Messages on God's Will
Seeking God's Guidance and God's Will
by Pastor John Khng
Scripture Reading: Psa. 25:8-9; 32:8-9; Isa. 58:11; Psa. 48:11; Gen. 24:1-67; Prov. 3:5-7; James 1:5-7
Psa 25:8 Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.
Psa 25:9 The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.
Psa 32:8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.
Psa 32:9 Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.
Isa 58:11 And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
Psa 48:14 For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.
Introduction: "Don't ask the Lord to guide your footsteps unless you are willing to move your feet."
Concerning God's Guidance and God's Will
I. God Will Guide His People Who Are Meek – Ps 25:8-9; 32:8-9
II. God Will Guide His People Continually – Isa 58:11
III. God Will Guide His People Till the End of Their Lives – Ps 48:14
We will keep these three important Biblical facts in mind as we go through today's message. You need to listen carefully as it will be a bit confusing if you do not follow me closely
A. God will teach sinners in the way he should go – the way of repentance and salvation in Christ – Ps 25:8; John 14:6
Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
B. God will teach the meek his way – God’s way – the way of living in His will and the way we should go – Ps 25:9 and Ps 32:8
C. Do not be stubborn and not able to think Eg: the horse or the donkey – which have no understanding – they have to be controlled by the bit and bridle to prevent hurting someone or to control them to carry out meaningful activities.
D. Two Requirements to Receive God’s Guidance: - Ps 25:9, 32::8-9
1) You must be His People
2) You must be Meek (humble) and Willing to Follow His Will
E. Many people are seeking for God’s guidance in major decisions in life - How do we seek God’s Guidance and God's Will?
F. Look at God’s guidance illustrated by how Abraham got a wife for his son, Isaac – Gen. 24:1-67
1) Some say Gen 24 illustrates the NT church – Abraham is a type of God the Father, the servant is a type of the Holy Spirit being sent out to find a bride, Rebekah is a type of the church, the bride of Chrst, Isaac is a type of Christ – Rebekah the church being brought to Christ as the bride
2) Gen 24 illustrate God’s guidance especially in the area of choosing a life partner. These principles apply to other areas of decisions too
3) Four Steps to Knowing God’s Guidance and God’s Will – Gen 24:1-67
Step One - Seek God’s guidance in the Realm of Blessings – in His Word, in Right Places, Among the Right People and Among the Right Things to Do – Gen. 24:1-4
Step Two - Believe in God’s Word – His Promises, His Teachings, His Commandments and His Principles – Gen. 24:5-9
Step Three - Pray for God’s Guidance – Gen 24:10-16
Step Four - Evaluate your options, Consider your circumstances and Action by Faith – Gen 24:17-67 (see v. 26, 27); Prov. 3:5-7; James 1:5-7
The FIRST step is the Most Important – Seek God’s guidance in the Realm of God’s Blessings – Notice:
Abraham told his servant to get a wife for his son from his own people and not from among the Canaanites
Do not seek God’s guidance in something that God forbids – Our obedience is the issue not guidance – We are to obey God’s Word and just not to do it because it is a sin
New Testament’s Command
2Co 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
2Co 6:15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
2Co 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
2Co 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
We are mot to look for a life partner among unbelievers. We are to look for a life partner among God Fearing, Bible Believing, Bible Practicing and Christ Honoring Born Again Christians. If a person is seeking for a life partner among unbelievers, there is no ground to seek for God’s guidance. The person is breaking God’s commandment of separation so he or she cannot ask God to guide him or her in his or her sin of disobedience.
The same goes with seeking God’s guidance in other matters - Do not seek God’s guidance in something that God forbids – just not to do it because it is a sin
To seek for God’s guidance we must start looking for it in the realm of blessings or in the realm of God’s approvals
The Second Step - 2) Believe in God’s Word and God’s Promises – God will guide us. Have Faith and wait upon God to fulfil His promises to us.
The Third Step is the Most Confusing – Pray for God’s Guidance
Everyone has their own way of praying for God’s guidance – Let’s look at some controversial ways:
1) Asking for confirming signs – Gen 24:10-16 - Question to ask ourselves - Is it right and is it necessary?
2) Putting out a Fleece - Gideon – Judges 6:36-40 - Is it right and is it necessary? not seeking God’s will but seeking for God’s assurance of victory see v. 36 – God had already spoken and chosen him – see Judges 6:12-14 In chapter 7 God took away all his soldiers that are essential for victory except 300 men who will go with Gideon to fight the Midianites.
