The Perfect Will of God vs. The Permissible Will of God • Sunday Service

The Perfect Will of God vs. The Permissible Will of God • Sunday Service

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The Perfect Will of God vs. The Permissible Will of God: Seeking His Heart Above All Else

As believers, we often hear about the “will of God,” but what does that truly mean? Scripture reveals that there is a difference between God’s perfect will—His ultimate, sovereign plan—and His permissible will—what He allows due to human free will, even when it is not His best for us. The key to walking in victory, fulfillment, and divine purpose is seeking God’s perfect will and not settling for what He merely allows.

Let us dive into Scripture to understand these two aspects of God’s will and why it is so important to seek His heart fully.

1. God’s Perfect Will: His Sovereign, Best Plan for Us

Romans 12:2 (NKJV)

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV)

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

Matthew 6:33 (NKJV)

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV)

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

2. God’s Permissible Will: What He Allows, but Not His Best

Psalm 106:13-15 (NKJV)

“They soon forgot His works; they did not wait for His counsel, but lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tested God in the desert. And He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul.”

1 Samuel 8:6-7 (NKJV)

“But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, ‘Give us a king to judge us.’ So Samuel prayed to the Lord. And the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.’”

Numbers 22:12-13, 19-22 (NKJV)

“And God said to Balaam, ‘You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.’ So Balaam rose in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, ‘Go back to your land, for the Lord has refused to give me permission to go with you.’”

(v. 19-22) “Now therefore, please, you also stay here tonight, that I may know what more the Lord will say to me.” …Then God’s anger was aroused because he went, and the Angel of the Lord took His stand in the way as an adversary against him.”

3. Why We Must Seek God’s Perfect Will

Ephesians 5:17 (NKJV)

“Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

Colossians 1:9 (NKJV)

“For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.”

John 4:34 (NKJV)

“Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.’”

Conclusion: The Importance of Seeking His Perfect Will

Many settle for God’s permissible will, pursuing relationships, jobs, or ministries that God allows but that are not His perfect plan. While He may not stop us, the consequences can be costly.

We must:

1. Seek Him first (Matthew 6:33).

2. Renew our minds to discern His will (Romans 12:2).

3. Trust Him fully (Proverbs 3:5-6).

4. Pray for wisdom and revelation (Colossians 1:9).

By doing this, we will walk in God’s perfect will, fulfilling His best for our lives! Let us not be like Israel, demanding what God allows but missing His best. Instead, let us seek His heart and live in His perfect plan!