ON WISDOM IN DETERMINING GOD'S WILL

MORE on Guidance

What about Marriage

By Dr. David Smith
( This first page is primarily from Garry Friesen's excellent book : Decision Making & the Will of God )
  1. Have the right attitude ( reverence for God - Prov. 9:10, humility - Prov. 11:2, teachableness - Prov. 9:9, diligence - Prov. 8:17, uprightness - Prov. 2:7, faith - Jas. 1:5-8 ); Prov. 3:5-7
  2. Take the right approach ( keep asking God for wisdom, seek it in the Bible - Ps. 119:97-100, through personal research - Lk. 14:28-32, through wise counselors - Prov. 11:14, 15:22)

Sovereign Will

Moral Will
   

This is God's secret plan to determine everything that happens in the universe.

This consists of the revealed commands in the Bible that teach how men ought to believe & live.
   

Mostly hidden

Totally revealed

Cannot be learned in advance

Should be learned for guidance

Cannot be missed - should be humbly accepted

Can be missed through ignorance or disobedience

At times it includes evil acts & foolish decisions, but will ultimately lead to God's glory

Gen. 50:20

Includes only those behaviors & attitudes that conform to God's character thereby glorifying Him
   

Dan. 4:25, Acts 2:23, 4:27,28, Eph. 1:11,

Rev. 4:11, etc.

2 Cor. 6:14, 1 Thes. 4:3, 5:18

and many more

 

  1. In those areas specifically addressed by the Bible the revealed commands of God are to be obeyed.
  2. Regarding non-moral decisions the believer is free to choose his course of action
  3. Regarding non-moral decisions the believer should make wise decisions on the basis of spiritual expediency
  4. In all decisions the believer should humbly submit in advance to the outworking of God's sovereign will as it touches each decision

On asking of the Lord : Consider the whole context of Scripture

For God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. 1 Cor 14:33

Rom 12:2
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Ps 29:11
The LORD will give strength to His people; The LORD will bless His people with peace.

Col 1:9-10
For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

1 John 5:14-15
This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will , He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.

James 1:5-8
But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

by Dave Smith, D.Min.
Spring, TX