Bible Teaching

Calvary Temple Teaching Library

Divine Guidance Pt.3

Hallelujah! Thank You, Father. Glory to God! Let's turn to Proverbs and look to our text for this study. Proverbs three, the admonition to us all to acknowledge God in all of our ways, the Scripture says, and don't lean to your own understanding, and then He tells us that He will direct our path. In all of your ways acknowledge God. We've been talking about trying to get the natural mind out of setting course for our lives and the deception that many times we seem to think we're moving in the will of God; because it's something that actually is a desire of ours, something that we've longed to do or whatever, and we try to then attach God to it. It's so important for us to realize that the Spirit of God is dealing from the eternal perspective and not the temporal.

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart..." As we're leaning to the wisdom of God and to the power of God, we have the assurance that He's going to direct our path. We talked about the twelve different ways that God does guide us. We want to talk tonight about one of those aspects of the open door, or apparent opportunity. I say the apparent opportunity because we saw that things were looking, in the life of Jonah, like God may have been making a way for him. As he was moving in the direct opposite direction of the Spirit of God, we saw that when he arrived in port--it's not like the schedules they have for your cruise liners today where there are many of them in port and you call ahead and you make a schedule and they rotate on a daily basis. It was never known, really, when the ships would be in port. It's interesting. When he rolled in there was a ship in port, and it just so happened the opportunity that it was going the exact opposite direction of the will of God. If we're not careful we'll take that as confirming that God must be in this. Here's the opportunity. We realize that the enemy can also make opportunity.

It's very important that at the time opportunities are arising we're aware of our own heart's condition, that we've prepared ourselves in an attitude of humility and submission to the will of God, and especially when it goes contrary to our natural desires. We talk about opportunities, and we've been talking about the guidance that comes from the sanctified intellect, and how we make different decisions believing that God is in them because we're about Father's business. As we saw this morning, then, the heart devises the way but the Lord directs our steps. We're going to continually have that confidence that the Lord is ordering our course. When opportunities arise, what's the first thing we should do? We should say, "This could very likely be God." Don't assume that it's something that the enemy is setting up as a snare, but always be ready to hear and to realize that that is a possibility, but ask yourself this question, "Is this open door something that glorifies me or God? Is this open door something that was initiated, even possibly, before I knew Father? Before I had the call? Is this something that's appealing and able to be accomplished in the natural man, in the flesh and not in the spirit?" We begin to take every opportunity and evaluate it in light of the eternal perspective.

Don't be surprised when doors open, because what's one of the prayers that we pray and that the apostle Paul prayed? He said, "Pray for us that [what?] doors of utterance would be opened." We begin to see opportunity right here, don't we? Doors of what? Utterance. The opportunities are going to just give you more opportunity to share the gospel. Places that you wouldn't normally have opportunity. God will make way before kings to just give you one opportunity to speak into their life. "How in the world did I find myself here in the White House?" "How did I find myself here in the dog house?" Whatever it might be, to be able to speak a word in season, to be able to share the love of God--freely receive, freely giving. We just look for opportunities. "Is this an opportunity to share the gospel? Am I excited about the promotion or am I excited about the new faces that I get to share Jesus with? A new department that I can share the gospel in?" We begin to see, "Why is it that I'm looking for this door to open? What is it that I'm expecting when I walk through?" The grass is always greener on the other side, and what you need to be expecting is this: If you live godly in Christ Jesus, you're going to what? Suffer persecution. That all men are going to hate you for His name's sake. It's not going to change because the department changes. It's not going to change because the environment changes. When those doors of opportunity are there, what is it that you're expecting on the other side? We shouldn't expect anything else but just a fresh opportunity to share the gospel.

As we're praying for doors of utterance and opportunities to share the Word of God, we realize that our heart devises a way. We have our sanctified intellect, we're making these decisions based upon what we perceive to be the will of God, and then we have confidence that God does direct our paths. We've used Jonah in the example of totally missing God and even being in opposition to God and Him being able to put us back on course. If He can put the prophet that was in that condition back on course, what can He do in your life if you unknowingly make a wrong decision? Yet so many of us, again, fearful that we're going to make mistakes, we're just so cautious about what we're going to do. If it's an opportunity to preach, then preach, praise God! If it's an opportunity to share your testimony, share your testimony and have confidence in the power of the Gospel, but at the same time, don't be trying to make things happen and force this message in an area where Father may not be leading you.

