GUIDANCE

GUIDANCE

“Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God” (Rom. 8:14)

The vast majority of people on this planet are poor and uneducated. It has always been so, and perhaps always will be. Yet, it was these"common people" who followed Jesus and heard Him gladly (Lk. 12:37.) As shocking as it might seem, these are also the people that Jesus chose to be His apostles. In spite of their limited learning, Jesus was still able to lead them in the way that He wanted them to go. It boggles our mind that an Omniscient God would choose such unlettered peasants as His ambassadors to the world. His chosen apostles were totally void of earthly credentials. As peasants from Galilee, they had little or no opportunity for formal education. Consequently, they were victims of discrimination and ridicule. Their thick Galilean accent was easily recognizable (Matt.26:73.) The elite considered them to be unlearned and ignorant (Acts 4:13.) Perhaps they were. Choosing such men, however, was not an accident. Jesus prayed all night before selecting His apostles (Lk. 6:12.) It is obvious that God does things differently than men. Paul recognized this reality and wrote: "For ye see your calling , brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in His presence . . . " (I Cor. 1:26-29.)

God does not think the way we think, or do things the way we would do them (Is. 55:8.) His ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. His ways, however, do work! During the lifetime of the apostles they preached the Gospel to the whole creation (Col.1:23.) They are part of the foundation of God’s Household (Eph. 2:19-22). The common people were built together with them on this foundation. With the guidance of God they penetrated every stratum of Roman society and ultimately toppled the tyrannical Caesars. This was accomplished by men without money, power, or prestige. Their remarkable achievements were a vindication of God. It was a glorious tribute to His guidance and power. Of course they did not do it by their own strength! God was their sufficiency (II Cor. 3:5!) God directed their lives! God orchestrated their efforts! The redeemed of the Lord recognized this and sang the song of Moses: "Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints" (Rev. 15:3.)

At this point it is important to remember that God does not want His people to remain ignorant. Ignorance is not a virtue. The disciples of Jesus have always been encouraged to follow truth and “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 3:18). It was believers in God that pioneered in the Scientific Revolution. According to Atlantic Publishers and Distributors between 1901 and 2,000, 67% of the 674 Nobel Laureates identified as Christians. Today, Christians are still among the best educated people on earth. Many, if not most, of the great universities of the world were founded by Christians. Nevertheless, Christianity, past and present, still has its roots among poor and oppressed people. Praise God! Anyone can become a Christian who wants to!

TODAY'S WORLD

There are over seven billion people on this planet. Most are like the original apostles. They are common people. They too can become followers of Christ without money, power, or prestige. They too have little or no formal education. They too have no influence beyond their small circle of family and friends. They too are often subjected to ridicule and scorn. They have no access to ancient manuscripts. They are not scholars or religious leaders. Most cannot read or write and many do not even have a written language. These are the ones whom Jesus promised to lead like sheep. These are the members of His Body whom He directs and controls to accomplish His work. In spite of their limited education, they are sons of God led by the Spirit of God! They agree with Paul who wrote: “My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with the demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power” (1 Cor. 2:4-5).

INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENTS

It is obvious that every member of our body does not do the same thing. The same is true of the Body of Christ. Each individual member of His Body has it’s own unique assignment and role to play (1 Cor. 12:12-27). Even while the apostles were following Jesus He often gave individual assignments.

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For example, on several occasions, Jesus allowed only Peter, James, and John to be with Him. This included the Mount of Transfiguration, the raising of Jairus' daughter, and Gethsemane.

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When Jesus cast a legion of demons out of a man in Gadera, that man wanted to follow Him. While Jesus told many “Follow Me” He refused that man’s request and commanded him to go home and tell his friends what great things God had done for him (Mk.5:19.)

• Only two disciples were sent to fetch a donkey (Lk.19:29-30.)
• Only two disciples were sent to prepare the Passover (Mk. 14:13.)
• Etc.

Individual assignments are also evident in the book of Acts.

• Peter was chosen to be the main preacher at Pentecost (Acts 2)
• Peter was also called by God to preach to Cornelius (Acts 10:)
• Paul had a special call to Macedonia (Acts 16:)
• God called men like Peter and Philip to work alone.
• God called men like Paul, Barnabas, Silas, etc. to work in teams.

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Obviously all the members of the body do not do the same thing. “If the whole Body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole Body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts of His Body, every one of them, just as He wanted them to be” (I Cor 12:17-18).

Again, we must emphasize that Jesus taught His disciples to do the will of God, regardless of what that involved. This is also the foundation of true discipleship in our own lives. It is not wise to compare ourselves with others (2 Cor. 10:12). Our only responsibility is to do what the Spirit of Jesus leads us to do! Obviously we are not responsible for what others do and will only be called to give an account for the talents God has given to us (Matt. 25:14-30). How utterly simple!

