by Ester yusufu | 11 April 2022 08:46 pm04
Many people associate doing God’s will with ministry success—casting out demons, prophesying, or working miracles. But Jesus challenges that assumption in one of His most sobering teachings:
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’
And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”
(Matthew 7:21–23)
This passage tells us that spiritual activity—even miraculous—does not guarantee salvation. The decisive factor is doing the will of God. So the real question becomes: What is God’s will?
The apostle Paul answers this clearly:
“For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality;
that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor,
not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God.”
(1 Thessalonians 4:3–5)
In biblical , the will of God is not only about His sovereign plans (e.g., Ephesians 1:11), but also about His moral expectations for His people. In 1 Thessalonians 4, Paul emphasizes that God’s will centers on personal sanctification—the process of being set apart for God and growing in holiness.
This teaching aligns with God’s character as holy (1 Peter 1:15–16), and it shows that He calls us not just to believe, but to live differently.
You could prophesy, heal, or teach the Word, yet still live in unrepentant sin. That kind of double life is what Jesus calls “lawlessness”—a willful rejection of God’s moral law.
So holiness is not optional—it’s essential.
“Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.”
(Hebrews 12:14)
This isn’t about legalism or trying to earn salvation through works, but rather about genuine faith that produces fruit (James 2:17). True salvation always leads to transformation.
Sanctification affects every area of life: relationships, entertainment choices, speech, and yes—even how we dress.
“That each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor”
(1 Thessalonians 4:4)
“Possessing your vessel” includes respecting your body and not using it to provoke or tempt others. Modesty isn’t cultural—it’s theological. It reflects humility, honor, and a desire to glorify God (1 Corinthians 6:19–20).
Wearing clothing that reveals too much or imitates worldly sensuality often shows a heart not submitted to Christ’s lordship. If what we wear wouldn’t be considered appropriate to wear before God—or even our parents—can we call it honorable?
These choices matter because they flow from the heart, and Jesus taught that what’s in the heart defines our true spiritual state (Matthew 15:18–20).
Gifts like prophecy, speaking in tongues, and dreams are real, and God uses them. But they are not proof of salvation. Judas performed miracles (Matthew 10:1–8), yet betrayed Christ. King Saul prophesied (1 Samuel 10:10), yet disobeyed God.
Spiritual gifts can be imitated or even misused (Matthew 24:24), but holy living cannot be faked before God.
That’s why the apostle Paul told Timothy:
“Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”
(2 Timothy 2:19)
If you’ve been relying on ministry, spiritual experiences, or a sense of calling as your ticket to heaven—but you’re ignoring God’s call to holiness—you are in danger of hearing, “I never knew you.”
Let’s not be among those who fulfill that tragic prophecy. Instead, let’s repent and live lives of holiness, depending on the power of the Holy Spirit to sanctify us daily (Romans 8:13).
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
(Matthew 5:8)
Jesus is coming soon
Source URL: https://wingulamashahidi.org/en/2022/04/11/what-is-the-will-of-god/
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