Pastor Ralph Posted January 24, 2003 Report Share Posted January 24, 2003 Q4. Why do we demand that God's directions make sense to us before we'll follow them? What's the spiritual danger here? We're afraid of being -- or being perceived as -- religious kooks. How can we balance blind obedience with getting confirmation through spiritual people whose discernment we trust? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mario Angel Posted January 25, 2003 Report Share Posted January 25, 2003 I think that we demand that God's directions make sense to us before we'll follow them, due to our narrow view of the big picture, we are beings who cannot see beyond our own scope, we many times want to trust our own instincts without seeing the bic picture, in our conditions many times we can only see a small fragment of the whole scenarium. The spiritual danger here is that we may disobey God by refusing to follow His commands when we can't confirm or see beyond our limited area of view. I don't think that we should be afraid of being -- or being perceived as -- religious kooks, because we all know that the world has rejected our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and any thing that comes from God. I think that we can balance blind obedience with getting confirmation through spiritual people whose discernment we trust by always checking our bibles and asking for guidance through prayer and fasting. The Bible teaches that we should confirm everything with the word of God. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Beckner Posted January 26, 2003 Report Share Posted January 26, 2003 I am sure that Abraham did not understand why God would want him to sacrafice Issiac. Paul said that when he was called to preach the gospel to the gentiles that he confered with no-one. When Peter was sent to Cornelius, he went. These men did not have to understand why....they just had to obey. Guess that's why God chose them. Does my unbelief keep me from God's goal for me in His kingdom? Help my unbelief. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omie Posted January 26, 2003 Report Share Posted January 26, 2003 + We humans don't understand that God's timeline is different from ours and so is his vision of life's circumstances. God sees the whole picture as I creep along on a mission I am not certain of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DEBORAH Posted January 27, 2003 Report Share Posted January 27, 2003 (edited) Q4 OUR NARROW MINDNESS, THAT IS WHY. WERE A CONTROLLING WORLD, AND WE WANT TO BE IN CONTROL. THAT IS NOT OUR JOB. OUR JOB IS TO LISTEN, ASK, AND IN FAITH WE WILL BE GUIDED,ALSO.... I THINK THAT THE LAST SUPPER WAS BUILT ON A FORMAT OF THIS QUESTION. DID NOT THE LORD BASE HIS CHURCH ON PRAYER AND FELLOWSHIP TO ONE ANOTHER? Edited January 31, 2003 by DEBORAH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peggie Posted January 28, 2003 Report Share Posted January 28, 2003 We see things in human terms, so we look for human answers. But God says "My ways are not your ways, and my thoughts are not your thoughts." The spiritual danger here is the lack of showing truth faith, like the faith of Abraham. We often are afraid of being considered religious kooks. That is showing that we still worry about what the "world" thinks instead of having our main focus on obeying God, regardless of what He asks of us. Confirmation regarding what God wills us to do should come from prayer. If we seek, we shall find....that includes finding God's will. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wendy Reid Posted January 28, 2003 Report Share Posted January 28, 2003 We cannot always "hear" that it is God's directions. We need to try and understand things we before we generally do them. Our Spirits will beome deaf to God's voice. By asking people we trust to pray with us about certain matters that we need confirnmation on. To ask God ro reaffirm His will for us as His ways our not our ways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darleen Nelson Posted January 28, 2003 Report Share Posted January 28, 2003 Often we are afraid of what others will say or of what they think. We are strong in believing what God shows or tells us until others question it and then we began to doubt. Asking someone else's opinion may improve your confidence if you have faith in that person and his relationship with God but remember God spoke to you and you must decide to obey Him. It it lines up with Scripture than move out in faith. Gideon didn't have the complete Scriptures we have to use in judging the directions he had been given. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elwood C O'Dell Posted January 29, 2003 Report Share Posted January 29, 2003 I feel it is more than likely that it is my humanity that seeks to have everything make sense before I venture into the unknown. The problem here, at least for me, is that if I insist on this being so, then I will more than likely miss out on some of the greatest spiritual adventures and journeys that God his in store for me. Those times when He says "just trust me, I know what I am doing." As to a balance between blind obedience and having confirmation by spiritual people I would like to know that those who are giving the confirmation have the gifts do do so. Also I feel it would be most advantageous to remember the truth taught in James 1:5-6. