Warrior Church Home Fellowship Study

Dr. Kevin Zadai 11-19- 2023 -- 11- 25- 2023

Knowing God’s Thoughts and Ways

"We must always be submissive, open, and honest not only to allow God to reveal His will, but how He wants it done."

~Kevin Zadai

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My
ways,” says the Lord.
—Isaiah 55:8

DISCUSSION:
This week, we will discuss the importance of understanding God's thoughts and ways. This is a big subject, which would take a long time to explore fully; however, most of us just want to know anything the Lord has in store for us. We'd be so happy to have any revelation about His thoughts and ways. After this session, I believe you will expand and know that God wants you to comprehend far more than you expect; He will do exceedingly above whatever you ask or think (Ephesians 3:20).

In Isaiah 55:8, God expressed that His thoughts and ways differ from ours. Most of us have heard this verse, can quote it, and believe it; yet if you really think about it, there's so much more to God than we know! The vastness of His kingdom is so incredible! Even what we can see and understand about the universe is so expansive and intricate. Consider what it would be like to know God’s thoughts even for the last few minutes while He sat on His throne. What would it be like to know what He was actually contemplating and how He would implement it? In other words, imagine understanding how He will accomplish what He just thought. We don't have the framework to know all the thoughts of God.

THE ETERNAL REALM
When I was in the Throne Room of Heaven with Jesus, I was still limited in what I knew. Even though I was out of my body and in the eternal realm, I didn't know God's thoughts. I didn't always understand what Jesus thought just because I was with Him. Many activities were happening, and I didn't know what would take place next. I wasn’t connected to everything going on in the heavenly realm because it was so vast; it was not even possible. But there were times when Jesus would speak to me and explain what would happen, so I knew. Essentially, until Jesus said it, I didn’t know it—even in the eternal realm.

Sometimes, Jesus pre-empted me to ask for certain things I wouldn't have thought of asking for. Sometimes, He would answer me before I'd even think about the question, or I would think of a question that He would answer before I could ask it. After witnessing how much goes on in the heavenly realm, I realized that throughout eternity, we will constantly receive revelation; we will continually learn and see new things. Interestingly, I couldn't even think of questions to ask Jesus unless He helped me. In the throne room, you don't have any questions; you're just in awe.

o Discuss how Dr. Zadai described his experience with Jesus in the eternal realm.

SEATED WITH CHRIST
For He raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.
—Ephesians 2:6 NLT

If then you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth.
—Colossians 3:1–2 AMPC

Those who are victorious will sit with Me on My throne, just as I was victorious and sat with My Father on His throne.
—Revelation 3:21 NLT

I experienced being seated with Jesus in the heavenly realms, as it says in Ephesians 2:6. Colossians 3:1–2 admonishes us not to focus on the earthly things, but on that which is in Heaven, where we're seated with Jesus Christ at the right hand of God. In Revelation 3:21, as Jesus addressed the seven churches, He said those who live victoriously will sit with Him on a throne, ruling and reigning. These three passages in the Bible mention being seated with Christ, so it must be important.

I thought it was interesting that even though I was in close proximity to Jesus, I didn’t know everything. For a few minutes, I experienced being seated with Him on a throne, ruling and reigning with Him; still, I didn't realize Jesus’s thoughts. I was right beside Him. And I certainly did not know the thoughts of Father God! I understand this was my experience, but it's backed by Scripture. In Isaiah 55:8, God Himself says, “My thoughts are not your thoughts.” The bottom line is we must pray that He gives us His thoughts, or we won't have them. That’s just the way it is.

THE WAYS OF GOD
That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.” But it was to us that God revealed these things by His Spirit. For His Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets.
—1 Corinthians 2:9–10 NLT

Understanding the ways of God is the next level. Another step must be taken in teaching, understanding, and practically implementing His ways into our lives. God has revealed His will to us by His Word. Through His Word, He shares many of His thoughts, but desires to reveal His ways to us.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
—Proverbs 3:5–6  

Warrior Church Home Fellowship Study

Dr. Kevin Zadai 11-19- 2023 -- 11- 25- 2023

God may say, “I want you to do this,” or, “This is My will for you.” Yet, even if we know His will, we also see in the Scripture that He has ways that may not be our ways. If you study the word ways, it means the path or track that He chooses. It also has to do with His personality. In other words, the Lord’s way of doing things and His personality may not be the same as ours. We must always be submissive, open, and honest not only to allow God to reveal His will, but how He wants it done. To accomplish His will, the Lord has His own mode of operation.

