How Does GOD Lead Us - Roshan Ryan

Below is the transcript of the message shared by Brother Roshan Ryan during the sunday service on 2/3/2013:

As believers most of the problems we face in our lives is due to two reasons:

1. Failure in seeking GOD’s guidance and counsel regarding the matter.
2. Disobedience in what GOD told us to do regarding the matter.

GOD desires to communicate with us personally. In the Old Testament when anyone wanted to hear from GOD, they went to a prophet or a priest for guidance. But in the New Testament, GOD leads each one of us by HIS SPIRIT (Romans 8:14).

Therefore it is wrong for believers to run to preachers & prophets in the Body of CHRIST for guidance. CHRIST has appointed leadership in HIS Body not to guide people but to prepare people! GOD expects you to hear HIM directly! It is pivotal for us to understand how GOD guides us. We must be people who know GOD’s voice! 

“The sheep that are My (JESUS) own hear and are listening to My (JESUS) voice; and I (JESUS) know them, and they follow Me (JESUS).” (John 10:27 AMP)

GOD Leads Us

1.Through HIS WORD.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105 AMP)

We require light for clarity. GOD’S Word is like a light that will guide us in every situation.

When you don’t have light, you’ll always be concerned about pits lest you fall into it. But when you have light, you won't be concerned about the pits because light itself will expose the pits. When truth comes to you every lie will be exposed!

GOD’s voice is hidden in HIS Word.

From Genesis to Revelation, all Scripture is inspired by the Spirit of GOD and has its place, purpose and time. Therefore you must spend time meditating and studying GOD’S Word every day.

One day someone was facing a problem and he was desperately seeking GOD for a solution. He prayed, “LORD, speak to me through YOUR Word” Bam!  he opened the Bible and his eyes fell upon a verse, “and Judas hung himself”!!! He was all confused so he prayed and again, “LORD, speak to me” he opened the Bible again and now it said, “Go and do likewise”!!! GOD does not speak to you through lucky draw method!

Some say, “It not knowing the Word of GOD, it is about knowing the God of the Word.” This statement is true in one sense but on the other hand it is not totally true either!

“You search and investigate and pore over the Scriptures diligently, because you suppose and trust that you have eternal life through them. And these [very Scriptures] testify about Me!” (John 5:39 AMP)

You cannot know GOD apart from HIS Word!

2.Through HIS HOLY SPIRIT.

“The Spirit Himself [thus] testifies together with our own spirit, [assuring us] that we are children of God.” (Romans 8:16 AMP)

"But, on the contrary, as the Scripture says, What eye has not seen and ear has not heard and has not entered into the heart of man, [all that] God has prepared (made and keeps ready) for those who love Him who hold Him in affectionate reverence, promptly obeying Him and gratefully recognizing the benefits He has bestowed].Yet to us God has unveiled and revealed them by and through His Spirit, for the [Holy] Spirit searches diligently, exploring and examining everything, even sounding the profound and bottomless things of God [the divine counsels and things hidden and beyond man’s scrutiny].For what person perceives (knows and understands) what passes through a man’s thoughts except the man’s own spirit within him? Just so no one discerns (comes to know and comprehend) the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God."(1 Corinthians 2:9-11) AMP

The ‘thoughts’ of GOD is the voice of GOD.

GOD will guide us through witness, impel and impressions of the HOLY SPIRIT. The voice of the LORD comes to us as the HOLY SPIRIT communicates with our born again human spirit. Praying in tongues is an important ingredient in being led by GOD. Praying in tongues builds your spirit and keeps you connected to the Throne!

“For one who speaks in an [unknown] tongue speaks not to men but to God, for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the [Holy] Spirit he utters secret truths and hidden things [not obvious to the understanding].” (1 Corinthians 14:2 AMP)

3.By Reason

Reasoning may not always 100% contain the voice of GOD but sometimes GOD can communicate to us through the medium of reason.

“Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord.” (Isaiah 1:18 AMP)

“Now about this time, when the number of the disciples was greatly increasing, complaint was made by the Hellenists (the Greek-speaking Jews) against the [native] Hebrews because their widows were being overlooked and neglected in the daily ministration (distribution of relief). So the Twelve [apostles] convened the multitude of the disciples and said, It is not seemly or desirable or right that we should have to give up or neglect [preaching] the Word of God in order to attend to serving at tables and superintending the distribution of food. Therefore select out from among yourselves, brethren, seven men of good and attested character and repute, full of the [Holy] Spirit and wisdom, whom we may assign to look after this business and duty.But we will continue to devote ourselves steadfastly to prayer and the ministry of the Word. And the suggestion pleased the whole assembly, and they selected Stephen, a man full of faith (a strong and welcome belief that Jesus is the Messiah) and full of and controlled by the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte (convert) from Antioch. These they presented to the apostles, who after prayer laid their hands on them. And the message of God kept on spreading, and the number of disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem; and [besides] a large number of the priests were obedient to the faith [in Jesus as the Messiah, through Whom is obtained eternal salvation in the kingdom of God].”

