Gods will
What is God's will here on earth?
The Holy Spirit spoke to me about His will on earth. There are three big things that we find in scrpture, which clue us in on God's will for us here on earth. They include heaven, the Garden of Eden, and Jesus' ministry here on earth.
The Holy Spirit just gave me fresh revelation on a Bible passage that I know we're all familiar with. It's where Jesus teaches His disciples how to pray, and in that prayer Jesus says:
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Matthew 6:9-10
The Holy Spirit spoke to me very clearly saying, "How do we know what God's will is here on earth? Just look at what's taking place in heaven!"
The truth is that there are a lot of things which take place on this earth which are not the will of God. Just because something happens here on earth, does not mean that it was God's will that it happened that way. If it were, then it means that every time a woman is raped, or a child is molested, or a father is murdered... then it would have to be the will of God. That kind of thinking is absolutely absurd! If God willed such things, it would make Him out to be a terrible god who has no love in his heart! It would make Him out to be a liar, because His Word tells us that He is love, and that He desires good things for us.
I was thinking the other day about the story of Job, and how the devil tore his life apart, but then how God turned around and blessed him with twice as many blessings. As if the man wasn't blessed already, God turned around and DOUBLED his wealth! The Holy Spirit then spoke to me and said, "I WANTED him blessed!"
While sitting here writing this teaching, I was just thinking in my mind, "We need to be radical for Jesus and the ways of God, for He is GOOD!" And the Holy Spirit spoke to me and said, "That's the way I want you!" Then the verse came to me where Jesus tells the believers on judgment day...
I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Revelation 3:15-16
I don't know about you, but I'd say that's a pretty serious warning about our spiritual temperature concerning the things of God. But how can we be fiery hot for God, if we don't know why we are so hot and on fire? That is yet another reason why we need to have the knowledge of His goodness!
We can get another glimpse of God's will for humanity here on earth today by looking at what Jesus went about doing in His earthly ministry. Jesus only went about doing what He saw the Father doing:
Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
John 5:19
What did Jesus go about doing in His earthly ministry? The Bible tells us that Jesus went about doing good, and healing all who were oppressed of the devil.
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
Acts 10:38
Now Jesus could have just came down and died for our sins... but no, he also came to demonstrate what He really wanted to happen here on earth by healing, delivering, and carrying out the work of the kingdom. It was the will of God for the sick to be healed, the lame to walk, and the demons cast out!Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil (see 1 John 3:8), and the fruit of Satan's labor is sickness, disease, bondage, and all the other things that God never wanted to come upon the human race. God the Father endorsed Jesus by causing these signs and wonders to follow Him:
Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.
John 14:10-11
Jesus went about demonstrating the will of the Father here on earth!
Let's take a look at what God wanted for His people, the Israelites.Remember that God is no respecter of persons (see Acts 10:34), and He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (see Hebrews 13:8). The good things that He wanted for His people back then, He wants for His people today. He laid before them a life of blessing, and a life lived under curses. He urged them to choose the blessings, because that's what He wanted for them!
And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God. Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store. Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out. The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in his ways. And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the LORD; and they shall be afraid of thee. And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee. The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow. And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:
Deuteronomy 28:2-13
Now that is a mouthful of blessings, isn't it? God included everything from financial prosperity, to health, and about anything else a person could want! Ask any farmer today if he would like his field or flocks blessed and increased and overflowing! That was their businesses back then, and God wanted to bless their businesses and finances. We find a couple of chapters later, that God is urging them to choose life and blessings. He didn't want them to inherit the curses, but the blessings! What Father doesn't want His children blessed in all their ways?
I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.
Deuteronomy 30:19
Let's look at what God considered to be a curse. After the list of blessings above in Deuteronomy 28, there is also a list of curses which would come upon the people if those chose not to follow God. I think it's safe to say that God did not want any of these things for His children. I'm not even going to list them all here, but they included everything from poverty, every kind of sickness and diseases, war, famine, and the list just goes on and on. I encourage you to read verses 15 through 68 in Deuteronomy 28 to learn of what God considered a curse, and not a blessing for His people. Today we find Christians thanking God for their curse, when God's Word is clear that such a thing is never once said to be a blessing for humanity!
