God's will and decision making

Question 1

Will God rebuke us for asking for wisdom or guidance?

Answer 1

James1:5

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.

Question 2

Can we ask God to guide us, when we don’t know the best way forward?

Answer 2

Psalm 32:8

The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.

Question 3

Why do we even need guidance?

Answer 3

Proverbs 14:12

There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.

Question 4

How are God’s thoughts different from our thoughts according to Isaiah 55:8-9?

Answer 4

Isaiah 55:8-9
8 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

Question 5

Judges 17:6 tells us that after Joshua died, the Israelites had no king, and everyone did what was right in their own eyes. What was the result of this kind of moral relativism?

Answer 5

This was a period of tremendous unrest for the Israelites that resulted in:

• crime,
• tribal jealousy,
• wars,
• immorality,
• violence,
• oppression by foreign nations.

They had no moral strength to make wise choices and life became miserable for them.

Question 6

Can we trust God during hard times?

Answer 6

Job 1:21
He said, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord!”

Plam 37:25
25 Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread.

Question 7

How did God look after and provide for the Israelites in the desert?

Answer 7

40 years of food that they did not have to grow for themselves

40 years of sandals and clothes that did not wear out

40 years of water gushing from rock

Question 8

How did Elimelech make his decision to leave Isreal?

Answer 8

He made his decision from the perspective of human probability rather than God’s possibilities.

Question 9

What is God’s moral will?

Answer 9

Gods will as revealed in the Bible. It tells us all we need to live a purposeful life that pleases God.

example

Ten commandments
Exodus 20:2-17
2 “I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery.

3 “You must not have any other god but me.

4 “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. 5 You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. 6 But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those[a] who love me and obey my commands.

7 “You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God. The Lord will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name.

8 “Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 You have six days each week for your ordinary work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.

12 “Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

13 “You must not murder.

14 “You must not commit adultery.

15 “You must not steal.

16 “You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.

17 “You must not covet your neighbor’s house. You must not covet your neighbor’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.”

Law of Christ
Matthew 22:37-39
37 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b]

Partnering with unbelievers
2 Corinthians 6:14-15

14 Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? 15 What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil[a]? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever?

1 Thessalonians 4:3
3 God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin.

Question 10

what does Philippians 4 tell us to do?

Answer 10

1. Pray right:
   a. ) Instead of worry, focus on God and pray,
   b. ) tell him what you need
   c. ) give thanks for all that he has done.
2. Think right
   a. ) focus and think on what is good
3. Do right
   a. ) put into practice the word of God
4. Feel right
   a. ) Feel gods presence

Phillipians 4

6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

Question 11

1 Thess 5:16-22

Answer 11

1. Always be joyful
2. Never stop praying
3. Be grateful in all circumstances
4. Don’t stifle the holy spirit
5. Don’t scoff at prophecies
6. examine prophecies and hold to what is good.

1 Thess 5:16-22

16 Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

19 Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. 20 Do not scoff at prophecies, 21 but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. 22 Stay away from every kind of evil.

Question 12

How does 1 Thess 5:16 - 22 and Phillipians 4:6-9 tell us about God’s moral law?

Answer 12

Most of it has to do with having the right mindset. Regardless of what circumstances come into our lives, we need to set our mind beforehand to act considerately to all involved—to not worry, to pray always, to be thankful, to think good and true thoughts, and to be joyful.

This is where our free will comes in. God doesn’t force us to follow His moral law. Because of the freedom, He has given us, we decide what aspects of it we will or will not follow. However, choosing to follow His moral guidelines will enhance our relationship with Him, not doing so will limit our relationship with God.

Question 13

How does 1 Thess 5:16 - 22 and Phillipians 4:6-9 tell us about God’s moral law?

Answer 13

Most of it has to do with having the right mindset. Regardless of what circumstances come into our lives, we need to set our mind beforehand to act considerately to all involved—to not worry, to pray always, to be thankful, to think good and true thoughts, and to be joyful.

This is where our free will comes in. God doesn’t force us to follow His moral law. Because of the freedom, He has given us, we decide what aspects of it we will or will not follow. However, choosing to follow His moral guidelines will enhance our relationship with Him, not doing so will limit our relationship with God.

One of the most significant losses that results from going against God’s moral law is the loss of our peace of mind. When we feel anxiety building within us that’s not related to circumstances beyond our control, chances are it is related to a behavior or attitude that is in opposition to God’s moral law.

