Tag Archives: God’s will

discipleship, Finding Answers to Stuff Churches Don't Discuss, Uncategorized

Exploring God’s Will

Leave a comment

We often want to know God’s will—especially for us. His will is what He wants to do, primarily to keep us from destruction through our transformation and eventual salvation from His wrath. It is His plan for humankind. In the process, He desires us to be obedient, rejoice, pray, and spread the good news to others. Although we tend to think God’s will is some glorious plan for our individual lives, we should instead focus on helping God see His plan for creation through to completion. That’s all well and good. But what exactly does ‘will’ mean?

The word in the ancient language implies choice, desire, pleasure, or an inclination. So, God’s will can be something He desires (as in Matthew 18:12-14) or His plan for humanity (i.e., Matthew 26:42 or John 6:37-40).

Here are some of God’s desires:

  • That all people are saved from His coming wrath (2Peter 3:9)
  • Obedience, not legalism (Matthew 9:13)
  • Our good works, done because of our faith (1Peter 2:13-16)
  • That we rejoice and pray continuously (1Thessalonians 5:16-19)
  • That we proclaim the good news of His Kingdom & make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20)

What are some benefits of partnering with God to accomplish His desires?

  • Redemption and forgiveness; the reward of everlasting life (John 6:40; Ephesians 1:5-13; Hebrews 10:35-36)
  • We get His Spirit and intercession on our behalf (Romans 8:26-28)

How do we participate in God’s plan and accomplish His desires? First, we must obey His commandments to honor the Father and Son and be charitable to people (1John 5:3; Matthew 22:36-40). We must also abstain from sexual immorality (1Thessalonians 4:2-4). We are to imitate God (Ephesians 5:1-20), allow the Holy Spirit to lead us (Romans 8:14, Galatians 5:25). Making God’s priorities our priorities (Matthew 6:33) is critical, and we must obey our civil leaders and submit to them (Hebrews 13:17).

Whew! That seems like a lot of stuff! But, we can learn what we’re to do in accomplishing God’s will or discovering the answers to our prayers by doing these things:

•           Study the Bible, which teaches principles that help in decision-making (2Timothy 3:16-17).

•           Ask for wisdom (James 1:5-6).

•           Seek wisdom (from family, friends, spiritually mature, etc.) (Proverbs 13:10).

•           Pray!!!

But, we can hinder the accomplishment of God’s will or desires – even for us – through:

•           Bad motives (James 4:3).

•           Bad relationships (1Peter 3:7).

•           Unrighteousness due to disobedience and the lack of the Spirit (John 9:31).

Summary: God has a plan for humanity: salvation through Christ. He also desires fellowship and obedience from us in a pursuit of holiness. We can join in and help accomplish God’s plans or desires, or we can rebel and keep Him from using us or even answering our requests. Of course, this rebellion will result in death. Next week, we’ll take a look at demons with job titles & the ‘spirit’ of biblical abuse.

Blessings and peace,

Ron Braley

Finding Answers to Stuff Churches Don't Discuss, Finding the End of the World

Exploring God’s Will

Leave a comment

God’s will is what He wants to do, which is primarily to keep us from destruction through salvation. This is His plan for mankind. In the process, He desires for us to be obedient, rejoice, pray, and spread the good news to others. Although we tend to think God’s will is actually some kind of grandiose plan for our lives, we should instead focus on helping God see His plan for mankind through to completion.

“Will” is defined in two ways in the Greek translated into the New Testament:

  • Strong’s G2307, thelēma, a determination; choice; inclination: – desire, pleasure, will. (John 6:40)
  • Strong’s G2309, thelō ethelō   to determine; choose or prefer; to wish, be inclined to; to delight in: – desire, intend, list, love, mean, please (Matthew 9:13 – desire;  Matthew 15:28 – wish; Matthew 26:39 – will; Mark 12:38 – like; Galatians 5:17 – please)

So, God’s will can be something He desires (as in Matthew 18: 12-14) or His plan for mankind (i.e. Matthew  26:42 or John 6:37-40).

Some of God’s desires:

  • That none are lost (Matthew 18: 12-14)
  • Obedience, not legalism (Matthew 9:13)
  • Our good deeds so we’ll silence the foolish (1Peter 2:13-16)
  • We rejoice and pray continuously (1Thessalonians 5:16-19)
  • We preach the Gospel/make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20)

About His plans:

  • They’re just that – HIS plans. Helping should be our focus.
  • Can be progressive – not always immediately accomplished!

Benefits of partnering with God to accomplish His plan:

  • Redemption and forgiveness; the reward of everlasting life (John 6:40) & (Ephesians 1: 5-13) & (Hebrews 10: 35-36)
  • God works for the good of those who love him; for it is God who is at work in you (Philippians 2:12-13)
  • The Spirit and His intercession (Romans 8:26-28)

How do we participate in His plan and accomplish His desires?

