Pray to Know the Will of GOD

 Pray to Know the Will of GOD

Who should know GOD’s will?

 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God,

and Timothy our brother,

Colossians 1:1

Paul knew that it was GOD's will for him to be an apostle

of the LORD JESUS.

 We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus 

and of your love for all the saints; 

because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, 

of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, 

which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, 

and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you 

since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth;

Colossians 1:3-6

Paul prays this prayer for the brethren in Colosse -

Those who had heard the word of the truth of the Gospel

who knew the grace of GOD

who had come to faith in Christ

who had love for all the saints

and had the hope of Heaven

and were bringing forth fruit.

What to pray?

 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, 

do not cease to pray for you, and to ask 

that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will 

in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

Colossians 1:9

How to know the will of GOD?

 Then he said, 'The God of our fathers has chosen you 

that you should know His will, 

and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth. 

For you will be His witness to all men

of what you have seen and heard.

Acts 22:14-15

It is such a privilege to be in a position to know the will of GOD.

GOD's will is revealed to those who have the Holy Spirit

living in them. The Holy Spirit reveals JESUS to us

and causes us to see Him and to hear Him.

If we surrender our will to GOD,

then we will know GOD's will.

Knowing the will of GOD, we must act on that knowledge

in all wisdom, being guided and led by the Spirit of wisdom.

When we know What GOD's will is, we must continue to ask the Holy Spirit

When and How to act upon that knowledge for that is wisdom.

Carrying an Attitude of Humility and Submission

to Scriptural authority during this process

is spiritual understanding.

Praying according to GOD's will

 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, 

that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 

And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, 

we know that we have the petitions

that we have asked of Him.

1 John 5:14-15

Accept GOD's will

 Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him,

kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, 

"If You are willing, You can make me clean." 

Then Jesus, moved with compassion,

stretched out His hand and touched him, 

and said to him, "I am willing; be cleansed." 

As soon as He had spoken,

immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed.

Mark 1:40-42

And lest I should be exalted above measure

by the abundance of the revelations, 

a thorn in the flesh was given to me,

a messenger of Satan to buffet me, 

lest I be exalted above measure. 

Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times

that it might depart from me.

And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, 

for My strength is made perfect in weakness." 

Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, 

that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

2 Corinthians 12:7-9

It was GOD's will to heal the leper.

It was not GOD's will to heal Paul the apostle.

Both of them submitted to GOD's will for them.

The importance of seeking GOD's will

in every situation

So David inquired of the Lord, saying,

"Shall I go up against the Philistines? 

Will You deliver them into my hand?"

And the Lord said to David, 

"Go up,

for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into your hand."

2 Samuel 5:19

As David constantly inquired of the Lord,

the Lord led and guided David.

Therefore David inquired of the Lord,

and He said, "You shall not go up; 

circle around behind them,

and come upon them in front of the mulberry trees.

2 Samuel 5:23

The power of praying and declaring GOD's will

Then Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day 

when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, 

and he said in the sight of Israel: 

"Sun, stand still over Gibeon; And Moon, in the Valley of Aijalon." 

So the sun stood still, And the moon stopped, 

Till the people had revenge Upon their enemies. 

Is this not written in the Book of Jasher?

So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven,

and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day. 

And there has been no day like that, before it or after it, 

that the Lord heeded the voice of a man;

for the Lord fought for Israel.

Joshua 10:12-14

Whenever men prayed or spoke according to GOD's will,

it was powerful because GOD confirmed that word with

signs and wonders!

At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha,

which is translated Dorcas.

This woman was full of good works

and charitable deeds which she did. But it happened

in those days that she became sick and died.

When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. And since Lydda was near Joppa,

and the disciples had heard that Peter was there,

they sent two men to him,

imploring him not to delay in coming to them.

Then Peter arose and went with them.

When he had come, they brought him to the upper room.

And all the widows stood by him weeping,

showing the tunics and garments

which Dorcas had made while she was with them.

But Peter put them all out, and knelt down and prayed.

And turning to the body he said,

"Tabitha, arise." And she opened her eyes,

and when she saw Peter she sat up.

Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up;

and when he had called the saints and widows,

he presented her alive. Acts 9:36-41

The LORD always prayed and declared GOD's will,

so His words were powerful!

Then they took away the stone

from the place where the dead man was lying.

And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said,

"Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.

And I know that You always hear Me,

but because of the people who are standing by I said this,

that they may believe that You sent Me."

Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice,

"Lazarus, come forth!"

And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes,

and his face was wrapped with a cloth.

Jesus said to them, "Loose him, and let him go."

John 11:41-44

May your life be with such purpose and power

for the glory of GOD!

For this reason we also, since the day we heard it,

do not cease to pray for you, and to ask

that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will

in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord,

fully pleasing Him,

being fruitful in every good work

and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might,

according to His glorious power,

for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father

who has qualified us to be partakers

of the inheritance of the saints in the light. Colossians 1:9-12