Lecture Notes: The Discipline of Guidance

Introduction

• Heaven and earth are eagerly awaiting the emergence of a spiritually enlightened people.
• Such people require a deeper experience of God's presence, akin to the biblical "Emmanuel of the Spirit."
• Importance of the discipline of guidance in discerning God's voice, referred to as the Kol Yahweh.

Recognizing God's Voice

• Practice Needed: Jesus mentioned that His sheep know His voice, implying the need for practice.
• Example of Misinterpretation: Story of a farmer misinterpreting a divine message illustrates the need for careful listening.

Elements of Recognizing God's Voice

1. Tone: Satan pushes and condemns, God draws and encourages.
2. Quality: God's nature is gentle, symbolized by Jesus' treatment of "bruised reed" and "smoldering wick."
3. Content: Consistency with God's character and past actions.

Means of Guidance

• Normal Means: Common ways God interacts with us.

  1. Scripture: Understanding the whole tenor of the Bible.
  2. Direct Revelation: Holy Spirit's guidance, consistent with mental faculties.
  3. Divine Providence: Circumstances aligning in meaningful ways.
  4. Christian Community: Seeking guidance within a community, trusting in collective discernment.
  5. Personal Integrity: Acting in moral uprightness.

• Exceptional Means: Rare and unusual forms of guidance.

  1. Fleeces: Testing God for specific signs, as Gideon did.
  2. Angels: Acknowledging but not obsessing over angelic interactions.
  3. Dreams and Visions: Biblical examples of guidance through dreams (e.g., Paul in Acts).
  4. Signs: Observing signs as confirmations of divine direction.

Integrated Guidance

• Different means of guidance should work together for clarity, much like lighthouses guiding ships.

Importance of Worship and Corporate Guidance

• Guidance often emerges in the context of worship.
• Corporate worship facilitates divine presence and guidance.
• Revival: Presence of God in worship leads to breaking and repentance.
• Worship leaders must be sensitive to divine guidance, knowing when to act or refrain.

Personal Reflection and Example

• Speaker shares a personal story about not following divine guidance in a sermon.
• Illustrates the importance of obedience and sensitivity to God's direction during worship.

Conclusion

• Importance of living a life aligned with divine truth and purpose.
• Emphasis on worship and community in seeking and discerning God's guidance.