When it comes to listening to God, how can we know whether we’re being led by the Spirit or whether our ideas and methodology are making us as lead weight?
I’ve been considering the question, “Does God use methods, plans and procedures?” I am convinced He does. Take a Sunday sermon, small group lesson, or a larger event – such as a Luis Palau festival or a Billy/Franklin Graham Crusade/festival as examples. I absolutely believe there needs to be a clear understanding of objective, purpose, and flow. EVERYTHING in that event needs to hone in on the focal point. In my humble opinion, anything less is just plain sloppy.
That being said, I believe equally as strongly that unless personally directed by the Holy Spirit, with a submissive spirit, it’s all for naught.
So what’s the problem? It seems people in either of these camps can’t find peace in the other camp. Isn’t it both?
Take a well prepared sermon. I’ve prayed and prayed. I’ve put 20-30 hours into preparation with a good portion of that being prayer for guidance and leading. Not just that others will hear, but I’ve prayed that my heart will hear, that this message is from God, not me. I’ve prayed for the Lord to remove ME from the equation. To guide my thoughts and heart, to give me the topic that my hearers need to hear. So here it is Sunday morning. I am prayed up. I have others praying for me. The entire service is orchestrated to point to the central theme of the morning. The worship in music, the worship in prayer and even the offering. It all flows. It all points to the central message God has laid on my heart.
If I am convinced God has led me in this way, would God ever mid-sermon direct me to throw away all my notes and all my planning? Would He ever just say, “Let’s do this instead?” AND if He did, what would my reaction be?
If I’ve prayed for God to lead me and I firmly believe He has prepared me would He not use my preparation? Would He not direct the building program for the needed expansion wing to be added, after months of tedious labor and meetings? Would He not direct me to follow through on plans for my succession – that He has so clearly guided me in?
All these things are good. In the end it’s His will we should honestly desire. BUT His ways are not our ways. His thoughts are not our ways. Maybe there was another point to 30 hours of sermon preparation. Maybe He has something else in mind when He called me to spend that time and effort and then discard it. Maybe He knows something I don’t know.
Truly submitting to God means clearly hearing His voice and responding in obedience. If I have to stop and question Him doesn’t that in itself say that I am not in a posture of acknowledging His Lordship?
The above examples were selected for their relatability. Not because we all have are will be there, but because we should be able to relate to the concept as it applies in our everyday effort as we try to serve God and honor Him with the greatest things we can give, our entire being.
If I am not willing to listen anytime, no matter what, I have a problem. If I am not willing to give Him my entire energy and focus for a task I have been given, I have a problem. The two ideas are not mutually exclusive. I believe this intersection of ideologies is where a Christian is tested by fire. This is where my faith is tested.
Am I willing to do what it takes to ensure my life is not lived willy-nilly? Am I willing to do what it takes and give up all my own efforts when called – not later, now?
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