God's Will

rosevs

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Is God's will only evident through scripture?

I finished reading Elisabeth Elliot's book titled Passion and Purity, where her husband at the time, waited for them to get married until "God revealed to him that they should marry."

I've talked to my pastor about this, I have searched it, read books, and I don't know if that is biblical. Will God ask us, in our hearts, to do something, and we are supposed to figure it out? Or should we do anything we want while being obedient to God's commands in scripture?

I was struggling with a hard decision because of a "feeling" that I thought God was giving me, but there was nothing biblical to help me. I read her book and it terrified me and made me feel even more lost. Went to my pastor and he basically told me God's will is that we obey his Word, and we cannot go by feelings to lead us in directions. Your thoughts?
 
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Is God's will only evident through scripture?

I finished reading Elisabeth Elliot's book titled Passion and Purity, where her husband at the time, waited for them to get married until "God revealed to him that they should marry."

I've talked to my pastor about this, I have searched it, read books, and I don't know if that is biblical. Will God ask us, in our hearts, to do something, and we are supposed to figure it out? Or should we do anything we want while being obedient to God's commands in scripture?

I was struggling with a hard decision because of a "feeling" that I thought God was giving me, but there was nothing biblical to help me. I read her book and it terrified me and made me feel even more lost. Went to my pastor and he basically told me God's will is that we obey his Word, and we cannot go by feelings to lead us in directions. Your thoughts?

I am generally skeptical of those who say God has told them to do some specific thing or another. There are a lot of people who have believed that God has told them to do some thing or another only to have it go wrong later. Are they then able to blame God for the failure? Suppose a man says God told him to marry some woman. Would God tell him later to divorce her? I saw a young woman on television once who said she prayed to God to help her with her decision to get an abortion. According to her, He told her it was the right thing to do. I can not support that idea.

I think it's best to allow what we know of God to generally guide us in our lives but not be so hasty in believing that God is telling us any specific thing.
 
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eleos1954

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Is God's will only evident through scripture?

I finished reading Elisabeth Elliot's book titled Passion and Purity, where her husband at the time, waited for them to get married until "God revealed to him that they should marry."

I've talked to my pastor about this, I have searched it, read books, and I don't know if that is biblical. Will God ask us, in our hearts, to do something, and we are supposed to figure it out? Or should we do anything we want while being obedient to God's commands in scripture?

I was struggling with a hard decision because of a "feeling" that I thought God was giving me, but there was nothing biblical to help me. I read her book and it terrified me and made me feel even more lost. Went to my pastor and he basically told me God's will is that we obey his Word, and we cannot go by feelings to lead us in directions. Your thoughts?

"Went to my pastor and he basically told me God's will is that we obey his Word, and we cannot go by feelings to lead us in directions"

This is correct advice.

Proverbs 28:26
Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.

Don't be led by emotion
Don't follow the world
Walk close with Jesus
Ask Godly counsel
Be Obedient

If the decision seemingly does not fall within biblical teachings, make a list (yeah write them down) of possible pros and cons that could or would result from the decision and then check those to see where they fall within biblical teachings.

What one tries to get to is ... what are my true motive(s) behind the decision?

Have a Plan A and a Plan B maybe even a plan C

You might be surprised when you start writing your "thought processes" down with decision making ... what you will discover about what you are thinking.

Life will always throw one curve balls ... but the Lord will help you field those ;o)

God Bless.
 
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FutureAndAHope

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Is God's will only evident through scripture?

I finished reading Elisabeth Elliot's book titled Passion and Purity, where her husband at the time, waited for them to get married until "God revealed to him that they should marry."

I've talked to my pastor about this, I have searched it, read books, and I don't know if that is biblical. Will God ask us, in our hearts, to do something, and we are supposed to figure it out? Or should we do anything we want while being obedient to God's commands in scripture?

I was struggling with a hard decision because of a "feeling" that I thought God was giving me, but there was nothing biblical to help me. I read her book and it terrified me and made me feel even more lost. Went to my pastor and he basically told me God's will is that we obey his Word, and we cannot go by feelings to lead us in directions. Your thoughts?

God can certainly lead us in a specific direction. He can even give direct guidance. But that guidance will never be con-try to His written word.

As an example the following happened to me.

On the 10 of October 2012 the LORD prevented us from making a bad financial decision. Me and my wife had found a house that we thought could be a good investment for our future. But our pastor prayed about it and felt that it was not going to be a good investment. So I prayed that if it was not a good investment God would get the bible to open randomly to James 4:13-15, otherwise the bible would open to the verse in Mal 3:10 about God blessing our finances. I opened my bible on the computer and moved my hand quickly and randomly, first selecting a book of the bible, then a verse, all without looking where I was choosing, and it opened to James 4:13-15 so I knew that God did not want us to go ahead. Jas 4:13-15 “Some of you say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to some city. We will stay there a year, do business, and make money." Listen, think about this: You don't know what will happen tomorrow. Your life is like a fog. You can see it for a short time, but then it goes away. So you should say, "If the Lord wants, we will live and do this or that."

