that it should just be natural for us to be walking it out as we renew our minds by the washing of the Word (Ephesians 5:26).

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.

Romans 12:2

Submitting by the will of God

“Submit yourselves.” –This is a link to verses at BlueLetterBible.org that have those exact words in KJV. You can also read the post, Submit to God.

And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.

2 Corinthians 8:5

It is imperative that we have an ongoing intimate conversation with Jesus. We have to know Him and be able to hear His voice to discern good and evil.

Jesus Gave Himself for Our Sins According to the Will of God

Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

Galatians 1:4

Jesus gave Himself up for our sins that He might deliver us. We know that it is the will of God that none should perish (2 Peter 3:9). Jesus paid it all. Only a few will find the narrow path that leads to life. God’s grace has provided salvation. But it’s only through faith that one can receive anything and everything that God has already made available to anyone who will believe and receive.

Being Born Again with the Word of Truth is the Will of God

Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

James 1:18

In Jesus’ explanation of the Parable of the Sower, the seed is the Word. He explains in Mark 4:13 that if we “know” this parable, we can know all parables. He explains four levels of Christian maturity. All four levels are about how we are receiving the Word. We must be able to believe and receive the Word of Truth to even be born again! How can the world know if we are not telling them (Revelation 12:11)?

We can watch God draw people to Himself through us. His goodness, not our self-righteousness, leads to repentance.

Do the Will of God From the Heart

Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;

With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:

Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.

Ephesians 6:6

I catch myself too often trying to please people! Big mistake. Why? It is impossible to please people when you are trying to please people and not be miserable that is. I immediately start seeing my own faults and failures. When we stop trying to please people and focus on God, we can see how pleased He is with us already. He loves, cherishes, and admires us unconditionally. His love and favor are not based on our performance but on His! Once we believe and receive this Truth, we can start seeing favor with God and man manifest in every aspect of our lives (with persecution).

Yes, the haters are still going to hate. Love and pray for them anyway.

How can you do the will of God from the heart if you don’t know what the will of God is? The Scriptures surrounding “the will of God” explain in detail what is the will of God.

Stand Perfect and Complete in All the Will of God

Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

Colossians 4:12

I have fallen very short in laboring fervently for you in prayer! Heavy resistance is weighing on me as I sit here determining that I will commit myself and time to do this as it is obviously the will of God! Who do you think would not want us to pray the Word of God/the will of God over each other? The heavy resistance is certainly not coming from the Author and Finisher of our faith! Let’s begin a prayer journal right now with this verse.

Your Sanctification is the Will of God

For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:

1 Thessalonians 4:3

God spells out His will for us. Paul encourages us by the Lord Jesus Christ how we are to walk and to please God. He tells us why: Because God wants us to abound more and more (1 Thessalonians 4:1)! Sound familiar? “I have come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)”

Physical Fornication Kills

God created sex for enjoyment between husband and wife. Any sexual activity outside of the marriage covenant steals, kills, and destroys. Abortion is killing millions of innocent babies. Regardless of what you call it, abortion is murder. Fornication leads to sexually transmitted diseases, depression, separation anxiety, loneliness, and the list goes on and on. These are not punishments or judgments from God. These are the deadly consequences that God wants to protect us from by telling us how to avoid them in the first place.

Like all sin, sexual immorality can be addictive! Please read “Stop Fighting Addiction” to learn how to start receiving God’s goodness, grace, and mercy which simply wash away sin along with guilt, condemnation, shame, etc. If you don’t know Jesus, you can also check out “How to Have Life Eternal.” You don’t have to be ready or able to give up anything to come to Jesus, but when you do receive Jesus, YouWillWantTo receive all that He has for you including freedom from sins and addictions.

Spiritual Fornication Steals

“James compared friendship with the world to spiritual adultery (James 4:4).” Andrew Wommack’s Living Commentary.

Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. (James 4:4 KJV)

Perfected Forever!

Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God…

Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.