We talked about it in the life of Paul and his party. Turn over to Acts for just a second and let me show you one passage that has to do with spiritual guidance and the opening of doors. We've made reference to it about Paul's desire to go to Asia, but I want you to see a couple of specifics in this particular passage that I think will speak to us. We remember what is taking place here. Paul and the party had left Jerusalem. They had gone and had a confrontation with the elders in Jerusalem concerning circumcision, and those that were the elders of Antioch, and now Jerusalem was speaking the same thing. They were confident that they had the mind of the Spirit. As they were traveling they were just sharing with other churches and the believers that they encountered the uniformity of the gospel message. You read through chapter 15 and we see that in place. In verse 35, "Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord...[Then it shows us that there were a number of others that were about Father's business. Then we see the conflict between Paul and Barnabas and the parties are separated. Verse 40 says,] Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended of the brethren unto the Grace of God. And he went through Syria and Cilicia confirming the churches" (verse 41). Here they were moving in the wisdom of God, moving in the power of God. The Scripture tells us then, in chapter 16; down in verse five it says, "And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily. Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, After they were come to Mysia, they assayed...(verse 17). That word "assayed" is very interesting. It goes along with what we were sharing this morning about the heart devising the ways. This word literally means: they made preparation, they tried diligently. They assayed to go into Bithynia. They didn't just say, "Hey, why don't we go down there?" They were making provision. Everything was set up. We don't know, by the way things are done today, they would have already sent posters out, made announcements and rented a hall, the way we do things in our time. All of the preparation had been made, but the Holy Ghost, what? Forbid them. The peace wasn't there. There was an uneasiness now. All had been done in the natural, and yet now in the spiritual realm the Holy Spirit makes it clear, "This isn't what I have for you."

They come, then, down to Troas, still not having any direction that's specific, but just looking for open doors wherever that peace is to proclaim. The Genesis passage that we're going to take a little bit of time and look at, "And being in the way, the Lord directed me." Just doing what you know to do. "I don't feel peace about this. The Spirit of God isn't going to let us move into that particular opportunity." Then, as you're walking in obedience, the encounter at Troas.

The Scripture says in verse nine, "And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over in to Macedonia and help us. And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavored to go into Macedonia [Now watch. Here's what I wanted you to see as I've been making these statements about how you're going to receive guidance personally. Most of us, no all of us here, are not Paul and we're not Moses and we're not Abraham. Now, listen to what this says, Paul having had his vision, the whole missionary team with them, Paul has the vision and look what the Scripture says, look at the next words] assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us." Assuredly gathering that the Lord had called Paul. Who got called? All of them. They were assured. No question in their mind. As sure as though God had appeared in His Shekinah cloud. An audible voice that thundered as it did on Sinai, as though an angel had appeared to them. Though they themselves had had the vision or the dream, they were assured that God had called them to Macedonia. You see how guidance works? Not quite as glamorous as a lot of us would like.

Let me ask you a question, and be as truthful as you possibly can. How many of you would rather have been the guy that got the vision? How many of you would feel safer if you had the vision? That's what we need to get rid of if we're going to walk in faith. That's the attitude we have to destroy if we're going to really see how God directs the majority of His people. We study the Scriptures and we find biblical principles that apply to Moses, Abraham and Paul, and somehow inject ourselves into their role when that's not our place in the body. Then we expect to have the spectacular, specific visitations that they had, and if we don't, we "haven't heard from God." If we're going to protect ourselves and walk in faith and walk in order we're going to have to realize how the majority of us will receive the direction of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Thank God for husbands and parents and brothers and sisters that will speak into your lives and not resent it, not despise the methods that God has chosen to speak to us. Each one of us has that tendency to think of ourselves a little more highly than we ought to think and wanting to have "that voice" come to me. "God has spoken to me." We resent His methods by which He speaks.

