MEMORY VERSE: “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” – Psalm 32:8 (KJV)
BIBLE PASSAGE: Psalm 37:3-7
LESSON INTRODUCTION: Divine leading is about being directed by God. Being led or guided by God is a necessary key for Christians. It is the only way to fulfill God’s will and every of our decision-making processes (2Kings 3:11). Therefore, we need to learn the avenues through which God leads and guides His people. Moreover, in this dispensation, the leading and guidance of the holy spirit are both inevitable and indispensable.
LESSON OUTLINES
- HOW GOD MIGHT GUIDE YOU
- RECOGNISING DIVINE GUIDANCE
- HOW GOD MIGHT GUIDE YOU
It is important to note that God, in his sovereignty, can adopt any or several means to lead and guide those who put their trust in him. Here are some of them:
- Through the word of God (1Samuel 3:21; Hebrews 1:1-2).
- Through a witness of the spirit (Romans 8:14; 16). The witness of the spirits can also come in form of god’s peace the passes all understanding (Philippians 4:6-7).
- Through the voice of the spirit. This is beyond just a witness; it is hearing. This hearing can be inward (which means no one else, around you, hear it). The Bible calls it is ‘still small voice’- like the sound of a gentle whisper (1Kings 19:12). Sometimes the voice comes in the midst of a godly thought (Acts 10:19) the voice of the spirit can also be outward, in which case you will look around as if you heard or somebody else heard what you are hearing (1Sam. 3:3-5; Acts 9:3-5)
- Though revelations – dreams, visions, trance (Joel 2:28). Dreams can come from your thoughts (Eccl. 5:3) or the devil – scary and tormenting (nightmares) or from God – insightful, instructional, or revelational (Job 33:14; 17). Dreams happen when you are fully asleep (day or night). Vision can come when you are awake and see something like a still or motion picture (day or night) – Daniel 2:19. Trance is like the average between a dream and a vision (you are half awake, half asleep) when the physical senses seem to be suspended (Acts 10:10-11).
- Through ordain situation or circumstances (Proverbs 24:30-34; Jeremiah 18:1-6). God can take you by all through a happening to give you a clear direction for Life.
- Through prophetic utterances and confirmations (Hosea 12:10). However, believers are cautioned against living at the mercy of prophecy (1 John 4:1)
- Through diverse means as deemed fit by God (Hosea 12:10)
- RECOGNISING DIVINE GUIDANCE
The Holy Spirit takes on the role of a guide and counselor, leading us in the way we should go and revealing God’s truths (Luke 12:12). One of the most important ways to recognize the Holy Spirit guidance is to be familiar with God’s word. The Bible is the ultimate source of wisdom about how we should live (2Timothy 3:16), and believers are to search the scriptures (John 5:39), meditate on them, and commit them to memory (Psalm 1:2). The word is the “sword of the spirit” (Ephesians 6:17), and the spirit will use it to speak to us (John 16:12-14) to review God’s will for our lives. He will also bring specific scriptures to mind at times when we need them the most (John 14:26).
Therefore, we must always test our inclinations against the scriptures. This is because the Holy Spirit will never push us to do anything contrary to God’s word (1Corinthians 14:33). If it is conflicts with the Bible then it is not from the Holy Spirit and should be ignored. It is also necessary for us to be in continual prayer with the father (1Thessalonians 5:17) not only does this keep our hearts and minds open to the Holy Spirit’s leading but it’s also allows the spirit to speak on our behalf (Romans 8:26-27).
CONCLUSION
If you are not lead and guided by God, you will wonder and get lost in the wilderness of life. Let God lead you.