God can use, what ever methods we are open to.
 
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The Holy Spirit never manipulates, intimidates or controls anyone. The Holy Spirit will never tell a person, "You have to do this, go here, or marry that person". That type of impression, or instruction from someone comes from a controlling witchcraft spirit.

Of course, there are the commands of Jesus, and Paul's instructions, like, "Pursue love and desire spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy". That is an instruction that the Holy Spirit, through Paul, wants us to do. But notice that he does not say, "that you MUST prophesy. So, although desiring spiritual gifts is a definite instruction, prophesying is not.

Paul talks about those false teachers who are "forbidding people to marry" and requiring people to eat certain foods. Also, he condemns the false apostles who came to the Gentile churches saying "You must be circumcised and follow the Law of Moses in order to be saved".

An elder's wife in my last Charismatic church used her position to order a young lady to marry a certain man. The marriage turned out to be a disaster, and the man ended up being a wife-beater, deserted her and her children, and ended up in prison convicted of manslaughter.

I believe the Scripture, "Acknowledge the Lord in all your ways, lean not to your own understanding, and the Lord will guide your steps." If you seek the kingdom of God first in that way, then when your life partner comes along and it is God's partner for you, it will be obvious to both of you, and neither of you will need anyone to tell you that this is God's choice for you both.

When I was single, I boarded with a Baptist minister and his family. He attempted to match-make me with the church secretary who was quite an attractive young single woman. His intentions were good, and he thought we would make a great couple. What happened was that out of the blue another woman was invited to lunch and the spark happened between us quite unexpectedly. We got married some time later, now we have been happily married for 29 years! When God does it, He does it well, and He doesn't need any help from anyone else!
 
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Llleopard

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I have come to believe that God's will is less of a bullseye that we have to hit....more of a big winding path to walk on. As long as we are on the path (God's general 'will' as found in the Bible principles) we are free to exercise free will and common sense. ie if you had 3 job choices (nurse, teacher, computer fraud) one is excluded by principle, but the other two are both equally 'in God's will'. You are free to choose whichever one you prefer, or suits your circumstances etc. Whichever one you pick is the right choice. That said, there are certainly times God speaks directly. But not as often as the times we get to use our own brains and choice.
 
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Joined2krist

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There's a passage in Isaiah where the prophet tells us that God will speak to us through dreams and visions, feelings were not mentioned. God has often used dreams to reveal things to people like Joseph(Jesus earthly father, Joseph the dreamer, even unbelievers like Porthiphar received messages through dreams. Paul also saw many visions, so did a lot of believers as God said "your old men shall see visions". God isn't limited to particular mediums to reveal His will, if you recall the Israelites used Urim to seek God's will. One thing I know about God is that He is synonymous with peace. If you're walking in His will, you won't be troubled, if you're restless it means you're not in line with His will. "Peace I bring you, my peace I live with you". If you want to know God's will concerning a situation, ask Him until He leads you to peace
 
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Is God's will only evident through scripture?

I finished reading Elisabeth Elliot's book titled Passion and Purity, where her husband at the time, waited for them to get married until "God revealed to him that they should marry."

I've talked to my pastor about this, I have searched it, read books, and I don't know if that is biblical. Will God ask us, in our hearts, to do something, and we are supposed to figure it out? Or should we do anything we want while being obedient to God's commands in scripture?

I was struggling with a hard decision because of a "feeling" that I thought God was giving me, but there was nothing biblical to help me. I read her book and it terrified me and made me feel even more lost. Went to my pastor and he basically told me God's will is that we obey his Word, and we cannot go by feelings to lead us in directions. Your thoughts?

Yes, its the Lord's Word that should pave the way for you.
Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me. Psalm 119:133
 
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Dave-W

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Is God's will only evident through scripture?

I finished reading Elisabeth Elliot's book titled Passion and Purity, where her husband at the time, waited for them to get married until "God revealed to him that they should marry."

I've talked to my pastor about this, I have searched it, read books, and I don't know if that is biblical. Will God ask us, in our hearts, to do something, and we are supposed to figure it out? Or should we do anything we want while being obedient to God's commands in scripture?

I was struggling with a hard decision because of a "feeling" that I thought God was giving me, but there was nothing biblical to help me. I read her book and it terrified me and made me feel even more lost. Went to my pastor and he basically told me God's will is that we obey his Word, and we cannot go by feelings to lead us in directions. Your thoughts?
I will tell you, I think Jim Elliot was entirely wrong in that stance. It is a nice sounding religious stance, but it cost both him and Elizabeth a LOT of quality time together as husband and wife.

