HOW TO FIND THE
WILL OF GOD

1. The
prerequisite: Submit your will to the Lord:

A. Seek His
will, not your own:

Lk.22:42  Not My will, but Thine, be done

Jn.5:30b  I seek not Mine Own will, but the will of
the Father

Jn.6:38    I came...not to do Mine Own
will, but the will of (God)

B. Seek & trust
the Lord:

Psa.37:5  Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also
in Him

Pro.3:6    In all thy ways acknowledge
Him, & He shall direct

Psa.143:10              [Pray:]
Teach me to do Thy will...lead me

Col.1:9    Pray...that ye be filled with
the knowledge of His will

C. Sincerely desire
to do God's will:

Psa.40:8  I delight to do Thy will, O my God

Mat.6:10b              Thy
will be done in earth, as it is in Heaven

Jn.4:34    My meat is to do the will of
Him (God) that sent Me

Eph.6:6   Doing the will of God from the heart

D. As you obey
Him, He will reveal His will to you:

Hos.6:3a Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the
Lord

Mk.4:24,25             Unto
you that hear shall more be given

Jn.7:17    If any man will do His
will, he shall know whether

Rom.12:1,2             Present
your bodies a living sacrifice...that ye may prove what is that good...&
perfect will of God

2. The Holy Spirit
guides us to find God's will:

Jn.16:13,14             The
Spirit...will guide you into all truth...& show you

1Cor.2:11                The
things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God

Jam.1:5   If any of you lack wisdom, let him
ask of God

(See
also Phi.3:15b)

1Jn.2:27  The same anointing teacheth you of all
things

3. The first
place to look for God's will is in His Word:

A. The Bible is His
written, revealed will:

Psa.119:105            Word
is a lamp unto my feet, & a light unto my path

Rom.2:18                (Thou)
knowest His will...being instructed out of law

2Tim.3:16               All
Scripture is given by...God...for instruction

(See
also Deut.29:29; Psa.119:128; Jn.5:39; Acts 17:11; 1Tim.3:14a,15a.)

B. Warning against
not obeying the Word:

Pro.28:9  He that turneth away his ear from hearing
the law

Isa.8:20   If they speak not according to this
Word...no light

C. Beware of
interpreting it as you please:

2Pet.1:20                No...Scripture
is of any private interpretation

2Pet.3:16                Unlearned
wrest Scriptures to their own destruction

Isa.28:10 For precept must be (balanced) upon
precept...line upon line; here a little, & there a little

(See
also Lk.10:25,26)

D. Read & study
the Word carefully:

Neh.8:8   They read in the...law of God
distinctly, & gave the sense (meaning), & caused them to understand

Mat.9:13 Go ye & learn what that [Scripture] meaneth

2Tim.2:15               Study...rightly
dividing the Word of truth

E. When a verse
speaks specifically, directly to you:

Psa.103:20b           Ye...that
do His commandments, hearkening unto the voice of His Word

Psa.119:130            The
entrance of Thy Words...giveth understanding

Psa.119:133a          Order
my steps in Thy Word

Pro.6:22,23             When
thou goest, it (the Word) shall lead thee...when thou awakest, it shall talk
with thee

Lk.24:32  Did not our heart burn within
us...while He (Jesus) opened to us the Scriptures?

Acts
2:37a             When
they heard this...were pricked in their heart

F. Pray
& ask the Lord to help you understand:

Psa.119:18              Open
Thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law

Psa.119:34,35         Give
me understanding, & I shall keep Thy law

Pro.2:3-11               If
thou...liftest up thy voice for understanding...seekest... then shalt thou find
knowledge

Lk.24:45  Then opened He (Jesus) their
understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures

G. Ask mature
Christians to explain difficult passages to you:

Acts
8:30-35          Understandest
thou what thou readest? How can I, except some man should guide me?

