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Discerning the will of God
Rev. Benny Hinn
Vol 2/ No.2/March 2001

God has a definite plan for your life. The Lord declares, "Before I formed thee in the belly, I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations." (Jeremiah 1:5)

Three keys to knowing God's will for you:

Key # 1: The will of God is found in Christ. God's will for your life begins to unfold once you meet His Son Jesus at salvation. His purpose for your life continues to unfold as you continue to walk in Christ. "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Key #2: The revelation of God's will is a process. The will of God is revealed to you and me as we walk with Him day by day, and then He enables us to know His good, His acceptable, and His perfect will. Paul wrote, "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12:2)

Key #3: We must seek God's will. The Father's will for lives must be pursued, and we pursue His will in prayer. For the word declares, "Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is And be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs......." (Ephesians 5:17-19) "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not." (Jeremiah 33:3)

How to stay in God's will. To find God's plan and purpose, the Word gives us these instructions:

One: You must know God's Word and put it to use on a daily basis. The Lord expects you to exercise your faith to develop and mature so that you move from milk to strong meat. "But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." (Hebrews 5:14)

Two: Turn your back on sin. The person living in sin will know God's plan for his life. Scripture says, "Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide they face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities," (Psalm 51:8-9) here David clearly states that living in sin will make one unable to hear God's voice.

Three: Stay close to the Lord. If you walk with God, you won't miss His will. In the words of the psalmist, "The Lord is my shepherd: I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters." (Psalm 23:1-2)

Perfect or permissive? It is possible to miss the perfect will of God and settle for second best - His permissive will. The children of Israel "........lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert. And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul." (Psalm 106:14-15)

Because of disobedience, Balam received only God's permissive will - and ended with great loss (Numbers 22:12,20-22).

Nine ways God reveals His will to us:

The Lord communicates with His people in a variety of methods. Here are nine ways He reveals His will to us.

1. God speaks through visions. Our observation - or vision comes through information and meditating on God's word. "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make they way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success." (Joshua 1:8)

2. God speaks through dreams. The Lord spoke to Joseph through a dream concerning the Christ child. ".........behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt........." (Mathew 2:13)

3. God speaks through circumstances. If the Lord opens a door, walk through it. Often, we are unable to discern God's will without circumstances helping us define it. It was through circumstances, yet in the Lord's perfect plan, that Rebekah became the wife of Isaac (Genesis 24:12-16).

4. God speaks through the gifts of the Holy Sprit. The Apostle Paul knew the danger he would face in Jerusalem - "Thus saith the Holy Ghost........" (Acts 21:11) He refused to alter his course, saying, "The will of the Lord be done." (v.14) God continues to speak to us through spiritual gifts today (1 Corinthians 12:4-11).

5. God speaks through others. Often I have prayed, "Lord, please speak to me again." And He has, through men and women of God who have confirmed His guidance. Scripture tells us that the Lord ".....revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets." (Amos 3:7)

6. God speaks through a clear voice. Often, the Lord will speak directly to you - and His voice is clear. Concerning Moses, God said, 'With him will I speak mouth to mouth........." (Numbers 12:8)

7. God speaks through images, or impressions. The Lord can place within you a mental images from which you cannot escape. God says, "I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used simlitudes, by the ministry of the prophets." (Hosea 12:10) A similitude refers to a likeness or an image.

8. God speak through His peace in our hearts. The Lord has placed a navigational system inside of you. It's called the peace of God. Paul wrote, "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts........" (Colossians 3:15)

9. But most often, God speaks to us through His Word. When you saturate your life with God's word, His plan becomes your joy. The psalmist wrote, "I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, they law is within my heart." (Psalm 40:8) The Word also says, "They word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." (Psalm 119:105)

Please review what you have learned by reading the Scriptures in context. I am praying that God may reveal His perfect will for your life.