Willing
By Joe Pinto
Are you willing for His Will for you in all things?
No matter what the cost is?
No matter what you may lose or gain?
Job was willing, and he lost everything!
Joseph was willing, and he ended up in jail.
David was willing, and the king was out to kill him!
Jesus was willing, and He was killed by His own people.
Are you willing? Moreover, are you willing to pay the cost that His Will is going to cost you? At the end of the day, all of these men listed above gained a hundredfold back. Job gained all that he lost and more. Joseph became second in charge under the pharaoh. David became king, and Jesus gained the Church.
The point is, whether they were paying the price or reaping the benefits of doing God’s will, they were always willing. In lack or great abundance, they were always willing to live life how God wanted them to whether it was glorious or terrible.
The question is not are you willing to do His will. The question is: Are you willing to pay the price of doing His will? Everyone says they want to do His will, but when it comes to paying the price, we find out who is really willing to do His will. Everybody always has their eyes on the promised land but they are not looking at the wilderness in front of them that leads to the promised land.
When God presented His plan through Moses to the Israelites, they were willing to go. But then when they realized the price, when they faced the wilderness, most of them were no longer willing. It showed that they were willing to receive the promised land, but they were not actually willing to do God’s will. And God’s will was for them to go through the fire, the struggle, and the wilderness. God wasn’t doing that because He was evil. He was doing that because He was consecrating a people unto Himself.
Turns out that most of the originals that started with Moses never made it to the promised land, yet the generation after them were willing to endure what God had for them, whether it was painful or glorious, and that generation made it to the promised land.
This is what God is saying to this generation! Who is willing to endure the process and the cost and the pains that it takes to follow Him? You who are willing will taste of the Lord’s best fruit at the end of the day, you will be the latter church! Are you willing to face the heartache? The rejection, the blood, the sweat, the tears, the pain, the struggle, the disappointment, the betrayal, the fire, the wilderness!?!
No?
What shows you are willing to do God’s will is when you are willing to face the difficulty that comes with it.
Yes, you’re willing to reap the benefits but are you willing to face the cost?
Genesis 24-26
“Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven;And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.”
Many in the church are just like Lot’s wife, stuck because they were never truly willing to give up the world. The world is anything in your life that your flesh wants. That’s the world to you, the way your flesh thinks, what your flesh wants and so on. The thoughts and intentions of yourself apart from God.
Whatever it is in your life, that’s the world that Jesus speaks of that we must not love. And some of us are not willing to give up that one thing in our lives and now we have become a pillar of salt.
Lot’s wife was willing to follow God and was willing to follow Lot and Abraham. She was willing to flee from destruction, and she was willing to be saved. Though she was not willing to leave Sodom and Gomorrah in her heart. And the pillar of salt is a shadow of how sometimes we get stuck in our spiritual walk. We are willing to follow Jesus, we are willing to make it to heaven, to be saved, all of the above. Though we’re not fully willing to forsake all and leave all of the world behind. And we get stuck, and we can’t grow anymore because that one thing that we aren’t willing to give up has turned you into a pillar of salt, creating a ceiling to our spiritual growth.
Isaiah 1
“The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the Lord hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.
The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.
Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.
Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.
From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.
Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers.
And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city.
Except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.
Hear the word of the Lord, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.
To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the Lord: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.
When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts?
Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.
Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.
And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.
Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;
Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:
But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.”
God was prophesying through His prophet Isaiah to God’s people at the time. And He was telling them that He is tired of all the sacrifices, all the offerings, all their new moons, Sabbaths, and festival offerings. He said He was tired of it. And I believe God is saying the same thing to the church today! God is tired of all the sacrifices, all the things that we do to try to please Him and get His attention.
He’s done with it! And just like He told the church in Isaiah’s day, He’s saying the same thing today.
“If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land.”
That’s what He said to them in that chapter of Isaiah, and to the church of 2019 and on. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good of the land! “You will carry my fullness.” I’m not “looking for anything else but these two things.” Obedience and Willingness. Obedience is better than sacrifice and willingness will help you fulfill your obedience to the fullest.
“Watch thy feet when thou goest to the house of God and draw near with more willingness to hear than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know how to do what God wants.”
Many people are fooling themselves with all the sacrifice they are doing. The Bible says to be a living sacrifice. What does that mean? It means He doesn’t want you to do sacrifice, He wants you to BE the sacrifice. And the type of sacrifice He wants you to be is someone who gives up everything to be willing to do and be whatever He wants you to do and be. He wants your heart and mind! Not the work of your hands. The fools never know what God wants because they are trying to work their way to Him. Sons are willing to hear whatever God wants them to do.