In 1 Tim 4 Paul had nothing nice to say about those who forbid marriage; and I would even stretch that to pre-marriage romantic relationships. So unless you absolutely cannot keep from having sex, you have no spiritual reason to break up. And even in that, Paul gives different advice:

1 Corinthians 7:9
But if they do not have self-control, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

Get married, not break up.
 
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Dave-W

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There's a passage in Isaiah where the prophet tells us that God will speak to us through dreams and visions,
Actually that is in Joel 2, quoted in Acts 2.

Joel 2:28
“It will come about after this
That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind;
And your sons and daughters will prophesy,
Your old men will dream dreams,
Your young men will see visions.

29 “Even on the male and female servants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days.​
 
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SkyWriting

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I am generally skeptical of those who say God has told them to do some specific thing or another. There are a lot of people who have believed that God has told them to do some thing or another only to have it go wrong later. Are they then able to blame God for the failure? Suppose a man says God told him to marry some woman. Would God tell him later to divorce her? I saw a young woman on television once who said she prayed to God to help her with her decision to get an abortion. According to her, He told her it was the right thing to do. I can not support that idea.

I think it's best to allow what we know of God to generally guide us in our lives but not be so hasty in believing that God is telling us any specific thing.

God already answers prayers. The action of prayer opens doors for you to see how God already answered.
 
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ValleyGal

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There have been a lot of good responses so far. I would like to add that in my lifetime of faith, God has spoken directly to me only about 5 times, and of that, only twice were directional. Twice were affirming specific scriptures, and once was prophetic, to prepare me. Only one of those was again confirmed through fasting and prayer. The others were spontaneous during life activities.

I struggled at one point, wondering about a new career path after a debilitating injury left me unable to perform at my previous job. My pastor at the time said that God would direct me, if I give it over to him. But I prayed, fasted, prayed some more, waited... and eventually time ran out. I did not hear from God. I finally picked a path, because otherwise to wait further would have cost me my house, my car, everything I'd already worked so hard for. That would have been foolishness. And I can see how God has had a hand in my life, through others' choices, through circumstances, through how life operates.

Rather than see it is a black-and-white "God's will or my will", try to see it as a synergistic system, where God and you work together, your part being obedience to biblical principles and to staying in good relational stead with the Father through the Son, and through recognizing and knowing his voice when he speaks specifically to you.
 
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Andrew77

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Is God's will only evident through scripture?

I finished reading Elisabeth Elliot's book titled Passion and Purity, where her husband at the time, waited for them to get married until "God revealed to him that they should marry."

I've talked to my pastor about this, I have searched it, read books, and I don't know if that is biblical. Will God ask us, in our hearts, to do something, and we are supposed to figure it out? Or should we do anything we want while being obedient to God's commands in scripture?

I was struggling with a hard decision because of a "feeling" that I thought God was giving me, but there was nothing biblical to help me. I read her book and it terrified me and made me feel even more lost. Went to my pastor and he basically told me God's will is that we obey his Word, and we cannot go by feelings to lead us in directions. Your thoughts?

Or should we do anything we want while being obedient to God's commands in scripture?

That is your answer.

There is nothing in the Bible about waiting until G-d says to marry. Nothing.

If G-d gave that specific person a command, then it was for that specific person. Not for everyone, not for you.

If G-d gives you specifically a command, then obey that command. But do not use what G-d said to someone else, as a command to you.

Example....

The rich young ruler who came to Jesus. Jesus said go sell everything you have, and give it to the poor.

That command, was for that specific person. Not everyone. There were many rich people, and other rulers, who followed Jesus, and he didn't tell of them to do that.

Jesus gave that command to that person, because that person had a problem with his money owning him, rather than him owning his money. Jesus's command, showed that his heart was in the wrong place, because he refused to do it.

But Joseph's tomb was the tomb of a rich ruler of the Jews. Why didn't Jesus command Joseph to give away all of his wealth? We don't know, but it could be that Joseph was not owned by his money.

When you read books like this, where G-d gave a specific person a specific command, do not assume that translates to everyone. My parents have been married 55 years nearly. They are strong Christians. They were not waiting for G-d to show them what to do. They moved forward, while staying on the straight and narrow the Bible says. Then G-d directs their steps. But G-d can't direct steps, if you are not taking steps.
 
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ValleyGal

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My parents have been married 55 years nearly. They are strong Christians. They were not waiting for G-d to show them what to do. They moved forward, while staying on the straight and narrow the Bible says. Then G-d directs their steps. But G-d can't direct steps, if you are not taking steps.
Andrew, this is a good point, and a Biblical principle. I think of the Jews when they had to cross the river carrying the ark of the covenant. The river was deep and fast, and they knew the consequences of carrying the covenant - touch the ark, and die. But they stepped into the fast-flowing river with the promise that God would stop the flow of water. The condition was that they stepped in first. (Jos 3, 4).

OP, go ahead and do what you are going to do; if you are in good relationship with God, you know that he is with you and will guide your steps, or stop the waters before you to let you through. Trust him.
 
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