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November 2023 Printable 219 KB .pdf

MOR-Bible, which is in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to you and peace from God our Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, and us. Father, we pray that we can be perfect and complete in all of your Will. May we walk in love, in light, and be well pleasing as children in your sight. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

In the October 2023 teaching, we traced, tracked, and searched in God's Word the root Greek word thelo to see where the Greek word thelema originated. The root Greek word thelo is defined as "to will, wish, mean." There are 209 usages of thelo in the Bible. We reviewed the first usage, usages in Acts and in the church Epistles (Romans, and Thessalonians), and then the last usage. In this teaching, we were reminded again that God's Will or wish or thelo is not for us to be ignorant about our brothers and sisters who are asleep so that we do not sorrow as others which have no hope (see 1 Thessalonians 4:13). Additionally, we were instructed in 2 Thessalonians: 3:10 that if anyone would or thelo not work neither should they eat.

Let us continue with our teachings for the year on Romans 12:2:

And be not conformed [by the five senses information] to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind [to God's revealed Word], that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will [the Greek word thelema] of God.

Note: The sources for all Greek-English words are Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, The Critical Lexicon and Concordance to the English and Greek New Testament (Bullinger), Young's Analytical Concordance to the Bible, The Word Study Concordance by George V. Wigram and Ralph D. Winter, and Webster's Desk Dictionary of the English Language.

We will trace, track, and search in God's Word the Greek word theléma translated into our English word "will" and defined as "intense desire of God, will, active volition, wish, desire; determination, willpower, resolve, drive, motivation, pleasure." There are 64 usages of theléma in the King James Bible. We will review the first usage, usages in Acts and in the church doctrine epistles (Romans, Ephesians, and Thessalonians), and then the last usage. I exhort you to read all 64 usages to open your understanding of the usages of the Greek word theléma. Throughout this teaching, we will bold the word in the verse for emphasis.

The first usage is documented in Matthew 6:10.

Thy kingdom come, Thy will [theléma] be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Jesus taught this prayer to his disciples. It is important to note that this prayer is addressed to Israel. It is not addressed to us in the body of Christ!

The next usage is in Acts 13:22: We will read verse 21 for context.

And afterward they [Israel] desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years.

And when he [God] had removed him [Saul], he [God] raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he [God] gave their testimony, and said, I [God] have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will [theléma - intense desire].

Because Saul turned back from following God and did not perform God's commandments, Saul removed himself from being King over Israel. David was made King of Israel as he fulfilled God's Will.

Let us look at 1 Samuel 15:10-11, 23 and 26 to learn more about the Word of the Lord to Samuel concerning Saul as King.

Then came the word of the Lord unto Samuel, saying,

It repenteth me [the Lord] that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the Lord all night.

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou [Saul] hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.

In contrast to Saul, our heart's desire is to be children after God's heart, so that we may fulfill all the intense desire of God's, our Father, Word!

Turn to Romans 12:2 for the next usage of theléma.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will [theléma - intense desire] of God.

Our minds must be renewed continually to the integrity and accuracy of the Word of God to prove and put to the test what is spiritually the best, well pleasing, and complete intense desire of God! How do we do that? By reading to understand God's Word.

Romans 15:32 has the next usage of theléma. We will read verses 30-33 for context.

Now I [Paul] beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;

That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints;

That I may come unto you with joy by the will [theléma - intense desire] of God and may with you be refreshed [to rest again with].

Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Now the God of what? Peace!

Turn to Ephesians 1:1, 5, 9, and 11 for the next usages of theléma.

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will [theléma - the intense desire] of God, to the saints [born-again believers] which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus.

Paul was an apostle of Jesus Christ by the intense desire of who? God!

Verse 5:

Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children [sonship] by Jesus Christ to himself, according to [in harmony with] the good pleasure of his [God's] will [theléma].