(ACTS 6:1-7 AMP)

The problem of feeding the widows was sorted out and result was so effective that the number of disciples multiplied and large number of priests got saved. How did it all happen? The apostles reasoned the matter which brought the solution.

We are supposed to reason out things through the mind of CHRIST and not with human reasoning. The more and more you tap into the mind of CHRIST, you'll be able to pick up the signals in the Heart of GOD and reason in line with GOD.

4.Nature.

“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows and proclaims His handiwork. Day after day pours forth speech, and night after night shows forth knowledge.

There is no speech nor spoken word [from the stars]; their voice is not heard. Yet their voice [in evidence] goes out through all the earth, their sayings to the end of the world. Of the heavens has God made a tent for the sun, (Psalm 19: 1-4 AMP)

GOD can speak to us at times through nature.

5.Through People who are precisely connected to HIM .

Though GOD speaks to us directly, HE may at times speak to us through men and women who are precisely tuned to HIM.

“Now there was in Damascus a disciple named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias. And he answered, Here am I, Lord. And the Lord said to him, Get up and go to the street called Straight and ask at the house of Judas for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying [there]. And he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias enter and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight. But Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard many people tell about this man, especially how much evil and what great suffering he has brought on Your saints at Jerusalem; Now he is here and has authority from the high priests to put in chains all who call upon Your name. But the Lord said to him, Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of Mine to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the descendants of Israel; For I will make clear to him how much he will be afflicted and must endure and suffer for My name’s sake.So Ananias left and went into the house. And he laid his hands on Saul and said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, Who appeared to you along the way by which you came here, has sent me that you may recover your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.And instantly something like scales fell from [Saul’s] eyes, and he recovered his sight. Then he arose and was baptized,” (Acts 9:10-18 AMP)

GOD ministered to Saul( Paul) through Ananias.

“Now in the church (assembly) at Antioch there were prophets (inspired interpreters of the will and purposes of God) and teachers: Barnabas, Symeon who was called Niger [Black], Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a member of the court of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, Separate now for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” (Acts 13:1-2 AMP

The LORD spoke to the prophets and teachers in the church at Antioch regarding Barnabas and Saul.

“While we were remaining there for some time, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. And coming to [see] us, he took Paul’s belt and with it bound his own feet and hands and said, Thus says the Holy Spirit: The Jews at Jerusalem shall bind like this the man who owns this belt, and they shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles (heathen). (Acts 21:10-11 AMP)

Agabus prophesied concerning Paul’s journey to Jerusalem.

There are many who deceived into thinking that GOD speaks to them directly so they don’t need anybody else. If GOD would communicate everything to us then why would HE place us in HIS Body and call us members of HIS Body? Body means there are other members too!

Sometimes people can be strongly convinced in something that is wrong. We must be strongly convinced about that which is right! When we go into error and not able to pick up the Voice of the LORD. GOD may speak to us through others who will bring HIS voice to us to get us back on track.

“But when Cephas (Peter) came to Antioch, I protested and opposed him to his face [concerning his conduct there], for he was blameable and stood condemned.” (Galatians 2:11 AMP)

Peter was a senior apostle but he was in error. It took Paul to correct him. Even senior men and women of GOD can make mistakes and GOD may use juniors to correct them. So seniors should not be proud or have any prejudice rather humble themselves and receive correction. Neither the juniors should feel as if they are special when they bring the word of correction.Correction should be done with humility and love. Remember you are just like a postman delivering the Word, that’s all!

Peter was humble enough to be corrected by Paul. Later he goes on to endorse Paul

“And consider that the long-suffering of our Lord [His slowness in avenging wrongs and judging the world] is salvation (that which is conducive to the soul’s safety), even as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the spiritual insight given him,” (2 Peter 3:15 AMP)

                                                                                

Note:  We must be spiritually mature to either correct or if we are the ones receiving the correction. Don't listen to any tom, dick and harry. Listen to those who are precisely tuned to GOD. Our spirit must be strong enough to discern when GOD is truly speaking through the person or if it is just the person talking.