When our family returned from Kenya where we’d been missionaries, I sensed the Lord leading us into pastoral work after 11 years of missions. One day, I received phone calls from two churches, each inviting me to pastor their congregations. The two situations were quite different and I was confused as to what I should do. Both were good opportunities and in the natural, it was hard to decide.
I prayed and talked about it with some trusted advisors and with my parents. My mother said, “Cal, I don’t know what you’ll decide, but I know you’ll make the right choice.” I said, “Thanks mom. Only a mother would say that.” But she said, “No, you don’t understand. I know your motives are right. I know you’re willing to do God’s will. God won’t let you make a mistake.”
That’s what happened. God didn’t let me make a mistake. At first I felt I should go to one of the churches. Then I felt a check in my spirit and I said “No” to that church and I chose to go to the other one. Looking back, I know I made the right choice. I was led by the Spirit to make the correct decision.
God gives guidance to his children. He doesn’t leave us on our own to figure out what we should do. He has a plan for our lives and in a variety of ways, God reveals that plan to his children. He gives us direction.
Philip
Philip, the deacon, emerged during a time of crisis. Philip’s willingness to serve enabled the church to grow. He helped serve tables so the pastors could spend time in prayer and the ministry of the word. As a result, the number of disciples increased dramatically. Philip constantly received divine guidance. God had a plan and that plan was for Philip to serve him.
God has a plan for each of our lives and wants us to know that plan. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. (Psalm 25:9).
God’s plan for our lives is the best possible plan. It’s a life of blessing and service. God wants us to know that plan. God’s not stingy with his information. He doesn’t withhold information. The Bible repeatedly promises guidance.
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. (Psalm 32:8).
For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end. (Psalm 48:14).
We have to learn to recognize God’s voice. How do we distinguish his voice from other voices? How do we know it is God speaking to us and not just our own wishful thinking?
The question most of us ask is this: how does God give us direction? Obviously not all voices shouting at us are from God. Sometimes well-meaning friends are misguided in the advice they give us. At times we have impressions, but we’re not sure if those impressions are from God or if they’re just something we’ve imagined. It’s important to recognize how God speaks to us and directs our lives.
Then we have to be willing to obey what he tells us to do. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. (John 10:4). God gives guidance to people who are willing to follow him.
I see four distinct ways Philip received guidance. These are four ways God guides us.
1. BE ALERT TO WHAT PEOPLE TELL YOU
Philip was chosen to be a deacon by the church. People recognized him as a good man and could see the wisdom of choosing a man like him. Philip first discovered God’s will through the choice of the people.
They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip… They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. (Acts 6:5-6).
Often, this is one of the first ways we receive divine guidance; God uses other people to direct our lives. Perhaps we’re hesitant to get involved in ministry. Perhaps we’re inexperienced or afraid to volunteer, so God uses someone else to get us started in Christian service. Sometimes others can see qualities in us that we can’t see in ourselves and God uses them to show us God’s will. The prophet Elisha got started when God used Elijah to call him.
This is how Ruth and I first got involved in missions. I never applied for missionary appointment. When I was in university, I got a letter from the missions department asking me if I’d consider going overseas. It indicated that if we were willing, missionary appointment was available. That’s how we got to Hong Kong. Someone helped us discover God’s will.
This is how many people surface in ministry. Perhaps you didn’t volunteer for a position but a leader approached you about serving. He saw how God was using you and challenged you to get involved.
Philip was led through the choice of the people, but this isn’t an absolute way to know God’s will. The invitations of others need to be confirmed by personal prayer. Twice I’ve been nominated to be an officer in our national denominational office. Both times, I received the highest number of votes on the nominating ballot, but both times I withdrew my name because, after prayer, I knew it wasn’t God’s will for me to leave pastoring.
Philip discovered God’s will through the choice of the people. God often uses people to help us know God’s will and give us direction. People may help you discover God’s will, but it has to be confirmed by personal prayer.
2. BE ATTENTIVE TO YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES
Philip emerged in the church through the choice of the people. How did he get to Samaria? Philip went to Samaria because of the circumstances in Jerusalem. The church in Jerusalem faced intense persecution. Stephen was stoned to death. Saul dragged men and women off to prison.
