Thy Will Be Done

Minister:
Date: PM
Text: I Corinthians 7:20-24; Lord's Day 48
Psalters: 221, 397, 271, 284
  1. What is God’s will?
    1. KJV uses the expression “will of God” to refer to God’s council (Rom. 9:19) and to His commands (Mt. 12:50; Jn. 5:30; Ps. 143:10).
      1. This petition refers to God’s commands because of its reference to the obedience of angels (Ps. 103:20,21; Isa. 6:2,3).
      2. God’s will for His moral creatures (Romans 12:2) is a reflection of His own perfect being.
      3. It is the right of the Creator to be the law-giver (James 4:12), i.e., to determine right conduct for His creatures.
    2. God’s will of command is clearly and unambiguously revealed in His law, namely, that we exist for His praise: to love Him.
      1. The Bible is the revelation of God’s will – the only revelation of it, and thus is the infallible rule for obedience.
      2. Anything contrary to a specific command is disobedience, and thus is strictly forbidden.
  2. Jesus teaches us, God’s children, to pray for the grace to do our Father’s will.
    1. Even prior to the fall man’s will was limited and dependent, not sovereignly able to determine right and wrong for himself.
    2. The angels in heaven obey God perfectly.
    3. To do God’s will willingly and faithfully means that we deny ourselves (Matt. 16:24).
    4. To pray that the will of God’s command be done is to ask for the grace of obedience in our stations and callings.
      1. Whatever our circumstances, relationships, or job, it is to be seen as a calling from God (I Cor. 7:20,24).
      2. We ask for the grace to discharge our duties properly and cheerfully (reluctance is not real obedience).
  3. How can we pray this given our natures?
    1. First, Jesus’ perfect life and death forgives us of all our failures to do His will.
    2. “As in heaven” indicates the kind of obedience is being prayed for - not to the degree of it.
    3. The point is that we sincerely desire this petition, even though we are frail and so prone to the contrary.