A Heart According to God's Will

"Meanwhile, the disciples urged Jesus, saying, 'Rabbi, eat something.' But he said to them, 'I have food to eat that you do not know about.' So the disciples said to one another, 'Has someone brought him food?' Jesus said to them, 'My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. Do you not say, 'There are still four months, then comes the harvest'? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.'" – John 4:31-35

Objective: To understand how to pursue a heart aligned with the will of God. This is not about behaviors. It is about understanding.

Introduction:

Jesus had a clear purpose in passing through Samaria. He desired that the Samaritan people would have the opportunity to know Him.
The disciples are seeing life through the lens of the flesh
Jesus is seeing life through the lens of the Spirit
The disciples are hungry and searching for food
Jesus serves a banquet to the Samaritan woman
The disciples see green fields
Jesus sees fields that are white for harvest

What is the will of Jesus?

"For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me." – John 6:38

What is the will of God?

"This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." – 1 Timothy 2:3-4

"For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day." – John 6:40

There is a will in God's heart that He desires to place in ours: that all people would come to know Him through Jesus!

There is a desire in Jesus's heart: that we would be Him in the lives of those who do not yet know Him!

DIALOGUE 1

But how will I come to resemble Jesus? (Listener)
By making the will of God your food! (Bible)
But I still have questions. I already understand what God's will is. But I want to know what God wants for my specific life. (Listener)
It seems to me you are not quite as interested in the will of God as you think. What you really want to know is: how can this will help you solve your problems and challenges. (Bible)
What you really want to know is: (Bible)
- whether the job you are in is from God
- whether your boyfriend or girlfriend is from God
- whether the shirt you bought is the right color
- whether the business partnership you are forming will succeed
- whether you should have bought the car you bought

DIALOGUE 2

Your problem may be spiritual immaturity and difficulty dealing with your dependence on God. (Bible)
You want God to tell you what to do so you can do it quickly and no longer depend on Him for anything. (Bible)
Why would I be spiritually immature? (Listener)
Because, in reality, you are not feeding on the will of God! (Bible)
Where do I find this blessed will? (Listener)

The will of God can be understood through three perspectives:

Directive will (sovereign)

'Only I can tell you what is going to happen even before it happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish.' Isaiah 46:10

Normative will (revealed)

'O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.' Micah 6:8

Permissive will

'In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.' Acts 14:16-17

What do we pursue with great enthusiasm? The specific directive will.

What should we pursue? The general normative will.

The normative will is:

what I need to know
what I need to believe
what I need to understand

It is found in Scripture as:

Precepts (Commandments)
Principles (Life guidelines)
Prophecies (God in history)
Wisdom (Practical life)

Life is not about how much of our own will gets done, but about how full of God's will we are.