2 Timothy 2:15-16 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

As I sit here writing this devotional, I have just destroyed a week’s worth of devotionals. I did so because they were full of vain babblings. The first lesson in executing God’s will is that you must be willing to lay aside everything you think you know and allow God to show you the way.

I am not ashamed of what I wrote. It led me to the truth. It was God’s mercy that I woke up before I released those words for publication. No amount of effort is unfruitful if it leads you to the truth.

2 Timothy 2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.

The issues of being prepared unto every good work are simple, God desires cooperative will. Our willingness to cooperate is demonstrated in putting aside, purging, things that will either glorify man or satisfy self-interest. That is a long list. Longer than I care to include here. That is part of prep work.

Study the word and seek a proper understanding of the Word. Submit your understanding to sound counsel. State your honest concerns openly before learned men of sound reputation who have demonstrated faith and grace, and not just lofty words.  Man puts his beliefs to work in his life and yours for that very reason.

The second thing I would like to share with you is even more important. None of this places your salvation at risk. Do or do not. Execution of God’s will has nothing to do with your personal salvation.

2 Timothy 2:13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

The Lord is faithful even if we are not.

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?