"we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.” -Col. 1:9
God’s Decretive (Sovereign) Will The secret will of God is known to God and God alone. This is knowledge of future events. The only way to discern this by looking backwards at past events.
God's Preceptive (Revealed) Will
The Scripture remains the revealed Will of God. The Word of God contains Biblical Commands, principles, and applied knowledge…aka wisdom.
What we may safely presume when making decisions.
God is gracious and has provided what we need in our decision making process.
Don’t be looking for the decretive will you will not find this out later as you look back over your life.
Scripture has bearing on all decision, one way or another (by commands - positive and negative and by principles). Wisdom is at purest in Scripture and then starts to rely more eon human reasoning, advice and experience after that (obviously less reliable).
Methods and Motives to be cautious of or avoid using
Misusing the Bible
Personal Advice - Godly people can advise you wrongly.
Circumstances/results -look @ results/numbers. Water can out of the rock when Moses struck it in spit of his disobedience.
Setting up conditions- Gideon’s approach to decision making- putting out the fleece
Opened and closed doors - Lots of open doors lead to elevator shafts;
Ideas, inner feelings, desires, and impressions - Very subjective; think of King David in the OT, he would not build the temple Solomon would do it even though David desired to build.
An Audible voice -2 peter 2:19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brotuh to bondage.
Misusing Prayer - Prayer is you speaking to God not God speaking to you.
Inner Peace - Gut feelings; Jonah had great peace in going the opposite way from What God had called him to do. Sometimes peace doesn’t come until after you do what God has asked. Jeremiah experienced extreme discomfort until he preached the terrible things God had placed on his heart to say.
Devices - Flipping coins
Signs -
Dreams - could just be your imagination
“Waiting” on the LORD - Doesn’t mean sit passively- trust in God
Conscience- Guard not a guide; renew w/scripture
reason - could be infected with sin (prov. 3:5-6
Faith - Unbiblical faith - we must take God at his Word and be obedient.
Fasting - some see it as a magic thing if we give of a meal or two God has to answer or your just a little thinner.
The “Call” -1 Tim. 3; Titus 1; confirmation from others; desire to do that.
Small Group
Prerequisites for Biblical Decision making
Be rightly related to Christ (2 Cor. 5:14-21)
Pursue a life of worshiping God (John 4:23-24; 2 Cor. 5:9; Phil. 1:21; 3:10-14; Co 1: 9-12)
Recognizing God’s sovereignty over all (ps. 115:3,8; Eph. 1L:11; eph,. 5:17; James 4:13-16; Prov. 16:9; Rom. 8:28-29). God’s sovereignty works in sync with (never apart from) all his other attributes.
The Process of Making A Biblical Decision:
Continually have a humble, yielding, and dependent will before God (Rom. 12:1-2).
Continually pray for wisdom- for the spirit to assist you in bringing Scripture to bear on the situation (James 1:5).
Gather all FACTUAL data needed to make a wise decision. (Prov. 18:13)
Study any direct commands in Scripture concerning this particular issue (2 Tim. 2:15), including positive commands or forms of prohibitions. (Make use of a Bible concordance, Topical Bible and other Bible reference books.)
Study the applicable principles in Scripture concerning the issue (2 Tim. 2:15). This is one of the most neglected areas of decision making.
Rom. 14:23; Heb. 11:25 use the “holding principle” = if it involves the troubled conscience - you might possibly sin in moving ahead.
Possibly go back and gather more data - both in the initial data gathering or in the commands and principles of scripture.