As we have discussed several verses concerning being seated with Christ, the whole idea is that you must let the Holy Spirit talk to you and reveal the word of God. It's not enough for someone to just read the words on the page; they must have the born-again experience and the Holy Spirit actively igniting, revealing, and opening their spiritual eyes to understand the things of God.

WAIT FOR GOD TO SHOW YOU THE WAY TO DO IT

He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel.

—Psalm 103:7

I always ask God to share His thoughts, but then I don't just run off. If it involves a particular action I need to take, I wait to hear Him explain how to implement it. For example, if the Lord has given me guidance about the school, the ministry, or giving a word to someone, I wait for Him to show me how to do it. This is something that needs to be taught. It’s essential to believe that God will reveal His thoughts and show us His will for every area of our lives; however, let's also understand that God has a certain way of doing things, which may not be how we do it.

Think about this: If you needed healing and Jesus showed up, would you be able to handle it if He spit like He did in the New Testament? Once, when Jesus prayed for a blind man, He spit on the ground, made He mud, and put it on his eyes (John 9:6– 7). He did all kinds of things that wouldn’t seem proper in church. If Jesus came and started using these different methods, do you think some churches would even want that?  Jesus’s ways were unpredictable; He didn't always minister the same way.

• Sometimes, Jesus told people to show themselves to the priest (Luke 17:11–14).

• There were times when Jesus prayed for a person, and it manifested within the hour; it wasn’t immediate (Matthew 8:5–13, 9:20–22).

• Jesus healed others by casting out demons (Acts 10:38).

• Once, Jesus prayed for a blind man’s eyes twice because the first time, the healing didn't manifest completely. He was able to see, but the people looked like trees; they weren't defined, so Jesus prayed for him again, and he was fully healed (Mark 8:22–26).

• There are many examples in the Bible where Jesus chose various modes of operation.

Your own ears will hear Him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left.

—Isaiah 30:21 NLT

God has different modes with which He accomplishes His will. As mentioned, we must understand that not every thought God has will be the same as ours. Therefore, we can't run off after we know the will of God and just do it; we have to give God a chance to say, “Listen, I want you to do it this way.” For example, you may want to share the gospel with someone, but God might instruct you to buy them a meal or do something personal to bless them. There are many different cultures worldwide, so He might have you reach out in a way you don't understand; it may be different from what you’re used to in your culture, but it's how God wants to communicate to that individual.

It is crucial that we know the personality, thoughts, and ways of the Lord. We must learn to get into a place where we receive more of God’s revealed will. Then, once we know the Lord’s thoughts concerning a matter, we need to wait to receive His guidance on how to implement it.

PRAYER:

Thank You, Father, for giving us Your thoughts through the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 2:9–10 expresses how the Spirit knows all things and even understands the deep things of God and that He will reveal them to us. Your Word says that we have the mind of Christ. Lord, help us not only to know Your thoughts, but let us know Your ways. We want to understand Your personality and the way that You like things. We always want to give You the ability to talk to us about implementing your thoughts as you wish. As You reveal Your thoughts and will for our lives, it must involve us waiting on You to show us Your ways. Help us to know the way that You do things and how You like them done. Lord, show us what You like about us and what needs to change. May we be open to Your instructions, in the name of Jesus, amen.

1. What is the difference between God’s thoughts and His ways, according to Isaiah 55:8?

2. What must our next step be after God reveals His thoughts to us? What is the danger of doing it our own way?

3. What are some of the modes of healing that Jesus used in the Bible?

4. Why is it important to understand that God doesn’t always do things the same way? Why must we listen to God’s instructions when ministering to others?

5. Can you think of a time when you heard God’s will, but didn’t wait for Him to show you how to do it? Was there a time when you did wait on the Lord?