Discerning the will of God in the face of various pieces of advice requires careful and thoughtful application of these measures. By grounding their decisions in Scripture, prayer, wise counsel, ethical considerations, and the example of Christ, believers can navigate complex situations and make choices that honor God.
[00:00:00] Let us pray, bread together on our knees Let us pray, bread together on our knees When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun Oh Lord, never see all the need Welcome to the Bible Speaks with Elgin Carelock
[00:00:30] The Bible Speaks is a weekly ministry of Harvest International Our prayer is that the Bible Speaks will encourage you in your study of God's word You will be able to contact Elgin at the address given at the end of this broadcast And now, here's Elgin
[00:00:46] Brothers and sisters, I welcome you, whoever you are, from wherever you are Whenever you're listening to another episode of Words of Inspiration Today, I want to discuss how who we listen to can have an effect on our decisions and ultimately our destiny
[00:01:06] Our Scriptural Inspiration comes from Numbers, Chapter 13, Verse 30 Reading from the English Standard Version, it says Of course, this passage is part of the story of Moses sending twelve spies to the Promised Land to come back and give a report
[00:01:39] We also know that they came back with evidence of everything that God promised being true But, the majority of the members of the group felt there were too many challenges for them to take possession of what God promised them
[00:01:57] And ultimately, only the two that believed God made it into the Promised Land Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm Throughout your life and walk with the Lord, there will be those who don't understand your mission
[00:02:18] And will try to convince you to abandon your purpose or choose a path that makes more sense to them We have to be careful with who we listen to and measure their words against the Word of God If they do not align, take heed and follow God
[00:02:38] There are times when the advice is given with the best of intentions, but because they do not fully understand what is going on It can be given at the wrong time or in the wrong context
[00:02:51] We see this in the conversation between Job and his friend Eliphaz, who was telling Job to repent for whatever he did to cause such tremendous trials in his life Eliphaz's heart was in the right place and normally what he was saying was sound advice
[00:03:08] But in the context of what was happening to Job, his advice was incorrect And actually caused a reaction from God that required Job to enter see on the behalf of his friend So how do we know who to listen to or what to listen to?
[00:03:27] As I mentioned earlier, the most crucial test for any advice is is it consistent with Scripture? We should compare the advice against the teachings of the Bible as Scripture is the primary source of divine revelation and guidance 2 Timothy 3 verses 16 through 17 states
[00:03:50] All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness So that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work If the advice contradicts biblical principles, it is likely not aligned with God's will
[00:04:11] We should seek God's confirmation through prayer and asking him to provide clarity and peace about the advice received Philippians 4 verses 6 through 7 encourages, do not be anxious about anything But in every situation, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your request to God
[00:04:35] And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guide your heart and your minds in Christ Jesus A sense of peace from God can often indicate that the advice aligns with his will
[00:04:51] Seek counsel from those who are spiritually mature and have demonstrated a track record of wisdom Proverbs 11 verse 14 notes where there is no guidance, a people falls But in an abundance of counselors, there is safety
[00:05:10] Wise counsel from trusted spiritual mentors or leaders who also value scriptural truth can help in discerning the correctness of any advice you receive Evaluating the motives behind the advice and its potential outcomes is essential
[00:05:29] Advice that promotes selfish gain, unethical behavior or harm to others is clearly out of step with God's command In 1 Thessalonians 5 verses 21 through 22, it advises, test everything Hold on to what is good, avoid every kind of evil The motive should reflect godly values like love, integrity and compassion
[00:05:58] Finally, measuring advice against the life and teachings of Jesus Christ can provide a clear gauge Does the advice encourage you to act in ways that are loving, humble, servant-hearted and sacrificial?
[00:06:15] John 13 and 15 says, I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you Jesus' life serves as an ultimate model for Christian behavior
[00:06:28] If the advice aligns with the way Jesus lived and taught, it is more likely to be in accordance with God's will Brothers and sisters, discerning the will of God in the face of various pieces of advice Requires careful and thoughtful application of these measures
[00:06:47] By grounding their decisions in Scripture, prayer, wise counsel, ethical consideration and the example of Jesus Christ We can negotiate complex situations and make choices that honor God I thank you once again for spending time with me on today And I look forward to our discussion on tomorrow
[00:07:10] Until then, God bless 344-78 Again, that's Harvest International, Post Office Box 6690, Ocala, Florida 34478