John 7:16-18 ESV So Jesus answered them, "My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. (17) If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. (18) The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood.
The purpose of reading John 7:16-18 is to turn our thinking from the “old man” to the new man in Christ. It’s to cause us to hear the Holy Spirit when He is speaking.
THE HEART THAT IS "WILLING TO DO"
In John 7:17 there is a principal expressed. It is a principle which is expressed in many places in both the Old and New Testaments. Our Lord Jesus Christ is saying, “He that is willing to do God's will that person shall know of the teaching whether it is of man or of God.”
The principal teaching of John 7:17 is, "BE WILLING TO DO." The one who is willing to do, is the same one who SHALL KNOW. With God, knowing only comes to those who are first willing to do.
Luke 1:38 ESV And Mary said, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.
Mary, the mother of our Lord, stated this principle when she said “be it unto me according to thy word.”
Typically with us, we want God to say what it is He wants us to do so we can judge whether or not we will do it.
God will not speak to the heart of a man who is unwilling. God speaks to the man or the woman or the child who first presents to Him a heart that says, “I’ll do it!”
The interesting thing about the mother of Jesus and her encounter with the angel is the angel did not approach Mary asking her permission concerning her role. The angel, by way of the knowledge of heaven, already knew the answer Mary would give. And that was why she was most favored. The angel knew that in Mary’s heart she was already available to God for whatever God spoke to her.
What does God the Father already know about you? Are you willing to do? Is there a YES in your heart towards the will and way of the Father?