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gripofhisgrace Posted January 29, 2003 Report Share Posted January 29, 2003 I think the problem here is that we want to put God to work in our world. We should be looking to be working in His world according to His divine Plan. I think we often forget how big God is and has plans and ideas for us bigger than we could ever dream. The danger is that by doing this we could miss the opportunity to serve God. Could we be perceived as religious kooks ? Of course, but we probably would be anyway. I mean how sane did Noah look building an ark in the middle of the desert. susan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted January 30, 2003 Report Share Posted January 30, 2003 Personally I feel that we are only human and that with our scope of knowledge and wisdom cannot always fully appreciate what God is capable of. I do not feel that there is anything wrong with first trying to understand God's will for us rather than obeying immediately. God knew right from the beginning of time that there would be times that His followers would have times of doubt and I strongly feel that he would prefer us to question him rather than bulldoze ahead in a particular direction not knowing why we are going in that direction. I am sure He doesn't look upon it as a weakness in our part but like Gideon that we are pursuing to strengthen our own understanding and faith in God. In a proportion of our Christian life we may have no doubt whatsoever in knowing what God wants us to do but none of us can be exempt from situations whereby we are unsure and cannot determine in which direction to take. In these situations we must humbly come to God for spiritual guidance and even more importantly than this we must ensure that we are listening 100% for the answer even if it means we have to ask again. If we do not listen 100% to what God has to say to us then we are in danger of not carrying out His will so I do feel that we need that assurance sometimes that we are doing the right thing. Sometimes God may use another person to point us in the right direction when we go through those times when we are unsure of His will. I know in my own life I have times when I am in no doubt atall as to what God wants me to do but there are other times when I have not been so confident and on those occasions He has used fellow Christians to reassure me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nelda huffman Posted January 30, 2003 Report Share Posted January 30, 2003 Pray and Wait for Gods direction always. when you are unsure. Gods ways are not our ways, we are questioning people and we need to be able to be confirmed on what and how God wants us to do, I quess you can say we seem to need a lot of guidance even though we want control over our lives and what we do. We do not pray,wait and listen on the God ,instead of questioning him.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen Spaulding Posted January 30, 2003 Report Share Posted January 30, 2003 I'm afraid we don't trust that what we feel is God's guidance, is truly Him speaking to us, so we waver on our obedience. But, I've found when I follow what I strongly feel is His guidance, it works out to have been. Someone has said that we must keep 3 guidelights in view: First, it must be Biblical--no saying "God told me to kill him!" Second, the way must open up so that we can do what we feel He is calling us to do. And third, if we feel peace in our hearts when we contemplate doing what we feel is His will, then, with these three guidelights lining up, we go ahead to do what He has called us to do. As we are "underway", He can guide us if we veer off the path He wants us on. ( such as His telling Gideon to cut his army down to 300). No one can guide a boat that is moored to the dock! We must pray for His continuing guidance, trust He will reply, and get underway! Then continue to pray! Will others sometimes think we are kooks? Yes, of course. Didn't they even think that Jesus was "crazy"? I like to be in that company! But, which is better--to have the honor of man--or of God? I want to be a "fool for God"! Helen, author of "A Bruised Reed..." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lois Turley Posted January 30, 2003 Report Share Posted January 30, 2003 Getting confirmation through spiritual people is an excellent way to be reassured that what we are following is truly God's leading. But we need to be aware that even spiritual people we trust may not fully be able to see how God is working in our lives. Sometimes we may have that nagging sense that what our Christian advisors are suggesting is not really the direction God is leading us. If we are truly in fellowship with him, reading his Word and in prayer, truly seeking his will, the fact that the pull of God in a direction seems to override the guidance of other Christians can be another type of confirmation. Once we are assured of how God is leading, we can go forward as God leads even when the directions don't make sense. To me, the reason we demand that God's directions make sense before we'll follow them is lack of faith on our part. But once we've followed him in these directions that seemed so wrong, and seen him use our obedience in a way we never imagined, it is easier to have faith next time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vickie Posted January 30, 2003 Report Share Posted January 30, 2003 God gave us the ability to decide, which in turn gives us the ability to question. I don't believe for a moment that He is angered with us when we are seeking His will and need that confirmation. He knows what gifts He gave us, and discernment is not on everyone's list! I have found that it is usually God's will and not mine or the world's when it doesn't make since. His ways are not my ways! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Gilbert Posted January 30, 2003 Report Share Posted January 30, 2003 While I think God will often guide us to do things that don't make sense, I also believe that the more we "walk with him" by scripture study, prayer, faith and working with others the more his instructions do make sense! There should be extreme caution to not run off and do all kinds of things that "God told us to do" if we haven't been praying honestly and asking for discernment. We should get counsel from our spiritual directors and friends. If their counsel seems to contradict what we think God is saying, then back to the Bible and more prayer. If we then remain convinced of God's direction then proceed--but we must not fool ourselves in to following our own wishful thinking or even misguided thoughts. Cults and kooks are certainly around. True disciples and faith leaders are also around. Common sense is not always common sense when it comes to God--but the language of the heart is true. God speaks through His Spirit and that comes to us in the WORD, prayer and through the actions of others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DebChats Posted January 31, 2003 Report Share Posted January 31, 2003 1. Because "faith" is scary. God's directions may appear improbable or even impossible and we are surrounded by logic. However, if all things were logic, then no one would need faith. 