How do you make major decisions? Like what house to buy, who to date, should you date, who to marry, should you marry, remain single, should you leave your spouse, should I have kids, what job to take, should I leave my job, what college to go to, what church to join, or what to do with your retirement years, go on that mission trip, become a missionary, start that ministry? I just wish God would make it simple and clear. “Hey God, you spoke clearly through a donkey, you spoke clearly through a burning bush, you spoke clearly by writing the ten commandments in stone, and you spoke clearly in a still small voice. Can you send me an email from heaven or leave me a clear message on voice mail or send me a text telling me what to do?”

God does do something similar to that, spiritually speaking, if you know where to look. He will make His will very clear, but you will have to apply faith and faithfulness to what He tells you.

We are in a series of messages on God’s will. Today, we begin the journey of looking at how to discover God’s will for your personal life, the decisions you are facing. To get us started I want us to look at James 4.

If the Lord Wills

James 4:13-17 says,

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” 14 Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. For you are just a vapor that appears for a little while, and then vanishes away. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.” 16 But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil. 17 So for one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, for him it is sin (NASB). The phrase “if the Lord wills” has several implications and points to all four aspects of God’s will that we have already looked at in a previous message. Let me point out a few things here.

  • “If the Lord wills” acknowledges God’s sovereign will in our plans. It’s okay to make plans, but we don’t know what tomorrow will be like, yet God does. Certain things are going to happen in our life that are under God’s sovereign and prevailing will. We have no control over it. It will happen the way God wants it to happen.
  • “If the Lord wills” acknowledges God’s personal will in our plans. Notice that God’s will involves what city you will live in, how long you will live there, and what kind of business you will do there, and what kind of profit it will produce. It involves how you live your life and whether you do this or that. That’s all very personal and unique to you.
  • “If the Lord wills” acknowledges God’s moral will in our plans. This is why James says, “So for one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, for him it is sin.” When God tells you to do something and you don’t do it, that is sin.
  • “If the Lord wills” acknowledges God’s permissive will in our plans. You can do whatever you want. You can live where you want even if God doesn’t want you to live there, you can do whatever you want. If you decide to live outside of God’s will then you must be prepared to reap the consequences, but if you live inside of God’s will then be ready to experience blessings. You will always be within God’s sovereign will, but you may not be in God’s personal will for your life.

To see God’s will, you need to have an “if the Lord wills” mindset. You need to get up every morning and be thinking, “What does God want me to do today? God, talk to me throughout the day, guide my actions, words, and decisions. What kind of employee do you want me to be today? What kind of student do you want me to be today? What kind of spouse, parent, or friend do you want me to be today?”

Then you will know God’s will

Today I am going to give you five Biblical filters that will help you discover God’s will clearly for your life. God wants you to know His will. He is not trying to hide it from you. God knows the best place for you to be is in the center of God’s personal will for your life. Look closely at Romans 12:2, “Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God—what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect” (GNT). Let this truth sink in: we don’t know God’s will because we don’t live God’s way.

  • One of the ways to know God’s will for your future is to live faithfully for Jesus now.
  • Once you stop thinking like the world and start thinking like a man or woman of God, you begin to see God’s will more clearly.
  • Once you decide and determine to live God’s way then God’s will for your life becomes more clear.
  • To be in the center of God’s will you must be determined to be there!

Once you start thinking about buying a mini-van, you see them everywhere. Once you start thinking a certain way, you start seeing a certain way. Once you decide to live God’s way, you begin to see God’s way everywhere.

  • You start seeing God’s will in your ministry.
  • You start seeing God’s will in your marriage.
  • You start seeing God’s will in your family. You start seeing God’s will in being single.
  • You start seeing God’s will in your finances. You start seeing God’s will in your career.

Once you start thinking a certain way, you start seeing a certain way. Once you start thinking like a person of God, you start seeing God’s will.

The Five Filters of Discovering God’s Will

If you ask me, “Pastor Jeff, how can I discover God’s will for my personal life?” What I’m going to give you today and next week is my answer. I have used these five biblical filters to guide me into God’s will for every major decision I’ve made. They work. The reason they work is not because I’m so smart, but because God’s Word works. Anyone can do this. Over the next two weeks, I am going to give you the five Biblical filters and then I’m going to give you three examples from my life when I needed to make an important decision and how I used these biblical filters to help me see God’s will for my life in each case.

I want you to keep in mind that God’s will is not always whispers from heaven, but God’s wisdom on earth. I am going to give you all five really quick and then I’m going to unpack the first two today.

  • The first one is Principles: What does God’s Word say? Does God’s word say anything about the decision I need to make? God gives us truth and principles to guide in our everyday decision. What does God say about dating? Who to marry? How to build a strong and vibrant marriage? What does God’s word say about buying a house and money management? What does God’s word say about planning for the future? Using my time wisely? What does God’s word say?
  • The second filter is People: What do God’s people say? God’s word tells us to get advice, to get counsel, and to listen to wise people. Who do you need to talk to or hear from to get good information regarding the decision you are making.
  • Filter number three is Providence: What do my circumstances say? Is it the right time? When looking at your circumstances you consider your age, your gender, your marital status, your health, open and shut doors and a host of other things can determine if it’s the right time to move forward with this decision. You may need to wait.
  • Filter four is Peace: What does my conscience say? Do you have a peace about the decision you trying to make? Do you have a clear conscience before others and God about this decision?
  • Finally, last but not least is Prayer: What are you hearing from God? Prayer is talking to God and listening to God. Have you asked God specifically to give you an answer? Have you talked to God about your concerns or struggles? God what are you saying to me through your Word? What are you saying to me through godly advice? What are you saying to me through my circumstances? What are you telling me through my conscience?

