Always take your cue from God. In difficult circumstances most of the advice given can be about rescue; about being safe; about being careful. When we live in the right place in the father’s heart we are more concerned with learning to be carefree than careful. People unconsciously put upon us the old fears and worries. Though well meant, it is still oppositional in nature. It is acting against God’s purposes. in acts 21:1 – 14, Paul pushed back against some of the same fearful opposition:
Acts 2:1And it came to pass, that after we were gotten from them, and had launched, we came with a straight course unto Coos, and the day following unto Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara:
2And finding a ship sailing over unto Phenicia, we went aboard, and set forth.
3Now when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre: for there the ship was to unlade her burden.
4And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.
5And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed.
6And when we had taken our leave one of another, we took ship; and they returned home again.
7And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day.
8And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.
9And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.
10And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus.
11And when he was come unto us, he took Paul’s girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.
12And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.
13Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.
14And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.
The disciples who argued with Paul spoke only out of their soul. They were emotional at the thought of losing their dear friend, but Paul had a clear vision of what God wanted to do with his life. He was ready to give everything to the Christ he had encountered on the road to Damascus.
Spiritual warriors cannot be deflected from their God-given purpose. Even death itself was irrelevant to Paul, for he had a clear vision of who God wanted to be inside of him.
Inside every believer is something that needs to rise up. We are not paupers; we are the people God. We are not poor; we are his beloved children. If we practice living out of our spirit, we will become a move of God.
We are led by the spirit ultimately. We may seek advice obviously, but we must do so carefully. There is no substitute for own relational searching of God’s heart for us. Other people act as a confirmation of God’s intent, but we need to discover his objective for ourselves.
In relationship his will is made known to us. In friendship with people it is confirmed. When the Lord is requiring something difficult of us we must be especially careful of the advice we take. The father has 3 options regarding our progress in the situation. They are: yes, no, and wait. None of them are cautionary.
In full permission we press on towards the high calling. When God says no, to us, it may be for several reasons. It may be that he has something bigger for us to see. It may be that we need to grow up more in Christ. Wait, is usually a timing issue as well as preparatory.
We are following the will of God, not the fears and caution of man. There will be times when the will God for us will conflict with the blessings, freedoms, and permissions of people around us. If we pursue God’s will against advice, we can be labeled as rebellious – even arrogant.
It is hard to conform to something that is rooted in a negative. In my own circumstances, problems have arisen because people failed to see my emerging identity and destiny. It is hard to be in a community that is not own your progress. It is tough to stay around people who have stopped moving themselves, when your own identity is calling you to go further up and further in.
Church history is full of stories of people who went against established advice and found the fullness of God.
Assignment – what is the direction in which you are headed? What are the pitfalls of attempting the journey? What is the outcome that the father has promised you? What are the promises and permissions that have been placed on this journey ahead you?
Commission – what is God’s purpose for you at this time? Are you waiting for God, or is he waiting on you? Come to a place of rest and stillness. Pray, and ask for reassurance. let peace be the Empire; follow its decision. Journal what the Lord is saying to you.