4. God sometimes
reveals His will through dreams:

A. Revelatory
dreams given to His people:

Num.12:6                I
the Lord...will speak unto him in a dream

Job
33:15-17          In
a dream, He (God)...sealeth their instruction

Jer.23:28 The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell

Joel
2:28b               Your
old men shall dream dreams (See Acts 2:17b)

B. Old Testament
examples:

God
gave Abraham a prophetic message in a dream (Gen.15:12-16); God's warning dream
to Abimelech, the Philistine king (Gen.20:2-7); God promised Jacob that He was
with him (Gen.28:10-16); Jacob's dream warned him to depart (Gen.31:10-13);
Laban warned not to harm Jacob (Gen.31:22-24); Joseph's two prophetic dreams
(Gen.37:5-9); Prophetic dreams of Pharaoh's baker & butler
(Gen.40:1-13,16-22); Pharaoh's dream of coming famine (Gen.41:17-32); Israel
instructed to go to Egypt (Gen.46:1-4); Gideon encouraged to do God's will by
hearing dream of barleycake (Judg.7:9-15); Solomon's dream (1Ki.3:5-15);
Eliphaz's dream (Job 4:12-21); Nebuchadnezzar's dream of coming world kingdoms
(Dan.2:1,28,29,31-45); King's dream & its interpretation given to Daniel
(Dan.2:16-19); Daniel's dream of coming world kingdoms (Dan.7:1-28).

C. New Testament
examples:

Joseph's
four dreams of instruction & warning (Mat.1:20,21; 2:13, 19,20,22.); Wise
men warned in a dream (Mat.2:12); Pilate's wife's dream warned them concerning
Jesus (Mat.27:19).

D. Caution
regarding determining God's will by dreams:

Eccl.5:3a A dream [often] cometh through multitude of
business

Eccl.5:7   In the multitude of dreams...are
also diverse vanities

Jer.23:25-27a          "I
have dreamed"...deceit of their own heart

Jer.23:32 I am against them that prophesy false dreams

Jer.29:8b Neither hearken to dreams ye cause
to be dreamed

5. God sometimes
reveals His will through visions:

A. A vision is when
God flashes a picture in your mind's eye:

Num.12:6                I
the Lord will make Myself known unto him in a vision

Num.24:4                Falling
into a trance, but having his eyes open

Ezk.1:1    The heavens were opened,
& I saw visions of God

Hos.12:10               I
(God) have multiplied visions [to instruct people]

Joel
2:28 I will pour out My Spirit...young men
shall see visions

Acts
10:9b-11        Peter...fell
into a trance, & saw Heaven opened

B. Some Old
Testament examples:

Abraham
received prophecy in a vision (Gen.15:1-5); Micaiah's vision of the defeat of
Israel (1Ki.22:17,35,36) & of the council around the Lord's throne
(1Ki.22:19-23); Ezekiel's visions (Ezk.1:1-4; 8:1,2, 10:1.); Daniel's visions
of future events (Dan.8:1,2; 10:4-7); Zechariah's visions (Zech.1:7,8).

C. New Testament
examples:

Archangel
Gabriel prophesied to Zacharias (Lk.1:11-13,22); Paul's vision of Jesus (Acts
9:1-7; 26:13-19); The Lord instructed Ananias in a vision (Acts 9:10,11);
Paul's vision of Ananias (Acts 9:12); An angel instructed Cornelius (Acts
10:1-6); The Lord instructed Peter with vision of unclean animals (Acts
10:9b-16); Paul's vision of Macedonian man (Acts 16:9); God encouraged Paul in
a vision (Acts 18:9,10).

