I.  What does “thy will be done” mean?

A.  Doing the “will of God” means to fulfill that which God expressed as His desire, to be obedient to His word. 

1.  We can do the will of God by knowing His word and doing that which it states.  As is plainly exhibited here: Psalms 40:8 “I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.”
2.  We can be taught to do the will of God as the Psalmist displayed.  Psalms 143:10 “Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.”

a.  As long as we will really want to see and hear then do.  Matthew 13:15 “For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.”

B.  The opposite of doing God’s will and the punishment of such is displayed clearly in the text of the Bible.  For example: 

1. Numbers 21:5-6 “And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.  And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.” 
2.  Numbers 25:1-9
3.  Romans 1:18 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness.”  (Emphasis [bolds] added B.Y.)

A.  Christ - Matthew 26:42 “He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.” (Emphasis added B.A.Y)

1.  Sometimes the right thing to do is a tough thing to do.  Christ took all the weight of the sins of mankind upon himself.  Hebrews 9:28“So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”
2.  Christ is our example I Peter 2:21 “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps.”

a.  Christ was obedient as the Son of God Hebrews 5:1-10.
b.  He was humble Hebrews 2:7-11 “Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.  But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.  For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren.”

3.  Christ came to do the Father’s will John 4:34 “Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.”

a. John 5:30 “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.”
b.  John 6:38 “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.”

4.  He died by CHOICE John 10:17-18 “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.  No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.”

B.  Paul was obedient Acts 9:1-20

1.  He did all things through the strength he received through the Lord Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
2.  Paul did and was very willing to suffer, even die, for Christ Acts 21:13“Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
a.  Death would be a gain Philippians 1:21 “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
3.  Paul defended the Lord’s will Philippians 1:17 “But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.”
4.  Paul had compassion, both for the Lord, and for the saints set for the defense of the Lord’s body Acts 20:25-38

A.  Christians to put Him first Matthew 22:36-38 “Master, which is the great commandment in the law?  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  This is the first and great commandment.”
1.  Family must be SECOND Matthew 10:37-39 “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.  And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.  He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.”
2.  Colossians 3:1-4 “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.  When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.”

a.  We show our love by our obedience John 14:15 “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

B.  Obey God rather than men  Acts 5:29 “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.”
C.  Build our foundation on the Lord Matthew 7:24-27

1.  Christ is the rock I Corinthians 10:4 “And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.”
2.  Must not be forgetful hearers James 1:21-25

D.  God DOES NOT will that any would perish II Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”

1.  He knows most will Matthew 20:16 “So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.”

Conclusion:
Let’s do the will of God so that we can have a home in Heaven and be one of the few that finds eternal life!
 

Copyright 2001 by Brian Yeager may be reproducted for non-commercial purposes at no cost to others.