2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

How do we get to execute the will of God? Clearly Paul is telling us, each of us, that we have been given the spirit of power, the spirit of love and the spirit of a sound mind. What is the need for power if power is not to be exercised?

Please do not tell me you are not gifted. The Word says you are gifted. God has given each of us all that is required to execute His will. So what is keeping us from executing His will?

Matthew 17:16,19, 20a, 21 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

I believe that the disciples failure was shown to instruct us about executing the will of God. The boy was to be healed according to God’s will because Jesus cured him. The bible contains examples of men who were not disciples of Jesus that God used to exact His will. The sovereign will of God needs not disciples, faith, prayer, nor fasting to be executed. So this failure just might be a teaching opportunity to us in that God has given us the spirit of power, the spirit of love and the spirit of a sound mind.

Verse Matthew 17:21 is instructional as Jesus identifies conditions. “This kind” indicates a need to differentiate conditions. Power and love do not care about conditions but a sound mind is required to distinguish under what conditions the will of God can be executed. It also indicates a need for preparation. Prayer and fasting would have to be performed before the disciples came across the need.

What do we need to do to be prepared to execute God’s will?

1 Corinthians 2:4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

I would encourage you to read all of 1 Corinthians 2 as words which hint at spiritual maturity. I say hint because no one chapter of the bible can contain all that is spiritual maturity. I single out this one verse with purpose. Demonstration.

Jesus said make disciples. In one sense He is encouraging us to bring the good news to the lost. In the truest sense He is saying, “Show them what it looks like to be my disciple.” You will not find that quote anywhere except perhaps my heart.

James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Demonstrating your faith, a mature faith, is spiritual maturity.

1 Timothy 1:5 But the goal of our instruction is love [which springs] from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. AMP

The outward observance of the inward condition, demonstrate love.

My next series, yes, sorry, another series, is exercising God’s will.

If I am to be faithful to my calling in Christ, then I must follow where He leads. It is my belief that this adventure in series, one upon the other, is Him leading me.

Have you found your calling in Christ? Are you faithful to at least remember that calling when your execution is not perfect? We will have our human moments. He is perfect, we struggle, but struggling is a good sign that we have not given up hope.

So I hope this series has blessed you and that you may grow closer to Christ as we begin our next sojourn together tomorrow.