D. Beware of false
visions:

Jer.14:14 They prophesy a false vision...deceit of own
heart

Jer.23:16 They speak a vision of their own heart, &
not out of the mouth of the Lord

Lam.2:14 Thy prophets have seen vain & foolish
things

6. The Lord
sometimes reveals His will through prophecy & revelations:

A. Prophecy:
The Lord speaking through you, or to your heart:

1Ki.19:12                [God
spoke to Elijah in] a still small voice

Jer.1:9     Behold, I have put My
Words in thy mouth

Ezk.3:10,11             All
My Words that I shall speak unto thee receive in thine heart, and hear with
thine ears

Ezk.3:27  I will open thy mouth, & thou shalt
say

Lk.2:26a  It was revealed unto him (Simeon) by the
Holy Ghost

Acts
2:17a             In
last days...your sons & your daughters shall prophesy

Acts
10:19,20        While
Peter thought...the Spirit said unto him

Acts
13:1,2            There
were certain prophets...the Holy Ghost said

1Cor.12:28              God
hath set some (prophets) in the church

(See
also Acts 8:26; 1Cor.14:31; Eph.3:3 ,5.)

B. Warnings about
false prophecy:

Deut.13:1-3            [Don't
heed prophets which try to turn you astray]

Deut.18:22             If
the thing follow not, nor come to pass...the prophet hath spoken it
presumptuously

Jer.23:21 I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied

Jer.23:26 They are prophets of the deceit of their own
heart

Ezk.13:6,7               Ye
say, The Lord saith it; albeit I have not spoken

Gal.1:8    Though we, or an
angel...preach any other gospel...let him be accursed

(See
also Mat.24:4,5,11,23-26)

7. Seeking counsel:

A. Counselling with
others who know the Lord & His Word well:

Exo.18:25,26           Able
men...judged the people

Deut.17:8-11          If
there arise a matter too hard for thee...matters of controversy...come unto the
judge

Pro.11:14                In
the multitude of counsellors there is safety

Pro.15:22                In
multitude of counsellors (purposes) are established

Pro.20:18                Every
purpose is established by counsel: & good advice

2Cor.13:1b             In
the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established

(See
also Acts 11:22,23; 15:22,32.)

B. Coming to a
reasonable agreement:

Acts
15:25             It
seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord

Acts
15:28             For
it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, & to us

C. Warnings about
not seeking (or not heeding) godly counsel:

Pro.15:22a              Without
counsel purposes are disappointed

2Chr.10:1-15          Rehoboam...forsook
the counsel which the [wiser] old men gave him, & took counsel with
the young men

Acts
27:9-15,21,41                [The
sailors rejected Paul's counsel, based their decision on natural reasoning
(vs.12,13) & were shipwrecked]

D. Be willing to
change plans if God leads otherwise:

2Sam.7:1-13           [Nathan
agreed to David's plan to build a temple, but changed his mind after God showed
him otherwise]

8. God often
reveals His will by obvious circumstances:

A. God often sets
up special circumstances to show His will:

2Sam.5:22-25         [God
gave David a specific sign as to when to rise & attack the Philistines]

Mk.14:12-16           Go
into the city, & there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher...follow him
(See also Lk.22:7-13)

B. Sometimes
obvious circumstances indicate God's leading:

1Cor.16:9                A
great door & effectual is opened unto me

2Cor.2:12                When
I came to Troas...door opened to me of the Lord

Rev.3:8   I have set before thee an open
door...for thou hast kept My Word

Lk.10:8,9 Into whatsoever city ye enter, & they
receive you, eat

(See
also Mat.10:11)

C. Examples of
obvious circumstances:

Acts
8:30-35          [Ethiopian
eunuch requested an explanation of Isa.53]

Acts
13:7               Sergius
Paulus [governor of Cyprus]...called Barnabas & Saul, & desired to hear
the Word of God

Acts
13:14-16        If
ye have any word of exhortation...say on (speak)

Acts
17:18-22        May
we know what this new doctrine...is?

