The Life of Faith (Pt. 10) - Faith and The Will of God
Our teaching this week started off with a reminder that we’re not just hearing sermons—we’re called to act on them. If all we do is listen and move on, we’ve missed the point. We need to pray, reflect, revisit past teachings, and take practical steps forward, because faith is built through effort.
As we saw in 1 Corinthians 10:13, God is faithful—He won’t let us face more than we can bear, and He always provides a way out. Our faith also rests on that truth. If we don’t believe in His faithfulness, we can’t truly walk in faith.
For Becoming Before Receiving
Whatever we’re trusting God for—healing, direction, or holiness—it all requires faith. But God is faithful. He never asks anything of us without also providing what’s needed to build the faith for it.
Now when faith is built, it transforms us. It shapes who we become. This then allows us access, by faith, the provisions of God. So it isn’t just for blessings; it’s first and foremost, for becoming.
Also in impossible moments, if we can build faith, God can move—because if God allowed it, the faith for it is already within reach. Even if all we have is the Holy Spirit, that’s enough. The same power that resurrected Christ lives in us, and that’s more than enough to grow our faith.
For Trusting in the Unknown
Do you know that in times of uncertainty, if we trust the one leading us, we should feel excitement? Just like someone in love would willingly go on a blindfolded trip with someone they trust, we too can walk with God without knowing all the details.
When we trust who God is, the unknown becomes a place of exciting expectations, not fear. We don’t ask, “Will He show up?”—we expectantly ask, “How will He show up?” That mindset reflects true confidence in His character.
Even without physical sight, faith lets us see through the eyes of our heart. Like being blindfolded but still picturing the surprise ahead, we look beyond the seen and align our vision with God’s promises. Blindness in the natural doesn’t mean we lack vision—it means we’re seeing differently.
We often hesitate to follow God blindly because we treat Him like He might change or deceive us—but God has never misled anyone. He is faithful and true. If He said it, He’ll do it—and His plans are always better than ours.
Faith begins with knowing God. Like Paul, in 2 Timothy 1:12, we’re only truly persuaded when we know who we’ve believed. The heroes of faith didn’t just believe—they knew God deeply, and that gave them boldness.
When we neglect a relationship with God, we struggle needlessly. Our best strategies can fail, but God never does. What He has for us lies on the other side of trusting Him.
The Will of God
Faith isn’t about pushing our will on God—it’s about aligning with His will. True faith surrenders, just like Jesus did. When we walk in His will, faith flows naturally; outside it, our confidence weakens.
Even Jesus, though fully God, lived in full surrender, saying His purpose was to do the will of the One who sent Him (John 4:34). We too were sent, not dropped here randomly. Faith begins with surrendering our will and trusting God’s plan. If Jesus followed the Father’s will, so must we.
General vs Specific Will of God
The Will of God can be grouped into these two categories:
The General will of God
This is clearly provided through redemption, like healing, salvation, and freedom. These don’t need debate; the answer is yes.
The Specific will of God
This is His unique plan for each of us. This is where we must seek Him intentionally.
However, in Deuteronomy 2, even though God gave Israel many lands, He clearly restricted others—like those of Esau, Moab, and Ammon. Stepping outside of what God has assigned, even boldly, is disobedience, not faith.
We can't use faith to chase what God hasn’t ordained. So before we pursue anything, we must ask: “Lord, is this Your will for me?” His general will—salvation, healing, freedom—is clear. But His specific will must be sought out with a surrendered heart.
If we pray while clinging to our own desires, we won’t hear clearly. But when we come honestly—“God, I want this, but I want Your will more”—He will guide us. And if heaven seems silent, we move with wisdom, trusting the Spirit to check us if we stray.
Faith must always operate within God’s will—never outside it. It doesn’t mean forcing our way forward. It means moving only when God leads—and stopping when He says stop.