Understanding God's Will - Part 2 | Ephesians Study

Ephesians 5:15-17

(15)  See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

(16)  Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

(17)  Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

We already understand that we must walk wisely and redeem the time. Beyond that, though, we are to understand the will of the Lord - what it is. How do we know God's will? We must redeem the time and instead of seeking after this world's ideas, seek first God and His kingdom.

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1 Corinthians 1:1 - Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,

 2 Corinthians 1:1 - Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:

Ephesians 1:1 - Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

Colossians 1:1 - Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,

2 Timothy 1:1 - Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,

By God's will, Paul was called to be an apostle. The calling was evident in his life - I wonder if the calling is just as evident in our lives? Do we ignore it?

2 Corinthians 8:5 - And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.

God's will for every believer is that we give up ourselves to Him. This must be the first step before God will use us effectively in other areas. Have I surrendered myself to this will of God?

Galatians 1:4 - Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

God's will is to deliver us from the evil world by Christ taking our sins upon Him.

Ephesians 6:6 - Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;

Doing the will of God begins in our heart. This verse seems to be very applicable to children/daughters and even wives. Though we are not "enslaved" to our parents/husbands, there is a limitation on what we can and cannot do because we are under our father's/husband's authority. I believe that even in any "limitations" I might conceive, my duty is to do God's will from my heart while I am under the authority of another.

Colossians 4:12 - Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

We can stand complete in God's will - I do not think this comes naturally to the born-again believer, but it is possible by dying to self and seeking Christ.