“’It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” – Acts 20:35
Have you ever asked God that question? “God, what do You want me to do?” If you know the Lord, that’s a question that will inevitably come up. If you don’t know the Lord, it is a question that will likely also come up, though for different reasons. I invite you to read on to see what I mean.
If you’ve been awakened by the Holy Spirit to your sinfulness and need of a Savior, and to the solution of forgiveness for your sins and eternal life through the gospel of Jesus Christ, yes, that question will be important to you. It will be important because when you are saved from your sins you should have a heart of gratitude. A heart of gratitude and thanks is a fruit produced by the work of the Holy Spirit in a person. Yes, “God, what do You want me to do for You?”
Such a question falls under the heading of Knowing the Will of God for Your Life. Three times the Bible explicitly states, “This is the will of God for you”:
1 Thessalonians 4:3 (NKJV) – 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality;
The Apostle Paul was inspired to use this phrase making a clear statement referring to the “will of God” as a basis for living a holy or sanctified life. A holy life is a life lived within the parameters of God’s word. This is especially true when considering sexual purity. In an age where sexual promiscuity and depravity confront us at every turn, this aspect of the will of God for us is especially relevant.
The Apostle Peter also stated it is God’s will that we, “no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God” (1 Peter 4:2). God saved us from our sins exchanging a new life for the old sinful one (2 Corinthians 5:17). That new life in Christ is encapsulated in living out the will of God in life.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NKJV) – 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Being thankful “in everything,” regardless of the circumstances, is God’s will for us. To do that requires we have faith, and a loving trust in our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. The One who died for us so we could spend eternity with Him, will do what’s best for us. Therefore, we need to trust Him in all circumstances. We need to trust Him and be thankful; thankful for our salvation, our hope, and that in the end we will be victorious by virtue of our saving relationship with Him.
1 Peter 2:15-16 (NKJV) – 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.
Do you want to know what God would have you to do? In principle its simple, “by doing good… put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.” Do good; live out the Holy Bible in life by the empowerment and guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Bible describes a fool as one who doesn’t believe in God (Psalm 14). Silence such foolishness by living out and proclaiming the eternal life of God in you. That’s a good place to begin when seeking to live the will of God.
The phrase, “the will of God” occurs 23 times in the New Testament. Jesus said, “For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother” (Mark 3:35). Jesus commented that “the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him,” that is, baptized by John the Baptist (Luke 7:30). Walking in the will of God therefore are signs of whether you are with or against Jesus. Knowing and living out the will of God, is important.
We serve God, where He determines, by His will. The Apostle Paul stated David served as king, “by the will of God” (Acts 13:36). Paul saw himself an Apostle “through the will of God” (1 Corinthians 1:1; 2 Corinthians 1:1; Ephesians 1:1; Colossians 1:1; 2 Timothy 1:1). John the Baptist spoke profoundly when he said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven” (John 3:27). So true. The Bible is very clear on how we are used in life. “No man takes this honour to himself, but he who is called by God” (Hebrews 5:4). God’s will determines how we serve Him. God’s will is therefore important to those desiring to serve Him.
Paul spoke of visiting the church in Rome “by the will of God” (Romans 1:10). Serving God, even where and when we serve the Lord, is all dependent on “the will of God.” When we do that we will serve with joy “and be refreshed together with” those God directs us to minister too (Romans 15:32). A good indication of being in the center of God’s will is joyfulness. Paul could be in a jail cell, and still have the joy of the Lord, because he was in the will of God and he knew it; he was surrendered to it (cf. Philippians).
Another evidence of the will of God in our lives is giving ourselves to help others, especially our brethren (2 Corinthians 8:5). The will of God directs us to serve others not just for show, but from the heart (Ephesians 6:5-6). Are you seeking God’s will for your life? Get ready to serve others. Get ready to genuinely love others. Jesus said His followers would be known by their love for one another (John 13:35). God’s will involves others.
One of the main works of the Holy Spirit is to intercede for us in our prayers “according to the will of God” (Romans 8:27). Therefore, when we pray, the will of God should be a top priority for us. We should always seek in prayer for God’s help in discovering His will and living it out. And we shouldn’t just pray for ourselves, but it is the will of God that it is our holy habit to “always” be “laboring fervently. . . in our prayers” for others. We should be praying for our brethren that they “may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God” (Colossians 4:12).
