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Battle of the wills
'Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,'
'I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.'
Psalm 40:7-8(KJV)
The Lord Jesus Christ is the perfect example for us all with respect to living according to the will of God.
He was and is a complete fulfillment of the word of God!
'Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.'
John 4:34(KJV)
He recognizes anyone that has such grace as one born of God (John 1:12-13) into His own family (Eph.3:15):
'For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.'
Mark 3:35(KJV)
In the garden of Gethsemane,where Christ prayed before going to die on the cross for us all,we observe 'the battle of the wills' and its outcome:
'And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.'
'He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.'
Matt.26:39,42(KJV)
Jesus Christ was in the flesh just like any of us (Heb.2:14).
He like us was not destined to come into this world to do the will of God as a zombie,moron,or robot!
He had and used the power of choice to submit his own will to the will of God,even to the death of the cross!
It was an act of faith in God and His word.
The word of God is the will of God revealed to mankind.
His act of faith in submitting to the will of God fulfilled God's plan of salvation for all mankind as revealed in His word:
'Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.'
1 Tim.2:4(KJV)
This faith works by love for God (Gal.5:6).
Mankind's love for God is based on God's unconditional and everlasting love for mankind (1 John 4:19)!
Every member of the Jesus' family has the measure of this faith (Rom.12:3)in our innermost being that has been born of God.
The regular exercise of this precious measure of faith is known as the walk of faith (2 Cor.5:7) or the love walk (Eph.5:1-2).
This progressive walk of faith involves the use of God's word so as to renew/retrain/reprogram/re school the human mind that is naturally rebellious to the will of God:
'I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.'
'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 of God.'
Rom.12:1-2(KJV)
'Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.'
'For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.'
Philippians 2:12-13(KJV)
Though this process of winning 'the battle of the wills' lasts a lifetime,the end result is the fulfillment of God's will,that is,divine destiny!
'In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:'
Eph.1:11(KJV)
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