God's Will

[subllibrm]

I heard an interesting take on the subject over the weekend. A lady friend was asked how she knew what God's will was for her life. She said that He reveals His will to her through other people. Specifically that she knows what God wants her to do when those in authority over her (in this case a ministry director) tell her what to do.

 

[christundivided]

I heard an interesting take on the subject over the weekend. A lady friend was asked how she knew what God's will was for her life. She said that He reveals His will to her through other people. Specifically that she knows what God wants her to do when those in authority over her (in this case a ministry director) tell her what to do.

Sounds like she just admitted to what many people silently practice. Sad.

 

[subllibrm]

I heard an interesting take on the subject over the weekend. A lady friend was asked how she knew what God's will was for her life. She said that He reveals His will to her through other people. Specifically that she knows what God wants her to do when those in authority over her (in this case a ministry director) tell her what to do.

Sounds like she just admitted to what many people silently practice. Sad.

It is.

I wonder if she has ever experienced the promise that His spirit bears witness to our spirit.

 

[Citadel of Truth]

Could it be that this lady is simply practicing the truth of Proverbs 11:14? Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

I've always maintained that if you ask godly people for advice and several of them tell you the same thing you would be wise to follow their advice and consider it as God's will. Obviously there could be exceptions to this but I would say they are rare. 

 

[subllibrm]

Could it be that this lady is simply practicing the truth of Proverbs 11:14? Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

I've always maintained that if you ask godly people for advice and several of them tell you the same thing you would be wise to follow their advice and consider it as God's will. Obviously there could be exceptions to this but I would say they are rare.

I agree with your assessment of Proverbs. Sadly it doesn't apply in this case. She doesn't ask for counsel. In fact she refuses it.

This came out of a conversation on passion. When asked to share what she is passionate about she said she would need to go home and think about it. She did back track a little a say that her passion was to do God's will. When asked how He directs her to His will she said that other people tell her what He wants her to do. Understand that this is not her asking for input on things she is thinking about.

I have never encountered this mindset before and am not doing a very good job of conveying the story. What I will say is that it feels like talking to a robot.

 

[christundivided]

Could it be that this lady is simply practicing the truth of Proverbs 11:14? Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

I've always maintained that if you ask godly people for advice and several of them tell you the same thing you would be wise to follow their advice and consider it as God's will. Obviously there could be exceptions to this but I would say they are rare.

Proverbs 11:14 is anecdotal. It all depends who sits on the "counsel". Just ask "Ahab". Either way, God's will is determined through knowledge of the Scriptures and the divine direction of the Holy Spirit.

 

[Citadel of Truth]

I agree with your assessment of Proverbs. Sadly it doesn't apply in this case. She doesn't ask for counsel. In fact she refuses it.

This came out of a conversation on passion. When asked to share what she is passionate about she said she would need to go home and think about it. She did back track a little a say that her passion was to do God's will. When asked how He directs her to His will she said that other people tell her what He wants her to do. Understand that this is not her asking for input on things she is thinking about.

I have never encountered this mindset before and am not doing a very good job of conveying the story. What I will say is that it feels like talking to a robot.

Thank you for clarifying this young lady's situation. It certainly sounds like a very dangerous way to make decisions.

 

[Citadel of Truth]

Proverbs 11:14 is anecdotal. It all depends who sits on the "counsel". Just ask "Ahab". Either way, God's will is determined through knowledge of the Scriptures and the divine direction of the Holy Spirit.

There are many ways that God reveals His will to us. The Word of God, the Holy Spirit of God, the people of God, and the circumstances of life are just a few. The determination of "who sits on the counsel" is totally up to the one who is seeking the counsel. 

 

[Ransom]

Proverbs 11:14 is, obviously, a proverb - meaning it is a wise utterance that imparts practical advice. In this case, the practical advice (apparently given to a future ruler) is that there is safety in surrounding yourself with good advisors, whereas acting without consulting sound counsel might be disastrous.

It's practical wisdom - it's not law, and it's not a promise - so it's meant to be a general saying about the way things usually work. Obviously it is possible, at least in theory, for a very clever king to govern well without the advise of good counselors; conversely, he might also surround himself with very stupid people and get bad advice. But generally speaking, that's not the way it works.

The application for a Christian "seeking God's will' should be clear enough: if you are uncertain about a decision you have to make, seek out the help of other mature Christians whom you respect for giving sound advice.  I don't necessarily see that as part of a roadmap for finding "God's will for your life" - after all, so much of what falls under that rubric really just turns out to be practical wisdom in disguise, as it were.

 

[Citadel of Truth]

The application for a Christian "seeking God's will' should be clear enough: if you are uncertain about a decision you have to make, seek out the help of other mature Christians whom you respect for giving sound advice.  I don't necessarily see that as part of a roadmap for finding "God's will for your life" - after all, so much of what falls under that rubric really just turns out to be practical wisdom in disguise, as it were.