3) Casting of Lots - Acts 1:23-26 – Is it right and is it necessary?
4) Asking for Wisdom – Proverbs 3:5-7; James 1:5-7
Bending circumstances to suit our wish.
Walter Knight told of an old Scottish woman who went from home to home across the countryside selling thread, buttons, and shoestrings. When she came to an unmarked crossroad, she would toss a stick into the air and go in the direction the stick pointed when it landed.
One day, however, she was seen tossing the stick up several times. "Why do you toss the stick more than once?" someone asked. "Because," replied the woman, "it keeps pointing to the left, and I want to take the road on the right." She then dutifully kept throwing the stick into the air until it pointed the way she wanted to go! Today in the Word, May, 1989.
Casting Lots by Henry Morris, Ph.D.
“And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles” (Acts 1:26).
This is the only instance in the New Testament where Christians are said to have “cast lots” in order to make a choice. This particular choice involved a very important question: Which of two apparently equally qualified men should be selected to take Judas’ place among the twelve apostles? It is significant that before the lots were cast, they all prayed and asked the Lord to indicate His choice (Acts 1:24), “and the lot fell upon Matthias” (text).
Casting lots apparently was very common in ancient nations among both Israelites and Gentiles. The practice is mentioned at least 88 times in the Old Testament and eight other times in the New Testament (six of which refer to the casting of lots by the Roman soldiers for Jesus’ vesture as He was being crucified). The first mention of the practice is found in connection with the offering of two goats on the Day of Atonement, the one to be sacrificed; the other to carry away, as it were, the sins of the people into the wilderness (Leviticus 16:8). On the pagan use of the practice, see, for example, Jonah 1:7 and Esther 3:7.
The “lot” could have been any object used to make a choice. In recent centuries in Europe, small balls of different colors began to be used, and this practice came to be known as “casting ballots.” The latter term eventually came to be practically synonymous with voting - whatever method was used to “cast” one’s vote.
In any case, it is important to note that the Bible’s single mention of this practice by Christians indicates that it was preceded by earnest prayer for the Lord to reveal His will, not merely the preference of the one voting. We also always should seek earnestly the Lord’s leading in any choice we are called on to make in any election. HMM
Bob Mumford in Take Another Look at Guidance, compares discovering God’s will with a sea captain’s docking procedure: A certain harbor in Italy can be reached only by sailing up a narrow channel between dangerous rocks and shoals. Over the years, many ships have been wrecked, and navigation is hazardous. To guide the ships safely into port, three lights have been mounted on three huge poles in the harbor. When the three lights are perfectly lined up and seen as one, the ship can safely proceed up the narrow channel. If the pilot sees two or three lights, he knows he’s off course and in danger.
God has also provided three beacons to guide us. The same rules of navigation apply - the three lights must be lined up before it is safe for us to proceed. The three harbor lights of guidance are:
F.B. Meyer once said that three lights must line up before God’s will is clear.
(1) The inward impulse—what we call the subjective leading of the Lord - the voice of the Lord.
(2) The word of God - as revealed in scripture.
(3) The trend of the circumstances.
Once those three elements line up one other thing is required. Move Forward in Faith! “Without faith it is impossible to please God.”
Prayer for Guidance - G. D. Watson says the Holy Ghost never guides us contrary to the Word. The Word never guides us contrary to Providence, and Providence does not guide us contrary to the Word or Spirit. So, these three elements of divine guidance are always harmonious.
Conclusion:
I. God Will Guide His People Who Are Meek – Ps 25:8-9; 32:8-9
II. God Will Guide His People Continually – Isa 58:11
III. God Will Guide His People Till the End of Their Lives – Ps 48:14
Review: Four Steps to Knowing God’s Guidance and God’s Will – Gen 24:1-67
1) Seek God’s guidance in the Realm of God’s Blessings – in His Word, in Right Places, Among the Right People and Among the Right Things to Do – Gen. 24:1-4
2) Believe in God’s Word – His Promises, His Teachings, His Commandments and His Principles – Gen. 24:5-9 – see v. 7
3) Pray for God’s Guidance – Gen 24:10-16
4) Evaluate your options, Consider your circumstances and Action by Faith – Gen 24:17-67 (see v. 26, 27); Prov. 3:5-7; James 1:5-7
Scripture Reading: Psa. 25:8-9; 32:8-9; Isa. 58:11; Psa. 48:11; Gen. 24:1-67; Prov. 3:5-7; James 1:5-7
Psa 25:8 Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.
