Guidance
"Dwell in the life and love and power and wisdom of God, in unity one with another and with God; and the peace and wisdom of God fill your hearts, that nothing may rule in you but the life, which stands in the Lord God."--George Fox
Memory Verse: Ephesians 4:3-6.
Introduction: Today, guidance is seen as more of a novelty
than it is a necessity. Asking for counsel or advice is considered to be
a toss up between personal weakness and true humility. Yet, when we look
into scripture, guidance was the way of life. King David had his counselors,
Moses had his father-in-law, and the rich, young ruler came to Jesus. On
the corporate level, guidance, was also a reality. God led the children
of Israel out of Egypt together, He led them through the wilderness
40 years together, they went into the promised land together,
Ezra and Nehemiah led the Israelites to rebuild the wall together,
and the council in Jerusalem (Acts 15) made the decision of circumcision
together.
God's guidance is not only intended to lead individuals,
but the Body, too. We need to know how God is working in our personal lives
and our corporate lives (Corporate guidance is not referred to in an organizational
sense, but an organic--not a council or denominational creed, but God showing
individuals the vision and direction for the collective body).
Both personally and collectively, guidance is not something
we stumble across. We must prepare and expect guidance from God. The great
men and women of the Bible were great because they concerned themselves
with the personal and corporate guidance of God. Abraham was great because
he went into a land he didn't know, Moses was great because he led a people
out of bondage he didn't know, and Joshua was great because he conquered
a land he didn't know. The one element they had in common was guidance
from God.
True, spiritual guidance is a product, not of control and
assertion, but of surrender and release. Those seeking guidance discover
it only by humble prayer, fasting, and an honest examination of the Word.
God is seeking to guide us into spiritual Canaan, to take us from the wilderness
of our self-reliance and pride to the land of milk and honey found in surrender,
release, and humility.
Lesson Questions:
1. What pitfalls can a Christian experience relying only on his personal discernment and not the discernment of mature Christians? Proverbs 11:14; 20:18; 1 Samuel 3:1-9; Exodus 18:13-27.
2. What can we learn of corporate guidance and true fellowship from
the following scripture passages? Acts 4:32-37; 15:6-21; 13:1-3; 6:1-7;
Esther 4:15,16.
Note: We can see from these examples, as well as others,
that fasting and prayer are the foundation of discerning the will of God.
Nothing else will work! If we don't fast and pray, we shouldn't expect
the guidance of God.
3. How does corporate guidance establish interdependence in the body of Christ? 1 Corinthians 12:29-31; Ephesians 4:16; Romans 12:3-8.
4. Who is the decision-maker in the body of Christ? Acts 1:24; 1 Samuel 16:7; Acts 13:2.
5. How do we forsake the guidance of God through man's forms of organization, government, and decision-making? Isaiah 55:8,9; 2 Corinthians 3:5,6; 1 Corinthians 3:18-23; Colossians 2:8.
6. What attitude should believers possess toward one another when seeking corporate guidance? Romans 12:10,16; Philippians 2:3-5; Ephesians 4:1-7.
7. What role does the spiritual leadership (elders) play in both the spiritual and natural aspects of guidance and decision-making? Acts 20:28; 6:1-7; Galatians 2:11-15; 1 Timothy 4:6,16.
