Being Led by the Lord

by David C. Swanson

In the past several years I've had opportunity to know many who in the course of making decisions in life have attempted to let the Lord lead them. Some have succeeded in allowing the revealed will of God (the Bible) to be their standard. Others have failed to submit fully to his will and have suffered setbacks in their spiritual growth. Still others have fallen away after having become discouraged, disappointed or even angry with God for having "let them down" at some point. Usually in these cases the would-be believer has set his expectations on God doing something for him--healing a loved one, help in landing a job or buying a house, for examples. This seeker was convinced that "God would provide," but God didn't.

Several years ago, I was acquainted with a couple who had lived and worked here in San Diego County all their adult lives. These two sold their successful local business and moved to New York State after prayerfully considering this major change for a few months. I asked them one day as I was helping them pack and sell some of their belongings, "Why did you choose Up-State New York as a place to live?" Knowing that they had never lived outside of Southern California and that they had no relatives in New York, I expected to hear something about the employment opportunity or perhaps the cost of living in that part of New York as compared to Southern California.

The answer surprised me. It was basically, "God is telling us to move there, and now." The ease with which they had found employment and a house that suited them made them confident that God had blessed them and was wanting them to move to a place they had never really seen. On "faith" they launched out, citing Abraham as their example and hero, repeating frequently that God was leading them; he had told them to go.

Within a couple of months they discovered that the job was not what they expected it to be and that the house had a mold or fungus in it to which this couple, particularly the wife and their two children were severely allergic. The majority of their material belongings--their clothes, bedding, furniture, and linens were tainted with the offending organisms and had to be destroyed, sold, or given away. They moved back to San Diego County ill, disappointed, and broke. Their credibility as believers along with God's credibility especially among their non-believing friends was shot.

God takes his credibility seriously. Keeping in mind that a "prophet" is simply one who speaks or claims to speak for God, hear what God says through his prophet Ezekiel:

The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are now prophesying. Say to those who prophesy out of their own imagination: 'Hear the word of the LORD! This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing! . . . Their visions are false and their divinations a lie. They say, "The LORD declares," when the LORD has not sent them; yet they expect their words to be fulfilled. Have you not seen false visions and uttered lying divinations when you say, "The LORD declares," though I have not spoken?'" (Ezekiel 13:1-7, NIV)

In other words, those who "prophesy out of their own imagination"; "follow their own spirit"; or "say, 'the Lord declares' when the Lord has not sent them" are foolish liars, speaking falsely for the Lord. How are those who say, "God is telling me to do this or that," or "God is leading me here or there" any different than these Ezekiel mentions who speak from their own imaginations? How is the resultant lack of credibility for God any different when what they claim is a "leading" from the Lord doesn't work out? There is a huge difference between God's actually, directly telling you something and your reading the immediate fortuitous circumstances as a message from him. Aren't you simply attempting to justify what you already desire to do?

Another couple with whom I am acquainted had decided late last year or early this year to go to Israel this past spring. Tensions were high in Palestine and it had become a dangerous place--suicide bombers were killing every other day it seemed.

This couple was going to Israel because God was telling them to go. In their eyes, God had told them to go because he had provided the opportunity and the means (fortuitous circumstances). The wife was sure that God wanted them to go to Israel at that very moment instead of waiting for a more peaceful season. In attempting to dissuade her, I asked her how she knew God wanted her to go at that particular time. Here is part of her email answer verbatim:

". . .He speaks to me in many ways. The problem some people have is their ability to hear. (Luke 16:30-31; John 12:28-29) Scripture says "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." (Matt 13:9) How do I recognize the voice of God? I get to know Him through His Word. (1 John 4:1-2, Col 1:9). I learn the kinds of things God is likely to say. I get to know His ways and how He speaks to people as seen in the Bible. Sometimes He uses dreams, visions or angels (Mary, Joseph, Daniel). Sometimes He uses phenomena (Moses and the burning bush). Sometimes He uses audible voices, human voices, or the human spirit (an inner voice). I ask Him to speak to me "Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening." (1 Samuel 3:8-11). I believe God will lead me and guide me. "For you are my rock and my fortress; For Your name's sake You will lead me and guide me." (Psalm 31:3) "Commit your works to the LORD and your plans will be established...The mind of man plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps." (Proverbs 16:3,9). The will of God is not something you find, it's something you do."

Let's examine closely the passages and arguments used here to justify the position that God somehow "speaks" to us directly to lead us. We'll take them (shown in purple below) in the order given above.