Turn over to Thessalonians for just a second and let me show you part of that spirit. We're talking about the Word of the Lord coming to us, and the confidence that we have. When we hear the Word of the Lord coming to us, we think immediately of Elijah the prophet or somebody hearing that audible voice and everyone else thinking it thundered. "But I got the revelation, God spoke to me." In Thessalonians, chapter two, there's a powerful statement made in verse 13. Listen to what it says, "For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God [And then say the next words with me] which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, [say it with me] the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe." We see that when the Word of the Lord comes to us, if it's not a direct audible voice, if it's not a dream or a vision, but it's spoken by the messengers of God, whether it's His prophets, whether it's His pastors, His teachers, whoever it might be, we receive it as it is in truth, what? The Word of God.

Now, let me ask you a question: When one of God's messengers, say in the form of a husband lying on the couch, speaks the Word, "Thus sayeth the Lord, we're watching football." But you intended for him to cut the grass. The honey-do list was dripping with vinegar. I'm using this as carnally as I can make the point that the authority that says at this juncture, "I'm taking my rest," is the Word of the Lord to you. Is that hard to take? What do we do? Well, let's immediately go to prayer and fasting. We'll fast him off the couch. I'm trying to bring it as carnal and as ridiculous as I can make it to make the point. At what point are we going to see that God speaks to us through His established order, through prophets, through apostles, through pastors, through teachers, through husbands that aren't as spiritual as you think they should be. If they are not speaking contrary to the Word, then they're speaking as the representatives of God. It takes faith to walk in that, doesn't it?

Now, we'd all like to see it on the higher spiritual plane. We're a little more comfortable when the guy is not on the couch, but he's been praying and fasting and hearing from God and has a vision and says, "We're going to Macedonia." And we say, "Praise God, let's go for it, we're with you." We have a little more confidence when it's going that way. But beloved, it doesn't depend upon your assessment of how spiritual the messenger is, but upon God's sovereignty to place them in your lives and to speak to you the Word of the Lord. It's not a perfect illustration, but we can see the principles that are being established here, and realizing that God has established an order, and that there are those that He's going to represent Himself through. He does not speak to every one of us on an equal basis, as we're moving in this order that God has established.

We've used the illustration many times and every one of you is able to identify with it, especially as parents. When we talk about the fact that you tell the child, "I want you to go make your bed." And the child's response is, "Well, I'll wait for a word from the Lord." We all laugh. It's easy to laugh when you're the one in authority. "Yeah, like I'm going to accept that." Now, a lot of households do, but not Christian households. What about when you're the one under authority? Do you have to have--listen, for it to be truth does God have to confirm it to you by a more specific revelation than the agent that brought it to you? Do we have that right and that liberty? "Well, we can't just blindly do whatever a parent tells us." No, we have the guidelines established. We always want to try to find the loophole. We always want to move over to the exceptions. I'm not talking about the extreme exception of a parent telling their child, "Now, I told you go out and kill that guy." The child dutifully goes over and takes him out. "Well, the Scripture says we're to obey our parents." So, we have very clear direction as to when it is not God speaking to us. The powers that be are ordained of God.

Once we can come to that spirit of humility and submission, now we're in a place where we can begin to hear from God. A lot of times where people are speaking into our lives, we can't hear God because we don't accept them as the messenger of God. "That's just their opinion. That's just what they think." We're not talking about just everybody in the body being able to come around and be God's voice to you. We're talking about people that God has placed you in relationship with and has placed you in order in the home, in the church, however it is that God has placed you to function. These men had confidence and assurance that the word that was spoken was the Word of God. These men in chapter 16 had the confidence that when Paul spoke, the vision had come that they had been called into Macedonia and had complete assurance of that. How sure are those messengers? Turn over to Acts, chapter ten. I made reference to the tenth chapter of Acts, possibly some of you read it this afternoon and spent a little time cruising through here and looking at all of these great spectacular occasions that were ministering to these particular individuals. We find this man Cornelius, and the Scripture says in verse two that he was, "A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house..." His house was in order. He made sure that those that were under his care were people that were seeking God and they were living by the statutes of God. It says he "gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always." Cornelius was a man that had a heart for God. "He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius and when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, what is it, Lord? And he said unto him, thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa, [look at all these specifics here that are going on] and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the seaside: [Why didn't the angel just finish the message? Look what the message of the angel is] he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do" (verses 3-6).

