Last week, we began exploring the second milestone of Bethel and how we grow deeper in knowing God. Today, in Episode 5, we continue exploring Bethel and Decision-making in the Will of God.

At Bethel, we experience God and our great Shepherd reminds us that when we hear His voice, we will follow Him (John 10: 27). Have you heard some Christians telling you, “The Lord spoke to me” or “The Lord told me”? Well, I have - many times. And it leaves me wondering:  Why doesn’t God speak to me? Why can’t I hear Him? Pastor Daniel Foo was no different. When he was a young Christian, he, too, used to struggle with this. He said, “People were saying the Lord told them this or that — but why wasn’t He telling me anything?” Later, he learnt that he had a preconceived notion of the way that the Lord spoke. Hebrews 1: 1-2 affirms that God speaks in different ways.

The revelation of God is complete in Jesus Christ. Because God speaks to all of us, we are to aim to be familiar with Him first. Then we can recognize how the Lord speaks to us personally, and not compare ourselves with others. Because we are His children, He assures us that we have a ‘hotline’ to Him.

God is a loving God, and He desires to have a personal relationship in fellowship with us. Both Paul and John remind us that our relationship is with all three members of the Godhead: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. While we do not usually see Him appearing to us or hear Him in an audible voice, God does speak to us — through Scripture, images and visions, the circumstances we are in, or the people He puts in our lives.

God uses two absolutes to guide us to know Him and walk with Him: His Word and His Spirit.

1. The Word of God

The general direction, broad principles and guidelines for living and decision making are always found in God’s Word. The Bible defines the parameters or boundary markers. What guidelines and boundaries does God want us to consider? He wants us to consider the following:

• Is it permissible? (1 Corinthians 10:23)

• Will it lead to peace? (Philippians 4:6-7)

• Will it build others up?    (1 Corinthians 14:3)

• Does it stumble others? (1 Corinthians 8:13)

• Is it a blessing to others? (Philippians 4:8)

• Does it glorify God? (1 Corinthians 10:31)

The Bible also shows us boundaries a Christian should not cross — these are clear violations of God’s will. For example, 2 Corinthians 6:14 tells us that we should not be “unequally yoked”, that is, we shouldn’t develop an intimate relationship with someone who doesn’t know God or who disregards the core values we have been taught with regard to God. Another example is Romans 12:17-21, where we are guided to leave vengeance with God. We overcome evil with good, not more evil; and so a course of action that seeks revenge and does evil is to be avoided.

Similarly, the Word of God also tells us clearly not to have dishonest scales, but to keep our integrity. Proverbs 11:1 where it says: Dishonest scales are an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is His delight. This expression literally comes from the market, where a seller might have fiddled with the weighing scales and we end up paying for 1 kg of meat, but only getting 800 grams. In the workplace, not having dishonest scales means keeping our promises to clients, and not compromising in terms of quality or standards. It also means that we are to deal with people honestly and fairly, and not show prejudice or favoritism.

2. The Holy Spirit

The guidelines of Scriptures are very clear, but we are also interested in the details. How then do we get specific guidance for decisions? The details come as we develop our inward witness, and become familiar with the promptings of the Holy Spirit. He is the Spirit of wisdom in each of us who helps us to unpack the facts and information at hand. We then weigh those facts as the Holy Spirit gives us the clarity, understanding and wisdom to make the correct responses and decisions.

It is at Bethel that we seek the Spirit of wisdom. As He dwells in us, the Holy Spirit guides us through the following:

a. People in our lives

God speaks to us through the people in our lives. It can be through a pastor’s sermon, a friend’s word of encouragement, a cell group leader’s counsel or even a family member’s admonishment. But the question that arises is: can God also do so through pre-believers? Absolutely, for He has given us a mind to analyse and process information, regardless of the source it comes from. For example, if we need to purchase property, we look for a property agent. If we need a medical opinion, we speak to a specialist. If we need advice on which school to place our children, we speak to parents who have gone through a similar process, or teachers who are in a position to give us counsel. We posture our minds and hearts to listen to God, who speaks through different people in our lives.

b. Directing us to the right resources

God speaks to us through resources, such as sermons, books, articles, training, conferences, seminars and the internet. For example, if we have gone to see the doctor and he points out that we have a particular medical condition, we can find out more by searching for information on credible sites on the Internet. We can also obtain more advice through articles, books and magazines, and by attending seminars. As we are directed by the Spirit, He will help us intelligently approach the problem at hand.

c. Prompting us in specific situations and circumstances

When we connect with God, we can ask Him for divine ‘downloads’ for a specific situation. These divine promptings, such as ideas or people to contact, or a particular word of encouragement can come anytime — when we are driving, working or worshipping Him in song.

d. Thoughts and emotions on various decisions

God Himself writes His laws in our hearts and minds. Listen to Hebrews 10:16, “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them, ….”

The idea of “putting” means we can receive this guidance immediately as a thought in our minds. Writing, on the other hand, suggests that we will not be able to receive it instantly. Rather, it involves our thinking faculty to understand and grasp the significance of the decision and for our emotions to align to that decision.

Because we are all unique, we have different personalities and the way God guides us is personal and determined by our mind (how we think), emotions (how we feel) and will (how we make decisions). Therefore, some of us who are more cerebral by nature would spend more time analysing the decision, while others who express themselves more through their emotions may need to feel good before making a choice.

More importantly, our natural mind is of the flesh, and we need a posture of surrender for our thinking to be continually renewed (Romans 12:1-2). Similarly, our emotions must be tempered by the Holy Spirit, to manifest the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).

Finally, we align our wills with God’s will, with the help of the Holy Spirit — and make our decisions in that light.

There are three principles for sound decision making, which comprise knowledge, understanding and wisdom. Knowledge is seeing the ground and knowing the facts of the situation; understanding is to using our resources to analyse, weigh and evaluate them. Finally, in applying wisdom, God guides us towards the right direction to make the decision. All three must be in alignment beginning with acquiring knowledge, followed by understanding, which is clarity on the facts and finally, wisdom to know what and when to do.

What is the role of faith in making decisions? Eventually, when we make a decision, we will require faith, and there are two overriding considerations which guide this process. First, we must trust God that He wants to guide and lead us to make the right decision, and soak the matter in prayer until we are inclined to decide. This is obeying Proverbs 3:5-6, which states: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” Secondly, while we are inclined to a particular decision, we apply the truth in Romans 14:23: “… for whatever is not from faith is sin.” A true commitment of the matter to God gives us peace about the decision.

We are constantly beset with issues and matters in our daily life and we need clarity and wisdom to make the right responses. As we commit these matters in total dependency on Him, He will surely lead us in the right decision. This is the assurance of God’s guidance in our lives.

How do you personally make decisions? Think of a few decisions you have recently made and evaluate these decisions within the framework or boundary markers of Scripture, and the Holy Spirit’s guidance on the details within that framework. In the next episode, we will look into the last part of the second milestone – Bethel. We will look at ‘Trials and the Believer’ and ‘Purified to Serve’.

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