"The problem some people have is their ability to hear. (Luke 16:30-31; John 12:28- 29)" It's true that these passages deal with the problems of hearing God's word, but what else do they teach about God's communication with us? Let's look at these two passages in context:

Luke 16:30-31. Here the rich man, being in torments after his physical death, asks Abraham to send Lazarus back to the living to warn them of their fate. These verses do tell us that the rich man's family has trouble hearing the word of God, but what else does the passage teach? Read a little more of the story:

"Then I beg you, father, that you send him to my father's house— for I have five brothers—in order that he may warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.' "But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.' "But he said, 'No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!' "But he said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.'" (Luke 16:27-31)

Yes, the rich man's family had had difficulty listening to the word of God but notice that Abraham appeals to the revealed, written word of God: "They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them. . . .If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead." (vv. 29, 31) Doesn't this passage teach that the written word of God is to be read and obeyed, thus precluding the need for special messages?

John 12:28-29. Let's put these verses in context:

"Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, 'Father, save Me from this hour'? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name." Then a voice came out of heaven: "I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again." So the crowd of people who stood by and heard it were saying that it had thundered; others were saying, "An angel has spoken to Him." Jesus answered and said, "This voice has not come for My sake, but for your sakes. "Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself." (John 12:27-32)

This passage does say that those standing by heard the voice from heaven, but some said it had thundered, others said that an angel had spoken--they had heard the voice differently. But there are a couple more things to notice about this voice. First, words were spoken. This is not an instance of someone interpreting a vision or dream or fortuitous circumstance. God had actually spoken. Secondly, this voice was to confirm what Jesus was about to say about his death:

"This voice has not come for My sake, but for your sakes. Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself." But He was saying this to indicate the kind of death by which He was to die. (vv. 30-33)

"Scripture says 'He who has ears to hear, let him hear.' (Matt 13:9)" Jesus used this attention-getter on more than one occasion (Matthew 11:15; 13:9, 43; Mark 4:9; Luke 8:8; 14:35 and several times in Revelation). In each instance, Jesus used it to encourage his listeners to heed his teaching. In each instance, Jesus had taught--God had revealed his will. This exhortation is not about interpreting coincidental events in our lives as messages from God, but rather it is about making an attempt to understand and obey the revealed word of God. Jesus' words are to be heeded.

"How do I recognize the voice of God? I get to know Him through His Word. (1 John 4:1-2, Col 1:9)." Colossians 1:9-10 says, "we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects." We do in fact get to know him through his word. A study of his word will fill us with the knowledge we need to please him (see 2 Timothy 2:15). And yes, we are to "test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world." (1 John 4:1) Let's see if this teaching that God somehow communicates to us today apart from his revealed word stands up to a test from that revealed word.

"He speaks to me in many ways. . . .Sometimes he uses dreams....human voices, or the human spirit (an inner voice)." In times past God has used dreams, visions, and other ways to communicate, but he communicated clearly through those means, he did not simply create fortuitous circumstances to be interpreted (that would be divination, to use Ezekiel's word. Divination is a sin under the law of Moses. See Lev. 19:26; Deut. 18:10; 1 Sam. 15:23). Often these communications were confirmed by a miracle. Hebrews 1:1-2 gives us information about how God communicates to Christians today:

God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.

Today, in these last days, God speaks to us in his son, Jesus. How is this accomplished? Jesus told his disciples that he would send the Holy Spirit to remind them of and guide them to all truth (See John chapters 14-16). These disciples then preached the truth to others. By the Spirit's inspiration, some of these disciples also wrote down the message. All the while, God bore witness to the spoken and written truth through signs and wonders, that is, miracles. Read again in Hebrews, this time chapter 2 verses 1 through 4:

For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it. For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty, how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.

We must heed the spoken (and now written) word of God. Jude 3 says that we are to "contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints." "The faith" here refers to the word of God. It has been handed down to us "once for all," not time and time again through numerous individuals in numerous generations. Today God speaks to us through his son, Jesus with words handed down to us once for all. (By the way, read the rest of the book of Jude to learn what happens when those led by their own desires and "dreams" teach according to those desires.) If one loves the Lord and his revealed will, he will contend for that written word--teaching it and living it--rather than lessen its credibility by teaching falsely that the Lord is leading him apart from it!