Can I ask you a question? Would you have rather heard it from the angel or Peter? I wonder if Peter's reputation had preceded him that he had denied the Lord? Who would you rather hear it from the angel, or a guy that denied the Lord? Would you rather have heard it from the angel or the guy that sank? Would you have rather heard it from the angel, or the one whom the Lord spoke to and said, "Get behind me, Satan." Who would you rather hear it from? Divine guidance. Natural, men of flesh and blood just like you and I, and "he shall tell you what thou oughtest to do." You see God's methods? Let me ask you: If you're going to set the criteria for who's worthy to bring you a message, then who's Lord? In other words, God cannot speak; there is no truth outside of your perception.

When we're talking about walking in the spirit and seeing the methods that God uses to speak to the majority of us, we're going to see here two men that God is using mightily: Cornelius and Peter. In each of these lives there is going to be a multitude of people affected as God speaks to just two individuals. There are not going to be dreams and visions going to anybody else. Two men, and it's going to affect Christendom from the time of this revelation on.

So, this is Cornelius' side and he hears from the angel and he said, "And he'll tell you what to do." Then it says, "And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually; And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa. On the morrow as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: [about noon] and he became very hunger, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance" (verses 7-10).

Now, you have to study and go back over the life of Peter and see that it's amazing to me--over the years when I've talked to people who were wanting to be led by the spirit, "I need to hear from God." Over the years we've talked to some real--the phrase that we use for these people are "woo-woos." They just live up there in la-la land. They just hover somewhere between stupidity and naïve-ness. These people are given to having dreams and visions and voices. I've talked to people, I'm telling you, these are people that are saying, and "the Lord told me..." "God said..." "God told me to do this." To do what? "God told me to get up and go to work." I could have told you that. If you don't work, you shouldn't eat. Does God need to tell you to get up and go to work? Does God need to tell you to brush your teeth? Some of you, maybe. These people--everything is God speaking to them and they have this, "The Word of the Lord came to me." "I had a dream." "I had a vision." It's amazing to me that these people would have more visitations in a week than all of the apostles put together in their lifetime. How many of you have ever run into those people? Have you ever run into them? I'm sure you have. Many of the "Charismaniacs" over the years that have had all of these types of understandings of what it means to hear from God. If some of them had understood these basic principles, they'd probably still be walking with God today, but very frankly, many of these people that I have known over the years, they are no longer following God. In fact, they're involved in some other metaphysical pursuit. They're following some Swami somewhere, or a Guru here, or a Warlock in this particular thing. All they're looking for is that metaphysical realm, that spooky, spiritual perception of who God is. He's very clearly revealed in the Scriptures, who He is and how He chooses to visit us. The fact of the matter is, you have no business having more visitations than Moses, Elijah, Paul and Peter put together.

Be very careful when you go about saying, "God told me." "The Lord said." It's very important to understand, then, how rare, how precious, these visitations are. In each one of these visitations look at the magnitude of the consequence of this visitation. Before you apply that to your visitation or what you're waiting to hear from God, as you're praying about whether to have red fingernails or (I'm trying to think of that other thing). Is that a French dip finish, like white or whatever? We want an angel to appear to have some dream or vision. It doesn't carry the same eternal value as some of these visitations, but we want a word from the Lord. Dear God, just paint them all a different color and you might hit one. One of those might be the will of God. He's just not that taken up with it. We need to understand, then, that there's the understanding of the magnitude.

So he goes into Joppa, and Peter's up there praying and he falls into this trance and we all know the story here as the trance--his eyes are being opened, he has the great sheet that comes down, and all of these wild beasts, the unclean and He says, "Rise and kill." "Not so, Lord," as we're cruising down through verse 14. "And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common" (verse 15). So now God is getting specific. He's telling them what this vision is all about. He's interpreting this thing. That was done three times, verse 16 tells us. When Peter was doubting in himself, he's trying to figure out, "What does all of this mean? What's the application of this? I understand that God has spoken that what He's cleansed I can't call common, but what does that have to do with anything?" Then the men arrive, we know the story. "While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold three men seek thee. [Look at all this guidance. This is really some neat stuff, some spectacular type things.] Arise, therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them" (verses 19-20). At this time he doesn't know exactly what the consequences of this journey are going to be. God just said, "You go and doubt nothing." That's walking in the spirit. Going, not knowing where--Abraham was. Where, many times just following the general revelation of God, we don't know how this thing is going to culminate, but we do know that what got us here was being in the way, just being about Father's business, doing what we know to do. No dreams, no revelations. It so happens that Peter had this specific direction of the Lord, but the spirit's the same here. Even with all of this visitation he said, "Don't doubt for I've sent them." So they go on the journey the next day and they head down to Cornelius house. As they encounter him it says--they're talking about Cornelius and what his credentials were and that he's a just man and he said, "The angel told him [verse 22] that he was to hear words from you, that you have a word for him."

