Guidance - Pt.4

As we continue with this little series on the important subject of guidance in our individual lives, I wish to share with you three means of guidance that are, effectively, available only to the true disciple of Jesus. I say "effectively" because, of course, some of them are used by even previously-proclaimed "atheists" and agnostics - but, in their cases, they are not of any real effect!

The first of these additional means of guidance is, not surprisingly, prayer. Some may remember the words from the old hymn: "What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer." Now that word "everything" includes matters on which we require guidance. So, when I have an important decision to make, I take it to the Lord in prayer. "Am I to go to Bible College, Lord?" "Is this girl the one whom you have chosen to be my wife?" "Do you really want us to move to France, and live there?" And He guides - sometimes giving me the answer even as I pray; more usually, making use of one, or more, of the other methods we are considering.

Another means of guidance is, of course, the Bible - God's written Word to humanity. It is through it that He speaks to us all concerning our sinful state, and His great plan of salvation in Jesus. But He only speaks to us through it as we become familiar with it! There is little point in asking the Father for guidance on a particular matter by lifting a dusty copy of the Bible from a shelf; closing your eyes; opening it at random; and stabbing your finger down on the page! The story is told of one man who did just that and, when he opened his eyes, found that his finger was right on top of Matt.27:5 where are recorded the words concerning Judas Iscariot: "he went out and hanged himself." This, quite obviously, was not good guidance; God wasn't "on form" today! So he tried again - only to find that, this time, his finger rested on Luke 10:37 where we read  Jesus' words to a certain lawyer: "Go, and do likewise"!

But often, when we are sincere in our reading, and study, of God's Word, He speaks clearly to us through it. "Nobody", it has been said, "can read the Bible devoutly, and not learn much about God, about himself, and about his fellows. Nobody who seriously seeks divine guidance, can neglect this most rich and sure way to it."

The third means of guidance which is especially for the disciple of Jesus - while not denied to the unbeliever - is the Christian Fellowship. I may have a particular fault of which I am, genuinely, unaware. But if I am part of a vital Christian fellowship, then there will be those who, in love - and that is extremely important! - will gently point out that fault to me.

Or it may be a call to a particular area of service that comes through the need of the fellowship, and to which I am introduced more easily because of the support of the fellowship. Or, again, it may be confirmation, or otherwise, of guidance that I bellieve I have received by another means. In the "Book of Discipline" of the Society of Friends (better known to some as the Quakers) are these wise words:

"Inward guidance does not mean unchecked individualism, for the follower of the light will be continually correcting his first perception of it by a fuller experience, and by that of others who have followed it more faithfully." Often it is the fellowship that is able to help me to distinguish the true voice of God from the murmurs of vanity and self-will!

Sometimes, it is just one person who brings a word from the Lord. I have certainly experienced that! It was in 1982. Friends of long standing were coming to visit my wife and me. The husband, I knew, had a strong prophetic ministry (remember that prophecy is, more often, forthtelling than foretelling!) and, during the day, I had a very real sense that he was going to bring a word from the Lord for me. As soon as he and his wife arrived, I asked him if he did, indeed, have a word for me. I confess to having been very disappointed when he answered in the negative.

After our meal, the four of us were sitting chatting, as friends do. Suddenly, Ray said, "Brian, you asked me if I had a word from the Lord for you. My answer was true - but it wasn't the whole truth. What He had said was that He would, in the course of the evening, give me a word for you. I believe that I now have it." "Okay," I responded, "so let me have it!" "It is," said Ray, "a bit of a hand-grenade!" "That's okay", I replied, "I can handle it." I had no idea as to what was coming. I should also explain that, although I was no longer in a full-time pastoral ministry, I was preaching regularly for a number of local fellowships - and greatly enjoying doing so. Ray looked at me, and said, "The Lord says that you have to give up your preaching ministry."

This was, some will recall, the year of the Falklands Conflict. I looked at Ray. "That," I said, "is no hand-grenade. That is an Exocet missile!" 

