I would like to continue discussing the false belief that ‘’no one knows the will of God.” There are so many references to this that when I began to study it years ago I was amazed that a preacher would even think about making that statement. The Apostle John has something to say about this subject. In the first chapter of the book of John he states: John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. Here he is clarifying that there is a will of God and a part of that will has been made known to man in the form of being born again. Jesus is quoted in John 7:17 stating: “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” Again I have to say that if we are not able to know God’s will Jesus would never make a statement like this. In John 9:31 we read “Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.”
In the book of Acts we see where Saul ran into Jesus on the road to Damascus. While staying in Damascus Ananias was sent to Saul to pray for him and to tell him God’s will: Acts 22:14 “And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.” Too many times a preacher will say ‘’no one knows the will of God” because something bad or tragic has happened and the preacher doesn’t have a soothing answer for the people involved. These are tough times all around but when someone dies suddenly we don’t know why and that is an easy answer. The thing is we don’t know all the details of everyone’s life. Some people that we think are super spiritual die at a very young age and we cannot explain it. But there are times when we know the answer. A person that never lives for God, lives his/her life as if there is no God and then has a health problem and then blames God for it. When we live outside the protection of God’s hand we are open to everything that is in the world. If you don’t stand under the umbrella when it’s raining, why complain about getting wet?
We can know God’s will simply by seeking Him. His Word is His will. God wants all men to be saved, 1Timothy 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. This isn’t hard to figure out. God wants the church to tithe: Malachi 3:10 “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” But many churches don’t preach that tithing us something that God wants us to do. Then there are the preachers that preach nothing but giving with no balance in the Word.
How many times has a preacher stated “We don’t know if God wants us healed”? This is one that baffles me. Jesus healed all the sick that came to Him except in His home town and that was because of their lack of faith, Matthew 4:24, 8:16, 12:15, 14:14, 15:30, 19:2 just to name a few but some preachers don’t know His will concerning this. James_5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Really, this isn’t brain surgery. When the pulpit is confused, the pews won’t be any better.
I stopped going to the denominational church that I had attended for years because what I read in the Bible was not what I was hearing from the pulpit. What I was hearing was almost the opposite of what I was reading. Paul tells us to study, the Word, to show ourselves approved. But most people only get what the preacher says never taking the time to study for themselves. Jesus declared in Mark 7:13 “Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.” One denomination won’t let its priests marry. There is no biblical doctrine to that. They get that from Paul’s first letter to the church in Corinth: 1 Corinthians 7:7 For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.
8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.
9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn. Paul was not always single though. He was a Pharisee and they were required to be married. When he converted his wife did not. But we also have to keep in mind that this was Paul’s concept not God’s. In Genesis God stated: Genesis 2:18 “And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.” There are those that can live alone and it not bother them but the majority can’t.
Even in that denomination there has been lots of evidence that indicates that neither the males nor females could maintain that vow of celibacy. It is nothing but a tradition of man and not the will of God.
What is needed in the church is to set aside the things that are not of God and a return to the things that are of God. Traditions are nice but when they make the Word of God ineffective then it’s time to drop them. I know that some preachers don’t believe in speaking in tongues, healing, prosperity and all the other promises of God but we can’t believe one part of the Word and deny another. This is what drove me out of denominations. I believe the Holy Spirit should run a service not a bulletin. We you have to stay strictly with structure God has a hard time moving. Church is not man’s agenda, it’s God’s. It’s His ‘show’ not ours. Let Him reign.
All Scripture is from the KJV unless otherwise noted.
© 2016 Roger Anghis – All Rights Reserved