COMMUNICATION AND SUPPLY

If we are going to be led by the Spirit of God, we must have contact with God. This is both obvious and inescapable. Jesus is the Captain of our salvation. If He cannot communicate with, and supply His troops, there can be no victory.

Consider what happened in the Gulf War I. Saddam Hussein expected it to be the "Mother of all Battles." It wasn't! He had a huge army, but they were rendered ineffective by the destruction of their lines of communication and supply. In the Kuwaiti Theater of Operation, allied strategists estimated that the arrogant dictator had:

530,000 men

4,300 tanks

2,700 armored fighting vehicles and 3,000 artillery pieces

Obviously, this was a formidable fighting force. Hussein naively assumed there would be a prolonged conflict like Vietnam. He was wrong! The allied ground offensive began on Feb. 24, 1991 at 4 a.m. In only one hundred hours the war was over.

One major reason for Hussein's quick defeat is that allied forces destroyed his communication lines. From the very beginning, his command center was a prime target. Hussein's principal source of secured contact with his troops was fiber optic cable. This cable crossed the Euphrates several times by means of bridges. Airplanes destroyed all of these bridges but two. On the eve of the ground war, the last two bridges were demolished by special forces. General Norman Schwarzkopf said: "We put his eyes out." Hussein's well coordinated war machine was thrown into disarray and confusion. Captured Iraqi Generals had no idea what was going on. They were amazed to discover that over 60,000 of their soldiers had surrendered. Allied troops, by contrast, were in constant contact with their command center. They knew what to do, and when to do it. They were not only able to receive guidance, but also supplies.

Communication and supply are important factors in gaining the victory.

APPLICATION

Now let's apply this truth to the guidance of God. Following Jesus involved contact and communication with Jesus during the three years of His public ministry. W.E. Vine states that the Greek word “akoloutheo,” which means to “follow”, is found 77 times of following Jesus and only once otherwise (Mark 14:13). This single exception involved following a man carrying a jar of water. The man would be easy to identify as carrying water was normally done by women. This man would lead them to the house where Jesus would eat the Passover with His disciples. This was easier and far

more efficient that drawing a map or giving them directions verbally. This same principle gave confidence to the disciples who had been following Jesus for three years. As long as they were following Jesus they were in a position to receive guidance directly from Him. On the night before Calvary, however, Jesus shocked them by saying: “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later” (Jn. 13:36).

While Jesus was in His earthly body He was limited in His ability to guide all of His disciples. In His earthly body He could only be one place at a time. When He was with Peter, James, and John on the mountain, He could not be with the other disciples in the valley. This left some of His disciples temporarily without guidance. This is why Jesus said it was expedient for Him to go away (John16:7.) When Jesus went away, the Comforter could come. When Jesus was released from the confines of His human body, He could return as the Holy Spirit and be every where at the same time. As the Holy Spirit Jesus could guide all of His disciples simultaneously. Yes! Jesus did go away, but He did not leave His disciples like orphans (Jn. 14:18). Jesus came back as the Holy Spirit and is able to be with every disciple forever. He promised them that no matter where they were in the world He would be with them always even to the very end of the age (Matt. 28:20). He has also promised never to leave us or forsake us (Heb. 13:5).

It is the design of this brief study to show that this beautiful relationship of Jesus with His disciples continues to this very day. Jesus is still the Good Shepherd and His sheep can still hear His voice and following His leading. Victorious Christian living involves constant contact with Christ. If the devil destroys our communication with Christ, we will be defeated. Sheep without a shepherd are defenseless! The Scriptures teach that to be severed from Christ is to fall from grace (Gal. 5:4.)

Communication and supply are essential ingredients in Christian warfare. It is exciting to realize that Jesus will never leave us, or forsake us! Once recognized, this same truth is seen in other Biblical analogies. Consider the relationship of Father and son, Husband and wife, Shepherd and sheep, Head and body, Captain and troops, Etc. Every one of these relationships requires communication. If the Head of the Body, cannot control the members of the Body, the Body is ineffective. The Body of Christ, however, is not ineffective. It is not paralyzed or dead. It is alive with vibrant power that is able to accomplish exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.

The Deist believes that God created the universe and then left it alone. Christians know differently. Christians believe that God is interested in, and vitally involved in every aspect of our lives. Not even a sparrow falls to the ground without His knowledge, and we are of more value than many sparrows. Even the very hairs of our head are numbered (Matt. 10:29-31.) This thrilling truth can literally transform your life.

The guidance of God is available to us today! Don’t let the devil deceive you into believing otherwise. Please be aware that God wants to guide you and, as we have said, has promised never to leave you or forsake you (Heb. 13:5). While God is Sovereign and can guide you any way He wants to, please prayerfully consider the following suggestions.

SUGGESTIONS TO HELP YOU RECEIVE GUIDANCE FROM GOD

• Start with the Bible.
• The Word of God is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path (Ps. 119:105).

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“All Scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16).

