(Section 2) The Nature Of God's Guidance Series

(Section 2 His Will)

II. THE NATURE OF GOD'S GUIDANCE

A yieldedness to the will of God is not demonstrated by some one particular issue: it is rather having taken the will of God as the rule of one's life. To be in the will of God is simply being willing to do His will without reference to any particular thing He may choose. It is electing his will to be final, even before we know what He may wish us to do.

It is therefore not a question of being willing to do some one thing; it is a question of being willing to do anything, when, where and how is may seem best in His heart of love. It is taking the normal and natural position of child-like trust which has already consented to the wish of the Father even before anything of the outworking of His wish is revealed. (pg 41)

--Lewis Sperry Chafer

A. PRINCIPLES OF GUIDANCE

One of the unchanging and foundational principles is that our Guide will never depart

from the precepts of the Word of God.

Where Scripture speaks clearly, no further guidance need be sought.

1. In the whole of the Bible we are given commands and promises, prohibitions and

warnings appropriate to any situation in which we find ourselves. Read the Word.

2. It is in the place of prayer that God will impart His guidance to us. Pray without ceasing.

3. It was while the church leaders at Antioch were praying and fasting that the Holy Spirit

communicated His will to them. Acts 13:2 “As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.”

4. It is in submissive, expectant prayer that our heavenly Guide imparts wisdom and

insight into the problems we face. When facing major decisions, it is obvious wisdom to spend concentrated time in prayer.

5. He guides us through the advice of wise and spiritually experienced friends.

Dialogue stimulates thought and broadens vision.Proverbs 19:20 “Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.”

6. Sometimes He guides by creating desires in our hearts that accord with His

sovereign purpose. Phil. 2:13 “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

We should carefully scrutinize our desires.

7. He guides us by exercising an inward constraint or restraint.

8. He guides through divinely imparted gifts and abilities, both natural and spiritual.

Our leading will generally accord with our gifts, but there are exceptions.

9. He guides us through our minds. *We should be wary of any guidance that belittles

or overestimates the use of the intellect.

10. He guides through the revelation of Christ in His life and death. Jesus lived according

to universal principles, so that the spirit of those principles can be lived out anywhere.

God leads, but He does not override the will of man.

B. PUTTING OUT A FLEECE --- GIDEON & GOD

A remarkable incident in the life of Gideon has given rise to a contemporary practice for seeking guidance. It has come to be known as "putting out a fleece." Because of its prevalence, a careful study of its validity is warranted. (pg 50) Judges 6

When all is taken into account, wasn’t Gideon’s experience God’s compassionate response

to an unfounded doubt, rather than a response to Gideon’s faith? (pg 52)

In considering the validity of adopting this method of seeking guidance, the following

factors should be taken into account:

1. There is no New Testament parallel of Gideon's fleece test.

(A secular parallel in our day would be tossing a coin a second time because

it did not turn up the way we wanted the first time.)

2. In reality, Gideon was not seeking guidance in the strict sense. He already knew

what God's will was. When God gives a command, no further guidance is necessary.

3. Fleece-setting does not impart final assurance and certainty. If the Word of God

is not enough for you, fleeces will also leave you in doubt.

4. Some consider a spectacular response to setting a fleece an evidence of superior

spirituality. But is it not rather a gracious concession to feeble faith?

C. BALAK & BALAAM --- Negative light on Guidance. (pg 52)

1. Order of Events

a. Balak heard of victory or Israel over the Amorites. Numbers 21:25-26

b. Balak had heard of the fame of the prophet Balaam, so in superstitious fear

he summoned him to put a curse on the Israelites and thus secure their defeat.

Numbers 22: 5-6

c. Princes meet with Balaam and present their request. Numbers 22:7

d. Balaam lodges the princes and enquires of God.

e. God's answer: "thou shalt not" Numbers 22:12