We have sonship by Jesus Christ to God our Father in harmony with the good pleasure of His intense desire! In this verse, according to means "in harmony with." The good pleasure is God our Father's good Will, His intense desire. And God's intense desire is always in line with His good pleasure!

Verse 9:

Having made known unto us the mystery of his will [theléma], according to [in harmony with] his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself.

The phrase Having made known unto us the mystery of His (God's will or intense desire) is His Word! And how do we know God's will or theléma? By reading and understanding the Word of God! The purpose is so that we can be In harmony with his good pleasure [desire, good will] which he hath purposed [set before his mind, proposed, carried out and sat down] in himself. This sets God's Word and His Will as completely, completely complete!

It should be noted that the word purposed in this verse means "something placed before the mind." In other words, God's Word is something you evaluate; it is something you place before the mind, in front of your mind, and evaluate. We, by our free will, are to place God's Word in front of our minds and evaluate it. This is how we renew our minds.

As it is written in Acts 2:25:

For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face [eyes], for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved.

Because we are His children, when we set God's Word always before our eyes, we shall not be moved by things in this world!

Verse 11:

In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him [God] who worketh all things after [according to] the counsel [deliberate determination] of his [God's] own will [theléma- intense desire].

Ephesians 2:3 has the next usage. We will read verses 1-2 for context.

And you hath [present truth] he quickened [made alive], who were dead in trespasses and sins;

Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.

Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires [theléma] of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

The word fulfilling means "doing the desires of the flesh." The word mind means "thoughts." We have all once lived the lusts of the flesh; this is the old man nature (see October 2016 teaching). In the old man nature, we belonged to Satan until we were saved (born-again) because we were by nature - by natural birth - body and soul. At that time, we were without Christ being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world (see Ephesians 2:12). We were children of wrath (see Ephesians 2:3). Glory be to God. What great things He has done through His only begotten son. We now have Christ in us, the hope of glory (see Colossians 1:27)! We are children of God (see Romans 8:16) and no longer have that old man nature. We must renew our minds to say what God's Word says who we are in Christ Jesus!

Ephesians 5:17 has the next usage of theléma. We will read verses 15-16 for context.

See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

This verse instructs us to walk accurately and precise (circumspectly). We are not to be unwise but, in contrast, skilled and wise. Why? Verse 16 tells us:

Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

The word Redeeming is the Greek word exagorazo which means "to buy up, to rescue from loss, from out of." Why? Because the days are evil. The word evil is the Greek word ponéros which means "toilsome, bad; from the Greek word ponéroteros or more wicked." As the people in this world reject God's Word, they are getting more and more wicked each day!

Now that we understand the context, let us read Ephesians 5:17.

Wherefore be ye not unwise but understanding what the will [theléma] of the Lord [the Greek word kurios - master] is.

This verse instructs us not to be unwise or without reason and foolish. In contrast, we are to have understanding what the will of the master (the Lord Jesus Christ) is. We are to walk accurately and precise, and not unwise. We are to walk skilled and wise redeeming the time because the days are evil! We understand the Will of the Lord is the Word of the Lord!

Ephesians 6:6 has the next usage of theléma. We will read verse 5 for context.

Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear [reverence] and trembling [respect], in singleness of your heart [mind], as unto Christ.

Whether you are a servant or master, we are told to praise God our Father by keeping His Word in singleness of your mind, as unto Christ. Let us continue with verse 6.

Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will [theléma - intense desire] of God from the heart [the Greek word psuche which refers to soul life].

We are to do the intense desire (theléma) of God from our heart or soul. In doing so, we have breath life which is operated from our renewed minds!

1 Thessalonians 4:3 has the next usage of theléma. We will read verses 1-2 for context.

Furthermore, then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.

For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.

For this is the will [theléma - intense desire] of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication. [See December 2019 teaching.]

From these verses, we learn the intense desire (theléma) of God, even our sanctification (essential purity; a setting apart; Holiness), is that we should abstain from fornication. In this verse, fornication is a figure of speech and refers to spiritual idolatry and unlawful sex.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 has the next usage of theléma.

