Trusting God's Guidance in Life's Decisions
Summary
In our journey of faith, we often grapple with the question of what God wants us to do with our lives. This question of direction and guidance is not just for new believers but for anyone who desires to live a life that glorifies God. The foundation of our faith is accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior, recognizing that He lived the life we couldn't and died the death we deserved. Through His resurrection, He conquered sin and death, offering us eternal life that begins the moment we place our faith in Him. This relationship with God transforms us, aligning our desires with His purposes and glory.
As we navigate life's big decisions—whether about marriage, career, or other significant choices—we often find ourselves seeking clear guidance from God. We may wonder if we should wait for a dream, a vision, or a miraculous sign. However, the reality is that we all have made mistakes, and we all fall short. The good news is that Jesus is not just a guide; He is the path. He invites us to trust Him, to abide in Him, and to make decisions in light of Him. This means actively deciding to trust His guidance, even when it's unclear or when He says no.
In Acts 16, we see examples of decision-making in the early church. Paul and his companions faced scenarios where God's guidance wasn't clear, where God said no, and where God said go. These decisions were made through wisdom rooted in the gospel and the Great Commission. They weren't waiting for miraculous signs but were actively pursuing God's mission. This teaches us that following Jesus means abiding in Him and deciding in light of Him, trusting that He holds us and guides us.
Our calling is not just about our jobs but about our commission to make disciples and share life in Christ. Every decision we make should be leveraged for God's glory and the Great Commission. As we align our lives with His purposes, His guidance becomes clearer. We are called to trust Him, to abide in Him, and to decide in light of Him, knowing that He is doing more than we can ask or imagine.
Key Takeaways:
- Trusting in Jesus means recognizing that He is not just a guide but the path itself. He invites us to abide in Him and make decisions in light of His guidance, knowing that He holds us even when we fall. [07:18]
- Our calling is not defined by our jobs but by our commission to make disciples and share life in Christ. Every decision should be leveraged for God's glory and the Great Commission. [30:06]
- When God's guidance isn't clear, or when He says no, we are called to trust that He knows what He's doing. Our responsibility is to remain faithful to His mission, even when the path seems uncertain. [44:22]
- Spiritual maturity involves abiding in Christ and making decisions that glorify God, even when it's difficult. Our choices, made with God's glory in mind, are acts of worship. [10:57]
- God's guidance often comes while we are actively pursuing His mission. As we commit our work to the Lord, our plans align with His heart and purpose, leading to decisions that are established for eternity. [46:53]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [04:40] - The Question of Guidance
- [07:18] - The Reality of Our Failures
- [10:57] - Abiding and Deciding
- [17:32] - Decision-Making in Acts
- [23:37] - Timothy's Sacrifice
- [26:45] - The Right Questions
- [30:06] - Our True Calling
- [33:33] - The Role of Community
- [37:33] - A Personal Story of Guidance
- [41:15] - Growth in Depth and Width
- [44:22] - When God Says No
- [46:53] - When God Says Go
- [52:52] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Acts 16:1-10
2. John 15:4-5
3. Proverbs 16:3
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Observation Questions:
1. In Acts 16:1-10, what were the three scenarios Paul and his companions faced regarding God's guidance? How did they respond to each scenario?
