PROCEDURE OF GUIDANCE:I will show you the four steps to divine guidance when you want to take major decisions in life, particularly in knowing the will of God in marriage. These steps will be of immense benefit to you in this area, or if you are already married and there are major family decisions to make.
The four steps are:
1. Pre-requisites
2. Pitfalls
3. Prayer Patterns
4. Principles of Testing.
PRE-REQUISITES:
Before you can know the will of God you must be a child of God. From the examples of David and Saul we considered in previous posts, it is clear that God expressly attends to the voice of His children and does not pay attention to the prayers of those who do not have a relationship with Him, except of course it is the prayer for forgiveness of sins and repentance. Does this surprise you? It shouldn’t; because even the very words of JESUS in Mark 7:27 affirms that
“But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it unto the dogs.”
Mark 7:27 KJV.
So, the first Pre-requisite is that you must act on what you have already known. If you do not act on what you know for now, God will not reveal the next step to you. In sciences,after you have treated the theoretical aspect of a particular topic, then it will be practically demonstrated to you. This further makes the topic clearer and prepares you for other topics still to be treated. This is God’s pattern too. He expects you to live out, act out, perform whatever He has shown you in the Bible. For instance, after a teaching on CHRISTIAN FORGIVENESS, God will like to see you forgive all those who have offended you before He goes on to reveal His mind concerning prayer to you.
PITFALLS:
At this point, I have a word for brothers and sisters who have made mistakes in the past. You probably had felt led to a brother or sister only to realise that the leading was not quite true. You don’t have to despair about that. People, not God, sometimes say that God will no longer guide anyone who had make a mistake in the past. This is erroneous. Samuel made a mistake when he went to choose David. God did not reject Samuel because of that mistake. He simply told him he was mistaken. If you have made a mistake in the past, cheer up and go back to God. But you must know and avoid some pitfalls.
THE POSSIBLE PITFALLS ARE:
1. Taking decision(s) based on circumstances only.
2. Depending on sense perception.
3. Wanting to use God’s will as a wheel-barrow which you can push in what direction you so desire.
4. Tendency to be self-willed. God may give you your will but with fearful consequences.
5. If problems come after receiving the will of God, don’t doubt.
6. If you start in the Spirit, continue in the Spirit. Don’t walk after the flesh and don’t walk by sight.
Don’t mistake feelings for fact. Don’t take a leap in the dark. Let your relationship with the LORD put you beyond the reach of doubt and uncertainty.
Having avoided these pitfalls, put your trust and confidence in God. He will make things right for you. He is your Father and He cares.
PRAYER PATTERNS:
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
Hebrews 11:1, 6 KJV
James 1:5 also admonishes,
“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”
James 1:5 KJV.
Whenever you pray to God it must be in Faith. Do not by any means entertain doubt that may creep into your heart while praying. Reassure yourself of the love of God. Repeat to yourself Scriptures that assure you of His undying love for you.
Remember that God is thinking about you. He will neither leave nor forsake you. You are precious in His sight. Remember the promises of God and recall the past answers to your prayers. This will inspire Faith in you as you go back and pray to know the will of God.
There is a way you pray and receive answers to your prayer. You must not be pretentious. You must be natural and simple. Strip yourself of every affection when going to God in prayer. Don’t read your prayer from any book – let your prayer flow from the depths of your burdened heart and use your own words. Pray in the language you best understand.
Moreover, you must be prepared to receive what the LORD gives you. God knows what you need. You do not need to tell Him what you think will best suit your personality. When the LORD makes a provision for you it will be alright in every sense. So tell God to give you the best He deems fit.
Finally, believe that God will show you His will.
Having done this, when the answer to your prayers comes, how will you know?
PRINCIPLES OF TESTING:
Having fulfilled the Pre-requisites, prayed and known what you believe to be the will of God, you should test what you now know to be the will of God in marriage. There are four principles of testing God’s will in marriage.
They are:
1. Promise Test
2. Purpose Test
3. Peace Test
4. Pastor Test.
To fulfil the Promise Test: you should ensure your decision is based on faith, not assumption, feeling and presumption. Does the promise of God cover the revealed will?
The Purpose Test: Requires that you ask yourself if your union with the prospective partner will help you fulfil the purpose and objective of God for your life. You need to ask yourself if God will be glorified in the decision. Picture yourself in the home as the life partner of the person you are led to and see if you have an abiding rest and peace. Does the idea of living with this partner give you freedom from strain, worry, anxiety and stress? Does the decision give you peace? This is the Peace Test.
Finally, you apply the Pastor Test. Don’t act like an orphan. God has a representative in the church. He is the Pastor. Tell him about the decision and based on your testimony, he will prayerfully counsel whether or not to go on with the relationship.
When your decision has passed through the Promise Test, Purpose Test, Peace Test and Pastor Test, and comes out clean, without any doubt, you can then move on.
But there is a big caution here. When a believer decides to marry an unbeliever and claims that his decision has passed through these four test , is such decision in line with scriptural injunction?
NEVER AN UNBELIEVER!
Be Wise, Do it God’s Way!
You Will Laugh Last in JESUS Mighty name amen🙏
Shalom -MARANATHA
Mrs Angelinah Olubunmi Peters
JESUS Is Alive In me
