Seeking to Do God's Will
God promises to show His will to those who sincerely desire to know and pray for guidance.
William MacDonald emphasizes the importance of a sincere desire to know and do God's will, as highlighted in John 7:17. He shares a powerful testimony of a desperate hippie who, at the brink of despair, cried out for God to reveal Himself and was met with a life-changing encounter with a Christian. This illustrates that God responds to those who genuinely seek Him, promising to reveal His will to anyone willing to follow it. MacDonald encourages believers to cultivate a deep desire for God's guidance, assuring that God is committed to meeting our needs when we prioritize His will above all else.
Text
Â"If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.Â" (John 7:17)
TodayÂ's English Version translates the first part of this verse, Â"Whoever is willing to do what God wants will knowÂ...Â" It is a wonderful promise that if a person sincerely desires to know, God will show him.
When a sinner has come to the end of himself and when he prays in deep extremity, Â"Oh God, reveal Yourself to me,Â" God always does. It is a prayer that never goes unanswered.
A hippie, living in a cave in the Southwest, was ready to end it all. He had sought satisfaction in liquor, drugs, sex, and the occult. But still his life was empty, empty, empty. He could see no way out of his misery. Huddled in the cave one day, he cried out, Â"Oh GodÂ--if there is a GodÂ--reveal yourself to me, or IÂ'm going to end my life.Â"
Within ten minutes, a young Christian, who Â"just happenedÂ" to be passing, stuck his head in the mouth of the cave, saw the hermit-hippie and said, Â"Hi, mind if I speak to you about Jesus?Â"
You know what happened! The hippie listened to the good news of salvation through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. He came to the Savior and found forgiveness, acceptance and new life. He had prayed out of the depths; God heard and answered. I have never heard of anyone who prayed like that without having a special revelation of the Lord to his soul.
Of course, the promise is true to Christians as well. If a man sincerely desires to know what the will of God for his life is, God will show it to him. If he wants to know the proper pathway as far as church fellowship is concerned, God will make it known. No matter what the need may be, God is committed to meet it, if we want His will supremely. The thing that stands between us and a true knowledge of GodÂ's mind is our own lack of desperate desire.
Sermon Outline
- The Promise of Knowing God's Will
- A Sincere Desire to Know God's Will
- God's Commitment to Meet Our Needs
- The Barrier to Knowing God's Will
Key Quotes
“Whoever is willing to do what God wants will know...” — William MacDonald
“It is a prayer that never goes unanswered.” — William MacDonald
“If a man sincerely desires to know what the will of God for his life is, God will show it to him.” — William MacDonald
Application Points
- Pray for a sincere desire to know God's will for your life.
- Be willing to seek guidance from God in all areas of your life.
- Recognize that our own lack of desire can be a barrier to knowing God's will.