I've been in this position a few times in my life, and it's an interesting place to be. You now you're in the right place. You know you're in a specific place and that the Lord has a word for the people, but you don't know what it is yet. It's a very exciting place to be as you're walking in the spirit, but the Lord makes it clear that in those times when we open our mouth, He'll fill it. If God didn't send you, you'll fill it with your foot. If God sent you His word will come forth, people's lives will be changed, and you'll speak things that you didn't previously know. You'll speak out of revelation. You'll speak words of wisdom and words of knowledge. That's what's taking place here, all of the gifts of the spirit you can see. We're not teaching on that right now, but I could go through this particular tenth chapter and show you the majority of the gifts of the spirit in operation. We think they all operate on 700 Club. "There's a guy with a corn on his toe on whatever. Now your turn, Missy." Then she has her word of knowledge. That's not how it works.

As we see the Spirit moving here and the gifts of the spirit in operation and the faith that's necessitated by all of the parties involved. How about the guys that were sent to get Peter? They're going in faith, "Going looking for a Simon the tanner's house, somewhere by the seaside, there's a guy named Simon Peter." As they're walking, what do you think? Do you think they might have said, "You think he's really there?" Or the real issue has to be; do you think Cornelius is "really there"? As they go in faith, God continues to illuminate, to bring them into the awareness of the ordering of their steps. Minor players, these guys; we don't know their names. Great men of faith, just messengers, great men of faith fulfilling a divine purpose. We don't know these guys; only time they're ever mentioned. What do you think about the magnitude of their ministry? What do you think about the fruit of their obedience? Oh sure, God could have got Peter there another way if they hadn't have gone. But many things we think are trivial have some pretty great consequences in the eternal realm. Here they are fulfilling their task; it seems menial but God is using them in a mighty way.

So Peter goes down to Caesarea, and as he comes into Cornelius's house it says, "...Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends" (verse 24). Faith. "Who's coming down?" "A guy named Peter." "I've been watching TBN for weeks and I haven't seen Peter on. Who's he? What credentials does he have?" We assume at this point that everybody knows who Peter is, but it appears as though the angel, when he was talking to Cornelius, when he told him there's a man named Simon Peter there, it didn't seem that he was fully aware. He just was a devout man himself, seeking God. He invites all these guys over and he says, "A guy named Peter is coming." "What's he going to tell us?" "I don't know." "Well, the angel told you to go get him, but he didn't tell you what he was coming to share with us?" "No, he just has a word for us." "Hmm. I wonder how long he preaches. I wonder if they're going to take an offering. I hope he's not just a teacher; I want somebody that's dynamic. I'd like to hear a preacher." We have all of our preferences today that people have. The real issue is whether God sent him or not. Cornelius calls them together and says, "A guy is coming and has a word for us." This is interesting. Now, watch. Peter took the word of the Lord--first of all, Cornelius bows down. He thinks this guy is really somebody special now since the angel had sent him as a messenger. Peter said, "No", he says, "...I myself also am a man," in verse 26. Cornelius sees him as a special messenger, and this is an important part. Cornelius sees him as a special messenger; the messenger doesn't see himself as special, only a man. Whenever somebody is going to come and speak the Word of the Lord to you and you get the air from them that they think they're someone special, that they are the voice of God, "I am the oracle of God." I want to tell you something: God's servants are humble. God's servants do not think they're know-it-all. God's servants are humbled by the words that come through them and it's important to see that. Cornelius saw him as special because the angel had sent him. Peter says, "I'm just a man."