  • Be obedient
    • Do His commandments (1John 5:3 and Matthew 22:36-40).
    • Obedience is more important than works or sacrifice (Matthew 9:13).
    • Abstain from sexual immorality (1Thessalonians 4:2-4).
    • Be an ‘imitator of God’ (Ephesians 5:1-20).
  • Allow ourselves to be led by the Spirit (Romans 8:14).
  • Live by the Spirit (Galatians 5:25).
  • Seek His kingdom first; this requires submission (Matthew 6:33).
  • Obey our leaders and submit (Hebrews 13:17).

How can we learn of the things we’re to do in accomplishing His will or in learning of answers to our requests?

  • The Bible teaches principles that help in decision-making (2Timothy 3:16-17).
  • Ask for wisdom (James 1:5-6).
  • Seek wisdom (this can be from family, friends, spiritually-mature, etc.) (Proverbs 13:10).
  • Pray!!!
  • Use a ‘fleece’ as Gideon did (Judges 6:36-40).

We can hinder the accomplishment of God’s will or desires – even for us – through:

  • Bad motives (James 4:3).
  • Bad relationships (1Peter 3:7).
  • Unrighteousness due to disobedience and the lack of the Spirit (John 9:31).
  • Not allowing God’s timing (i.e. as Abraham did).

Summary: God has a plan for mankind: salvation through the Christ. He also desires fellowship and obedience from us in a pursuit of holiness. We can join in and help accomplish God’s plans or desires, or we can rebel and keep Him from using us or even answering our own requests. Of course, this rebellion will result in death.

Keep an eye out for “Finding Answers to Stuff Churches Don’t Discuss!” scheduled for a mid-2015 publication. There, you’ll find roughly 60 topics related to daily life (such as sex, religion, finances, tattooing, and everything in between!) along with practical application of God’s guidance for navigating those difficult waters!

And, for a very comprehensive and detailed study of the very important topic of God’s judgment to come and being rescued from it, feel free to read my 2011 guide titled, “Finding the End of the World” available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and from www.ronbraley.com in paper and e-book formats. In the guide, you’ll find roughly 500 pages of building blocks to help you do your own complete and unbiased study based on Scripture and history!

Finding Answers to Stuff Churches Don't Discuss, Finding the End of the World

Apocalyptic Misquotes . . . Part I

Leave a comment

“God has a plan for me!” & “The Last Generation”

Today’s Jesus culture and its focus on experience over obedience have left the Church largely scripturally illiterate. This is supported by statistics reporting that 95% or more of people who say they’re Christians don’t’ study the Bible regularly or thoroughly or actively engage in discipleship. Evidence of this sobering trend pops up regularly in the form of misquoted and abused Scripture spouted as out-of-context clichés or carelessly misrepresented words of God, our Christ, the prophets, or the apostles.

My use of Apocalyptic in the title is two-fold: One, to represent the unfortunate abuses of end-times / apocalyptic references twisted to support manmade end-of-the-world doctrine and, two, to represent the incredible magnitude of inadequate training of the Saints and the resulting lack of faith building and scriptural abuse. So, we’ll look at two examples weekly with one related to the return of our Christ (or at least related to apocalyptic literature or prophecies) until I’ve run out of low-hanging examples.

Let’s begin Apocalyptic Misquotes Part I with a look at abuses that give birth to a spiritual rock star mentality and erroneous end-of-the-world timing.

Misquote #1: “God must have a specific plan and purpose for my life!” This is a common Christian culture cliché based on taking Jeremiah 29:11 out of context. First and foremost, we are compelled by Christ and others (like the apostle Paul) to follow; that way may be difficult and costly (from a worldly point of view). Second, the context is God’s admonishment to Israel during her exile to Babylon and is a reiteration that He has a last-days plan for that nation to be reconciled to Him. Abuse of these words of God today plays right into a spiritual entitlement mentality and promotes the question, “Common God – what do you have for Me?” instead of “God – what can I do to help You in Your desire to be reconciled with Your creation?”

Misquotes #2 & #3: “Jesus said the generation that sees Israel become a nation in 1948 will see His return!” and “Jesus said the generation witnessing the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD will see His return!” Both are wrong and are abuses of the following verses in the support of pre-tribulation (former) and preterist (latter) end-times views.

  • Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door.  —Matthew 24:32-33.
  • Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. —Matthew 24:34.

In context, Jesus is just telling His disciples that the generation that sees the signs He’d just revealed in verses 21-31 will see His return (‘when you see this, you will see that’) to gather His ‘bride’ for the marriage supper in heaven. (See Matthew 24:30-31 and 26:29, and Revelation 7:9-17 and 19:5-10 for examples of prophetic and apocalyptic glimpses of the betrothal and wedding shadow Jesus is fulfilling (and will complete) with those who will enter into a covenant with Him.

By the way: the original idea of a 40-year generation and a 1988 return of Jesus didn’t happen (as you can surmise) so the debates about longer generational lengths such as 70 years rage on as men struggle to validate faulty doctrine.

For more information regarding the return of our Christ and our ‘marriage’ to Him, and of the end of our world as we know it, please consider studying my very comprehensive guide “Finding the End of the World”. You’ll easily find it in paper and electronic format at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and www.ronbraley.com.

Next week, we’ll look at bad doctrine related to tithing and 1,000-year-long God days as we continue to explore common misquotes and abuses of Scripture.