God’s Will

God’s will for you is to become more like Christ each day. God’s Secret Will God’s plan that always happens. God’s Revealed Will Something God has already made known in the Bible. “Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.” — 1 Thessalonians 4:1–2 We never stop growing as children of God. “The Christian life is marked by either growth or decay.” — W.E. Vine “For this is the will of God, your sanctification…” — 1 Thessalonians 4:3 God’s will for us in our personal holiness. 1. Our personal holiness includes a strong sexual ethic. “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.” — 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 2. Our personal holiness includes love and good works. “Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.” — 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 Commit to following God’s will. Genuine followers of Jesus hunger for the things of God.