"And as he talked with him, [verse 27] he went in, and found many were come together. And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that it is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; [You see, just going down there went contrary to everything that Judaism stood for and yet Peter being the first one sent, now, of the core of disciples into the Gentile nations is bringing this revelation] but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean. [He finally sees and understands now what this revelation was all about.] Therefore I came unto you without gainsaying [it was the Word of the Lord. "Now here I am, what do you want? I've gone against everything that's natural, I've gone against everything in my nature, I don't even want to be here. Now what do you want?"] as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me" (verse 29). "And Cornelius said, [well, here's all I know:] Here you have two guys and neither one of them has a clue what's going on yet and God's speaking to both of them. Spectacular, specific, miraculous. At this juncture, neither one of them has a clue what's going on yet. And how many of us get one little inkling and think we know everything God's doing? "I know what God's doing, The Lord is giving me understanding, the Lord is giving me direction." You don't find in the Scriptures anywhere where God directs us that way to see the beginning to the end. If you really think you know how it's going to happen, as I said this morning, if you can figure it out it's probably not God. If you understand it all, it's probably not God.

Here we find them at this particular juncture and Cornelius recites to him, "Well, all I know is this" "...A man stood before me in bright clothing." He probably had like some of those golf pants on they used to wear. "...A man stood before me in bright clothing, And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God [he rehearses this thing] Send therefore to Joppa and call hither Simon...Immediately therefore I sent to thee [verse 33, Now, here we are. I like this verse] now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God." Peter's going, "Uhhh," "God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean." He'd already given his message. It's amazing when by faith we begin to step out that the revelation begins to expand itself.

"Then Peter opened his mouth, [walking in the spirit, walking by faith] and said, of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. The word which God sent unto the children of Israel preaching peace by Jesus Christ...[revealing] How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. And we are witnesses [and he's bringing the gospel to these men]...Him God raised up the third day," [verse 40]. When you don't know exactly what to say, preach the gospel, praise God.

He's bringing these Gentiles who had been brought into the household of faith in Israel. He's bringing them, now, the gospel. They'd never heard it on this wise. "And he commanded us [verse 42] to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God...To him give all the prophets witness...While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on them which heard the word... [And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost] ... For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God... [verse 46] And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days."

The presentation of the gospel and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Gentile nations. Now, we went through all of that to say: If you have to have the dreams, the visions, the angelic appearances to know whether to sell your condo or not, you're missing the point. We want to show you that all of these specific directives, all of these special visitations had significant consequences. To the place, and we've shared in the Scriptures, we've showed you a couple of different things. So many of us want to find our wives the way the wife was found for Isaac. It's not going to happen that way. There's probably not going to be a Messiah come from your lineage.

So what do we do? We have guidelines. You can't marry an unbeliever. That leaves things pretty open doesn't it? "Lord, give me a dream, give me a vision, oh, Lord." That's what you're supposed to be telling her, "You're a dream, you're a vision." That'll get you married. Love isn't chemistry; it's not the natural chemistry. Love is a choice, love is a discipline, and it causes an expression, then, as it's matured, of emotion. Love is commitment. You think, "Man, that sounds awful sterile. It's almost test tube, dear Lord. Don't you believe in soul mates and that God can order and direct paths?" Yes, I do. I believe that. But it's by faith, not believing and seeking and praying for God to give you a vision. You're in the way and God orders your steps. He sets it right, praise God. He's able to bring into your life that person, or so often in our lives, the opportunities to make the choice that's contrary to what we would naturally choose.

I want to tell you something. (We're going to quit with this.) Those of you that have your little checklist, "tall, dark, handsome, rich." Oh, "rich, tall, dark, handsome." If you already have in your mind who is acceptable, don't expect God's guidance to be able to be perceived. You can learn to love anybody, but if you're looking and believing for that special person, it may not be exactly what you're envisioning. They could be short, frumpy and poor, and it be the very person that God intended for you. Have you already established the course in a certain area of your life, but you're praying for God to guide you? It doesn't operate that way. We'll pick up a little more in one of the other studies.

Father, we do thank You for the Word of God. We ask that as You continue to open our eyes to the methods that You direct our paths that not every one of us will have the miraculous experience that Isaac did, but we are confident of one thing: That You've given us direction as far as relationships, the requirements are within the household of faith. There are natural desires. Samson allowed himself to pursue his standards and marry outside the nation of believers and it cost him the anointing. It cost him his life. We could follow natural appetites or we can be confident in the general revelation and within the general revelation specific grace, faith and assurance of the ordering of our steps will manifest. You will set our course right. You will close the doors that need to be closed and open the doors that need to be opened. Are we able to trust in you? That's the question, Father, that each of us asks ourselves. "Am I confident that I'm where God wants me right now at this moment?" Or is there some type of a discontentment in you that you have to have this to be satisfied. "If I don't achieve that, if I'm not married by this age, if I can't have that person..." The meek, those that are not self-willed, those that are humble before God, will He guide with His eye. That's our heart desire, Father, tonight. That You would guide us into all truth, and we ask it in Jesus' name. Amen. Let's stand before the Lord tonight. Hallelujah!

