nd this is made
possible by means of faith.

To know the will of God concerning anything is a great satisfaction.
It is like food to our souls if we can say with Jesus, "My meat is to
do God's will." It is an indescribable pleasure if we can say with the
Son of God, "I delight to do thy will." It is the key to the highest
form of knowledge, for we have found it true that "he that doeth the
will of God shall know of the doctrine." It is the promise of eternal
life, for we are told in God's Word, "He that doeth the will of God
abideth forever." There is possibly no place where God's will for us
is more clearly stated than in this text. Sometimes we may know his
will by praying. How often revelations have come thus to us as if from
the very skies concerning his desires for us! We may know it sometimes
by thinking. If one would but yield his mind perfectly to God in his
providences as well as in his word he would know God's will concerning
him. We may know it sometimes by talking to others, for not
infrequently God gives a revelation to one child of his for the
guidance of another's life. But in this connection it is most
definitely stated, "This is the will of God, even your sanctification."
And the Apostle emphasizes his words,

First: By the use of the most affectionate expression, "Furthermore
then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that
as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye
would abound more and more" (1 Thessalonians 4:1).

Second: He speaks on the authority of Jesus himself. "For ye know what
commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 4:2).

Third: He emphasizes it by referring to the second coming of our Lord,
for he well knew that if one was looking for the appearing of the Son
of God he would turn away from fleshly lusts and abstain from that
which was unclean, thus encouraging the work of sanctification. The
Apostle Paul says to the Thessalonians after he has clearly set before
them God's will concerning their living, "But I would not have you to
be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow
not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus
died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God
bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that
we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not
prevent them which are asleep.