Lesson 4: How God Leads Through Circumstances
A. 12 WAYS TO LOOK AT CIRCUMSTANCES
1. God works His plan through things. “All things work together for good” (Rom. 8:28).
2. God works His plan behind the scenes, when people don’t realize He’s at work. “You thought evil . . . God meant it for good” (Gen. 50:28).
3. God works His plan when people choose independently from Him. “God said . . . the elder shall serve the younger” (Gen. 25:23). “Isaac loved Esau . . . but Rebekah loved Jacob” (Gen. 25:28). “Give me something to eat” (Gen. 25:30, LB). “Give me your birthright” (Gen. 25:31). “That the purpose of God according to election might stand” (Rom. 9:11).
4. God works through the evil decisions of bad people. “Nebuchadnezzar . . . my servant will . . . utterly destroy” (Jer. 25:9).
5. God works through the good decisions of bad people. “Thus saith the Lord to His anointed, to Cyrus” (Isa. 45:1). The Jews returned from captivity, 537 BC.
6. God works through the evil decisions of backslidden believers. “Ten brothers sold Joseph into slavery.”
7. God works through the good decisions of backslidden believers. “Ten brothers decided to go buy corn from Egypt.”
8. God works through bad decisions of good people. “Disciples said to Paul, through the Spirit that he should not go to Jerusalem” (Acts 21:4). “What mean ye to weep and break my heart, I am ready to go” (Acts 21:13).
9. God works through good decisions of good people. “So we fasted and asked our God for this (trip)” (Ezra 8:23). “He delivered us from the hand of the enemy and showed us the way to go” Ez. 8:31). “A man chooses his path, but he goes the way God has chosen” (Prov. 16:9, ELT).
10. God works when we make conditions (put out the fleece). “I being in the way the Lord led me” (Gen. 24:27).
a. Gave me water, kind.
b. Gave all camels drink, hard worker.
c. Right family (24:15), related to God.
d. Good looking, “The damsel was very fair” (24:16).
e. Character, “A virgin” (24:16).
11. God doesn’t work when we put circumstantial conditions on Him. “Thou that knowest the hearts of men, show us which of these two thou has chosen” (Acts 1:24). Wrong:
a. Wait for Paul
b. Motivated by embarrassment or perfection
c. Voted by gambling
d. Mathias never heard from again.
12. When circumstances are not the best, the best way to know God’s plan is:
a. Through scripture
b. Through prayer
c. Through inner leading of the Spirit
d. Through our spiritual gifts
12 WAYS TO INTERPRET CIRCUMSTANCES
1. Sometimes circumstances are clearly God’s work, i.e. Esther.
2. Sometimes a person’s burden or desire are the circumstances God uses, i.e. Nehemiah rebuilding the wall.
3. Sometimes opportunities are the circumstances God uses. “A great door is opened to me” (I Cor. 16:9).
4. When God works through circumstances, He doesn’t remove all obstacles. “But there are many adversaries” (I Cor. 16:9).
5. Sometimes it’s hard to read circumstances, i.e., “The devil is in the details” -Anonymous. “God is in the details” –Jerry Falwell
6. Circumstances are not of God when they go contrary to scripture. “We have four men which have a (Jewish) vow on them . . . purify yourself with them and pay their expenses . . . for the sacrifices” (Acts 21:23-24).
a. Wrong even when suggested by church elders.
b. Wrong even though it made Paul look good.
c. Wrong even when it produced harmony.
d. Wrong even when Paul had money to pay circumstances.
7. Circumstances are probably God’s leading when in harmony with scripture.
8. Listen to good advice from good people. “But in the multitude of counselors there is safety” (Prov. 11:14).
9. Never follow circumstances without prayer. Joshua didn’t pray about Ai.
10. Look at circumstances though an inner urge. “Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life” (Prov. 4:23).
11. Once you think circumstances are of God, look for further verification. “The path of the just is a shining light, that shineth more and more” (Prov. 4:18).
12. The believer who is spirit filled, knowledgeable of scripture and yielded to God can best interpret what God is doing through circumstances.
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.