After you go through all the curses listed in Deuteronomy 28, I want you to remember that the work of Christ has made it possible for us to be redeemed from the curses of the law. Christ came to destroy the work of the devil, and is considered to be the 2nd Adam who brings us life through His name. Jesus said clearly that it is the thief who came to steal, kill, and destroy, but He came so that we could have life, and have it more abundantly.
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
John 10:10
Is that abundant life just for when we get up into heaven? No! God wants to bless us here on earth, just as He blesses those who are already in heaven. Some say that we are called to a life of poverty and suffering. Poverty and sickness, no, but persecution, yes. Many times, Christians walk around with the sickness and poverty (which is not God's will for them), yet they never see persecution (which God said would come to all of His true followers). Am I missing something? The truth is that we are called to endure persecution just as Jesus has, but that doesn't mean that He doesn't want us to be blessed and taken care at the same time.
And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
Mark 10:29-30
What was Jesus saying? "Now in this time" means here on earth! When He asks us to give up homes and relationships with those whom we love, then He has in mind to bless us with much greater blessings right here on earth. How many of you would like to receive a hundredfold blessing here on earth?
To find out God's master plan, just look at the Garden of Eden! When God first made man, everything was the way that He wanted it. No sickness, disease, lack, poverty, shame, or sin. That was God's great plan for man, but it was fouled when Adam decided to rebel. Before sin entered the picture, there was perfect health, provision, and all the good things a person could want. God created mankind to be blessed, and His plan hasn't changed!
God's desire to give us good things
God's Word is clear that He desires to give us good things, give us great joy by answering our prayers, and fulfill the desires of our heart. What good earthly father would give his child a serpent when he asks for a baseball? Our Father in heaven wants us to know that He is much greater than any earthly Father, and how much more does He desire to give us good things when we ask:
Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
Matthew 7:9-11
Did you know that God wants us to ask Him for things, and receive them, that our joy may be full? Now don't get me wrong, our motives must be right in asking, because when we ask amiss, we may not receive (see James 4:3). But none the less, God wants us to ask Him for good things, and He desires to give us those things:
And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
John 16:23-24
Psalms tells us clearly that God desires to give us the desires of our hearts. This sounds more like a loving heavenly Father than what most religious folks have pictured Him!
Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
Psalms 37:4-5
How do we tap into this king of life, to where we're asking God for good things, and He's giving them to us? God's Word tells us to seek first His kingdom, then these things will be added onto us:
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Matthew 6:33
In another passage, Jesus tells the disciples how to ask of God, and receive from Him, but He also warns them of the importance of forgiving those who have wronged us. Unforgiveness will hinder our prayers from being answered and will corrupt the plan of God for our lives.
And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
Mark 11:22-26
Our obedience to God goes a long way in Him giving us the desires of our heart. God's Word also tells us that if the people were willing and obedient, they would eat the good of the land:
If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land.
Isaiah 1:19
The kingdom of God
This is a whole teaching in itself, but let me briefly touch on something here. Many of us hear of the kingdom of God, and the first thing we think is when we go to be with the Lord in heaven. Yes, that is the kingdom of God, but did you know that the kingdom of God can be entered into right here one earth? Do you know what the kingdom of God really is? I was thinking about this one day, when I felt the Holy Spirit say to me, "Why don't you just ask me?" I did, and He replied, "It's where I reign and My will is done." Jesus connected these two things together when He taught His disciples how to pray, saying, "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." (see Matthew 6:10)
How do we know that the kingdom of God is available to us right here on earth? The following passages make it very clear that the kingdom of God is available to us right here on earth:
And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand [or available to you right now]: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Mark 1:15
Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
Luke 17:21
We are told to seek first the kingdom of God, then these things will be added unto us, for it is God's good pleasure to give us the things of the kingdom.
But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
Luke 12:31-32
So let's take a look at some examples of the kingdom of God being manifested here on earth. By the following passage, we know that the kingdom of God includes physical bodies being healed:
And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.