2. God's thoughts are not always our thoughts and His ways are not always our ways, so there will be many times God's directions do not make sense to us. Disobedience and it's consequences is the danger here. 3. There are times when we cannot seek confirmation. We need not be afraid of being wrong by following what we think is God's direction when we cannot get confirmation. God can always take what is wrong and make it right. He can do nothing with fear. I would rather be wrong than afraid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen Williams Posted January 31, 2003 Report Share Posted January 31, 2003 We demand that God's directions make sense to us before we'll follow them could be for several reasons. The main one is faith. Things we cannot see or understand cause us to fear. We like to know we are standing on solid ground. God want us to trust Him at His word, yet and still we should be sure the directions are fron God. Not all of God's directions are going to make sense. We can be in spiritual danger of not obeying and miss our spiritual blessings. We do not like being different or being considered a spiritual nut. We all need the spiritual discernment of our spiritual brothers and sisters that we trust. We will encounter situation that are not clear or we do not understand and the spiritual insight of others may shed some light. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Bohlander Posted January 31, 2003 Report Share Posted January 31, 2003 We're human. We have a small faith. We trust ourselves more than God. The spiritual danger here is being disobedient and spiritual death. I have trouble understanding God's will and how to follow God and listen to the confirmation of other Christians. I guess I have never done or have needed to do this. Can someone give me an example of this? I have always just accepted the will of God after it has happened to me. Glenn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linda Stanley Posted January 31, 2003 Report Share Posted January 31, 2003 Q4. Why do we demand that God's directions make sense to us before we'll follow them? What's the spiritual danger here? We're afraid of being -- or being perceived as -- religious kooks. How can we balance blind obedience with getting confirmation through spiritual people whose discernment we trust? In hopes that I never demand from God,but as a human You always want to know the outcome of what you feel God wants you to do.We tend to lay out the fleece just like Gideon.The danger hear is not having enough faith in God or yourself to accomplish what is to be done.You have to trust God also.Just like when Jesus feeds all those people.The disciples thought,"Where is all the food to come from.Jesus showed them it could be done,and Jesus feed the people. Yes we could be called religious kooks,like we dont know what we are talking about.like"God wants someone to build a church,or add on to the church or maybe start a Food Pantry.You ask youself"How can I do that!!?? Where do i get the funds from? When John the Baptist preached,look what the people thought of him.How strange he was. There are christian friends and Pastors,teachers who has more spiritual guidiance,and I feel we can turn to them for help at times as maybe they have gone through something similar, in what we feel we are to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Huang Posted January 31, 2003 Report Share Posted January 31, 2003 we have been created as human beings with independent minds so we naturally tend to question God when he wants us to do certain things. whatever God wants us to do must make sense to us. The danger is that if we see things only from our own perspective we may miss understanding God's mind and end up disobeying for lack of insight and faith.To the world we may appear to be religious kooks but so be it for we owe the world nothing but owe God everything.We can balance blind obedience with skepticism by not only seeking the advice of those whom we consider to be spiritually advanced but by reading the Bible and seeking God's directions from it. For when in doubt God's word will speak to us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fina Posted January 31, 2003 Report Share Posted January 31, 2003 Because of LACK OF FAITH.. Spiritual danger is our TENDENCY TO DISOBEY GOD.( I agree with Mario) If knowing the will of God and obeying him will give us joy, peace, love and contentment, we should ignore and not be afraid of being...or being perceived as religious kooks . If we think we could not rely upon our own discernment, we should seek the help of spiritual people so that we may not fall into trap of Satan. We should not forget that it is also wise to depend on the Bible and ask God's Holy Spirit to lead us to what is wrong and right so that we may obey Him with all our heart. Pray for our weaknesses that He may forgive us. After all, "God delights to work through those too weak to act on their own." (taken from Pastor Ralph's Lesson from Disciples) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
photobug Posted January 31, 2003 Report Share Posted January 31, 2003 We are human so we look for human things we see narrow note wide we serve a big god his ways are not our ways that is when faith comes into play . Trusting in Gods way and his leading. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barbara Momphard Posted February 1, 2003 Report Share Posted February 1, 2003 Why do we demand that God's directions make sense to us before we'll follow them? Lack of complete faith and trust. Human nature not wanting to make a mistake. What's the spiritual danger here? Maybe miss doing great things for God. How can we balance blind obedience with getting confirmation through spiritual people whose discernment we trust? Have spiritual friends pray for God's leading . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marjorie Knight Posted February 1, 2003 Report Share Posted February 1, 2003 We do not see the big picture of God's will in our lives. We have a limited concept of what God can do in our lives. We can ask other praying Christains that we trust, to pray with us in certain situations< and ask God to reaffirm His directions in our lives. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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