I do not disagree with anything you have said except your opinion that seeking counsel would not a "part of a roadmap for finding God's will for your life." My opinion is that it is a very significant part of the road map. It should never be the only factor to be considered. but coupled with prayer and searching the Scriptures it can be very significant indeed.

Consider these verses:
Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But he who heeds counsel is wise.
Proverbs 15:22 Without counsel, plans go awry, But in the multitude of counselors they are established.

God allows godly counselors in our lives who have the wisdom that we have yet to acquire. It could be wisdom of years or a greater knowledge of the Word of God or simply divine insight. A wise person would do well to glean from such people. It certainly may be mere "practical wisdom" but it is usually practical wisdom that the seeker himself does not yet possess.

 

[Ransom]

I do not disagree with anything you have said except your opinion that seeking counsel would not a "part of a roadmap for finding God's will for your life."

What I meant by that is this: The conventional wisdom amongst evangelical Christians is that "finding God's will" means figuring out what choices God wants you to make from day to day, particularly when it comes to the big decisions of life. When we are confronted with these choices, it is said that we should read certain "sign-posts" that point us in the right direction: wise counsel, circumstances, prayer, Scripture, and so forth. When all the "sign-posts" seem to line up with a particular option, then that option is God's will for our lives and we are supposed to follow God's leading by choosing what he has already chosen for us.

I reject the conventional wisdom that seeking God's will consists merely of finding all the right stops on the itinerary, and so in that sense I reject wise counsel as one of the "sign-posts."  Practical wisdom (along with all the other sign-posts) is not a providential sign pointing me in the right direction; rather, it is good advice from people I respect, which, along with the other so-called sign-posts, will factor into how I make my choices.

 

[Torrent v.3]

I heard an interesting take on the subject over the weekend. A lady friend was asked how she knew what God's will was for her life. She said that He reveals His will to her through other people. Specifically that she knows what God wants her to do when those in authority over her (in this case a ministry director) tell her what to do.

Oh, noes. If the mannagawd wants her to spend 6 nights a week at the church building, and desert her family, then that's God's will?  I don't think so.

 

[Binaca Chugger]

The poor woman is a people-pleaser who is totally wrapped up in Performance Based Christianity.

God's will is that we honor Him. 

I have grown weary of the "God's Will" card being used to tell people what they ought to do with their life.  In the IFB NADD, "God's Will" simply means that you will attend our Bible college and do whatever we tell you and you will like it.  If you don't like it, you are not right with God.  The term has become a tool of manipulation used by the MOG to strike fear and subjection into the hearts and mind of his sheeple. 

In the NADD, "counselors" order the sheeple's lives with the "Will of God" card.  Since leaving the NADD, I have found pastors and Christian counselors who will state something to the effect of: "I cannot tell you what to do.  That is between you and God.  I can only point to Biblical passages or principles that relate to your situation to help you come to a conclusion."

Counsel is pointing people to the mind of Christ that they may know truth and find wisdom, not imposing my will on people that my agenda may be accomplished.

The fact that the woman must ask her MOG (or MOG's minion) what her passion is, shows that her passion is to please people, not God.

 

[Ransom]

Heh. I just figured out "NADD." Clever. (Calvary Chapel claims the same thing apparently.)

 

[rsc2a]

Heh. I just figured out "NADD." Clever. (Calvary Chapel claims the same thing apparently.)

Yup. I would describe CC as a charismatic IFB church. They are nearly the same thing.

 

[Binaca Chugger]

Heh. I just figured out "NADD." Clever. (Calvary Chapel claims the same thing apparently.)

Thanks!  I started speaking out against the "Not-A-Denomination-Denomination" years ago.  Landed me in some hot water for a time, then I just withdrew my "Non-Membership." 

 

[Citadel of Truth]

I agree with the comments above. It is sad to see people stuck in the mindset that results or numbers indicate the will of God. That's why we have teenagers going "soulwinning" for 45you minutes and coming back with 6 or 8 people "saved." If you came back with 0 apparently you are not right with God. My opinion is that if you're out sharing the gospel you're in the will of God even if no one responds.

 

[T-Bone]

I believe we find God's will by being submissive and obedient to God's will.  What I mean is there is so much of God's will written for each of us as believers in the Word of God...to find more of what God might want for us, we find it in following what He has already revealed in His Word.  If we refuse to submit ourselves to His already revealed will, why would we expect Him to reveal anything else to us?

 

[Citadel of Truth]

I believe we find God's will by being submissive and obedient to God's will.  What I mean is there is so much of God's will written for each of us as believers in the Word of God...to find more of what God might want for us, we find it in following what He has already revealed in His Word.  If we refuse to submit ourselves to His already revealed will, why would we expect Him to reveal anything else to us?

Great answer, my friend. I agree 100%