If we pursue and try to live out the will of God in our own strength, we will get off track and falter. We need to lean heavily on the direction and strength the Lord provides. He will lead us by His strength. When we seek the Lord’s will and lean on His strength, “after” we “have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.” In pursuing and targeting that promise of God we need only remember, “the just shall live by faith” (Hebrews 10:36-37; cf. also Habakkuk 2:3-4; Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11). Living out the will of God by faith is a prime theme of scripture.
Living out the will of God in life doesn’t guarantee peace, serenity, and no problems or difficulties. It may mean just the opposite. Sometimes it is the will of God for us to suffer. “For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil” (1 Peter 3:17). Here again we should remember it is the will of God for us to be thankful in everything (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Yes, “Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator” (1 Peter 4:19).
As you grow and mature in your faith and relationship with God, you will gain perspective. The longer you live in the Lord, the older you get in your relationship with Him, the more you will see the wisdom of His words. The last Apostle to die, John, wisely warned we should not love the world or the things of the world. If we fall in love with the things of this world, it is evidence the love of the Father is not in us. That is because the world is filled to overflowing with “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life,” things contrary to God’s will for us. The longer we live holy in Him, the more we see the shallowness and superficiality, the worthlessness of the things of this world. And so we see the wisdom of the words of that last Apostle, “And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:17). Remember that.
So, just how can we discern the will of God for our lives? How can we answer the question, “God, what do You want me to do?” I would suggest the following steps to discerning God’s will for our lives.
Before you do anything else, understand it is good if you are interested in doing something for God. But doing something for God does not secure your eternity with God. You cannot work your way to heaven. Quite the contrary, if working your way to heaven is what you have at heart, that is extremely offensive to God. Recently our dear President Trump commented he hopes to get to heaven because of some of the peace deals he has brokered. The President said this and then commented he hears he’s not doing very well.[1] Pray for our dear blessing of a President. Such a comment reveals a wrong perspective. No one, on their own, is doing well enough to get to heaven. Everyone falls short and doesn’t measure up to what God requires for us to get to heaven (Romans 3:10 and 23). We are all sinners, and sin separates us from God (Isaiah 59:1-2). If we want to go to heaven we won’t get there in our own strength or efforts. God’s Court is just, truly just. God’s justice is not like the watered-down corrupted justice found on this horizontal plain. In God’s economy of justice sin must be righteously atoned for, and that requires blood. “According to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin” (Hebrews 9:22). Therefore, the only way to get to heaven is through the gospel of Jesus Christ.
“Gospel” means good news. What’s the good news? The good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ is that while we were still sinners God sent His only Son Jesus, Who lived a perfect sinless life so that He would be eligible to take our place on the cross and pay off our debt of sin, our sin penalty (Isaiah 53; Romans 5:8). Everyone will one day face Judgement before God (Hebrews 9:27). If we want to hear a “Not guilty” from the LORD, all we have to do is admit our sinfulness to God and in faith accept Jesus as our Savior and the forgiveness that comes through faith in Him. When we do that God applies the substitutionary redemptive work of Jesus to us and the Judge of all the earth can then justly pronounce on us a “Not guilty.” Notice, God doesn’t just let us off; He acquits us, He pronounces us justified or just-as-if-I-never-sinned (Romans 5). There is “no condemnation” for those who trust Jesus as Savior (Romans 8:1-2). That is God’s will for us. That is glorious!
Salvation from sin, eternal life, spiritual life, comes to the one who through trust in Jesus, is forgiven their sins. When we trust Jesus as our Savior, when we don’t just generically admit that Jesus died for the sins of the world, but that JESUS DIED FOR ME!, then we experience a second birth; we are born again by the Holy Spirit (John 3:1-21; Titus 3:4-7). Salvation from sin is personal.
All of this glorious provision is offered to us as a gift of God’s grace (Ephesians 2:4-9). We have to accept by faith this good news for ourselves. Then we enter into a personal relationship with the God of the universe. Jesus said eternal life is about knowing the Father and Himself (John 17:3). Think of it, we can KNOW the God of the Universe, our Creator. That is God’s will for us! Magnificent!
When you try to work your way to heaven, it is offensive to God; blasphemous. Why is that? Because you are in effect saying that the blood of Jesus shed on the cross for you is second to your own efforts. You are diluting His incredible sacrifice. We need to understand, “knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your faithers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18-19). Our salvation and the washing away of our sins was done with the precious blood of Jesus (1 John 1:7). The blood of Jesus is HOLY! Anything that would challenge or minimize that HOLY offering is offensive in the extreme to God.
