Understanding the Will of God – Part 1

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God.

Introduction

The sermon title is “Understanding the Will of God – Part 1” preached by Dr. Terry LeQuieu. This message walks through Ephesians chapter one and begins to unfold how God clearly reveals His will to His people. The preacher emphasizes that God’s will is not a “spooky” secret but a revealed plan, progressively disclosed to those who belong to Him, rely on His resources, and live in faithful response. The talk lays out a roadmap for the series: five interlocking aspects of God’s will that progress through the book of Ephesians — the immutable plan, the indivisible purpose, the illuminated person, the illustrious pattern, and the impregnable protection of God.

Is going to be understanding the will of God. Understanding the will of God.

Outline

The Immutable Plan of God
1. Eternal People
  God’s plan involves people He calls His own. Paul opens Ephesians by identifying himself as “an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God” (Ephesians 1:1). If we will understand God’s will, we must first understand that we are the people God chose to fulfill His plan. That includes recognizing our righteousness in Christ (we are justified and given a standing before God), relying on God’s resources (grace, peace, spiritual blessings), and remembering our responsibilities (praise, witness, holy living).
2. Righteousness Recognized
  Though we are sinners by nature, God has declared believers righteous in Christ. The sermon stresses we now carry Jesus’ name and authority: we are ambassadors for Christ and representatives of His message. This is foundational to doing His will.
3. Resources Relied Upon
  God’s resources for His people include grace and peace (Ephesians 1:2–3) and “all spiritual blessings in heavenly places.” The preacher reminds us to be thankful, since gratitude is itself God’s will in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
4. Responsibilities Remembered
  Verses 4–14 highlight God’s choosing, predestination language, redemption in Christ, and sealing by the Holy Spirit. The sermon clarifies the common confusion around predestination: salvation is received by man’s faith, but the plan and effects of salvation (how a person is saved—through Christ—and the results once saved) were purposed and provided by God from before the foundation of the world.
The Indivisible Purpose of God
1. Praise the Father Who Selected Us
  Verses 4–6 call believers to praise God the Father for selecting us “in him before the foundation of the world” and for adopting us by Jesus Christ according to the good pleasure of His will. A proper response to God’s choice is worship and humble gratitude.
2. Rejoice in Reception; Rest in Relationship
  Because we are accepted in the Beloved, believers can rest secure in relationship with the Father. Acceptance is not based on our worthiness but on Christ’s work and God’s gracious choice.
The Illuminated Person of God
1. Praise the Son Who Saved Us
  Verses 7–10 focus on redemption through Christ’s blood, forgiveness of sins, and the revealing of the mystery of God’s will. We praise Christ for pardon and for making known the counsel and plan that culminate in Christ’s headship over all.
2. Purpose Revealed in God’s Time
  God has made known the “mystery of his will” (v.9) but reveals it according to His good pleasure and timing. Growth and spiritual maturity are necessary for God to entrust certain responsibilities or reveal fuller aspects of His plan.
3. Personal Revelation
  God speaks collectively through Scripture, but He also reveals personal direction individually. The preacher encourages believers to pursue a personal relationship with the Lord so God can reveal tailored guidance for service.
The Illustrious Pattern of God
1. God’s Consistent Ways
  God operates by a pattern: He is unchanging (Hebrews and Malachi references implied). The sermon underscores that God revealed Paul’s ministry and suffering, but most Christians will experience progressive revelation rather than the full plan up front. God’s pattern includes preparation, testing, and step-by-step disclosure.
2. Progress Is Normal
  The will of God unfolds over time. Believers discover more of it as they grow, serve, and prove faithful. God often reveals responsibilities as we show devotion and stewardship of what He’s already given.
The Impregnable Protection of God
1. Dominion Restored in Christ
  Verses 20–23 recount Christ’s exaltation: raised from the dead and seated at God’s right hand, “far above all principality and power and might and dominion.” Dominion broken by sin is now restored and submitted to Christ, who is head of the church. When we walk in God’s will we operate under His sovereign protection and authority.
2. Security in the Seal of the Spirit
  Being sealed with the Holy Spirit is the earnest of our inheritance (Ephesians 1:13–14). God guarantees the believer’s future redemption, and that assurance should drive us to faithful service now.
Practical Progression: Devotion and Dominion
1. Devotion Demonstrates Readiness
  Paul’s prayer in verses 15–19 links the church’s faith and love to his praise and petitions. The more devoted a church or believer is, the more God entrusts them; devotion produces revelation.
2. Dominion Demonstrates Completion
  Christ’s ascension and headship show the finality of God’s plan to restore all things in Christ. Believers are called into that plan as the body of Christ to represent Him on earth under His authority.

Summary

Dr. Terry LeQuieu teaches from Ephesians 1 that God’s will is revealed, purposeful, and progressive. It begins with God choosing people (we are His), provides resources for us (grace, peace, spiritual blessings), and lays responsibilities upon us (praise, witness, holy living). God made known the “mystery” of His will through Christ and reveals it further as His people grow in devotion and faithfulness. Predestination in this passage describes God’s provision and the effects of salvation (how salvation is provided in Christ and what it produces in the believer), not a denial of human responsibility to repent and trust Christ. The believer’s assurance is sealed by the Holy Spirit, and Christ’s exaltation guarantees the final completion of God’s plan.

God very plainly wants us to know what he’d have us to do with our lives for him and for his glory.

Application for the Week

Practical, actionable steps to help you pursue and discern the will of God this week. These are simple but spiritually disciplined practices aimed at young adults and every believer who desires to grow in understanding and obedience.

Daily Scripture Time: Read Ephesians 1
Set aside 15–20 minutes each day this week to read Ephesians chapter one slowly in the KJV. Write down any verses that stand out and ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate their meaning (Ephesians 1:17—pray for the spirit of wisdom and revelation).
Pray for Illumination
Each morning, pray Paul’s request: “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ… may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him” (Ephesians 1:17). Ask specifically that the “eyes of your understanding” be enlightened so you might know the hope of His calling and the riches of the glory of His inheritance.
Record God’s Resources
Make a short gratitude list each day of at least three “spiritual blessings” you received — grace, peace, provision, answered prayer, convicting truth, or evidence of God’s guidance. This trains your heart to rely on God’s resources rather than your own strength.
Identify One Area of Stewardship
Ask the Lord to show one gift, opportunity, or area of responsibility He’s given you. Steward that faithfully this week—serve in a church role, follow through on a commitment, witness to a friend, or share Christ with someone. Be faithful in small things and expect God to enlarge your testimony.
Practice Thankfulness
When stress or discouragement rises, intentionally quote 1 Thessalonians 5:18 and give thanks in that circumstance. Thankfulness is part of God’s will—practice it concretely by sending a note of thanks, praising God in prayer, or sharing a testimony of God’s goodness with someone.
Be Open to Conviction
If the Holy Spirit brings conviction (not merely anxious feelings), respond with repentance and obedience rather than dismissing it as a “mental health episode.” Seek counsel from a mature believer if you’re uncertain whether the Spirit is speaking.
Join a Small Group Discussion
Gather with other young adults or believers to discuss Ephesians 1. Share insights, questions, and practical steps. Hearing others often clarifies God’s will for your life and provides mutual encouragement.
Memorize and Meditate on Ephesians 1:3–4
Commit these verses to memory this week. Let them shape your identity: chosen, blessed, and adopted “in him before the foundation of the world.” Use them to combat doubt and insecurity.

Follow these steps with prayerful dependence on the Lord. He is not hiding His will; He is revealing it as we grow in relationship with Him. Seek Him, obey what He shows you, and expect progressive revelation as you faithfully serve.