Listen very carefully. What I’m about to say is extremely important. All five of these filters for God’s will, will agree with each other. They will not contradict each other. If it’s God’s will all five will be telling you the same thing. The Holy Spirit is going to use all five to tell you the same thing. If only three out five agree, it’s not God’s will. If four out of five agree, it’s not God’s will. It will always be five out five will agree!

Today we are going to look at two of the filters and then next week we will look at the last three. When we are done, I am going to give you three examples from my own life of how I used these biblical filters to discover God’s will for my life. I am going to show you how God used all five of these to let me know…

  • That I was to start Genesis Church
  • That I was to adopt two little girls at the age of 50
  • That I was to marry Holly

If you will apply these five filters to your life, you will know what God wants you to do. Let’s get started.

Principles: What does God’s Word say?

Filter number one. Principles: What does God’s word say? When you are seeking God’s will, you must start with God’s Word. God is going to give you guidance through Biblical principles. Here is where you ask the question, “What does God’s Word say?” God gives us principles for life to guide us and those principles are God’s will. God’s Word is God’s will. Always start with God’s Word. Don’t start with your feelings or what you are comfortable with or use too. Start with God’s Word.

Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path” (NLT). God’s Word is a lamp to guide you. The world is a dark and confusing place. You can get distracted by a lot of good things and bad things. You need light to direct you and show you where to go. Now pay attention to the language here.

God’s word is a lamp to guide “my feet” and a light for “my path.” This is personal to you. This is your path. God has a path He wants you to take. It’s a good, pleasing and perfect path, but you will need God’s Word to show you that unique and specific path He wants you to take.

Look at 2 Timothy 3:16, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right” (NLT). When you are making a major decision, you need to know what is true, what is wrong, what needs to be corrected, and what is right. But you have to believe God’s Word to do God’s Word. Faith without works is dead. Faith helps you to hear what God is saying. If you don’t trust someone, you will not believe them. If you don’t trust God, then you will not listen to what He says. This is why Paul began this verse with “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful….”

God’s Word will give guidance and direction on where you need to go. What God says in His Word is what he wants you to do. Let me give you some examples.

God, who am I to marry?

You might be asking the question, “God, who am I to marry?” A Biblical principle to give you guidance is found in 2 Corinthians 6:14, “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers” (ESV). If I’m single, God just gave me guidance (a principle) by saying, “Jeff, if you are going to date someone and possibly marry them, choose a follower of Jesus so that you can work together as a team, equally yoked together. This way you can pray together, worship together, do ministry together, grow spiritually together, have the same values, the same Lord, encourage each other in your spiritual growth and have the same mission.” That eliminates a lot of choices. God says look for a growing believer to do life with. This is God’s Word being a light to my path showing me where to go and not go. This is God’s inspired Word teaching me what is right. This is God’s will for my life.

God, they sinned against me. What am I to do?

You might be asking the question, “God, they have lied about me. What am I to do about it?” God’s Word says in Matthew 18:15, “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother” (ESV). God’s will is for you to go talk to them, not slander them, gossip about them, complain about them, or a hold a grudge against them. If you feel like someone has sinned against you, go and lovingly talk to them. This is God’s Word being a light to my path and teaching me what is right. This is God’s will for my life.

What are we talking about? We are talking about Principles: What does God’s word say? God’s Word gives us principles and directions about a lot of things that we need to decide. Remember, God’s Word is God’s will!

  • What does God’s word say to me as a young person?
  • What is God’s will for me as a single person?
  • What does God’s word tell me as a wife?
  • What is God’s will for me as a husband?
  • What does God’s word say to me as an employee?
  • What is God’s will when you are worried?
  • What does God’s word say to when you are angry?
  • What is Gods will when you are depressed or discouraged?
  • What does God’s word say when you are afraid?
  • What is God’s will regarding how to manage your finances?
  • What does God word tell you to do as a parent?
  • What is God’s will for you in regards to you in loving your aging parents?
  • How does God want you to love your spouse? Love your children?

God’s word is God’s will. God’s word is a lamp and light for your personal path in life. This is where you say, “I need to make a decision about _______. Does God’s Word say anything related to this that would give me guidance?” This would include anything.

  • I need to make a decision about buying a house. I need to make a decision about what school to go to.
  • I need to make a decision about a financial investment.
  • I need to make a decision about my health.
  • I need to make a decision about joining a church.
  • I need to make a decision about managing my time better.
  • I need to make a decision about my job.

Does God’s Word say anything related to this that would give me insight, wisdom, and guidance in my decision.  

So whatever you are needing God’s will on start with God’s Word. Research it. Study it and do what it says.

Conclusion

You want to be in the center of God’s will. That is the best place and the most confident place to be. To help you get there, God will guide you with His Word and guide with His advice through people. Those two will always agree and line up with each other. They will not contradict each other when it’s God’s will.

Pay attention to this truth: You have the power to change your life at any given moment. You can choose to be in the will of God at any given moment. The greatest power you possess in life is your understanding that God can give you a fresh start any moment you choose. That moment could be right now. If you are out of God’s will, you can be in God’s will with one decision.

So you need to make a decision or a change of some kind, because what you are doing is not working. What is God’s will in this matter? You are going to start with two things.

  • You are going to start with God’s Word. You are going to be faithful to it.
  • You are going to start with good advice. You are going to listen to it.