Yahweh’s People



Yahweh’s People

The Will: The mental faculty by which a person decides upon and controls his own actions or those of others. One's determination and direction of intent. That which is inwardly desired or determined. e.g. God's will be done. A person's attitude, inner wish or preference.

The will is undoubtedly the most sacred and private part of a human being; the one region into which we can invite or dismiss all others in the universe. The will directs the thoughts, the words and the actions. The will is like the driver in a motor vehicle or the captain of an ocean liner. In the final analysis it is the will that decides the course a person takes and the destination at which he/she arrives. Let us examine what the Scriptures have to say about the human will.

1. Free Will

Man is a free moral agent. He has a free will, the ability to choose good or evil. The exercise of this free choice demonstrates to God and the angels the leanings of the will. Every thought, every word, every action is simply a signal to others as to which way the will is leaning, which way you want to go. Your will is the real you, the inner part of your make-up that matters most, the strategic area of decision which Yahweh seeks to influence for good, and the Devil seeks to influence for evil. But the Most High will never force or break your will as Satan does. Instead, with utmost respect for your personal freedom, He seeks to win over your will, to influence you towards good - but always with your consent. For in winning your will (your mature, reasoning, adult allegiance and affection) He will have won all of you. If you give Him permission, He will bless you abundantly without reducing you to a spiritual robot.

2. Yahweh’s Choice

Strange as it may seem, the Most High values a person's will (which is the one area of your make-up that is 100% you) far more than a person's intellect, colour, physical appearance, talents or social graces: assests which people are usually born with. The will on the other hand is the real you: the cause and effect of your whole character. The will is often referred to in scripture as the 'heart.' In assessing people the Most High first looks at the heart - the will. That is why His choice of people is often bewildering. Man looks on the outward appearance; but God looks on the heart.
1 Samuel 16: 7: “But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”
1 Corinthians 1: 26: “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.
27: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
28: And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
29: That no flesh should glory in his presence.”

Look over the church membership and notice how true is verse 26.

3. Our Choice

Even though the Most High has chosen us to be His followers, He does not force His will upon us. We are not turned into walking, talking toys. We still retain the freedom to choose Yahweh's way or Satan's way. This freedom of choice remains with us as long as we live. It is ours. Every one must make the choice between good and evil, between God and Satan. There is no escaping that decision. It is mandatory; and is the first vital factor in life. Along with the people of Israel we must all choose between God and Satan.
Joshua 24: 15: “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
1 Kings 18: 21: “And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.”

4. To What Extent do we Follow Yahweh

No doubt some will say: 'We have chosen Yahweh. We have decided to put our faith in Him and to follow Him. Isn't that enought?' Perhaps it is: but to what degree of discipleship do we do this? How do we follow? With what intensity; how far and for how long and to what extent? One might say that this is the second vital factor in a believer's life. It affects his/her spiritual growth. You may be sure that the manner in which you serve the Most High will in the end determine your success or failure as a Christian. Yes, it is that important.

Wholehearted Discipleship
Joshua 14: 8: “Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God.
9: And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children's for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God.”
Deuteronomy 1: 35: “Surely there shall not one of these men of this evil generation see that good land, which I sware to give unto your fathers,
36: Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh; he shall see it, and to him will I give the land that he hath trodden upon, and to his children, because he hath wholly followed the LORD.”
Matthew 22: 37: “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.”

5. Yahweh Understands the Believer’s Heart

As mentioned previously, when the word 'heart' in Scripture it usually means the will, the mind, that inner seat of affection and preference which directs the mind, the tongue and the body. The Most High is constantly examining and evaluating our hearts, our wills our preferences. His treatment of us is influenced by what He finds. When He sees a willingness to learn and obey, He opens up the mind to understand truth and empowers the believer to obey it. When He recognises an unwillingness to obey, He blinds the mind to that particular truth.
In short
“If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine.”
(John 7: 17)
1 Samuel 16: 7: “...for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”
Luke 16: 15: “And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.”
1 Thessalonians 2: 4: “But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.”
Revelation 2: 23: “...I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.”

6. Controlled Minds

The highest form of Christian dedication and service is for a believer to yield his will to the Most High. In effect this means handing over full control to the Almighty. I repeat, by doing so believers do not become machine-like robots. Instead, those who constantly yield their wills to the Most High learn the true values of life. They are, by yielding to Him, exchanging the sinful tendencies of their minds for His perfect will and guidance. What they yield to the Most High is repaid a million-fold with true blessing. This is human discipleship at its best. Note the Saviour's words:
Hebrews 10: 7: “Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.”
Luke 22: 42: “...Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.”

7. Benefits of Yielding to the Almighty’s Will

Enormous blessings follow those who yield their wills to the Most High. Here are just three of those many benefits:


AMEN!

In the Son’s Name — For the Father’s glory.

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