By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all….

For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

Hebrews 10:7,36

Jesus says in verses 7 and 9 that He came to do the will of God! The author of Hebrews explains that God has taken away the Old Covenant that He may establish the New Covenant. In verse 10, He explains that we are sanctified by His will through Jesus once and for all! Verse 14, says that Jesus has perfected us forever. That is those of us who have received sanctification through Jesus. You can know the will of God! Why would you need the patience to do something if you don’t even know what you are trying to do? This chapter in Hebrews covers a lot of ground, but the point in this post is about knowing and doing the will of God.

Giving Thanks is the Will of God

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Again, this chapter starts off with good news. By the time you get to the preceding verse, you should already be rejoicing! Paul tells us that Jesus is coming like a thief in the night. BUT he explains that day should not overtake the saints as a thief. The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy! Those who have given these attributes to God will reap what they have sown. Those of us who know Him and believe Him know better. When Jesus comes, He is bringing nothing but good and more abundance to us. We know because we are already walking in it here and now in the kingdom. We are in this world, but Jesus has already translated us into the kingdom! Christians should be enjoying ALL that God has already provided according to His riches in glory.

Submitting to Authority is the Will of God

Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;

Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.

For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

1 Peter 2:13-15

These verses also go right along with Romans 13:1-7 about being subject to government. This is very good instruction for us today. Both Paul and Peter were saying this while being under corrupt and secular government themselves! We must humble ourselves and do everything we can while abiding by the rules of the system whether others do or not. If God is for us, who can be against us? We have to be intentional about doing things the way God’s Word prescribes though! His prescription does not include murmuring and complaining.

For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

1 Peter 3:17

Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

1 Peter 4:19

God does not cause suffering!

To someone who doesn’t really know God’s Word, nature, or character, these verses might sound like God will cause someone to suffer. Peter is talking about suffering persecution because the gospel is offensive to many.

Paul talks about suffering over the Corinthians in his second letter. I believe their rejection of Paul and the gospel was the thorn in Paul’s flesh. God’s grace is enough to face any persecution (2 Corinthians 12:7-11).

James also talks about the greater condemnation that comes from teaching the gospel in the third chapter of his letter (James 3:1-2). The gospel offends many, especially coming from someone they know to be common or imperfect. Jesus didn’t come to condemn the world so He certainly didn’t come to condemn His followers (John 3:17).

Even Jesus Himself faced this persecution from those who knew Him to be a carpenter in His hometown. Mary and “His brethren” even came to “talk some sense” into Jesus about His teachings. Jesus never allowed persecution to hinder Him even by those who should know and love Him the most because He knew what was in man.

Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.

But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,

And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.

John 2:23-25

What the devil means for harm, God can use for His plan and purpose!

Persecution is the only thing that the enemy brings at us that God has not already made provision for. That is because persecution comes through people, and God is not forcing Himself or His will on anyone, not even Christians! God’s provision is available for anyone who is willing to get their hopes up, believe God, and receive it! Check out Andrew Wommack’s FREE Healing Center and watch the Healing Journey Videos if you are willing. You can also read some of my own personal testimony here.

Jesus chose to suffer as our substitution

Jesus provided everything for us to receive by faith. He also tells us that we will have trials and tribulations. This is not from sickness, poverty, or anything else that was provided for in the atonement. Trials and tribulations come from persecution from people who will not submit to God. Unfortunately, many Christians are also refusing to submit themselves to God and to resist the devil. This is giving the devil an open door to come into their lives and wreak havoc.

God has already provided everything! The “might be’s,” “shall be’s,” “should,” etc. is not contingent on God, but on whether or not we are willing to take Him at His Word or believe Him and receive it for ourselves (Mark 11:24)! This is the very same principle we are teaching for salvation which is good. Unfortunately, we are not teaching everything else Jesus came for us to have now in this lifetime and in the world to come!

Arm yourself with the same mind. You have the mind of Christ!

Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;

That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

1 Peter 4:1-2

What did Christ suffer for us in the flesh? Persecution unto death.

Who persecuted Jesus most heavily? The religious leaders. Jesus was hanging out and going to dinner with the sinners and even the worst sinners. He said that He didn’t come to save the righteous but sinners. He was constantly calling out the years of misinterpretations of Scriptures that the Jews had been using to look good in their own eyes while looking down their noses at others. This is still so prevalent in the church today. Rather than reading the Bible and examining ourselves, we would rather point out the sins of the world. Instead, we need to tell the good news of the Saviour of the world.

Let’s follow Jesus’ instructions and example to become disciples and to make disciples. Jesus said anything else is just making converts that are twice as fit for hell as we are.

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.

Matthew 23:15

The Will of God Abides Forever

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

1 John 2:16-17

There was a point when I thought that I had to “look good” in the eyes of the world to draw them to Jesus. That was my excuse anyway to be just as caught up in the distractions of the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life! Satan uses the same temptations today that he used on Eve in the garden, and he tried to use on Jesus in the wilderness. These are the distractions that the enemy uses to keep us busy so that we don’t have time to sow the Word into our hearts and become the good ground in the parable of the sower.

His Good Pleasure is the Will of God

Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,…

Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:…

In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

Ephesians 1:5, 9, 11

It is not God’s will that any should perish but that all would come to repentance (Matthew 18:14). He has chosen from the foundation of the world all who call on the name of Jesus and believe in their heart that God raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:10). That’s right! You get to choose to be chosen! Those in Paul’s letter to the Romans that God releases to a reprobate mind are the ones that have rejected Him to the point that He would be going against their will to keep drawing them unto Himself (Romans 1:28, 2 Timothy 3:8, Titus 1:16).

It is God’s good pleasure to reveal the mystery of His will to us! God cherishes all of mankind and has already paid for all of the sins of the world through Jesus (John 3:16-18). Only when we fully accept all of the fullness of His goodness toward all men can we freely receive every good thing He has for us so that we can freely give to others (Matthew 10:8, Romans 8:32, Revelation 21:6).

Signs, Wonders, and Miracles are the Will of God

God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?

Hebrews 2:4

The author of Hebrews was specifically referencing Jesus and the disciples that actually walked with Him in the flesh. But Jesus tells us in the following verses that all believers should be operating in these gifts. Jesus also said that not only should we be doing the works that He did but greater works.

The fact that I am sitting on my couch working on this website that is reaching the nations with the gospel is a witness to me that we can do greater works. You can share the gospel by hitting the “share” button on your social media pages! Unfortunately, we allow Satan to spread lies too just as easily. The only way to be able to discern is to get into the Word and enjoy that intimate conversation with Jesus as often as possible. We don’t have to be afraid of making mistakes. I make many. Just do something!

These signs shall follow

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

Mark 16:14-18

He didn’t say we have to do this perfectly or He is going to dropkick us off the planet. His perfect love casts out our fear of screwing up! We cannot lose for winning! God is for us. If He is for us who can be against us? Oh yes, Jesus defeated the enemy. Jesus is the conqueror, and He says that we are more than conquerors! We get to enjoy the spoils!

Greater Works

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

John 14:12

“Don’t test God”

These signs, wonders, and miracles are not things we should try to produce in order to prove anything to anyone. God’s goodness leads one to repentance. A circus performance turns everyone completely against it. I have heard of people whose ministry consists of handling venomous snakes to prove something. This is a prime example of testing God which is wrong.

Paul was moving firewood around when a viper came out of the pile and bit his hand. The crowd was sitting around watching Paul just waiting for him to swell up and die. He didn’t swell up and die or even get sick, and those people knew that God was with him! Paul was not trying to prove anything to them. But because of this miracle, Paul was able to minister the gospel and healing to the entire island that day.

