| | | Ichthus Bible School Faith Forster Notes
How Does God Guide Us?
Introduction
Romans 8v14 tells us that being led by the Spirit in our lives is evidence that we are
Sons (heirs) of God. Walking in the Spirit should be a daily activity, but often we
don’t submit our decisions and choices to God, and when we do, we find it difficult
to discern His mind and will. Obeying His direction is often another hurdle, as the
flesh, the world and the devil do their utmost to knock us off-track.
As we look into the Word, we find a number of routes by which God makes His will
and purpose known to us, if we will receive it.
...The Example of Paul
Acts 15:36-41; 16:1-10
Here we can see decisions being made by Paul in connection with his second
missionary journey — he has to make decisions about destination, team and
direction, so he is dependant on the Holy Spirit’s presence to guide him in the will of
God. There are three levels on which God communicates with those who will listen
— the human, the spiritual and the confirmatory, through other people.
...Ways God guides us
A. The Human Level
i. Duty (What would Jesus do?’) Acts 15:36
ii. Reason (your own judgement) Acts 15.38
c.f. (1.Cor.7:6,1O,25,40)
iii. Circumstances Acts 16:7,8
iv. ‘Hunches’
v.
B. The Spiritual Level
i. The Word of God
c.f. Psalm 119:142
ii. The Indwelling Holy Spirit Acts 16:6
c.f. Isaiah 30:21; John 16:13
iii. Spiritual Intuition — the ‘inner witness’
c.f. John 2:24
C. The Confirmatory Level
i. Through Church Leaders Acts 15:40
ii. Through praying friends/intercessors/colleagues Acts 16:10
iii. Through dreams and visions Acts 16:9
iv. Through supernatural signs and events
v. Through prophetic words
D. Understanding dreams & evaluating prophecy
Listen to the spirit:
• Is it human?
• Divine?
• Demonic?
Does your spirit react with
Heaviness? • Humility?
Pride? or • Submission?
Vanity? • Sobriety?
iii. Does the dream/prophecy bring in something completely new?
If so, check it out with a discerning person
iv. Submit it to God and pray for the confirmation of the Holy Spirit.
E. What Next?
i. Ask in faith for guidance — God wants you to do His will more than
you want to do it, so believe He will make His will known.
ii. Be willing to do His will — He wants to work with you, not give you a
blueprint that you could reject!
iii. Be aware He often only moves you one step at a time.
iv. Start to move in a small way — you can’t steer a stationary car.
v. Be ready to gently push doors that represent possible ways forward,
and see if one opens.
vi. Expect God to open or close it fully according to His mind.
vii. Expect confirmation of your decision, both inwardly (Rom.8:6) and
outwardly, through people and circumstances.
F. Check the Flags
Human
Duty Reason Circumstances Hunches
Spiritual
Word of God Holy Spirit Spiritual Intuition
Confirmatory
Church Praying Dreams & Supernatural Prophetic
Leaders Friends Visions Signs Words
copyright Faith Forster
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