I. The pre-eminent force in the universe is the will of God - Proverbs 21:1;             Daniel 4:17, 25, 32&35, 5:21; Job 23:13; Revelation 17:17; Romans 9:15-21.

II. The will of God is determined by:

    A. His purpose (design) - Ecclesiastes 3:1&17, 8:6:7; Isaiah 14:26-27;              Jeremiah 26:3, 36:3, 51:29; Acts 26:16; Romans 8:28, 9:11,17&22-24;                    Ephesians 1:11, 3:11; II Timothy 1:9; I John 3:8.

    B. His pleasure (desire) - Psalm 115:3, 135:6; Isaiah 53:10; 

Jonah 1:14;  I Corinthians 1:21, 12:18; Galatians 1:15; Colossians 1:19;

Luke 10:21; Ephesians 1:5&9.

III. The will of God is directed by providence [i.e. the divine influence which He exercises over creation] (Daniel 4:34-37; Psalm 135:6; Matthew 10:29;

Acts 17:24-28). God works through:

    A. The elements and laws of nature - Psalm 107:25; Mark 4:39;

Genesis 41:53-42:3;

    B. Raising up and putting down Kingdoms and influencing them - Habakkuk 1:5-6; Isaiah 10:5-6; Exodus 9:16; Romans 9:17; Jeremiah 50:9&41, 51:11;

Luke 2:1-6.

    C. Leagues and disagreements among men - II Samuel 12:11; Ezekiel 23:22;     Genesis 45:4-8.

    D. Childbirth and infertility - Genesis 29:31, 30:22; I Samuel 1:5-6, 44:2&24;         Ruth 4:13; Job 31:15; Isaiah 66:9.

    E. Influencing man's will - Psalm 110:3; Isaiah 43:13; Exodus 9:12;             Deuteronomy 2:30; Joshua 11:20.

III. The will of God is opposed by the will of Satan - Luke 22:31-32; II Timothy 2:25-26; Zechariah 3:1.

IV. The will of God is opposed by the natural man - Acts 9:5;

Romans 8:7;  I Corinthians 2:14; Acts 6:10; II Timothy 3:8.

V. The natural man cannot and will not conform to God's will, until God works in him to do so.- Romans 2:4, 8:20, Philippians 2:13, Hebrews 13:20-21

VI. God desires to commune with man and thus His will is to make provision to do so - Psalm 45:11; 132:13-14; 68:16-18; 69:35; Song of Solomon 7:10; Zechariah 2:10-11; Galatians 1:4; Hebrews 6:17; II Corinthians 6:16; Revelation 21:3.

VII. God takes no pleasure in the destruction of the wicked - Ezekiel 18:23; 33:11.

VIII. God does not desire that all men [i.e. nations, tongues] (Revelations 5:9; 7:9) should resist His will and perish, (II Peter 3:9; I Timothy 2:4), therefore God has determined:

    A. To deal with those whom He elects to the extent that they willingly come to Him and are saved.- John 5:21, Acts 22:14, Ephesians 1:5.

    B. To leave those whom He does not elect to their own ways and eventual destruction.- Matthew 20:15, Romans 9:18, 22; Proverbs 14:12; 16:25; Mark 10:17-27; Romans 1:18-32

IX. God's eternal purpose [i.e. that which is above all other purpose] is to display his wisdom by the church.- Ephesians 3:8-11.