Jn.2:1-11 There was a marriage...Jesus was called, &
His disciples [His miracle there caused many to believe]

D. Gauging
circumstances & conditions, & acting accordingly:

1Ki.17:1-9               [When
the brook Cherith dried, Elijah knew it was time to move on, & God told him
where to go]

Mat.12:14,15a        Pharisees...held
a council...how they might destroy Him. When Jesus knew it, He withdrew from
thence

Lk.10:10  In whatsoever city they receive you not,
go your ways (See also Mat.10:14)

Jn.7:1      He would not walk
in Jewry...Jews sought to kill Him

Jn.11:53,54             (He)
walked no more openly among the Jews; but went

Acts
8:1,4              [God
uses persecution & adverse circumstances to make you obey if you
won't otherwise--See Acts 1:8]

Acts
14:5,6            There
was an assault...they were ware of it, & fled

Acts
20:3,6            [About
to sail from Greece, Paul learned of an ambush & travelled another route
instead]

Acts
27:9,10,         When
sailing was dangerous, Paul admonished them

Acts
27:12-15        [Warning
regarding wrongly judging conditions]

E. Circumstances
are not always an indication of God's will:

--Sometimes you just
need to have faith:

Exo.14:9-16            [The
Red Sea seemed to be an impassable closed door]

2Ki.7:1,2,18            [Even]
if the Lord would make windows in Heaven [to provide food], might this... be?
And it came to pass

Eccl.11:4 He that regardeth the clouds shall not reap

Jer.1:6,7  [Youthful Jeremiah knew the elders might
not listen to him, but was commanded to prophesy anyway]

Mat.14:15-21         This
is a desert...& the time is now [late]; send the multitude away [But Jesus
fed them miraculously]

Mat.15:32-38         Whence
should we have so much bread [to feed them]?

F. Have faith
& don't "look at the waves" & conditions:

Mat.14:30,31          When
(Peter) saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid... Jesus said, Wherefore didst
thou doubt?

Mk.2:2-5 When they could not come nigh to Him for the
(crowds), they (broke up) the roof...& let down the bed

Lk.5:5      Master, we have
toiled all night, & have taken nothing: nevertheless at Thy Word I will

Lk.8:49,50               Thy
daughter is dead; trouble not the Master. Jesus (said), Fear not: believe only

Jn.11:39,40             By
this time he stinketh. Jesus saith, If thou wouldst believe, thou shouldst see
the glory of God

2Cor.5:7  For we walk by faith, not by sight

Heb.11:23-27         By
faith Moses [obeyed God]...not fearing the...king

9. Knowing by
faith, the "witness of the Spirit":

A. Sometimes God
leads you by giving you a strong desire:

--Or you just
"feel" led in a certain direction:

Psa.37:4  Delight thyself also in the Lord; &
He shall give thee the desires of thine heart

Pro.16:1  The preparations of the heart in
man...from the Lord

Pro.21:1  The king's heart is in the hand of the
Lord...He turneth it whithersoever He will

Judg.14:1-4            [Samson
desired a Philistine woman] It was of the Lord

B. Beware about insisting
on something you want:

Psa.106:14,15         He
gave their request; but sent leanness into their soul

Num.22:12-22,32   [Baalim--greedy for gain--went with
wicked king Balak's messengers]

2Ki.5:15,16,20-27   [Elisha refused to accept gifts
from Naaman, but Gehazi covetously took some & was struck leprous]

Acts
21:4,10-14,27,33           [Paul
determined to go to Jerusalem despite the Holy Spirit's warning, & was
imprisoned]

Jam.4:3   Ye ask amiss, that ye may consume
it upon your lusts

10. Determining
God's will by confirming signs:

A. Setting a
condition for a specific confirming sign:

Judg.6:36-40          [Gideon
& the "sign" of the wet & dry fleeces]

Gen.24:14               [Abraham's
servant set a specific requirement to let him know who was to be Isaac's wife]

1Sam.14:8-10         But
if they say thus...this shall be a sign unto us

B. Fleeces can be
inaccurate if options are too restricted:

Acts
1:23-26          [The
apostles cast lots between Matthias & Joseph, but God's choice was
Paul--See Gal.1:1]