Prepare Yourself

And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

Luke 12:47

Ah-ha! This is why we don’t want to go around making converts as twice as fit for hell! We are setting them up for unnecessary beatings! Be a disciple!

Jesus said this during one of His parables stressing the importance of always being ready and watchful. The best way to do this is to be in constant communion with Him. Someone who truly believes God will produce fruit naturally. If you believe that God exists and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him then naturally you will diligently seek Him. Right?

Jesus isn’t saying that He is kicking them out, but that they were never believers in the first place. Deceived! Faith without works is dead. Faith produces action. Not man-pleaser action, but sitting at Jesus’ feet action.

Jesus Increased in Wisdom

If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

John 7:17

Jesus is teaching at the feast. The Jews marveled because they thought that Jesus was unlearned. But we know that Jesus had increased in wisdom through learning just as we should.

And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

Luke 2:52

The Law

And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;

Romans 2:18

Paul is calling out the Jews for knowing God’s will because they know the law and approve the more excellent things, but they weren’t keeping the law themselves. We know they couldn’t; only one man could. Jesus completely fulfilled the law to bring us freedom from the law unto righteousness. The law is good and holy, but it is not for a righteous man. The absolute inability to keep the law is what brings us to the knowledge that we need a Savior. That is the proper use of the law.

The Knowledge of His Will

For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

Colossians 1:9-12

This is a prayer that you can pray for yourself and others. Read the entire book of Colossians to see this prayer come to full fruition in your life! Read, study, and meditate on Paul’s letter to the Colossians every day for a week, month, or even a year.

Jesus makes you perfect in every good work to do His will

Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Hebrews 13:20-21

The blood of the everlasting covenant has made your little born-again spirit just as perfect as Jesus. You must transform your mind, will, and emotions (soul) through the incorruptible seed, God’s Word. Renewing your mind by finding out who you are in Christ is what brings His kingdom into your life and brings your body into subjection or submission to what you believe. God has made you perfect in every good work to do His will. You will never “look” or “sound” perfect to yourself or anyone else. Thank God! God says that we are already perfect in His sight! Nothing else matters!

Ask Anything According to His Will

And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

1 John 5:14-15

Why would John tell us that we have this confidence to ask anything according to His will if we don’t know it? We can trust the desires of our hearts as long as we are delighting ourselves in the Lord! God gives us the desires of our hearts when we delight ourselves in Him.

How can we delight ourselves in the god that people are saying is in control of this world? We can’t! The Bible says that Satan is the god of this world! Jesus brought His kingdom down to this world. We choose whether or not to receive salvation. God has already translated us out of this world of darkness and into the kingdom of Jesus. We are in this world, but we are not of this world.

This is why it is imperative that we seek first His kingdom and learn how to partner with God in prayer so that we can bring His presence and His kingdom into this hurting and dying world. We are the light of the world.

Pray for the will of God to be done.

And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.

Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;

That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints;

That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.

Romans 15:29-32

Paul says that he knows that it is God’s will that he visits them. He asks them to urgently pray what he already knows is God’s will. God is not controlling people who do not submit to Him! He is not even controlling His believers unless they are intentional about submitting to Him. That is why Paul needed them to strive in prayer with him.

Jesus teaches us to pray.

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Matthew 6:10

The Mystery of the Will of God Revealed

The Bible is a progressive revelation of God beginning with the Creation and the beginning of time as we know it and ending with the Revelation of Jesus Christ who is God Almighty, the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. God has fully equipped us through Jesus to rightly divide the Scriptures, to live a victorious life here and now being more than conquerors, and to bring His light and truth into this dark and dying world. We must take the initiative and be intentional about walking out our salvation and purpose with fear and trembling. God has given us a purpose and detailed instructions of how to walk it out. Be circumspect knowing that there are deadly consequences for our disobedience. Not from God to us! The enemy steals, kills, and destroys especially those who are trapped in his deception! Sin kills people! Jesus saves! YouWillWantTo FIGHT!