alpha@wefc

How Does God Guide Us? Sat, 11 Oct, 2008

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Introduction

We all have to make decisions in life. We make decisions all the time. Of course, some of these decisions are relatively minor. Like what to eat for breakfast, whether to get some exercise this weekend, how much attention you’ll pay to this talk. But some of our decisions are very important and can affect to a profound degree the direction and shape of our lives. Changing jobs. Marriage. Having children. Buying a new house. Deciding whether or not to believe and trust in the claims of Christ.

Sometimes, we get stuck in our decision-making, don’t we? Think now about a decision that you have to make now, something that is on your mind. Do you wish you had some more perspective, more wisdom, more advice, more help with that decision? Are you paralyzed and not able to make any decision at all? Do you wish someone would come alongside you? Someone who knows you inside out, and who understands your needs, could offer you clear guidance with wisdom, love, patience and purpose?

OK, I’m going to invite you to do something. On your handout, can you list out the top 3 decisions that you need to make in your life at the moment. Think about it for a moment. It could be that you could have many many decisions to make. Can you narrow it down to just the top 3? Take 2 minutes to think and write them down.

Now, take another 2 minutes to think and write down: what or who are the top 3 things/people you normally turn to for advice on decision-making?

As I was saying earlier: wouldn’t be it be such a comfort and encouragement to us if someone who knew us and loved us intimately, and who is super-wise also, could help us make these decisions? Well, the good news – no, the great news, is that such help is available! You see, God promises to guide those who are His children, those who have a relationship with Him and who want to put their trust in Him.

This is wonderful, wonderful news. If you feel lost, afraid, stuck, and unsure about what path to take, it is a great thing to know that God promises to guide us. In the Bible, God tells us:

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel and watch over you. – Psalm 32:8

Using the imagery of a shepherd, elsewhere God tells us,

The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. – John 10:3-4

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God has a good plan for our lives

But – I can almost hear some of you think – that’s all very well, but what if God’s plans for me don’t really take me into concern? What if God’s will for my life isn’t good? I’m kind of afraid of where I’ll end up. Can I trust Him?

God tell us,

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11

This is one of the most comforting verses in the Bible. God reassures us that His plans for you are great. He doesn’t want you to muddle your way through life, insecure, afraid, feeling hopeless and victimized. He wants to prosper you in His perfect will, and give you hope and a future that is blessed beyond all imagination.

But in order to know God’s plan for our lives, we have to choose to go to Him and to stop relying on the world’s wisdom or our own wisdom.

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will. – Romans 12:2

We need to consult God before making major decisions.

“Woe to the obstinate children, ” declares the Lord, “to those who carry out plans that are not mine…” – Isaiah 30:1-2

Jesus as the supreme example. (Luke 4:1; John 5:19)

How then does God guide us in life’s decisions? There are 5 main ways. And we can use the mnemonic (a mnemonic is a memory device) “CS” to remember them. If you look at A to E, you’ll notice that each one is a “CS”. First, there is:

A. Commanding Scripture

God’s general will for our lives is found in the Bible:

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. – 2 Timothy 3:16

What do I mean by “God’s general will”?

Well, God’s will for all people in all places in all circumstances is revealed in the Bible. He has told us how He feels about a whole range of issues. From the Bible, we learn what God is pleased with. We also learn what is wrong in His eyes. For example, committing adultery, avoiding taxes, dishonouring one’s parents and neglecting them in their old age.

In many areas, God has already revealed His general will. We do not need to ask for His guidance if so; He has already given it. If we are not sure, we can ask someone who knows the Bible better than we do whether there is anything on that issue. Once we have discovered what the Bible says, we don’t need to look any further.

Sometimes God’s particular will may be made known to us through a particular verse. (Psalm 119:105, 130-133). It is amazing how sometimes a certain verse leaps out at us. Or someone quotes something to us, and we hear it again at Alpha tonight. This is not always the case, however. For example, in our exact choice of career, or how exactly we will raise our children, or how exactly we will spend our money. The Bible does given general principles however, and we would be wise to stay close to these general principles even as we continue to seek more specific guidance from God. The wonderful thing is that God promises wisdom to those of us who need it, if we ask Him for it, and if our earnest desire is to do His will. Which is best for us anyway!

B. Compelling Spirit

God is very personal. When we become Christians, God’s Spirit comes to live within us. But we need to learn to recognize God’s voice. Jesus said that his sheep – meaning his followers – would hear his voice. We would immediately recognize our parent’s voices, or the voice of a good friend, over the phone, wouldn’t we? If we don’t know a person so well, it takes time to learn to recognize that person’s voice. Same with us and God. But as we get to know God better, we learn to recognize His voice better.

There are three examples of the way in which God speaks to is by His Spirit.

First, God speaks as you pray. (Acts 13:1-3). Here the Christians were worshipping and praying, and they sensed God asking them to set aside Paul and Barnabas for a specific and special task.
How exactly did they sense this? We’re not told. But perhaps it could have been through thoughts, feelings, impressions – because that’s how God speaks to us today.

But there is a crucial need for testing. Not every thought that enters our mind is from God! There are 2 others sources. One is ourselves. The other one is the evil one, who may be trying to tempt us to fall into sin. What sort of questions can we ask to test these thoughts?

• Is it in line with the Bible?
• Does it square with what I know of God’s character?
• Is it loving? Does it promote love? (1 John 4:16)
• Is it strengthening, encouraging and comforting? (1 Corinthians 14:3)
• Does it bring the peace of God? (Colossians 3:15)

Second, God may give a strong desire to do something. (Philippians 2:13) tells us that it is God who works in us to will and to act according to his good purpose. For me, I had strong desire to go into full-time Christian ministry about 8 years ago. But when I was growing up, in my teens and even in my early 20s, the idea would never have occurred to me. Madness! Give up my life to be a pastor? Always having to see to the needs of others? And no money, no prospects, no time, no life? Never! But look at me know. Honestly, I can’t imagine doing anything else.