Psa 25:9 The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.
Psa 32:8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.
Psa 32:9 Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.
Isa 58:11 And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
Psa 48:14 For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.
Introduction: "Don't ask the Lord to guide your footsteps unless you are willing to move your feet."
Concerning God's Guidance and God's Will
I. God Will Guide His People Who Are Meek – Ps 25:8-9; 32:8-9
II. God Will Guide His People Continually – Isa 58:11
III. God Will Guide His People Till the End of Their Lives – Ps 48:14
We will keep these three important Biblical facts in mind as we go through today's message. You need to listen carefully as it will be a bit confusing if you do not follow me closely
A. God will teach sinners in the way he should go – the way of repentance and salvation in Christ – Ps 25:8; John 14:6
Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
B. God will teach the meek his way – God’s way – the way of living in His will and the way we should go – Ps 25:9 and Ps 32:8
C. Do not be stubborn and not able to think Eg: the horse or the donkey – which have no understanding – they have to be controlled by the bit and bridle to prevent hurting someone or to control them to carry out meaningful activities.
D. Two Requirements to Receive God’s Guidance: - Ps 25:9, 32::8-9
1) You must be His People
2) You must be Meek (humble) and Willing to Follow His Will
E. Many people are seeking for God’s guidance in major decisions in life - How do we seek God’s Guidance and God's Will?
F. Look at God’s guidance illustrated by how Abraham got a wife for his son, Isaac – Gen. 24:1-67
1) Some say Gen 24 illustrates the NT church – Abraham is a type of God the Father, the servant is a type of the Holy Spirit being sent out to find a bride, Rebekah is a type of the church, the bride of Chrst, Isaac is a type of Christ – Rebekah the church being brought to Christ as the bride
2) Gen 24 illustrate God’s guidance especially in the area of choosing a life partner. These principles apply to other areas of decisions too
3) Four Steps to Knowing God’s Guidance and God’s Will – Gen 24:1-67
Step One - Seek God’s guidance in the Realm of Blessings – in His Word, in Right Places, Among the Right People and Among the Right Things to Do – Gen. 24:1-4
Step Two - Believe in God’s Word – His Promises, His Teachings, His Commandments and His Principles – Gen. 24:5-9
Step Three - Pray for God’s Guidance – Gen 24:10-16
Step Four - Evaluate your options, Consider your circumstances and Action by Faith – Gen 24:17-67 (see v. 26, 27); Prov. 3:5-7; James 1:5-7
The FIRST step is the Most Important – Seek God’s guidance in the Realm of God’s Blessings – Notice:
Abraham told his servant to get a wife for his son from his own people and not from among the Canaanites
Do not seek God’s guidance in something that God forbids – Our obedience is the issue not guidance – We are to obey God’s Word and just not to do it because it is a sin
New Testament’s Command
2Co 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
2Co 6:15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
2Co 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
2Co 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
We are mot to look for a life partner among unbelievers. We are to look for a life partner among God Fearing, Bible Believing, Bible Practicing and Christ Honoring Born Again Christians. If a person is seeking for a life partner among unbelievers, there is no ground to seek for God’s guidance. The person is breaking God’s commandment of separation so he or she cannot ask God to guide him or her in his or her sin of disobedience.
The same goes with seeking God’s guidance in other matters - Do not seek God’s guidance in something that God forbids – just not to do it because it is a sin
To seek for God’s guidance we must start looking for it in the realm of blessings or in the realm of God’s approvals
The Second Step - 2) Believe in God’s Word and God’s Promises – God will guide us. Have Faith and wait upon God to fulfil His promises to us.
The Third Step is the Most Confusing – Pray for God’s Guidance
Everyone has their own way of praying for God’s guidance – Let’s look at some controversial ways:
1) Asking for confirming signs – Gen 24:10-16 - Question to ask ourselves - Is it right and is it necessary?
2) Putting out a Fleece - Gideon – Judges 6:36-40 - Is it right and is it necessary? not seeking God’s will but seeking for God’s assurance of victory see v. 36 – God had already spoken and chosen him – see Judges 6:12-14 In chapter 7 God took away all his soldiers that are essential for victory except 300 men who will go with Gideon to fight the Midianites.