Luke 10:9
The kingdom of God also includes casting out demons, thus setting the captives free:
But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.
Luke 11:20
Where God reigns and His will is done, there is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit!
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
Romans 14:17
We today are called to go forth and preach the kingdom of God (the will of God being done on earth as in heaven), and demonstrate it by healing the sick, casting out demons, and yes, even raising the dead!
And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
Matthew 10:7-8
Living far below God's standard
So many believers are convinced that they should expect nothing good from this life, and that our only blessings are after we die and go to heaven. The idea of God's will being done here on earth just exactly as it is up in heaven, is completely foreign to them. It sounds too good to be true! But let's stop to think about who told us about all these wonderful things that are available for us? It was Jesus Himself! If we can trust Him with our eternal salvation, then we ought to be able to trust Him with everything else that He said was true.
In the middle ages, healing, casting out demons, and so forth was unheard of in many areas of the world. Why? The promises of God were just as valid then as they were in Jesus' day, and their still just as solid today. What happened? People began to exalt human reasoning and experience over the Word of God. They never saw somebody healed, because nobody believed God's promise for healing. They never saw a demon cast out, because nobody believed the Word of God concerning the work of demons, and how we can cast them out in Jesus' name. I believe the reason that so many Christians today are living so far below God's standard here on earth, is because they have accepted human reasoning and experience over what the Word of God has to say.
They believe it's normal for a Christian to be sick because they aren't getting their prayers answered for healing. They don't believe that demons are really at work, because they've never seen anybody do what Jesus commanded and cast them out. How come are there just as many sicknesses among Christians as there are the world, yet us Christians are so duped to say that God gave us our sickness to make us a better person. Did God give the sinners sickness too, so that they could become better people? How is the Christian community different than the rest of the world, if we both have just as many sicknesses and diseases and folks dying of cancer? Yet at the same time, people in the early church were getting healed right and left. Everybody who came to Jesus to be healed, got what they needed! You'd think that the Christian community would have a little higher success rate at dealing with sickness and disease, just as was being done in the early church. When Jesus told us to lay our hands on the sick and they would recover... there was no hesitation whatsoever about checking first to see if it was the will of God.
I hate to say this, but when I see what is going on inside most churches today, and then I open my Bible and read of the accounts of what was taking place back then, it's almost as if I'm reading two different gospels. One was alive, and brought real help to those with real problems. Take a real problem such as cancer to today's churches, and they don't know the first thing to do about it!
God has shown me clearly that if we want to get back to the early church experience, and carry it forward today, then we need to get back into our Bibles, and learn the truth for ourselves. We cannot get any closer to the truth, than if we read God's Word about something. God's Word, if I'm not mistaken, was not presented in just words (as it is today), but also in POWER!
For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.
1 Corinthians 4:20
For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power [the Greek word 'dunamis' tells us that this is MIRACILOUS power!], and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
1 Thessalonians 1:5
If we want to see what the will of God is here on earth, then our only reliable source is the Bible. The Holy Spirit led me to point out three very powerful keys to understanding on the will of God here on earth, and although I already covered them, I want to list them one more time:
#1 The garden of Eden was God's desire and ideal home for man to live in. God never corrupted it, man did when he opened the door to sin. By looking back at God's original plan for man, we can get a sense of what He desired here on earth. Jesus went to the cross to destroy the work (or fruit) of Satan's work (see 1 John 3:8) and redeem us from the curse of the law (see Galatians 3:13).
#2 God wants His will to be done on earth, just as it is done in heaven. In heaven, there is no lack or poverty, there is no sickness or disease, or any symptoms of a fallen world. We all dream of going to heaven someday, but how many of us would believe God when He tells us that He wants His perfect will done here on earth, just like it is in heaven?
#3 The will of the Father which was being demonstrated through Jesus' earthly ministry. It was not the will of God to heal people back then, while letting those of us today suffer with cancer. Jesus not only proved the will of God here on earth, but He also sent us forth to continue proving it until the day He returns for us (see John 20:21, Mark 16:15-18).