God's Will Bible Study

Okay, let me give you the final principle, but hold on to your seat! You may want to jump up and shout! If you are doing all five of the basic things, do you know what the next principle of God’s will is? Do whatever you want! If those five elements of God’s will are operating in your life, who is running your wants? God is! The psalmist said, “Delight yourself in the LORD; and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Ps. 37:4). God does not say He will fulfill all the desires there! If you are living a godly life, He will give you the right desires.

People say to me, “Why did you go into your present ministry when you had such an enjoyable ministry before in another area?”

I always answer, “Because I wanted to.”

“Aha. Self-will.”

I had a friend come to me and say, “John, I don’t know where the Lord wants me to serve.”

I said to him, “Marty, if you had your choice of any service in the world, what would you want?”

He said, “Oh, I have such a burden for my people Israel. I speak French fluently, and Paris is just loaded with Jewish people who don’t know Jesus. I personally would like to go to Paris as a missionary to the Jews.”

I checked him on the five spiritual principles and said, “Marty, have you done all these things?”

He replied, “Yes, I honestly believe that I am committed to Christ in these areas.”

I said, “Marty, good-bye, have a nice trip.”

He hesitated and said, “But I have to write to forty-two mission boards.”

I said, “No! Go.”

He said, “But it is only my desire.”

“Then trust that it is God who planted it. Get out of here.”

John MacArthur Jr., Found: God’s Will (Colorado Springs, CO: David C Cook, 2012).