C. Requiring a
"sign" often indicates unbelief:

Jn.4:48    Except ye see signs &
wonders, ye will not believe

D. "Confirming
signs" sometimes not given:

Mat.12:39a             An
evil & adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no
sign be given to it

Lk.23:8,9 Herod...hoped to have seen some miracle done by
(Jesus)...nothing

11. Sometimes God's
will & plans are conditional:

A. What God does
often depends upon man's actions & reactions:

1Ki.21:17-29           [Judgment
delayed because Ahab repented]

2Chr.7:13,14           [If
the people repented, God's judgments turned away]

2Chr.34:24-28        [Judgment
delayed because Josiah repented]

Jer.26:2,3,13           If
they turn from evil ways...I will repent of the evil which I purpose to do unto
them

Mat.10:13               If
the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it

Heb.4:6   Some must enter therein,
& they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief

(See
also Heb.3:10-12,18,19)

B. Examples of God
changing His mind:

Exo.32:9-14            Moses
besought the Lord...& the Lord repented of the evil which He [had] thought
to do

(See
also Gen.19:17-21; 2Ki.20:1-6; Amos 7:1-6; Jon. 3:4-10 .)

12. God often gives
Christians alternative choices:

A. He lets us
choose within the boundary of His overall will:

1Sam.10:7               Do
as occasion serve thee; for God is with thee

2Sam.24:11-15       [David
allowed to choose his punishment]

1Ki.3:5,9,10            [Solomon
told to ask God for whatever he wanted]

1Cor.7:36                Let
him do what he will, he sinneth not

1Cor.10:27              If
any...bid you to a feast, & ye be disposed to go

B. Our plans should
be subject to the will of God:

Jam.4:13-15            Ye
ought to say, If the Lord will...we shall

Acts
18:21b           I
will return again unto you, if God will

Rom.1:10                Making
request, if...I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto
you

(See
also 1Cor.4:19a; 1Cor.16:7 ; Heb.6:3 .)

C. Be sure you're
right before going ahead:

Rom.14:22b            Whatsoever
is not of faith is sin (See also vs.23)

D. In love,
consider the effect of your actions on others:

Rom.14:15              If
thy brother be grieved...walkest thou not (in love) 1Cor.8:9 Lest...this
liberty of yours become a stumblingblock

1Cor.8:13                If
meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh

13. When God does not
reveal His will:

A. God's will
concealed from the unyielded & disobedient:

1Sam.28:6,15,16     [When rebellious Saul
prayed & enquired of the Lord, He didn't answer him]

1Ki.22:5-7,19-23    [God sent a lying spirit to
deceive wicked King Ahab and hide His true plans from him]

Jer.4:10   Thou hast greatly deceived this
people...saying, Ye shall have peace; whereas the sword [comes]

Mic.3:4,6,7             He
will not hear them...there is no answer of God

Lk.10:21  Thou hast hid these things from the
[worldly] wise

2Thes.2:10b-12     Because they received
not the love of the truth...God shall send them strong delusion (Also Isa.66:4)

B. How not
to try to find God's will:

[Avoid
divination, seances & all occult-related mediums: See Lev.20:6;
Deut.18:10,11,14; 2Ki.21:6; 1Chr.10:13,14; Isa.8:19; Ezk.21:21; Dan.2:27,28a.]

14. When you
desperately require specific directions:

Psa.73:24                Thou
shalt guide me with Thy counsel (See Psa.16:7)

Pro.4:11  I have taught thee...I have led thee in
right paths

A. God promises
to tell you exactly where to go:

Psa.32:8  I will instruct thee & teach thee in
the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with Mine eye

Psa.37:23                The
steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord

Isa.30:21 Thine ears shall hear a word behind thee,
saying, This is the way, walk ye in it

B. You must depend
upon God to lead you:

Jer.10:23 The way of man is not in himself: it is not in
man that walketh to direct his steps