1 Chronicles 28:6-10
“Now He said to me, ‘It is your son Solomon who shall build My house and My courts; for I have chosen him to be My son, and I will be his Father. Moreover I will establish his kingdom forever, if he is steadfast to observe My commandments and My judgments, as it is this day.’ Now therefore, in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the Lord, and in the hearing of our God, be careful to seek out all the commandments of the Lord your God, that you may possess this good land, and leave it as an inheritance for your children after you forever.
“As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever. Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong, and do it.”
God was appointing a new house to be built, under Solomon. And Solomon was told one thing, to serve God with a loyal heart and a willing mind.
This is going to be the key for God’s end-time church. This is going to be the key for God’s new breed of believers: a willing heart, willing to do whatever it takes. If God told them to move to a Middle Eastern country, they would be willing. If God told them to leave everything and everybody at home, they would be willing to do it. It’s doesn’t mean that He is going to ask you to do any of that, but would you be willing if He did?
He’s looking for a people who would be willing to do whatever He asks, even in the most extreme situation. Ask Abraham how it felt to offer up his son Isaac as a sacrifice? No, he didn’t like the idea, but he was willing.We need to be willing to do whatever God desires, whether we like it or not. And that’s when the grace comes in to run this race. That’s when we find our ram in the thicket, Jesus the perfect sacrifice that makes us worthy.
1 Chronicles 29:1-17
“Furthermore David the king said unto all the congregation, Solomon my son, whom alone God hath chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great: for the palace is not for man, but for the Lord God.
Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for things to be made of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and the brass for things of brass, the iron for things of iron, and wood for things of wood; onyx stones, and stones to be set, glistering stones, and of divers colours, and all manner of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance.
Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver, which I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house.
Even three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the houses withal:
The gold for things of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and for all manner of work to be made by the hands of artificers. And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the Lord?
Then the chief of the fathers and princes of the tribes of Israel and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, with the rulers of the king's work, offered willingly,
And gave for the service of the house of God of gold five thousand talents and ten thousand drams, and of silver ten thousand talents, and of brass eighteen thousand talents, and one hundred thousand talents of iron.
And they with whom precious stones were found gave them to the treasure of the house of the Lord, by the hand of Jehiel the Gershonite.
Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the Lord: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.
Wherefore David blessed the Lord before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, Lord God of Israel our father, for ever and ever.
Thine, O Lord is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all.
Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.
Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.
But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.
For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding.
O Lord our God, all this store that we have prepared to build thee an house for thine holy name cometh of thine hand, and is all thine own.
I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee.”
They rejoiced because they were willing. There was a joy that came, a happiness that came because of their willingness. The Kingdom of God is joy, peace, and righteousness. And when you offer all of your life to Him willingly, the Kingdom of God is yours and the joy of the Lord shall be your strength. When you are willing, God has joy thinking about you, and the joy of the Lord becomes your strength because you know He is at peace with you!
David expresses at the end of this chapter about the uprightness of his heart and he connects it to his willingness in what he’s done. An upright heart to God is not what you do or don’t do. An upright heart is a matter of your willingness to serve and obey Him.
“So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you.”
Many are obeying God because they have to, because they don’t want to go to hell, because of their spouse, or because they don’t want to face consequences. Well, God is saying your obedience is nothing to me if your heart is not right. Your obedience is nothing to me if you don’t carry a willing heart. Many are doing what they are supposed to do but with a wrong heart.
And when we’re willing, there’s grace and fulfillment on the inside when we obey.
2 Corinthians 8:1-12
“Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;
How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;
Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.
Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.
Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.
I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.
For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.
Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.
For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.”
Paul mentions in this chapter at three different times about having a willing mind, a readiness to will, about this church of Macedonia be willing of themselves. And in all this, Paul connects the grace of God to their willingness. This is New Testament. This is the gospel that we serve. We need to realize that the measure of our willingness is connected to the measure of grace that is poured out on us.
Some people don’t realize that they don’t have a grace or an empowerment to do something in their life, and it’s because they lack willingness in that area of their life. Maybe you have no bravery to preach out in the open. Well, maybe God hasn’t empowered you because you are unwilling to do it in the first place. Maybe you can’t overcome a fear or worry, but maybe it’s because you’re not willing to face it. Wherever you lack grace, check your willingness. Check your heart. You’re saying, “God, give me grace.” but you won’t say, “God, I’m willing”.
Before you ask God for grace, tell him you’re willing to obey!
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”
Who is willing to hear Him? Who is willing to drink His cup? Who is willing to let Him in and pay any price to let in the Kingdom of God in their life? It is you who will receive the crown of glory? The greatest in the Kingdom of God is the most willing in the Kingdom of God. How far are you willing to go with God? How far are you willing to be stretched? This will dictate the anointing that comes upon your life. Let those who have an ear to hear, hear what the Spirit is saying. Let them hear and be blessed! And those who hear are those who are willing!
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