Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries
Principles of Divine Guidance in times of crises.
Thursday, September 27, 2001
Abraham was enjoying blessings as he was following the Lord while his old friends in Ur were being tortured, enslaved, and disposed of everything they owned.
“Afghanistan has suffered 20 straight years of bloody war, is one of the poorest countries in the world, and this year is experiencing the worst drought in decades.”
When Abraham left Ur, it was entering into the peak of its prosperity, and he appeared to be leaving a sure thing, a good thing, but it wasn’t.
Two problems in connection with the early church = a geographical problem and a racial problem.
Turn to Acts 11:1-16
Once you become oriented to the grace of God through Bible doctrine, it’s going to be challenged by the criticism of others.
ACT 11:5 = guidance through prayer.
PRO 15:28 “The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, But the mouth of the foolish pours out evil things.”
PRO 18:13 “He who gives an answer before he hears, It is foolishness and shame to him.”
Prayer softens the heart and will do away with any form of emotionalism, bitterness, anger, subjectivity.
There is guidance through objective thinking of Bible doctrine.
PRO 25:2 “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.”
PRO 10:19 “When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, But he who restrains his lips is wise.”
PRO 29:11 “A fool always loses his temper, But a wise man holds it back.”
The more precise the map, the more detailed, the easier it is to reach your destiny.
ACT 11:7-10 = guidance through perception and recall of doctrine, or the voice of God, the word of God being taught.
Before the moment needed, the word is given, 2PE 3:17.
ACT 11:11 = guidance through providential circumstances.
ACT 11:12 = guidance through the filling of the Holy Spirit and the humility to obey.
ACT 11:13-14 = guidance through fellowship and comparison of spiritual facts.
ACT 11:16 = guidance through recall of doctrine.
A very important principle concerning divine guidance and divine timing is guidance through disaster.