2. According to the sermon, what does it mean to abide in Christ and decide in light of Him? [10:57]
3. How does the sermon describe the relationship between God's sovereignty and human responsibility in decision-making? [10:57]
4. What role did Timothy's decision to be circumcised play in advancing the mission of the early church? [23:37]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of Jesus being "the path" rather than just a guide influence a believer's decision-making process? [07:18]
2. What does it mean to leverage every decision for God's glory and the Great Commission, as discussed in the sermon? [30:06]
3. How can believers discern when God is saying "no" to their plans, and what should their response be according to the sermon? [44:22]
4. In what ways does the sermon suggest that spiritual maturity is demonstrated through decision-making? [10:57]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent decision you made. How did you seek God's guidance in that decision, and what was the outcome? [04:40]
2. The sermon emphasizes abiding in Christ. What practical steps can you take this week to deepen your relationship with Him? [10:57]
3. Consider a situation where God's guidance seems unclear. How can you remain faithful to His mission during this time of uncertainty? [44:22]
4. Identify an area of your life where you feel God might be saying "no." How can you trust His plan and continue to pursue His mission? [44:22]
5. The sermon discusses leveraging decisions for God's glory. What is one decision you are facing that you can intentionally align with God's purposes? [30:06]
6. How can you actively participate in the Great Commission in your current job or daily activities? [30:06]
7. Reflect on the idea that your calling is not defined by your job but by your commission to make disciples. How does this perspective change your approach to your work or daily life? [30:06]
Devotional
Day 1: Jesus as the Path, Not Just a Guide
Trusting in Jesus means recognizing that He is not just a guide but the path itself. This understanding transforms how we approach decision-making in our lives. Instead of waiting for miraculous signs or clear-cut answers, we are invited to abide in Him and make decisions in light of His guidance. This involves trusting that He holds us even when we fall and that His path is one of grace and redemption. By aligning our choices with His teachings and character, we find a deeper sense of purpose and direction, knowing that He is with us every step of the way. [07:18]
John 15:4-5 (ESV): "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."
Reflection: What is one decision you are currently facing where you need to trust Jesus as the path rather than just seeking guidance? How can you actively abide in Him as you make this decision?
Day 2: Our True Calling Beyond Our Jobs
Our calling is not defined by our jobs but by our commission to make disciples and share life in Christ. This perspective shifts our focus from merely pursuing career success to leveraging every decision for God's glory and the Great Commission. It challenges us to see our daily interactions and choices as opportunities to reflect Christ's love and truth. By aligning our lives with His purposes, we find fulfillment in serving others and advancing His kingdom, regardless of our professional roles. [30:06]
Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV): "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
Reflection: How can you use your current job or daily activities to make disciples and share life in Christ? What specific actions can you take this week to align your work with God's mission?
Day 3: Trusting God's Plan When Guidance is Unclear
When God's guidance isn't clear, or when He says no, we are called to trust that He knows what He's doing. This requires faith and patience, especially when the path seems uncertain or when our desires are unmet. Our responsibility is to remain faithful to His mission, trusting that His plans are higher than ours. By focusing on His promises and character, we can find peace and assurance, knowing that He is working all things for our good and His glory. [44:22]
Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
Reflection: Is there an area in your life where God's guidance seems unclear or where He has said no? How can you practice trusting His plan and remaining faithful to His mission in this situation?
Day 4: Spiritual Maturity Through Abiding and Deciding
Spiritual maturity involves abiding in Christ and making decisions that glorify God, even when it's difficult. Our choices, made with God's glory in mind, are acts of worship that reflect our commitment to His will. This maturity is cultivated through a deep relationship with Jesus, where we learn to discern His voice and follow His lead. By prioritizing His kingdom and righteousness, we grow in faith and become more like Him, impacting the world around us with His love and truth. [10:57]
Colossians 3:16-17 (ESV): "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
Reflection: What is one difficult decision you are facing where you need to prioritize God's glory? How can you ensure that your choice is an act of worship and reflects spiritual maturity?
Day 5: Active Pursuit of God's Mission
God's guidance often comes while we are actively pursuing His mission. As we commit our work to the Lord, our plans align with His heart and purpose, leading to decisions that are established for eternity. This active pursuit involves being intentional about our actions and seeking opportunities to serve and share His love. By staying focused on His mission, we open ourselves to His leading and experience the joy of partnering with Him in His work. [46:53]
Proverbs 16:3 (ESV): "Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established."
Reflection: How can you actively pursue God's mission in your daily life? What specific steps can you take to commit your work to the Lord and align your plans with His purpose?