Sometimes God guides in more unusual ways, using prophecies, dreams, visions, pictures, angels. We read of examples of all of these in the Bible. Voice (Samuel), angels (Abraham, Joseph, Peter, Mary). Prophets (Agabus). Visions (Paul – Macedonia). We have been hearing many stories about how Muslims in many parts of the world are having dreams about Jesus, and putting their faith in Him. God spoke in unusual ways to people in the past, as recorded for us in the Bible. He still does so today.

C. Common Sense

God has also given us a brain and common sense to help us make wise choices.

God’s promises of guidance were not given to save us the problem of thinking. – John Stott.

The Bible never tells us that we are to become robots and stop using our minds. We are in fact encouraged to think and reflect, to use our brains. If we abandon common sense, we can get into quite ridiculous situations.

In his book, Knowing God, the Christian writer J.I. Packer tells of a woman who woke up each morning and who would immediately, as she woke up in bed, dedicate each day to God. Well, so far so good. But then, she would ask God whether she should get out of bed or not, and not stir until “the voice” told her to get out of bed and to get dressed for the day!

Quoting J.I. Packer:

As she put on each article of clothing, she asked the Lord whether she was to put it on and very often the Lord would tell her to put on the right shoe and leave off the other; sometimes she was to put on both stockings and no shoes, sometimes both shoes and no stockings. It was the same with all the other articles of clothing…

Imagine that! We may laugh to ourselves. But surprising numbers of people actually throw large amounts of common sense out of the window when they try to make a decision. With unimportant matters like what to wear, or exactly how much rice to take for dinner just now, the consequences of one’s decision isn’t so serious. But things can get very serious indeed if you don’t use your common sense and your brain when it comes to bigger decisions in life.

Next, there is:

D. Counsel of Saints

The Bible is full of instructions to seek wise advice from others. Ok, let’s get to know each other a bit better. Turn to someone in your group. Can you share which other person (we’re taking about people, so not God here ok) you tend to turn to to give you inputs into a decision you may be facing. Share also why you tend to go to this particular person, out of the many people you could possibly approach.

The word “saints” here doesn’t refer to holy people who have died! It’s a term we use to describe people who live godly lives and who are therefore in a position to offer wise advice, from the riches and depths of their own life experiences. The book of Proverbs especially contains many injunctions the value of seeking advice from such people. For example, Proverbs 15:22 tells us,

“Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.”

That is good advice indeed!

But who are the types of people that we should approach for advice? Proverbs again tells us, “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” God gives wisdom to those who fear him – not in the sense of the fear we have when we watch a really terrible horror movie, or a fear of calamity or disaster – but a sense of awe at being in the presence of a God who is righteous and holy and who does not tolerate sin. To such people that fear him, God promises wisdom. So the best advisors are usually godly Christian people whom we admire and respect.

These could be our parents. Even if they are not Christians, they know us very well, and generally have our best interests at heart, so they can have important insights into situations. We should consult people on the basis of their spiritual maturity and authority, and their relationship to us, regardless of what we may anticipate their views to be. Some people go round and round, and ask people until they find someone who will endorse their opinions, and then they say, I got godly counsel!

I have found it very helpful throughout my life to have someone who is a mature Christian whom I respect to turn to for help and perspective on a wide range of issues. At different times, this has been different people. I am very grateful to God for their wisdom and help.

But while seeking advice is very important, we need to remember that our ultimately our decisions are between us and God. We cannot blame others when things go wrong. But we need to assume responsibility for who we approach for advice, and for the decisions themselves.

E. Circumstantial Signs

God is in ultimate control of all events. God may speak through circumstances by opening or closing doors.

In your heart you plan your course, but the Lord determines your steps. – Proverbs 16:9

Let me share with you a bit more about how God led me into full-time ministry. About 8 years ago, I began to sense that God wanted me to think about serving Him in church. Which would have been a mad idea to me before that! Several circumstantial signs came at about the same time.

• I was serving as a CG Leader, cluster leader, worship leader, growing in taking on more important responsibilities. Learning to use my gifts. Making mistakes sometimes, but generally growing!
• Our church moved from Bukit Timah to Woodlands in 1999. More help was needed, particularly in the running and administration of the Care Group ministry.
• Career-wise, I was in transition. I’d just left an audit firm after 4.5 years, and had joined SingTel. In 1999 was the big telecoms market liberalization, if you remember, and all kinds of players were allowed to enter the market to compete with SingTel. I was hired as a Competition Analysis Manager. But after a year or two, the situation had stabilized. And I was getting a bit bored and looking for change.
• Apart from the promptings of the Spirit, and the advice of godly men, there were these signs.

Watch the circumstances but don’t place over-reliance on them. In this area of guidance we all make mistakes. Sometimes we try to fulfil God’s plans by using the wrong methods. Or we can’t because the timing’s wrong, and go ahead of God. God’s ways and His timing are always perfect.

Sometimes we need to persevere despite the circumstances. God may be using these negative situations to grow something special in our lives. Perhaps a character quality that reflects His. Love, patience, joy, trust, perseverance. So that we will become more like Jesus.

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Conclusion

God wants to guide us through life’s difficulties and challenges. Will we trust Him

- Ps Jew Yun Shern

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[Editor's Note: pdf copies of the talk of the speaker's notes can be found HERE.]