Whether you realize it or not, trying to work your way to heaven is grounds for excommunication or being damned to hell. Read what the Apostle Paul said:
Galatians 1:6–10 (NKJV) – 6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. 10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.
“Accursed” (Greek anathema) means literally damned to hell. This is the will of God too for anyone who would try to work their way to heaven or circumvent or minimize the glorious gospel of God’s grace.
So you see, starting on your knees in faith before God trusting His Son Jesus as Savior is God’s will for you of the first order, and prerequisite for discovering the will of God. “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). God’s will for you begins with calling you to spend eternity with Him.
Think about it. If you don’t know God, how could it be possible to know what He wants you to do? You couldn’t. It’s good that you are interested in knowing what God wants you to do. But you can’t take credit for that. That is the Holy Spirit drawing you to God (John 16:8-11). That is God’s grace reaching out to you. You can’t take credit for wanting to do something for God. Only after you know Him through faith in Jesus is it appropriate to pursue the will of God.
I pray if you haven’t already trusted Jesus as your Savior and Lord, you would pause and do so right now. Then and only then are you ready to pursue God’s will for you. Once you have settled your sin problem through faith in Jesus, then you are in a position to seek out the answer from God to the question of, “God, what do you want me to do for You?”
Now you are hopefully ready to proceed. If you want to discover what God’s will is for you, I suggest the following.
First, Pray. Ask God to lead you. Jesus tells us:
Luke 11:9–10 (NKJV) – 9 “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
The first step in discovering the will of God for you is to prayerfully ask the Lord to show you His will for you. It is His will you are pursuing; therefore you need to begin with Him.
Second, Search the Scriptures. Be a Berean. Study what the Bible says about whatever you are questioning God about. The Bible states:
Acts 17:11 (NKJV) – 11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.
2 Timothy 2:15 (NKJV) – 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2 Timothy 3:16–17 (NKJV) – 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
The word of God, the scriptures, are the language of God. Scriptures is the language of the Holy Spirit. He will guide you through His word. Searching the scriptures is integral to discovering God’s will for us in every area of life.
Third, Delight in God. The Bible says if we take delight in God that He will put His desires in our heart:
Psalms 37:3-6 (NKJV) – 3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. 4 Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. 6 He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday.
There are indeed things it is God’s will for us to do, that we may like to do. But God isn’t about making us do hard things just to torture us or make life hard for us. Trials do build and prove the genuineness of our faith (James 1:2-4; 1 Peter 1:6-9). But when we delight ourselves in the Lord, He puts His joy and desires into us to do what He desires us to do.
We should have the same attitude of the Apostle Paul who exclaimed:
Philippians 3:7–11 (NKJV) – 7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Don’t fear what God may call you to do, rejoice that whatever His will is for you will be a means to know Him better! Doing the will of God is not drudgery, it’s a delight!
Fourth, Observe. Of the things you do, what does God bless, what is fruitful? God’s blessing is often an indication of how He is leading.
Matthew 7:15-20 (NKJV) – 15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
Jesus said that false prophets would be known by the rotten fruit they produce. But the alternate is also true. Good fruit is evidence of the Hand of God on a person. This principle of fruit production is a good way to gauge what God’s will is for your life. God leads us through fruitfulness.
Jesus went on to say:
John 15:5-8 (NKJV) – 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
Apart from Jesus we can’t bear fruit. But when we are attached to Jesus like a branch on a tree, we will discover His will for us as He produces fruit in and through us.
Fifth, Serve. Jesus came and modelled to us servanthood. What opportunities has God presented to you to serve in? Open doors? Closed doors?
Mark 10:45 (NKJV) – 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
Romans 8:29 (NKJV) – 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Revelation 3:8 (NKJV) – 8 “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.
Like a waiter in a restaurant who serves where there is a need, we can often learn what our spiritual gifts are by volunteering to serve and then seeing how the Spirit does and does not bless our efforts. “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye” (Psalm 32:8). God guides us like a servant watches the eye of their master to know where to serve.
There is one who desires God’s will for us more than even we do, Jesus! Jesus puts open doors before us to lead us. He closes doors when it isn’t His will for us to pursue certain things. Be wise enough and humble enough to leave closed doors closed. Be wise and faithful enough to walk through the doors He opens.
Jesus also said:
Revelation 3:20 (NKJV) – 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
Jesus stands at the door of the church and knocks. He even knocks on the door of our heart. He is waiting for us to open and welcome Him in. Once inside He we can discuss with Hiim what is His will for our church, for us individually. Opening the door to Jesus isn’t just about us dining with Him, it’s about Him dining with us. Jesus doesn’t come empty handed. Jesus comes with a plan and the resources to fulfill that plan. Open up to Him.
