Avoid Accidents | Obey The Traffic Lights Part Two

 Avoid Accidents:

Obey The Traffic Lights

Part Two

“...If this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: but if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.”

 (Acts 5:38-39)

God’s Will

People today feel that they are quite able to find the Will of God on their own and do not need the help of men.  They even say,  “I’m not going to listen to men but only to the voice of God.”  First of all, it will be a very lonely life if you determine not to listen to men.  Secondly, this attitude is very dangerous.

Five Fingered Ministry

God has provided us with a five-fingered leadership in the church to assist us.  These five fingers found in Ephesians 4:11 include:

q  1.                                                Apostles

q  2.                                                Prophets

q  3.                                                Evangelists

q  4.                                                Pastors

q  5.                                                Teachers

These men of God are capable of confirming and providing counsel in the area that you feel is God’s will for your life.  It shouldn’t be felt that they are enemies and will destroy God’s plan if it is exposed to them.  Others feel that if the Will of God is voiced then the devil will send his demons to destroy the plan of God.  Jesus came to destroy the work of Satan.  Satan cannot destroy the plan of God; and neither can man.

Gamaliel was a man that was honored by everyone.  In Acts 5 he advised,  “Keep your hands off these men.  If what they are doing is their own idea, it will fall apart.  But if it is of God, you can’t stop it and you don’t want to be fighting with God.”

Wise and Godly Counsel Provides

Safety on the Road

The will of God will stand up to the examination of spiritual men of God.  They will be able to give you wise and godly counsel. We can go to men of God that have been seasoned in the ministry and are mature.

“Private revelation must stand the test of public examination.” 

The Wise Man said, “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellers there is safety.” (Proverbs 11:14)

“Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellers they are established.”  (Proverbs 15:22)

“For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellers there is safety.”  (Proverbs 24:6)

Hearing the Voice of God

q  Another way that we can hear the voice of God concerning His Will is through the “still small voice.”  Elijah stood upon the mountain and waited for the Lord to pass by.  The wind came and broke the rocks but God was not in the wind.  After the wind, there was an earthquake, but God wasn’t in the earthquake.

After the earthquake there was a fire, but God was not in the fire.  Finally, after the fire there was the “still small voice.”  (1 Kings 19:11-12)

We need a close relationship to the Lord that will allow us to hear and know His voice.  Paul came “declaring the testimony of God.”      (1 Corinthians 2:1)  Paul knew this because he determined “not to know anything...save Jesus Christ and him crucified.”                  (1 Corinthians 2:2)   He later mentioned that “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.  But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit...”  (1 Cor. 2:9-10) 

q  The Holy Spirit will “guide us.”  (John 16:13)  The Lord is compared to a Shepherd in John 10 and we are His sheep. 

“...The sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out...he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.  And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.”  (John 10:3-5)

When God speaks to us with a still small voice; we can hear it, and we will have a deep assurance in our heart that God has spoken. 

Gifts of the Spirit

The Will of God can be confirmed to us through the Gifts of the Spirit.  The revelation gifts that reveal something are especially helpful.

Desire

Another way to confirm the Will of God is whether or not we have a desire in our heart to do what we feel God is telling us.

“Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”  (Psalm 37:4)

 

God gives us the desires of our heart because He puts the desire there in the first place.  However, desire alone, is not a safe way to determine the Will of God.

“What you enjoy doing most is usually the will of God for your life.”

Clearance From Road Control

Dr. Hamon mentions “the witness, clearance, or restraint of the Holy Spirit.”   In Acts 16:6 Paul was “forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia.”  In Acts 16:7 “the Spirit suffered them not.”  Paul also testified “the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city.”  (Acts 20:23)  Paul mentioned in 1 Corinthians 7:40, “…I think also that I have the Spirit of God.”

We should never ignore the prompting of the Holy Ghost, because it will dull our spiritual senses.  It can also change the green light into a red light. 

A missionary traveling back to his home in the night passed through a city.  He was traveling with two nationals.  Anxious to see their families they continued on toward their home.  Soon armed robbers ambushed them.  The vehicle was shot many times with a gun and the missionary and national preachers barely escaped with their lives.  Later each one testified that they had thought that they should not go on, but did not tell each other.  It is better to listen than to regret it later.

Did You Pass the Test?

When you pass the majority of these tests, you have a green light and can proceed on to the next light.

God’s Way

You have passed through the first two traffic lights and have now come to the third light.  You may have the mind of God but will need to wait on the correct timing.

“God’s Delays Are Not God’s Denials.”

Confusion usually indicates that the timing is not correct.  The Will of God normally falls into place at the appropriate time. 

“For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.”  (1 Corinthians 14:33)

Walking and Driving in the Will of God

God has a way that He wants us to walk in order to fulfill His will.  “...This is the way, walk ye in it...” (Isaiah 30:21) 

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.”  (Psalm 37:23)  

God’s ways are not our ways.  Therefore we must wait on Him to reveal the correct timing, direction, and the manner in which we will accomplish the will of God. 

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.”  (Isaiah 55:8)

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”  (Jeremiah 29:11)

The Light is Getting Ready to Change

Once you have a green light at each of the three traffic lights you should move quickly.  You must obey the light when it is green, knowing that it can change colors at any moment.  You need to act WHEN God wants you to act.

“...Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you...”  (John 12:35)

“To know the will of God is the greatest knowledge;

To find the will of God is the greatest discovery;

To do the will of God is the greatest achievement.”

Anonymous

“Being Out of the Will of God Stinks”

Jonah’s Testimony

There is such peace being in the perfect will of God.  However, when we run from the call and will of God it is a different story.  God sent Jonah to preach to the city of Ninevah.  Instead of passing through the traffic lights on the road to the will of God, Jonah changed roads all together and started running from it.  Jonah’s failure was not delighting himself in the Lord.  Instead of running to God; he was running away from God.  This took Jonah down.

Þ      Down to Joppa.  (Jonah 1:3)

Þ      Down into the Ship.  (Jonah 1:5)

Þ      Down into the Sea.  (Jonah 1:15)

Þ      Down into the belly of the Big Fish.  (Jonah 1:17)

It was in the belly of the big fish that Jonah started praying for the will of God to be done.  God can put us into situations where we will become delighted to do the will of God.    We need to make sure that our heart is right with God and that it is ready to do the Lord’s will.  This means that we must first surrender our own will and bring it under subjection to His will. 

Don’t Give Up; Things Could Get Worse

An article entitled, Resignation Fever, by Oliver Price appeared in The Parson Page in April 1982.  This article mentioned an interesting story about a pastor who was experiencing criticism from some people in his church.  (This story has been adapted for use in this lesson.)

The pastor wrote,  “Two deacons used to meet me after church every Sunday and mercilessly lecture me. “  This pastor went home discouraged each week. 

“Why don’t you leave the church?”  his wife suggested. 

“Well,” the pastor replied “there was one deacon who made me miserable in my last church I served.  Now there are two who attack me here.  I’m afraid if I run from them there will be four in the next place.” 

“Stand strong in God...

for after winter, summer comes; (i.e. after the rains, the sun comes) after night, the day returns; and after the storm, calm is restored.” Thomas a’Kempis

Problems in the ministry or in your personal life do not necessarily mean that you are out of the will of God.  We can minister where God has placed us with the assurance that we are doing what God has asked us to do.

“Whatsoever he saith unto you,

do it.”  (John 2:5)