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Jesus said: “It is written: ‘man does not live by bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God’” (Matt. 4:4).

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We need to study the Scriptures in order to show ourselves approved unto God (2 Tim. 2:15).

• If you really want guidance from God, study the Scriptures!
• Do not forsake the assembly of believers (Heb. 10:25).

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Every living thing needs an environment where it can thrive a grow. The “new creation” of God is no exception. God specifically designed the church to help Christians grow. “It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fulness of Christ” (Eph. 4:11-13).

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You are not the whole Body of Christ. You are only a single member. Alone you can accomplish very little for Christ. Working with other members of the Body you can accomplish a great deal. “Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with notions. He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow” (Col. 2:18-19).

• If you really want guidance from God you will be an active part of the Lord’s church!
• Do not forget to pray!

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“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double minded man, unstable in all he does” (Ja. 1:5-8).

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Jesus prayed alone (Matt. 14:23); in public (Jn. 11:41-42); before eating (Mk. 8:6); at his baptism (Lk. 21-22); before appointing his twelve apostles (Lk. 6:12-13); before healing (Mk. 7:34-35: often (Lk. 5:16); Etc.

• Jesus taught His disciples to always pray and not give up (Lk. 18:1).

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Jesus taught that “If you believe you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer” (Matt. 21:22). See also Matt. 7:7-11; Mk. 11:24-26; Lk. 11:9-13; Jn. 15:7; Etc.

• If Jesus prayed all the time, surely we also need to pray all the time!

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If you really want to be guided by God you will pray without ceasing

(1 Thess. 5:17).

• The church began after 120 people were constantly in prayer in the upper room (Acts 1:12-15).

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The early Christians “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer” (Acts 2:42).

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Prayer is an integral part of every letter written by Paul. Here are a few examples: to the Romans he wrote that with God as his witness he prayed for them constantly (Rom. 1:8-10). See also: 1 Cor. 1:4-9; 2 Cor 1:3-7; Gal. 6:18; Eph. 1:15-23; Phil. 4:6-7; Col. 1:3-14; 1 Thess. 1:2-3; 2 Thess. 1:3-5; 1 Tim. 2:1-3; 2 Tim. 1:3-7; Philemon 4-7, Etc.

• Surely you will pray if you want guidance from God!
• We need to seek first the Kingdom of God (Matt. 6:33)

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The most important commandment in the Bible is to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” (Mk. 12:30)

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God promised through Jeremiah: “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (Jer. 29:13).

• God revealed to Abraham what he was going to do to Sodom (Gen. 18:16-33).

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God revealed this to Abraham because he was the friend of God (2 Chron. 20:7; Is. 41:8; Ja. 2:23). Perhaps if we become friends with God He will also reveal things to us.

• God is a Jealous God (Ex. 20:5). He is repulsed by those who are lukewarm (Rev. 3:16).

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C. S. Lewis said it like this: “Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important”.

• Surely, if you want guidance from God you will seek first His Kingdom!

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God works in us both to “will” and to “act”. “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed – not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence – continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose” (Phil. 2:12-13).

• If God wants you to do something, He gives you the “desire” to do it.
• After God gives you the desire to do something, then He gives you the “ability”.

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When Peter and John were asked how they were able to heal a man over 40 years old who was crippled from birth, they were quick to give the credit to Jesus: “If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel; It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed” (Acts 4:9-10).

• Surely God gives both the desire and the ability to do His will!

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There is no limit to the many ways that God can give you guidance. Since “He who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in Spirit” (1 Cor. 6:17), God can guide us by taking away our “peace” when we are doing something He does not want us to do.

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Paul said it like this: “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace, and be thankful” (Col. 3:15).

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The Greek word translated as “rule” is “brabeuo” which means “to act as an umpire”. When you are about to do something God does not want you to do, His Spirit acts like an umpire and takes away your peace.

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So - “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths” (Prov. 3:5-6).

DO IT!

Solomon said: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom” (Eccl. 9:10). The point is, when you are dead it is too late to do anything! If you have ever had the desire to do something for God, do it now!

A rocket does not need guidance until it blasts off! A car does not need a steering wheel until it starts moving! We too do not need guidance until we start moving. The servant of Abraham received guidance from God because he was on the move. He did not find a wife for Isaac until he arrived hundreds of miles away at the town of Nahor. God answered his prayer for guidance by leading him to Rebekah the daughter of Bethuel. The servant knew it was an answer to prayer and said: “The Lord has led me on the journey to the house of my master’s relatives” (Gen. 24:27). He also “Bowed down and worshiped the Lord, I praised the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who led me on the right road to get the granddaughter of my master’s brother for his son” (Gen. 24:48).

WHEN GOD ANSWERS OUR PRAYERS AND GIVES US GUIDANCE

WE TOO WILL BOW DOWN AND WORSHIP THE LORD!

SO IF YOU FEEL GOD WANTS YOU TO DO SOMETHING

DO IT!