How does God lead?

Dave_L

I think many imagine God talking to them in their own voice and words. And then acting on it find themselves fraught with questions when imagination never pans out as expected.

In Acts prophets warned of famine and persecution, and believers took action. But most of the prophecies today prove false. It is because God now frames our thoughts and actions through scripture, not available to the New Covenant church until written, collected, copied and circulated in the late apostolic era.

So how do we know what to do according to scripture, when we come to a fork in the road? From scripture we know love always chooses the right course. So when love motivates our choices, we can rest assured it was the right choice.

Scripture also warns us to avoid certain traps. And with further understanding, we grow keen to the witness of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. We find peace moving in certain directions, and alarm or heaviness moving in other directions.

Faith, when understood as being a fruit of the Holy Spirit also directs our path. If we have faith when we pray, we know the answer is on the way and we move in ways that expect its fulfillment. When faith is not present in certain matters, we know not to look any further in that direction.

Peter said scripture gives us a more sure word of prophecy than God directly speaking to us (2 Peter 1:17–21). In that scripture is not of private interpretation, where vocal proclamations were.

[Deleted User]

From an overall scope of Scripture and what is revealed in Scripture about how God has led His people, my simple answer would be that God leads
1. by directives revealed and found in Scripture
2. in specific situations by directives revealed via His spirit at work in the believer.

C Mc

In addition, brethren,

1. “God leads personal beings with a persuasive call, not a controlling force", so Boyd believes. Genuine personal relationship lies in two centers, the center of influence and the center of non-coercion. By virtue of His non-coercive covenant, God limits His power and empowers humanity to be co-rulers over the earth. Thus, divine sovereignty is influential (Boyd, Satan and the Problem of Evil, 353).

2. I am reminded of an old song when it comes to God's leading:

What says ye? CM

C Mc

The OP is one that we must keep in mind as we deal with the vicissitudes of life. It is so easy to for when things go contrary to wishes or our way. We all need to be reminded:

• "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth" (John 16:13 KJV).

• God leads His church -- two excellent examples (Galatians 2:1, 2; Acts 15:1, 2 NKJV).

  • Sometimes, He intervenes directly with instructions for an individual or for the entire church.

• God directed that His people diligently instruct their children in the Word of God (Deut. 6:7-9 KJV). Recovery of the neglected Word of God leads to revival, as in Josiah's time.

• The Word of God is the source of true wisdom (Ps. 119:98; Deut. 4:6).
• Paul writes to Timothy, "From childhood, you have been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to instruct you for salvation" (2 Tim. 3:15, RSV).
• Salvation-historical past for the continuing care, "God leads his people on their path of life and guards them amidst all manner of danger and distress.”

God is ever speaking, how many of us are listening? CM

Source:

Koole, Jan L. Isaiah III, Vol. 3: Isaiah 56-66. Historical Commentary on the Old Testament. Leuven: Peeters, 2001.