In everything give thanks: for this is the will [theléma] of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. [See February 2020 teaching.]

We are told here that in everything give thanks.Why? This is the intense desire (theléma - will) of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. This verse did not say "for everything give thanks." We are told in everything give thanks! Why? Because we have God in Christ (see 2 Corinthians 5:19) in us the hope of glory (see Colossians 1:27)! In Christ, we are built together for an habitation of God through the gift of holy spirit (see Ephesians 2:22).

The last usages are documented in 1 John 5:14-15 . The last usage of theléma in the Bible is 1 John 5:14.

And this is the confidence [the Greek word parrhesia or free-spokenness, boldness] that we have in him [God], that, if we ask [or request] anything according to his [God's] will [theléma], he heareth [or listen to] us.

Here we are told that we have boldness in God our Father that He will hear us if we ask anything according to or in harmony with His Will or theléma which is His Word! What a tremendous and marvelous truth!

Verse 15:

And if we know [the Greek word oida - to see, have seen, known] that he [God] hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know [oida] that we have the petitions [the Greek word aiteema] that we desired [aiteó or to ask, request] of him. [See November 2021 teaching.]

The word petitions is translated from the Greek word aiteema which means "thing asked for, object sought." If we know that God our Father hears our specific request according to His Word, then we know we have received the thing for which we prayed! This is a magnificent truth!

Let us revisit the first usage and the last usage of theléma.

Matthew 6:10:

Thy kingdom come, Thy will [theléma] be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

1 John 5:14:

And this is the confidence that we have in him [God], that, if we ask anything according to his [God's] will [theléma], he heareth [or listen to] us.

God's Word is absolutely amazing. In the first usage, Jesus taught his disciples how to pray to God. In the last usage, we are told to have the confidence or boldness in God to ask anything by prayer according to His Will and Word. This is God's intense desire! He hears and listens to us! God's Word is simply perfect and pure!

In this teaching, we traced, tracked, and searched in God's Word the Greek word theléma as translated into our English word "will" and defined as "intense desire of God, will, wish, desire; determination, willpower, resolve, drive, motivation, pleasure." We reviewed the first usage, the usages in Acts and in the church doctrine epistles (Romans, Ephesians, and Thessalonians), and then the last usage.

Some of the usages of the Greek word theléma we learned about in this teaching are listed below. Remember our English word "will" as documented in Romans 12:2 is the Greek word theléma in the Bible.

• Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10)
• I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will. (Acts 13:22)
• Perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:2)
• That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God. (Romans 15:32)
• Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God. (Ephesians 1:1)
• According to the good pleasure of his [God's] will. (Ephesians 1:5)
• Having made known unto us the mystery of his will. (Ephesians 1:9)
• In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him [God] who worketh all things after the counsel [deliberate determination] of his own will. (Ephesians 1:11)
• Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind. (Ephesians 2:3)
  
• Wherefore be ye not unwise but understanding what the will of the Lord [master] is. (Ephesians 5:17)
• Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. (Ephesians 6:6)
• For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication. (1 Thessalonians 4:3)
• In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
• And this is the confidence that we have in him [God], that, if we ask [or request] anything according to his [God's] will, he heareth us. (1 John 5:14)
  

Let us pray. Almighty God, which works in us both the Will and to do of your good pleasure, we are thankful and grateful for your Word that tells us about your Will or intense desire for your children. We pray that we can be children after your heart, who fulfill all your Will. Father, we thank you that when we pray according to your Word and Will, you hear us and grant our specific requests according to your Word. We worship you, Father, in spirit and in truth by keeping your Will and Word. We pray, Father, that as servants of Christ, we are doing the intense desire or theléma of you from our renewed minds. We pray that we might be filled to capacity with the knowledge of your Will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. For unto you God, our Father, be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

In the Lord,

Ministry of Reconciliation
Son of God through Jesus Christ
Ambassador for Christ

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