The Discipline of Guidance

The Discipline of Guidance

“When he puts forth all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.  And a stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers” (John 10:4-5)

“Without consultation, plans are frustrated, but with many counselors they succeed” (Proverbs 15:22)

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

“Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven.  For where two or three have gathered together in My name, there I am in their midst” (Matthew 18:19-20).

“And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  And everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.  And all those who had believed were together, and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions, and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.  And day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people.  And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved” (Acts 2:42-47)

In our day heaven and earth are on tiptoe waiting for the emergence of a Spirit-led, Spirit-intoxicated, Spirit-empowered people.  All of creation watches expectantly for the springing up of a disciplined, freely gathered, martyr people who know in this the life the life and power of the kingdom of God.  It has happened before.  It can happen again.

 

Many are having a deep and profound experience of an Emmanuel of the Spirit-God with us; a knowledge that in the power of the Spirit Jesus has come to guide his people himself; and experience of his leading that is as definite and as immediate as the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night.  But the knowledge of the direct, active immediate leading of the Spirit is not sufficient.  Individual guidance must yield to corporate guidance.

 

There must also come a knowledge of the direct, active, immediate leading of the Spirit together…God led the children of Israel out of bondage as a people.  Everyone saw the cloud and the fiery pillar.  They were not a gathering of individuals who happened to be going in the same direction; they were a people under the theocratic rule of God.

 

Although Jesus was an outsider to his own people, being crucified beyond the city gates, some people embraced his rulership.  And they became a gathered people…They became a fiery band of witnesses, declaring everywhere that Christ’s voice could be heard and his will obeyed.  Perhaps the most astonishing feature of that incendiary fellowship was their sense of corporate guidance.  It was beautifully illustrated in the calling forth of Paul and Barnabas to tramp the length and breadth of the Roman empire with the good news of the kingdom of God (Acts 13:1-3).  Their call came when a number of people had been together over an extended period of time.  It included the use of the Disciplines of prayer, fasting, and worship.  Having become a prepared people, the call of God arose out of their corporate worship: “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them” (Acts 13:2) 

With all the modern methods of missionary recruitment we could profit by giving serious attention to this example of corporate guidance.  We would be well advised to encourage groups of people to fast, pray, and worship together until they have discerned the mind of the Lord.  (Celebration of Discipline, Foster, 176-178)

Foster rightly points out that the vast majority of material written on the topic of divine guidance comes at it from and individualistic point of view.  Rarely, if ever, is this aspect of God leading His people as a group taught or applied.  One notable exception to this is the study, Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby and Claude King.  In Unit 10 they stress the importance of knowing God’s will as a church and the subservient role that the call on an individual plays to God’s plan for the church (congregation).

A church comes to know God’s will when the whole body comes to understand what Christ wants them to do.  For a church, knowing God’s will may involve many members, not just one.  Yes, God will often speak to the leader about what He wants to do.  That leader then bears witness to the body about what he senses God’s will is.  The leader does not have to try and convince the church that this is God’s will.  The leader does not have to ask the congregation to follow him without question.  The leader encourages the body to go to Christ and get confirmation from the Head (Christ).  The Head does the convincing on His timetable.  Then the whole body follows Christ-the Head.  This is why a church must learn to function as a body with Christ as the Head of His church.  (Experiencing God, Blackaby and King, 168).

1. Have you ever experienced God’s guidance in a corporate way as described by Foster, Blackaby and King?

2. What obstacles need to be removed from our lives individually, and as a church, if we are going to experience God’s guidance in this way?

3. Do you see God’s call upon your life as an individual to be of a lower priority than God’s call upon your congregation?

4. Would you be willing to lay your life plans before a small group of fellow believers to confirm they are truly God’s will for your life at this time?

Author

Bruce Kotila

Pastor Bruce is the Executive Director of God's Living Stones.  He lives in Omaha, NE, with his wife Barb. They have two adult children.