As Gary plays for us, I'll ask the brethren to come and we're going to take a few moments in the presence of the Lord and fellowship at the Lord's table tonight. So thankful for the gift, that body that was broken for us, that blood that so freely purchased our redemption. He said, "As often as you do it, do it in remembrance of Me and be sure that you partake worthily, because if you don't discern My body you'll be eating and drinking to yourself damnation," the apostle told us.

If there's unforgiveness, if there's bitterness, if there's strife, if there's envy, you're not discerning the body of the Lord. If there's rebellion to parents, to authority, then you're not discerning the Lord's body and you're bringing judgment upon yourself. Don't partake of these if you're out of order. If you are, the Scripture says, then just confess it and then eat and thank Him that it's that body and that blood that purchased your salvation. Confess your sins and He's faithful and just to forgive you and cleanse you from all unrighteousness.

In light of what we're studying, if you partake of these emblems tonight, partake in faith that in His sovereign lordship He is ordering your steps and that you're on course, that He's setting your path right, that He will not leave you nor forsake you and that no man will pluck you from His hand, praise God! There's an assurance that the work of His predestination is affecting itself and conforming you to His very image. Not anything that happens in our life is chance, our steps are ordered of the Lord. Everything to this place has been Him working His will. We rest in the assurance that all of the things that we've experienced He has or is working to the good of Christlikeness.

It didn't say it was good, it said it's going to work Jesus in you; it's going to work His image in you. The good is that the bad has given us an understanding of His love and of His power. The hurts have given us an assurance of His love and His healing presence. It's working together for eternal good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. We want to remember that tonight as we partake in remembrance of Him. Let's hold the emblems and we'll all partake together. Gary, you want to go ahead and lead us in that?

Yes, Lord. Hallelujah! How we love Your holy name, oh Lord. Love your holy name, oh Lord, for Your name is great and greatly to be praised. Hallelujah Jesus! Father we worship You. Hallelujah! Worship to Your name Lord. Hallelujah! Just take a moment and worship Him now, just take time, just you and the Lord together. Lift His name and thank Him for the working in your life, the ordering of your steps. As in everything, we give thanks for this is the will of God concerning us in Christ Jesus. Hallelujah! We delight in You, Lord, the author and the finisher of our faith. Cause us, Father, to be careful in our worship. Hallelujah! Glory to You, Father. Lord, You're our delight! Lord, cause us to be ever mindful of the price paid. Hallelujah! Thank You, Father. Praise You, Jesus.

Once again, Father, we stand in awe of Your mercy and Your love. No words able to express our gratitude, thankful for the merit of the righteousness of the sinless Lamb. In your innocence, made sin with our sin that we might be made righteous with Your righteousness. And so again, we acknowledge the work finished and in remembrance of that finished work we will not cheapen Your blood by trying to add our works, but we say, "It's finished." We are the children of God, sons and heirs with You. And in remembrance and in celebration of the finished work we just say, "Thank You," and with that thanks we receive these emblems, in Jesus' name. Amen. Let's eat the bread together...and His blood.

Hallelujah! Thank You, Father, for the finished work! Lord, we do thank You for the ordering of our steps, having predestined us to be conformed to the image of Jesus. We stand in full assurance that we will see You and we will be like You! Hallelujah! We delight, Lord, in that. We delight that all that transpires is setting us on that course, Father, as You work in us to will and to do Your good pleasure. Hallelujah! In remembrance and in expectation, we just say, "Thank You, Father," in Jesus' name.

Just take a moment and just worship Him tonight. Thank Him for what He's done in your life. Just rejoice in His goodness. Hallelujah! We delight in You, Lord. We ask You, Lord, to be glorified in our lives. We have that confidence, Father. Now, finish the work and be glorified, in Jesus' name. Amen. Before you go, turn to somebody and say, "He'll guide you with His eye," praise God!

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