readrevelation.org

God’s Guidance System, How Does It Work? Week 6

Copyright 2007 Wilma Zalabak

Faith Statement: I can always know and do the next thing under God’s Guidance System.

Promises of God’s guidance

1. A voice behind you, Isaiah 30:21
2. Wakes my ear to hear, Isaiah 50:4
3. Trust not in my own understanding, Proverbs 3:5-10

4. So my very desires will be according to God's Law, Ezekiel 36:26-27

Methods of connecting to God’s guidance

1.  Be willing to do, John 7:17

2. Read
 a. Lamp, Psalm 119:105
 b. Sword, Hebrews 4:12
 c. Commandments, only thing God Himself wrote, Deuteronomy 10:1-5; 1 John 5:3

3. Listen
 a. Be still and know, Psalm 46:10
 b. Holy Spirit will teach, John 16:13
 c. Holy Spirit will write God’s law in heart, Ezekiel 36:26-27

4. Think, Proverbs 16:1-9

5. Talk, Proverbs 11:14

6. Watch, Proverbs 21:1

7. Wait, Isaiah 40:30

Mistakes seem to happen even though connected

1. Disciples were mistaken, but Jesus took care of that for them, John 16:12

*******************************

Supplement: Who is the Holy Spirit and What Does He Do?

I. Who is He in the Old Testament:
 “Spirit of Lord/God,” 42 times 
 “Holy Spirit,” 3 times
 “My Spirit,” too many times to count
 “My Spirit” (says the Lord), Zechariah 4:6

ii. Who is He in the New Testament:
 “Holy Ghost/Spirit,” 94 times
 “Comforter,” 4 times
 “Spirit of Father/God/Lord/Christ,” 13 times
 “The Spirit,” too many times to count

iii. What does He do in the Old Testament:
 Present in the beginning, Genesis 1:2; Psalm 104:30
 Worked for character change, Genesis 6:1; Psalm 51:11
 Gave gifts, Genesis 41:38; Exodus 31:3; 35:31
 For deliverance, Judges 3:10; 6:34; 11:29; 13:24; 14:6-9; 15:4

iv. What does He do in the New Testament:
 Eternal Spirit, Heb 9:14
 Yields fruit in character, Galatians 5:22-23
 Gives gifts, Romans 12, I Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4; I Peter 4
 For deliverance, Ephesians 6

v. Some of the character He brings, tasks He enables:
 Gaining our access to God, Romans 8:26; Ephesians 2:18
 Family assurance, Romans 8:14-17
 Family unity, Ephesians 4:3-6, 13
 Understanding the Bible, John 16:13; 2 Peter 1:20-21
 Being witnesses to Christ, Acts 1:8

vi. Fullness of God:
 At baptism, Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19
 In Jesus, Colossians 2:9-10
 In benediction, 2 Corinthians 13:14

**************************************

Response Questions

1. What is your reaction to the thought of being under God’s guidance system?

2. What do you think about God’s having a plan for a person? Each person?

3. How do you feel about the idea that God might let you make mistakes even if you’re practicing being under God’s guidance system?

4. Many people believe their lives are a mess. What would you advise someone who believed this?

Bible Study Suggestion: Acts 8:26-40, Philip and the Ethiopian Officer

1. Who was Philip? Acts 6:1-7; Acts 21:8

2. Who told Philip to go in Acts 8:26?

3. Where was the Ethiopian man going and why? What was he reading?

4. Can you find the passage in the Old Testament? When you do, compare it with this rendition. (Isaiah 53:7-8).

5. The question asked by the Ethiopian man is one question that scholars continue to ask. What was Philip’s answer?

6. This story is so much fun to charade or pantomime, or even act out including the speaking lines, so please someone show us what happened. It only takes two people, but try to show the action accurately.

7. What happened to Philip at the end of the story? Has anything like this ever happened to you, like either Philip or the Ethiopian man?

8. How do you think God might accomplish this kind of guidance for you?