17 OCTOBER 2010

YOUR WILL BE DONE, ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVE  03: MATTHEW 6:10

1.      DECREED WILL:

Decreed WILL is directive will/ hidden will or secretive will. It is the Will which is based on the sovereignty of God.

GOD IS SOVEREIGN:

Ø  He is above all things

Ø  He makes His own plans, carries them out in His own time and way. He does not consult anybody when decrees and carries His WILL

Ø  He is OMNISCIENCE: He alone is GOD:    Isaiah 48:5-8; 46:9-10

Ø  He is OMNIPRESENCE: He is everywhere: Jer 23:23-24. All human actions whether present or future, depend upon the WILL of God, and only God knows Luke 12:16-21

Ø  His WILL is not ARBITRARY

ARBITRARY: something decided without any plan. Arbitrary is always unfair. Eg. CCMA, mediation and settlement between employer and unions. 1 Samuel 2:25 “If a man sins against another man, God may mediate for him; but if a man sins against the LORD, who will intercede / mediate for him?’

God’s decreed will acts in complete harmony with His character.                                                                                 God’s character is His personality. His character is revealed through His name ‘JEHOVAH’ God’s name fulfils His DECREED WILL:

‘HALLOWED BE THY NAME’

1.      Jehovah – Jireh  -  Provider: His will is to provide   Gen 22: 13-14     

2.      Jehovah – Rapha – Healer :                                              Exod 15:26

3.      Jehovah – Nissi   -  Banner:                                              Exod  17:8,15

4.      Jehovah – Shalom- Peace:                                               Judges 6:24

5.      Jehovah – Tsidkenu – Righteousness                               Jer 23: 6

6.      Jehovah – Shama – Ever Present                                       Ezk 48:35        etc

God’s decreed WILL is fulfilled on earth and not in heaven. This is a DIRECTIVE WILL. It tells or informs about what God will do, like it or not. It indicates what will happen or bound to happen. It is a guarantee of what God purposes.

Decreed WILL is from all eternity to all eternity: Deut 30:15 God decreed ETERNAL LIFE and ETERNAL DEATH.           

Decreed WILL is always fulfilled or accomplished.

It is guaranteed to happen: Isaiah 55:8-18; John 1:1-4

 It cannot be disobeyed.

It is beyond human understanding.

It is fulfilled even if it means DEATH is involved: 2 Cor 5:21 or SIN is involved: John 17:12;      Rom 6:23 Christ made SIN for DEATH to be destroyed [Decreed WILL of God]

EXAMPLES OF GOD’S DECREED WILL

Ø  Redemption though DEATH:  1 Cor 15:3

Ø  Crucifixion of Christ: Luke 22:41-48

Ø  Repentance and Death of the wicked: Ezek 18:23,33; 33:11 as opposed all man is bound to die (physical death) Rom 6:23

Ø  God’s secret of the END: Matt 24:36-44; Mark 13: 32-33

YOUR WILL BE DONE, ON EARTH AS IT IS DONE IN HEAVEN [MATT 6:10]

In order to know if what is happening on EARTH is the WILL of God or not, we need to have an understanding or discern how God’s WILL is done in HEAVEN.

First, no one has ever been in heaven except Christ who came on earth in the form of man to teach and reveal to us the Kingdom and the WILL of God. It is only Christ who can tell us how the WILL of God is done in heaven. Nevertheless, through revelation and discerning spirit, we can declare that this or that is the WILL of God. The Spirit of God living in us can bear witness for God’s WILL on earth among us.

THE WILL OF GOD IN HEAVEN

In heaven, the rule of God is not like the rule of man on earth. The rule of God is not democratic. It is not determined and directed by the majority. The rule of God is gladly and unconditionally accepted by all. No argument or question. No take it or leave it. Therefore, God’s WILL is continually, spontaneously and joyfully obeyed by all. If in heaven the WILL of God is done continually, spontaneously and joyfully, then it means on earth it must also be done the same way as it is in heaven. Read the verse again and again

Daniel 4:35

Nebuchadnezzar praising God after being made to live like an animal. He did that (the will of God) spontaneously like is done in heaven. No one asked him.

Revelation 4:1-11

Creatures in heaven willingly doing the WILL of God eg. V8 ‘…day and night all creatures never stopped singing …’

Revelation 5:11-14

Creature in heaven doing the WILL of God. Praising, singing and worshiping. Not being commanded or asked.

Revelation 7:9-17

People of ALL nations in heaven doing the WILL of God.

Now that we have seen from the scriptures that the WILL of God is done continually, spontaneously and joyfully in heaven, we need to let our minds be tuned to the things of heaven so that we may have an understanding and be able to differentiate between the WILL of God and that of man.

Romans 12:2

‘Do not be conformed to the standard of this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing and perfect WILL of God’.

Let us look at the meaning of some words in the passage which will help us understand if the WILL of God is done/perfected or not.

1.      Transform: To make a great change in a person or thing. Eg caterpillar changed into a butterfly. Saul changed to Paul Acts 26:4-5; 9-18

2.      Renew: Make a thing/something as it was before. Replace something with something new. 2 Cor 5:17

3.      Mind/Soul: The power to think, feel, understand and remember. Your thoughts and feelings.

4.      Discern: To see, realise, notice. To see and identify by noticing the difference

2 Sam 14:17; ‘…my Lord is able to discern the good and the bad…’ 1 Kings 3:9, 11 Solomon had the spirit of discernment

5.      Perfect: Complete, something good that cannot be made any further better

6.      WILL: Purpose or Intentions

The teaching on the WILL is something hidden. It is not for the infant who cries for milk, but for the adult who eat solid food.  Heb 5:14

TYPES OF GOD’S WILL

1.      DECREED WILL / HIDDEN WILL / SECRET WILL

2.      PERCEPTIVE WILL / REVEALED WILL

3.      PERMISIVE WILL / PERFECT WILL

24 OCTOBER 2010 [JOHN 6:52-56]