3) Casting of Lots - Acts 1:23-26 – Is it right and is it necessary?
4) Asking for Wisdom – Proverbs 3:5-7; James 1:5-7
Bending circumstances to suit our wish.
Walter Knight told of an old Scottish woman who went from home to home across the countryside selling thread, buttons, and shoestrings. When she came to an unmarked crossroad, she would toss a stick into the air and go in the direction the stick pointed when it landed.
One day, however, she was seen tossing the stick up several times. "Why do you toss the stick more than once?" someone asked. "Because," replied the woman, "it keeps pointing to the left, and I want to take the road on the right." She then dutifully kept throwing the stick into the air until it pointed the way she wanted to go! Today in the Word, May, 1989.
Casting Lots by Henry Morris, Ph.D.
“And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles” (Acts 1:26).
This is the only instance in the New Testament where Christians are said to have “cast lots” in order to make a choice. This particular choice involved a very important question: Which of two apparently equally qualified men should be selected to take Judas’ place among the twelve apostles? It is significant that before the lots were cast, they all prayed and asked the Lord to indicate His choice (Acts 1:24), “and the lot fell upon Matthias” (text).
Casting lots apparently was very common in ancient nations among both Israelites and Gentiles. The practice is mentioned at least 88 times in the Old Testament and eight other times in the New Testament (six of which refer to the casting of lots by the Roman soldiers for Jesus’ vesture as He was being crucified). The first mention of the practice is found in connection with the offering of two goats on the Day of Atonement, the one to be sacrificed; the other to carry away, as it were, the sins of the people into the wilderness (Leviticus 16:8). On the pagan use of the practice, see, for example, Jonah 1:7 and Esther 3:7.
The “lot” could have been any object used to make a choice. In recent centuries in Europe, small balls of different colors began to be used, and this practice came to be known as “casting ballots.” The latter term eventually came to be practically synonymous with voting - whatever method was used to “cast” one’s vote.
In any case, it is important to note that the Bible’s single mention of this practice by Christians indicates that it was preceded by earnest prayer for the Lord to reveal His will, not merely the preference of the one voting. We also always should seek earnestly the Lord’s leading in any choice we are called on to make in any election. HMM
Bob Mumford in Take Another Look at Guidance, compares discovering God’s will with a sea captain’s docking procedure: A certain harbor in Italy can be reached only by sailing up a narrow channel between dangerous rocks and shoals. Over the years, many ships have been wrecked, and navigation is hazardous. To guide the ships safely into port, three lights have been mounted on three huge poles in the harbor. When the three lights are perfectly lined up and seen as one, the ship can safely proceed up the narrow channel. If the pilot sees two or three lights, he knows he’s off course and in danger.
God has also provided three beacons to guide us. The same rules of navigation apply - the three lights must be lined up before it is safe for us to proceed. The three harbor lights of guidance are:
F.B. Meyer once said that three lights must line up before God’s will is clear.
(1) The inward impulse—what we call the subjective leading of the Lord - the voice of the Lord.
(2) The word of God - as revealed in scripture.
(3) The trend of the circumstances.
Once those three elements line up one other thing is required. Move Forward in Faith! “Without faith it is impossible to please God.”
Prayer for Guidance - G. D. Watson says the Holy Ghost never guides us contrary to the Word. The Word never guides us contrary to Providence, and Providence does not guide us contrary to the Word or Spirit. So, these three elements of divine guidance are always harmonious.
Conclusion:
I. God Will Guide His People Who Are Meek – Ps 25:8-9; 32:8-9
II. God Will Guide His People Continually – Isa 58:11
III. God Will Guide His People Till the End of Their Lives – Ps 48:14
Review: Four Steps to Knowing God’s Guidance and God’s Will – Gen 24:1-67
1) Seek God’s guidance in the Realm of God’s Blessings – in His Word, in Right Places, Among the Right People and Among the Right Things to Do – Gen. 24:1-4
2) Believe in God’s Word – His Promises, His Teachings, His Commandments and His Principles – Gen. 24:5-9 – see v. 7
3) Pray for God’s Guidance – Gen 24:10-16
4) Evaluate your options, Consider your circumstances and Action by Faith – Gen 24:17-67 (see v. 26, 27); Prov. 3:5-7; James 1:5-7
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