1. Ephesians 1:1-14

2. Ephesians 1:1-5
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will,

3. Ephesians 1:6-10
6 to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, 8 which He lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of His will, according to His purpose, which He set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Him, things in heaven and things on earth.

4. Ephesians 1:11-14
11 In Him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of His glory. 13 In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of His glory.

5. Introduction
The will of God eludes many of God’s children. God’s will can be known yet so often many of God’s children live their lives unaware of His will. Without knowing God’s will no one can live in accordance to that which they have not perceived or understood. Yet again some believers know His will yet they find themselves powerless to do His will.
In this series we will answer, Can God’s will be known? If so, How? Who should know the Will of God? Why do we need to know the Will of God? How to activate the Will and Power of God!!!

6. Matthew 6:10
In Jesus’s instruction to His disciples, He taught them to pray “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10

7. If Jesus’s disciples, were instructed to pray that His Father’s will be done on earth, as it is in heaven; this teaches us that the disciples prayers had something to do with the Will of God the Father coming to earth.
We, the present day disciples of Christ, must do the same, in order for that which is in heaven can be manifested in the earth.

8. Why? That is my question, to God.
Why must the disciples of Christ request that God manifest His will on the earth?
Is He not God?
Can’t He do whatever He desires on earth?

9. Psalm 115:3 Our God is in the heavens; He does all that He pleases.
Psalm 135:6 Whatever the Lord pleases, He does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps.

10. So why does Jesus instruct His disciples to pray, “Your Kingdom com Your Will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Matt. 6:10
The answer is found in Genesis 1:26
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

11. The earth was God’s gift to humanity, thus humanity is God’s delegated authority on earth. When God wants to do anything on earth, He inspires a disciple on earth to come into agreement with heaven, that heaven and earth might be in agreement.
When the Will of God is prayed for on earth, God releases His angel to manifest heaven on earth.

12. What do we mean when we say “Will of God”?
This question cannot be answered by the opinion of men or women. This must be answered by God.

13. The Will Of God
Ephesians 1:5 He predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will,
Ephesians 1:9 Making known to us the mystery of His Will, according to His Purpose, which He set forth In Christ
Ephesians 1:11 In Him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His Will,

14. Ephesians 1:5 He predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will,
Purpose eudokía = good will, good pleasure
Will thélēma = will

15. God selected the Greek word thelema in Ephesians 1:5, 9, and 11 that carries the idea of desire, even main desire. The word is usually translated as “will” or “the will of God.” Thelema is primarily an emotional word and only secondarily is it intellectual.

16. “God’s will” is not so much “God’s intention” as it is “God’s heart’s desire.” God does have an intention, a purpose, a plan. It is called prothesis in Greek (Eph. 1:11), and it literally means “a laying out beforehand” (like a blueprint). Behind the plan and the counsel was not just a mastermind but a heart, a heart of love and of good pleasure.

17. The motivation of God’s eternal purpose came from a heart’s desire, and that heart’s desire was to have many sons and daughters made like his only Son.

18. Can We Know the Will of God?
Absolutely! God not only wants us to know His will, He desires that we do His Will.
Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 12:50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

19. How Can We know the Will of God?
Exodus 18:20 and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do.
Psalm 86:11 Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.

20. How Can We Know the Will of God?
Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
John 14:26
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

21. How Can We Know the Will of God?
2 Timothy 3:16
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
The Will of God is housed in the Word of God!

22. How Can We Know the Will of God?
If you desire to know the Will of God, you must get into the Word of God.
Remember, Jesus said:
For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” Matthew 12:50