Emerson Eggerichs - The 4 Wills of God: The Way He Directs Our Steps and Frees Us to Direct Our Own

Copyright 2018 by Emerson Eggerichs

All rights reserved.

Printed in the United States of America

978-1-4627-4373-5

Published by B&H Publishing Group

Nashville, Tennessee

Dewey Decimal Classification: 231.5

Subject Heading: GOD-WILL \ PROVIDENCE AND GOVERNMENT OF GOD \ CHRISTIAN LIFE

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is taken from the New American Standard Bible ( nasb ), copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

Also used: New Living Translation ( nlt ), copyright 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Also used: New International Version ( niv ), copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Also used: Contemporary English Version ( cev ), copyright 1995 by American Bible Society.

Also used: The Message ( msg ), copyright 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson.

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To my daughter Joy Eggerichs Reed for her belief in this message and determination to make sure it went to printafter the manuscript sat on the shelf for many yearsso that others could be blessed by the message in the way God blessed her through His four wills. Her vision to broadcast this biblical revelation has humbled and honored me.

Introduction

Start Here!

You will not be surprised to learn that everyone asks the same question when I share that God has four wills.

What are these four wills?

I state:

Believe in Jesus Christ (John 6:40)

Abstain from Sexual Sin (1 Thessalonians 4:3)

Give Thanks in Everything (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Submit in Doing Right (1 Peter 2:1315)

Each of these is declared to be the will of God.

In John 6:40 Jesus said, This is the will of My Father.

In 1 Thessalonians 4:3 Paul states, For this is the will of God.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:18 the apostle pens, this is Gods will for you.

In 1 Peter 2:15 Peter writes, For such is the will of God.

These four stand out from all other Bible verses because each distinctly identifies Gods will.

Though there is more to Gods will than these four, if we ignore these four willsunmistakably highlightedit is questionable that we will follow the other commands of God.

For this reason, I urge every believer, young or old, to Start Here!

I do. Again and again.

I first learned of these four wills in my twenties. Pastor John MacArthur published a book on the will of God. He shared that he found these in a book called the Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge . From there, I tracked down these same findings. Now, after decades of studying the Bible and counseling others, I can say firmly that these foundational commands of Christ and the apostles serve as a life compass.

As I look back over my life, decisions made at the major crossroads of my life were made in response to the principles of the four wills. Though I was not aware of what I refer to now as the B.A.G.S. acronym (Believe, Abstain, Give Thanks, Submit), in hindsight, I can see that these four commands served as pivotal markers. When I carried this godly baggage, noteworthy events ensued! Following them led me forward through confusing, trying, and rewarding moments. Sometimes the four wills positioned me to experience Gods favor. At other times, they revealed shortcomings before I got derailed and lost communion with God. But, they always mattered. Like the four points on a compass, they helped me chart my life course. As a checklist, they served me well in doing and determining Gods will.

Actually, there are two profound ways these four wills have served as a map. The subtitle to this book is The Way God Directs Our Steps and Frees Us to Direct Our Own. This book is about the two wonderful experiences that can result when each of us follow these four wills.

Result #1

God uniquely leads us when we follow these four wills. He directs our individual steps. He guides us as we trust and obey Him. He opens doors that are distinct to us. There is a triggering effect. As I say, Follow His four universal wills and experience His unique will for your life.

Result #2

When we follow these four wills, yet God does not seem to uniquely direct our steps, we are free to direct our own steps. We can decide for ourselves. We can do what we wish based on what seems good and best. We are permitted to do this because in following the four wills, we are near the center of Gods will, and these serve as guardrails against sinful choices.

Why Did You Pick Up This Book?

But lets back up to where you might be right now in your journey. If you are like most of us, you are asking, How can I discover Gods will for my life? Is that not why you picked up this book to read?

Upon reflection, isnt it the most significant question a person can ask? If there is a God who loves us and has a purpose for us then finding His unique will surfaces to the top as one of the most important things we can do. All of us should ask, What is Gods personal purpose for my life?

But when this question is asked, I tenderly counter, should we be asking What is Gods will for my life? or should we be asking, What is Gods will?

The secret I unfold in this book is that the answer to What is Gods will for my life? is found after we answer, What is Gods will?

The freeing news is that if we do not receive an answer to What is Gods will for my life? we will still be okay. We are doing the four universal wills of God. This is Gods will for our life! We win either way.

However, these four are not always easy to do.

Who wants to identify with Jesus Christ in a hostile environment when it is easier to deny knowing Him and thereby enjoy acceptance and approval from the world?

Who wants to give thanks when bad things are happening and it is easier to be angry and resentful over the injustices?

Who wants to abstain from sex when it is easier to yield to our sensual cravings or yield to a culture that demands you live together first before marriage because to the secular society abstaining before marriage is antiquated and unrealistic?

Who wants to submit in doing what is right, especially to authority figures who are unreasonable, when it is easier to do wrong and gain from the wrong?

There is a price to pay.

But as I will unfold in this book, that is a small price to pay for receiving Gods kind guidance and peaceful presence. We actually get to see the hand of the Creator of the Universe, a cosmos that is expansive, boundless, immeasurable, limitless, and infinite, show up in our tiny lives. Our minds should be boggled at how much we matter to Him and by His personal response to us. As Jesus said, seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you (Matthew 6:33). God enters our world by meeting our essential needs, and possibly more (Mark 10:2930), as we pursue His revelation and purpose.

In this book, I tell story after story of how our loving heavenly Father shows up, how He Himself adds to our lives. For Him, it isnt about time, space, or matter. For Him, it is about relationship. What is most significant to Him is our heart for Him, and for us to discover His heart for us. Encouragingly, as we follow His four wills, we reveal our heart to Him and discover His heart for us.

As long as we are believing in Jesus Christ, abstaining from sexual sin, giving thanks in everything, and submitting in doing right (B.A.G.S.), God will uniquely respond to us. We will have touched and warmed His heart. And, when He does not direct our steps as we hoped and prayed, we can move forward with our godly baggage, freely doing what we wish based on what seems good and best.