However, suddenly, preaching invitations dried up. I was struggling with this whole idea. I knew (and know!) that I was no Wesley, or Spurgeon; no Peter, or Paul. But I also knew that my messages were always grounded firmly on the Word of God, and that my ministry was usually acceptable. What could I do? 

One night as I was preparing to go to bed, my wife suddenly asked me what I was doing about Ray's word. I told her that I was struggling , "But," I said, "that verse from the hymn keeps going through my head « But we never shall know the delights of His love, until all on the altar we lay. For the favour He shows, and the joy He bestows, are for those who will trust and obey. ». And," I continued, "that word « all » is in giant fiery letters!" I think that it was that night that I did finally surrender my preaching ministry. I simply said that I didn't honestly know if I was saying the words with my heart, or only with my mind, but that if that was what He wanted, I would never preach again.

That was forty years ago - but within a week, the 'phone started ringing again with preaching invitations. I have been preaching fairly regularly ever since - mostly, at this time, in French! I often think of that particular episode in my life as my "Abraham, Mt Moriah, experience" (read Gen.22:1-13).

Guidance - available in so many different ways. Are you seeking that guidance today?

Next week, DV, we will look at how we may test the guidance that we believe we have received! 

One doesn't require formal qualifications!

It is not a boast, but a verifiable fact, that I am fairly well educated. I have also a fair bit of experience of both teaching, and preaching, the Word of God. However, having shared, this morning, on the relevance of the 1st ('Old') Testament to disciples of Jesus, with a group of anglophones, one of the gentlemen spoke with me afterwards.

He reminded me of the record in Mark 4-5 where the Lord Jesus had been teaching a large crowd but, "... when evening had come, He said to [His disciples], "Let us go across to the other side." And leaving the crowd, they took Him with them in the boat, just as He was. And other boats were with Him.  And a great storm of wind arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already filling.  But He was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do you not care if we perish?" And He awoke and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, "Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?" And they were filled with awe, and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even wind and sea obey Him?" (Mark 4:35-41) 

The record continues: "They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Ger'asenes.  And when He had come out of the boat, there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who lived among the tombs; and no one could bind him any more, even with a chain; for he had often been bound with fetters and chains, but the chains he wrenched apart, and the fetters he broke in pieces; and no one had the strength to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out, and bruising himself with stones. And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him; and crying out with a loud voice, he said, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure You by God, do not torment me." For He had said to him, "Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!" And Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" He replied, "My name is Legion; for we are many." And he begged Him eagerly not to send them out of the country." (5:1-10).

Many will be familiar with the Lord's agreement to send those demons into a herd of swine, that rushed, headlong, into the sea - much to the chagrin of the herdsmen! I am skipping over a section but pick up the story at v.21, as Mark has recorded it: "And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about Him; and He was beside the sea."

"What," asked my friend," do you take from that?" I looked at him! "I'd want to think about it. What did you take out of it?" "Well," he responded, "I thought of the ninety and nine (Matt.18:12), and that Jesus had crossed the Sea of Galilee for that one lost sheep - the demoniac."

Now this is a man whom I have known for a number of years. He has no formal theological education or training. Indeed, it is my understanding that he is still very "young in the faith"! However, what I was reminded was that God is no respecter of persons. God the holy Spirit had given this dear brother an insight that had not been given to this ordained, University and Bible College graduate, with more academic qualifications than he has hot breakfasts in a week (and I always have my bowl of porridge!), who has been preaching the Word for more than fifty years. 

It is good to be reminded of this. I am grateful for the education that I have been privileged to receive; for the godly men under whose teaching I sat; and for the opportunities, over the years, to serve in different capacities. But all of that is of neither importance nor help if I am not as open to the prompting of the Spirit as was my brother in the Lord when he was reading that passage.

You, too, may not have a degree in theology, or in anything else! However, if you are a disciple of Jesus, born again of the Spirit, then you have that same Spirit indwelling you - and He will speak to you if you listen to Him.

May that be your experience - for your own good, and that You may be used to bring glory to our Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.