Sixth, Surrender. Come to the Lord in full surrender. Be willing to submit your agenda or desires to His agenda and desires. He knows how you will be best used for His glory. He knows how you will best be blessed.
When Paul introduces the practical section of Romans, he begins with speaking of a servant’s heart and surrender to the Lord:
Romans 12:1–2 (NKJV) – I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Don’t make the mistake of going to the Lord with your agenda. He knows it even if you try to hide it. He knows everything. Be honest and open. But better still, go to Jesus in full surrender, like a living sacrifice. It is then that you will be in a position to fully grasp His will for you.
Seventh, Step Out. At some point you will have to take a step of faith. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Follow the first steps and then step out in faith:
Isaiah 6:8 (NKJV) – Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”
“Here I am! Send me” are words many saints throughout the ages have uttered that served to be the threshold of a God glorifying life.
Hebrews 11:1–3 (NKJV) – Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV) – 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
It is impossible to please God without faith. You can’t be saved apart from faith in Jesus. You can’t continue in your walk with Jesus without faith. Indeed, we walk by faith not mere sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). You’re not going to likely be given a five- or ten-year plan from God. He will reveal His will to you step by step, day by day and you will have to trust Him along the way. In fact, there is an important reason God gives you His will in small bites. We can only handle the issues of one day at a time (cf. Matthew 6:25-34). God wants us to cultivate a daily current walk with Him through life. He does that by the way He reveals His will to us, daily. He does that because He loves us and wants us to spend time with Him.
Eighth, Sacrifice. Be a living sacrifice fully HONESTLY surrendered and open to God’s will for you. Jesus said:
Luke 17:10 (NKJV) – 10 So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’”
When you discover God’s will for you, and begin to walk in it and bear fruit, don’t get puffed up and proud; don’t start taking credit and drawing attention to yourself. Be like John the Baptist who stepped aside and gave Jesus glory saying, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (1 Peter 5:5-6). Nothing will quench communication with God faster than a proud heart. Get your satisfaction from serving the Lord faithfully (1 Corinthians 4:2).
Ninth, Seek Godly Counsel. The Bible says:
Proverbs 11:14 (NKJV) – Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety
Proverbs 15:22 (NKJV) – Without counsel, plans go awry, But in the multitude of counselors they are established.
It’s always a good idea to seek godly counsel when making decisions. Make sure it is good godly counsel though. I would encourage you to seek counsel from your pastor. Gauge your counselor by the fruit they bear. Make sure it is someone strong in the word of God and filled with the Holy Spirit. Understand seeking input from a “multitude” of counselors can be helpful. But if you’re just searching for a counselor to affirm your desires in a matter, go back to step six and make sure you are a living sacrifice fully surrendered to God.
Tenth, Glorify God. Whatever you do, do it for the glory of God? Ask, “Does what I do glorify God, or me? What is the focus?” Am I serving like Jesus?
1 Peter 2:21 (NKJV) – 21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
1 John 2:6 (NKJV) – 6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
Whatever you do, do it like Jesus would do it. Look to Jesus and follow His steps and walk like He walked. Ask yourself not only “What would Jesus do?” but “How would He do it?”
Here is a key to successfully living out the will of God:
John 15:26 (NKJV) – 26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.
John 16:13-14 (NKJV) – 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.
Colossians 3:17 (NKJV) – 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
When the Holy Spirit is working, the focus will be on Jesus. Whatever you discover God’s will for you to be, purpose in your heart to do it bringing attention and glory to Jesus. Do that and you can’t go wrong.
Colossians 3:23-24 (NKJV) – 23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
Your ultimate objective in living out the will of God is to bless Him. Everything we do should be a loving expression of a heartfelt appreciation and thankfulness for what He has, is and will do for us. Whatever we do for Him has value. But whatever we do for Him is truly only meagre morsels compared to what He has done, is doing, and will do for us.
Yes, answering the question, “God, what do You want me to do for You?” is a great question to ask, and an even better question to answer. But understand, the blessing of answering that question doesn’t come from our achievements. That blessing in discovering and living out the will of God for us is in our giving. Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). May we bless God as we seek His will and live it out. And may we be blessed in the process. That will happen because that is just the way God is. He has a way of answering our prayers “exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” And for that we worship, “to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21). In Jesus’ name. Amen!
[1] https://people.com/trump-says-he-wants-to-get-to-heaven-if-possible-11793929