Psa.25:4,5               Shew
me Thy ways, O Lord; teach me Thy paths

Psa.31:3b               For
Thy name's sake, lead me, & guide me

Pro.4:26  Ponder the path of thy feet, & let
all thy ways be established

C. The Lord sends
His angels to guide you:

Exo.23:20                I
send an angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, & to bring thee into
the place which I have prepared

Exo.32:34                Go...behold,
Mine angel shall go before thee

(See
also Gen.24:7)

D. You must seek
& pray for His leading:

Psa.25:4  Shew me Thy ways, O Lord; teach me Thy
paths

Psa.143:8b             Cause
me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto Thee

Pro.3:5,6 In all thy ways acknowledge Him, & He shall
direct

E. Let God
lead, even if you don't know where you're going:

Heb.11:8 Abraham, when he was called to go...obeyed;
& he went out, not knowing whither he went (See Gen.12:1)

15. You can count
on God's leadings even when--

A. You're
discouraged & at wit's end:

Psa.23:4  Though I walk through the valley of the
shadow of death ...Thou art with me

Psa.142:3                My
heart was overwhelmed...Thou knewest my path

B. You feel lost:

Isa.42:16 I will bring the blind by a way that they knew
not; I will lead them in paths they that have not known

C. You desperately
need guidance in time of danger:

2Ki.6:8-12               [Elisha
warned the king of Israel of the enemies' plans]

Psa.27:11                Teach
me Thy way...lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies

Psa.78:43-52          [Though
Egypt suffered plagues, God] made His Own people to go forth like sheep, &
guided them

D. You need a place
to stay or eat:

Psa.107:6,7             They
cried unto the Lord...& He led them forth by the right way...to a city of
habitation

Mk.14:12-16           Go
into the city, & there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water:
follow him             (See
Lk.22:9-13)

E. You're in a
faraway, strange land:

Psa.139:9,10           In
the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall Thy hand lead me

16. The will of God
is supreme:

A. God is
omnipotent & does whatever He wills:

Psa.75:6,7               God
is judge: He putteth down one, & setteth up another

Dan.4:17 The most High ruleth in the kingdom of men

Dan.4:35 He doeth according to His will in the army of
Heaven

Acts
5:38,39          If
this counsel...be of God, ye cannot overthrow it

Rom.9:15-18           Not
of him that willeth...but of God that sheweth mercy

Eph.1:11b               (God)
worketh all things after counsel of His Own will

B. Even seeming
"bad" things happen only by God's will:

Job
2:3-6                [In
order to test & purge Job] the Lord said unto Satan, He is in thine hand

Acts
2:23               (Jesus),
delivered by the...foreknowledge of God

1Pet.4:19                Let
them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of
their souls to Him

(See
also Acts 4:28)

17. Rewards for
doing God's will:

Mat.7:21 He that doeth will of My Father...shall enter
Kingdom

Mat.12:50               Whosoever
shall do the will of (God)...is My brother

Jn.9:31    If any man...doeth His
(God's) will, him He heareth

Jn.15:14  Ye are My friends, if ye do
whatsoever I command you

Heb.10:36               After
ye have done will of God...receive the promise

1Jn.2:17b                He
that doeth the will of God abideth forever

1Jn.5:14  If we ask any thing according to His
will, He heareth us

18. God's will on
specific subjects:

A. God's will
regarding salvation:

(See
Mat.18:14; Jn.1:13; 6:39,40; Eph.1:5; 1Tim.2:4 ; Jam.1:18a; 2Pet.3:9b.)

B. Verses on
different aspects of God's will in a Christian's life:

(See
1Cor.12:11; Gal.1:4; Eph.5:17; 1Thes.4:3; Heb.2:4; 10:10; 1Pet.2:15; 3:17;
4:2,19.)

C. The will of God
is the path of life:

(See
Psa.16:11; 23:3; 25:10; Pro.2:8,13,20; 4:11,18; 12:28; Mic.4:2.)