TIME TO DECIDE: The Will of God in Our Lives - Tools of the Trade 3-22-26

TIME TO DECIDE: The Will of God in Our Lives - Tools of the Trade 3-22-26

 

INTRODUCTION

 

Conventional approach - corn maze, target, Magic 8-ball

 

Ordinary guidance and supernatural surprises

 

I. OPEN DOORS

 

            Poptheology - a popular notion that does not come from Biblical theology

 

            A. "Open door" theology

 

Often the ease of a situation is what determines if it is an "open" or "closed" door

                        Convenience

                       

Jonah's ship sailing for Tarshish was not an open door.  It wasn't God's providential hand.  It was convenient.

 

            B. Many times the difficulty of a situation points us to the right action.

                        Difficult discussions, confessing sin, confronting sin, repentance

                        Asking Paula to marry me.  

We fought every inconvenience - kidnapping, her dad, distance, my fear

 

II. FLEE THE FLEECE

 

Judges 6:36-40 NIV

 

“Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised— look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said.” And that is what happened. Gideon rose early the next day; he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew—a bowlful of water. Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece, but this time make the fleece dry and let the ground be covered with dew.” That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with dew.”

            Judges 6:36-40 NIV

 

            A. Seems a Biblical approach but asks for supernatural response to a normal situation

                        God is not a Magic 8-ball.

The whole approach sounds dangerously close to Jesus words   in Matthew 4:7 NIV.

 

Matthew 4:7 NIV

 

“Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’””

            Matthew 4:7 NIV

 

            B. We are not encouraged to do what Gideon did.  

 

Another point of Poptheology is that if you see it in the Bible you can do the same thing and expect the same result.  If the passage does not also teach us to do the same thing, then perhaps we should not expect the same result.

 

                        By the way, the book of Judges is summed up in the passage,

 

Judges 21:25b NIV

 

"everyone did as they saw fit." 

            Judges 21:25b NIV

 

III. RANDOM IS AS RANDOM DOES

 

            A. Random is random

 

Guy dating Becky on January 24 was reading his Bible reading plan which had him reading Genesis 24.  He gets to the end of the chapter and reads "and he married Rebekah.  So she became his wife, and he loved her."

 

            The person who reads 

 

2 Samuel 7:3 NIV

 

“Nathan replied to the king, “Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it, for the Lord is with you.””

            2 Samuel 7:3 NIV

 

            B. Is that a word from the Lord, or words from the Word of God?

 

            Random Reading – Be careful looking for guidance

           

“Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” Joshua 1:8 NIV

            “Then he (Judas) went away and hanged himself." Matthew 27:5b NIV

            “Go and do likewise.”” Luke 10:37b NIV

            “So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” John 13:27b NIV

 

The great hymn writer and pastor John Newton (1725-1807) knew this truth.  Once he was considering a call to a church in Warwick, England.  At first, Newton thought God was promising him great success if he took the call.  "I remember, in going to undertake the care of a congregation, I was reading, as I walked in the green lane, 'Fear not, Paul, I have much people in this city.'  But I soon afterward was disappointed to find that Paul was not John and that Corinth was not Warwick."  Newton realized that while the Bible may promise many things, it did I not promise him great success in Warwick.  He was wise enough to see the folly in seeking guidance through random Bible verses.

 

"Others, when in doubt, have opened the Bible at a venture," Newton wrote elsewhere, "and expected to find something to direct them in the first verse they should cast their eyes upon.  It is no small discredit to this practice that the heathens, who knew not the Bible, used some their favorite books in the same way . . . For if people will be governed by the occurrence of a single text of Scripture, without regarding the context, or duly comparing it with the general tenor of the Word of God, and with their own circumstances, they may commit the greatest extravagances, expect the greatest impossibilities, and contradict the plainest dictates of common sense, while they think they have the word of God on their side."

 

IV. IMPRESSIONS AS IMPRESSION

 

            A. Impressionist art

 

Have you ever misjudged someone based on feeling, intuition, hunch?

                        God can speak through intuition, hunch, gut feelings

           

            B. Subjective interpretation

 

                        Even following earnest prayer, we are still fallible.  

On issues not clearly laid out in Scripture, we should not claim more authority for our plans than the nature of impressions allows.

 

DON'T MANIPULATE OR ABUSE THE TOOLS OF THE TRADE!

 

Newton's approach "In general, he [God] guides and directs his people by  affording them, in answer to prayer, the light of his Holy Spirit, which enables them to understand and to love the Scriptures.  The Word of God is not to be used as a lottery; not is it designed to instruct us by shreds and scraps, which, detached from their proper places, have no determinative imports; but it is to furnish us with just principles, right apprehensions to regulate our judgments and affections, and thereby to influence and direct our conduct."

 

In other words, God gives us wisdom.  That's what the writer of Proverbs means when it says,

 

Proverbs 2:9 NIV

 

“Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path.”

            Proverbs 2:9 NIV

 

CONCLUSION

 

God opens and closes doors.  Do not expect a fleece to tell you anything. Random events should not be made into more than what they are - random patterns. Impressions like art are personal and subjective. Use the wisdom God has given you in His word and listen to others who are wiser than you.

 

INVITATION

 

It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word.  You may want to follow Jesus.  You may want to proclaim your faith.  You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things).  Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins     and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Possibly, if you have already responded to God’s call in these ways, you would like to become a member of Kenwood Church.  If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, you can come forward now.  If you would like, I would be honored to speak with you following the service about what God is doing in your life.