Dr. Larry Gilbert

God’s Will Is…

1. That you be saved. Second Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
2. That you be sanctified. First Thessalonians 4:3-4 says, “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable.”
3. That you be Spirit-filled. Ephesians 5:17-18 says, “Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.”
4. That you be submissive. First Peter 2:13-15 says, “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.”
5. That you suffer. First Peter 4:19 states, “So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.” Relatedly, look at 1 Peter 3:17, “For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.”
6. That you serve. In Romans 12:1-3 Paul writes, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
7. God’s will for your life is whatever you desire. Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.” It is not saying He will give you all the material things you desire. It is saying He will give you the desires themselves; He will place the desires in your heart.

What is the relationship between God’s will and spiritual gifts?

First, your spiritual gift is always in perfect harmony with God’s will for your life. Remember, what God has called you to do He has gifted you to do, and what He has gifted you to do, He has called you to do. 

Second, understanding God’s will for your life is much easier when you know your spiritual gift. The earlier you understand your spiritual gift, the easier it will be to determine God’s will for your life.

If your area of service does not correspond with your spiritual gift, you may become discouraged and frustrated and never find out where you really belong. You won’t understand yourself, the gifts, or other Christians around you. In turn you could eventually become a dropout or end up doing nothing for God.

The key is for Christians to learn about spiritual gifts in the early stages of their Christian life. This will give them a better handle on God’s will for their lives and give them more direction as they start their Christian walk.

NEXT STEPS

Remember, one of the characteristics of a spiritual gift is a supernatural desire or passion. If God’s will for your life is “whatever you desire” and your spiritual gift is a supernatural desire, then your spiritual gift is going to greatly influence what God’s will is for your life.

In essence, God’s will is not some superficial mythological truth that we cannot really grasp. God’s will is part of the Christian’s very being, and that being is strongly influenced by our God-given spiritual gifts.

In light of these facts, your emphasis should shift from trying to find God’s will, to walking with God in the Spirit-filled life and finding and implementing your spiritual gifts. When this is done, God’s will comes naturally.

Related Articles…

• What God’s Will for You Is Not
• God’s Will For Your LIfe is Not Bad
• Spiritual Gifts and Their Relationship to God’s Will

Dr. Larry Gilbert is founder and chairman of Ephesians Four Ministries, and founder of ChurchGrowth.org. For more on spiritual gifts, see Dr. Gilbert’s books, from which this article was condensed: Team Ministry: Gifted to Serve (for pastors and group leaders) and Your Gifts: Discover God’s Unique Design for You (for individuals and groups).