Quotes
All right, well, over the years, I've noticed a couple of themes that people tend to struggle with when it comes to their relationship with God. As a pastor, I've seen this theme over and over and over again. And last week, we dealt with one of these themes. It was really about trusting God and that he is good even in difficult times. [00:00:54] (23 seconds)
The number one thing is coming to Christ, receiving him as Lord and Savior, and accepting the gospel. Like, maybe you're going, okay, I believe that God became a man. And he lived the life that I couldn't live. And he died the death that I deserve to die. That he conquered sin and death and the grave through the resurrection. [00:01:35] (21 seconds)
And so, we now have access to God. In his spirit, because of what God the Son has done, we can experience this sonship relationship with the Father even now in the Holy Spirit. And he comes in, and he fills us, and he transforms us from the inside out. And he even changes our desires and affections to move from our own selfish orientation towards an affection for him, his purposes, and his glory, and even his great commission on the earth now. [00:02:58] (33 seconds)
Jesus isn't just some guru to show us how to walk the path. Guys, he is the path. Jesus is the way. He is the truth. He is the life. He doesn't just say, follow me. He says, trust in me. Rest in me. Have faith in me. Abide. Say abide. Abide in me. Take the hand of the one who has come to you and stretched it out to you. [00:09:22] (33 seconds)
The root of it is fear. It's a lack of faith in his goodness and his mercy, that his mercy is new every morning, that his are the arms of grace, and that when we look to him and go for it and we shoot for that target, that even in so far as we miss it, his grace is sufficient to cover it because he's good. [00:12:18] (20 seconds)
But listen, God is not only calling you to abide in him, but also to decide. To abide in him and to decide in light of him. Like that's what spiritual maturity actually looks like. Do you know that your decisions made with the orientation of God's glory in mind, that that is worship? Especially when it's hard to understand, or even when God says no, and when God says yes. [00:12:57] (34 seconds)
Following Jesus means abiding in him and deciding in light of him. Following Jesus, it means a lot of things, but this is one thing that we're going to hone in on this morning, is it means abiding in him, resting, connecting in him, and deciding in light of him. So to abide and decide, which is the title of the sermon this morning, it's pretty simple, right? [00:14:19] (26 seconds)
If your life is leveraged for God's glory and the great commission, then everything in your life is a potential catalyst for the gospel to be leveraged in it. Everything. If it's heavy to you, it means it matters. And if it matters, then it has an eternal context for it. Everything. Everything. Everything. Especially decisions like marriage and career. [00:29:16] (26 seconds)
Your calling is your commission. Your job is a catalyst for it, praise God. It's to be leveraged for it, and your work can be and is called to be a form of worship. As we seek human flourishing in the city, and we create a context for the gospel to go forward, and we even become catalysts, and we leverage all of these things for the flourishing of humanity and the good news of Jesus to infiltrate every sphere of life and our city. [00:31:02] (28 seconds)
The question is not, do you have a calling or mission? If you are in Christ, you have your commission. Make disciples who make disciples of Jesus. Share life in Christ, our risen Lord, with each other, our city, and beyond. We're reading here in Acts about how the mission started. That's what all of this is. [00:32:54] (16 seconds)
And so I want to not discount that because God may be calling some of you to that calling. It is powerful. It is real. One thing I do know is that he is calling every one of us to leverage our lives for his glory, for human flourishing, the welfare of our city, and the great commission. And when every decision we make is in light of that truth, that calling, then God's guidance actually becomes way more vividly clear. [00:34:22] (29 seconds)
Following Jesus means abiding in him and deciding in light of him in everything. I'm going to close with this. Around 12 years ago, I've told some of you guys this story, but around 12 years ago, I put my yes on the table to God's call to not only make disciples, to make disciples, but to plant a church that is growing deep in the love of God and wide for the mission of God, all for the glory of God. [00:49:22] (32 seconds)
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