On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. (Acts 8:1).
The Christians fled when they saw what was happening. All believers, except the apostles, left Jerusalem. Philip fled with them. We know from Scripture that God was behind all this. Jesus had said they were to be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth and God used these circumstances to get his people out of Jerusalem and on with the task of evangelizing the world. God used circumstances to get his people doing his will.
God often uses circumstances to guide us. Most of what God wants us to do is obvious through the events in our lives. God is more involved in the details of our lives than we realize. Too often we try to complicate discovering God’s will. Often, God’s will is staring us in the face.
God’s will is usually easy to discern; it’s not clouded in mystery. It’s a case of knowing the general purposes of God and then doing what we can, where we are. Philip knew it was God’s will for him to share his faith in Jerusalem and if his circumstances changed and he was in Samaria, it was still God’s will.
The next job God has for you is probably staring you in the face. No special guidance is needed. The circumstances of life have placed you where you are. You just need to follow the general principles of Scripture right where you are. It’s a case of, Whatever your hand finds to do, doing it with all your might. ( ). This means we do what we can for God where we are, until God reveals something special for us to do.
God’s will is usually obvious. Paul and Silas made a missionary journey and planted several churches. While back in Antioch, Paul thought about the converts they’d left behind. It was obvious they needed encouragement and teaching. The circumstances were staring Paul straight in the face. Paul didn’t need special guidance.
3. BE AWARE OF SPECIFIC DIVINE INTERVENTION
Now the angel of the Lord said to Philip, Go south to the road – the desert road – that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. (Acts 8:26).
Philip had a divine visitor, an angel of the Lord. We don’t know how this happened, what the angel looked like or where it took place. Philip didn’t write a book about his angelic experiences; we just know an angel spoke to Philip.
Several times in Scripture we read of divine direction. God came to Abraham in human form. God appeared to Moses through the burning bush and to Joshua as a soldier. God spoke to Samuel with an audible voice. Elizabeth and Zachariah, as well as Mary and Joseph all received direction through angelic visitors. Peter had a dramatic vision telling him to go to the house of Cornelius.
This sort of thing happened in Bible days and at times, may happen today. It doesn’t happen frequently and certainly doesn’t happen to everyone. If it does, it’s not a mark of spirituality. I’ve talked with people who have had such experiences and I don’t doubt the reality of it. God can give guidance in this way and if God can’t get our attention in any other way, he may resort to sending you a divine visitor.
This is one form of guidance we don’t need to worry about. We don’t determine if and when an angel will come to us but if it does happen, we won’t misunderstand it. The Angel of the Lord’s instructions will be clear.
4. BE SENSITIVE TO THE SPIRIT’S PROMPTINGS
The Spirit told Philip, Go to that chariot and stay near it. (Acts 8:29). The Spirit spoke to Philip, not through an audible voice but through an inner impression in his own spirit. He had an inner conviction of what he should do. The Bible talks about being led by the Spirit. Luke 4:1 says, Jesus was led by the Spirit. Paul said, Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. (Romans 8:14).
Being led by the Spirit is one of the most difficult experiences to explain. It’s a biblical concept but it’s also very subjective. It’s also open to considerable misunderstanding. The Spirit leads us through an inner, impelling force that affects our minds and our spirits. There’s a divine urging to do something and our consciences become alive to the Spirit.
Sometimes the Spirit prompts us not to do something. The Spirit prompted Paul not to go to Asia or Bithynia. (Acts 16:6-7).
At the start of our walk with God, it’s good to seek counsel or confirmation about what you think the Spirit is saying to you. Don’t be afraid to test what you think the Spirit is telling you to do. Throughout my life, I’ve always checked what I feel the Spirit is telling me to do. I ask others to pray with me about important decisions. I never make a major decision on what I feel the Spirit is telling me without seeking confirmation from a mature, spiritual advisor.
And we must always check what we think we should do with the Scripture. The Spirit’s guidance is always in harmony with the Bible.
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