Thy Will Be Done
Minister: | Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: | 6/12/2016 PM |
Text: | I Corinthians 7:20-24; Lord's Day 48 |
Psalters: | 221, 397, 271, 284 |
- What is God’s will?
- 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).
- This petition refers to God’s commands because of its reference to the obedience of angels (Ps. 103:20,21; Isa. 6:2,3).
- God’s will for His moral creatures (Romans 12:2) is a reflection of His own perfect being.
- It is the right of the Creator to be the law-giver (James 4:12), i.e., to determine right conduct for His creatures.
- God’s will of command is clearly and unambiguously revealed in His law, namely, that we exist for His praise: to love Him.
- The Bible is the revelation of God’s will – the only revelation of it, and thus is the infallible rule for obedience.
- Anything contrary to a specific command is disobedience, and thus is strictly forbidden.
- 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).
- Jesus teaches us, God’s children, to pray for the grace to do our Father’s will.
- Even prior to the fall man’s will was limited and dependent, not sovereignly able to determine right and wrong for himself.
- The angels in heaven obey God perfectly.
- To do God’s will willingly and faithfully means that we deny ourselves (Matt. 16:24).
- To pray that the will of God’s command be done is to ask for the grace of obedience in our stations and callings.
- Whatever our circumstances, relationships, or job, it is to be seen as a calling from God (I Cor. 7:20,24).
- We ask for the grace to discharge our duties properly and cheerfully (reluctance is not real obedience).
- How can we pray this given our natures?
- First, Jesus’ perfect life and death forgives us of all our failures to do His will.
- “As in heaven” indicates the kind of obedience is being prayed for - not to the degree of it.
- The point is that we sincerely desire this petition, even though we are frail and so prone to the contrary.