"I ask Him to speak to me 'Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.' (1 Samuel 3:8-11)." A casual reading of the context of this passage will show that God actually spoke! He called to Samuel, and Samuel answered, "Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening." God then spoke some more to Samuel. He did not create fortuitous circumstance to be interpreted by way of Samuel's own understanding, desires, and whims (Remember, divination is a sin—Samuel himself said so in 1 Samuel 15:23!).

"I believe God will lead me and guide me. 'For you are my rock and my fortress; For Your name's sake You will lead me and guide me.' (Psalm 31:3)" Yes, but how will the Lord lead you? Through your own imagination (to use Ezekiel's words again), or through the revealed truth?

"...But the LORD directs his steps." (Proverbs 16:3,9). Yes, but how does God direct us? By the Spirit via the word. Romans 8:14 says, "For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God." Being children of God, all Christians should desire to be led by the Holy Spirit. The revealed word of God is the tool by which the Spirit guides us. The following charts (by Jim Massey, "What is the Gift of the Holy Spirit?") will show how the Holy Spirit works through the revealed word of God:

If you feel the Lord has somehow directly "spoken" to you or is directly leading you, apply this simple test: If the leading you're feeling leads you to do something that is even the least bit contrary to the revealed, written word of God, the leading didn't come from the Lord. For example, should you feel the Lord is leading you to dedicate all or part of your life to him, but that dedication would cause you to neglect the responsibility you have to care and provide for your family, God is not leading you. On the contrary, God is displeased (See Mark 7:6-13). On the other hand, if the leading you're feeling leads you to do something that is already revealed in the Scripture, the leading didn't come especially from God to you, it came through the word of God acting on your heart.

"The will of God is not something you find, it's something you do." On the contrary, the will of God is something that you must find so that you know what to do! When you seek and find the truth in God's written word you must then endeavor to do it. (see 2 Cor. 4:2; 3 John 4; Ps. 86:11) Read what the apostle Paul has to say about trying to understand and then live according to God's revealed word ("Light") in Ephesians 5:6-10, 15-17:

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. . . .Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

The following steps may be of help in making choices based on the revealed word of God (the Bible).

"Determining the Contingent Will of God"
(Jim McGuiggan, The Book of Romans, Montex Publishing, 1982, pp. 61-62)

1. Where God hasn't made himself clear, he takes full responsibility. This means that we don't have to worry about making the right decision to the point of becoming neurotic.
2. God isn't like a train; he is able to run on more than one track. So again, we don't have to worry ourselves sick over making the wrong decision and getting outside God's will.
3. In such areas, the question is not a choice between good and bad but between good, better, and best. In cases such as these where there is no scripture to settle the issue the main thing is to work from pure motives. That is, examine your heart (best as you are able) to see that your choice is one you think will bring the most glory to God while being wise to the needs of those around you.
4. Having given your heart to the Lord, set out the alternative ways you could act. Write down the pros and cons for each and prayerfully assess each. Using your sanctified common sense, eliminate the ones which appear less acceptable.
5. If you don't need to make a decision right away and you are still uncertain, then don't make the decision for a while. This will give you more time to grow into the likeness of Christ and thus gain more wisdom. When the time comes to decide, prayerfully assess again. Choose the option that looks best to you and set the others aside. Pursue your choice with all your might. When considering options that are so similar that you have to work hard to choose the best one, you'll continue to wonder if you've made the right choice. You have, so go ahead.
6. Commit your way to the Lord, telling him you don't care what it is he wants; that whatever it is that he wants you want it too. If he closes the door on the alternative you've chosen, go to your second choice. If he closes the door on your honest, vigorous attempts at them all, look for other options. If there are none, sit back and relax, you've done all you can do and God is pleased with you. Whatever your hands find to do in your existing circumstances, do it with all your might.
7. Major in the known will of God! This is very important. I hear people say (now and then) that they don't know what the will of God is for them. I accept that. But it often strikes me (in some cases like this) that the people who so speak don't major in the known will of God. Look, if I do not do the will of God which has been set down before me; if I don't embrace and practice the known will of God what difference does it make that there are areas of God's will unknown to me? If he made the unknown will known where's the guarantee I'll do anything about it? Perhaps if I major in the known will of God he will make other areas (now unknown) known to me. In the process of doing the known will I will be growing in wisdom (since I will be growing in Christ's likeness) and the unknown will of God will become known to me who was formerly blind.

Do the known will of God (that which is revealed in the Bible). Obey the gospel of Christ. Grow in grace and knowledge of him.