Guidance – How Do You Make Decisions? (part 1)

9.1.2024

 

Intro

It is more important than ever today to know the voice of God.

There are challenges now and in our future that we have never navigated in this way. The world is changing.

Romans 8:14-16 (NKJV)

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God

Proverbs 20:27 (NKJV)

The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all the inner depths of his heart.

Proverbs 20:27 (TPT)

The spirit God breathed into man is like a living lamp, a shining light searching into the innermost chamber of our being.,

When I was a young believer, I heard people say that God spoke to them.

What did He sound like?

How can I know I am hearing from God?

If I could hear God speak and listen to what He was saying, I could be successful in life.

I wondered how to tell the difference between my thoughts, thoughts that came from God, and thoughts that came from outside of me.

I wanted to know how to hear the voice of God in the details of life.

Once I learned, my life was transformed.

How do we know which way to go?

How do we know how to respond?

How do we know what God is saying to us right now?

Thank God, we are not alone! We have the Holy Spirit to aid us!

How Do You Make Decisions?

How do you find the will of God in a matter?

How do you know the voice of God?

Do you know the difference between the voice of the Holy Spirit, the voice of conscience, or the voice of your own reasoning?

Do you look for an open door?

Do you look to others for direction?

Or do you do what Gideon did in Judges to make decisions about God’s will?

Years ago, people would call it “putting out a fleece.” That is, ask God to do something you can see to know what He wants you to do.

Judges 6:36-40 (NLT)

Then Gideon said to God, “If you are truly going to use me to rescue Israel as you promised, 37 prove it to me in this way. I will put a wool fleece on the threshing floor tonight. If the fleece is wet with dew in the morning but the ground is dry, then I will know that you are going to help me rescue Israel as you promised.” 38 And that is just what happened. When Gideon got up early the next morning, he squeezed the fleece and wrung out a whole bowlful of water. 39 Then Gideon said to God, “Please don’t be angry with me, but let me make one more request. Let me use the fleece for one more test. This time let the fleece remain dry while the ground around it is wet with dew.” 40 So that night God did as Gideon asked. The fleece was dry in the morning, but the ground was covered with dew.

I missed God by doing something just like this after Susan and I graduated from our 2^nd Bible school. I basically said, “Lord, if you want me to do this, then make that happen.” That was acting just like Gideon laying the fleece on the ground looking for an outward sign to hear from God!

People try to receive guidance in many different ways:

 

Parents

… my mother.

Superstitions

Outward circumstances

Logic and reasoning alone…

…Sometimes God will ask you to do something that seems illogical.

Acts 9. ‘Go into the city, and you will be told what to do…’

Buy a house 32 miles away.

Counsel from others.

Horoscopes.

Occult (fortune-telling, palm reading, etc.)

Deuteronomy 18:9-14 (NLT)

When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, be very careful not to imitate the detestable customs of the nations living there. 10 For example, never sacrifice your son or daughter as a burnt offering. And do not let your people practice fortune-telling, or use sorcery, or interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft, 11 or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead. 12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord. It is because the other nations have done these detestable things that the Lord your God will drive them out ahead of you. 13 But you must be blameless before the Lord your God. 14 The nations you are about to displace consult sorcerers and fortune-tellers, but the Lord your God forbids you to do such things.

Notice the scriptures about guidance:

Jeremiah 10:23 (NKJV)

O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.

 

Proverbs 20:24 (NKJV)

A man’s steps are of the Lord; How then can a man understand his own way.

 

Psalm 37:23 (NKJV)

The steps of a good man are ordered of the Lord, and He delights in his way.

 

Psalm 32:8-9 (NKJV)

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with my eye. 9 Do not be like the horse or mule, which have no understanding, which must be

harnessed with bit and bridle, else they will not come near you.

Proverbs 16:3 (AMPC)

Roll your works upon the Lord – commit and trust them wholly to Him – He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and so shall your plans be established and succeed.

Proverbs 16:9 (NKJV)

A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.

Proverbs 16:9 (AMPC)

A man’s mind plans his road, but the Lord directs his steps.

 

Psalm 18:28 (NKJV)

For You will light my lamp; The Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.

There are two kinds of guidance that God gives:

General guidance

Specific guidance

 

General guidance is the guidance of the Word of God in our daily lives.

 

General guidance is obeying the general Word of God every day.

General guidance is walking in love towards others, walking in forgiveness.

Specific guidance is when the Holy Spirit quickens a thought to your spirit, and God gives you specific direction.

Example : When I was 21, married 6 months – go to Rhema…

Associate pastor of the church I attended said I should stay there and be trained.

Colossians 3:16-17 (NKJV)

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

James 1:22-25 (NLT)

But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

John 16:13-15 (NKJV)

However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.

John 14:26 (NKJV)

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

If you’re not walking in the general guidance of the Word, in the areas that you KNOW about, then you’ll not be in position to receive more specific guidance from the Lord.

Proverbs 4:20-22 (NLT)

My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. 21 Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, 22 for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body. 23 Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

Putting God’s Word first daily is allowing Jesus to rule your life, and it is the first step in hearing the voice of God.

You cannot neglect the Word of God and hear the voice of God!

E.W. Kenyon:

Our attitude towards the Word determines the place that God holds in our daily life!

Action Points:

1. Can you tell the difference between God’s voice, your mind, and information that you receive from a source outside of you?
2. Do you look for circumstances to guide you the way Gideon did?
3. Do you practice obeying God’s Word throughout your day?