Question 14

How does 1 Thess 5:16 - 22 and Phillipians 4:6-9 tell us about God’s moral law?

Answer 14

It brings peace of mind.

Most of it has to do with having the right mindset. Regardless of what circumstances come into our lives, we need to set our mind beforehand to act considerately to all involved—to not worry, to pray always, to be thankful, to think good and true thoughts, and to be joyful.

This is where our free will comes in. God doesn’t force us to follow His moral law. Because of the freedom, He has given us, we decide what aspects of it we will or will not follow. However, choosing to follow His moral guidelines will enhance our relationship with Him, not doing so will limit our relationship with God.

One of the most significant losses that results from going against God’s moral law is the loss of our peace of mind. When we feel anxiety building within us that’s not related to circumstances beyond our control, chances are it is related to a behavior or attitude that is in opposition to God’s moral law.

Question 15

How does 1 Thess 5:16 - 22 and Phillipians 4:6-9 tell us about God’s moral law?

Answer 15

It brings peace of mind.

Most of it has to do with having the right mindset. Regardless of what circumstances come into our lives, we need to set our mind beforehand to act considerately to all involved—to not worry, to pray always, to be thankful, to think good and true thoughts, and to be joyful.

This is where our free will comes in. God doesn’t force us to follow His moral law. Because of the freedom, He has given us, we decide what aspects of it we will or will not follow. However, choosing to follow His moral guidelines will enhance our relationship with Him, not doing so will limit our relationship with God.

One of the most significant losses that results from going against God’s moral law is the loss of our peace of mind. When we feel anxiety building within us that’s not related to circumstances beyond our control, chances are it is related to a behavior or attitude that is in opposition to God’s moral law.

Following God’s moral law guarantees we will experience peace, no matter how stormy things get. The best way to know His moral will is to become intimately familiar with His Word—the Bible.

Question 16

What criteria would you use to assess whether something is from God’s wisdom or from ours?

Answer 16

1. Does it agree with God’s word?

Question 17

Does Psalm 37:4 say that God will give us whatever we want if we delight in him?

Answer 17

NO

Psalm 37:4

“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.”

Delight in Him means spending time with Him, enjoying His presence, meditating on His Word, and so on—our heart’s desires will shift and closely align themselves with His desires.

This means that God’s will, will become our desires.

Question 18

What single principle will help us decern God’s voice in situations?

Answer 18

“The discipline of discerning His voice really boils down to one very simple yet poignant principle: The more you know God, the more clearly you can hear God.”

Question 19

What did Victor Frankle observe in the concentration camps?

Answer 19

He observed that although every prisoner suffered the same incomprehensible atrocities, some managed to hold on to their “self” better than others. He said it became clear to him “that the sort of person the prisoner became was the result of an inner decision” and not the result of their outer circumstances.

Question 20

What does Romans 8:35-39 promise us that enables us to “hold on to ourselves” regardless of circumstances

Answer 20

That victory is already ours through Christ, and that nothing can separate us from God.

Romans 8:35

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

36 As it is written:

“For your sake, we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”[a]

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[b] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,

39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Question 21

Why should we keep Gods word according to Proverbs 4:20-22?

Answer 21

They bring life and health.

20 My son, pay attention to what I say;
    turn your ear to my words.
21 Do not let them out of your sight,
    keep them within your heart;
22 for they are life to those who find them
    and health to one’s whole body.

Question 22

According to Isaiah 58:11, How does God guide us, and what does He give us?

Answer 22

Isaiah 58:11

The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

Question 23

What are the 3 things Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us to do to stay on the right path?

Answer 23

Proverbs 3:5-6

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.[a]

1. Trust in God.
2. Don’t trust our own understanding
3. Submit to God in All our ways

Question 24

How can we experience God’s Guidance today?

Answer 24

Through:

1. God’s word
2. Prayer
3. Godly Council
4. Circumstance
5. Leading of God’s Spirit

Question 25

How can we experience God’s guidance today?

Answer 25

Through:

1. God’s word
2. Prayer
3. Godly Council
4. Circumstance
5. Leading of God’s Spirit

Question 26

What was the difference between the decisions made by Orpah and Ruth?

Answer 26

Orpah made the rational decision. The one that would give her the best chance of a normal life, while Ruth decision was irrational

While Orpah showed affection towards Naomi, Ruth showed an irrational and complete commitment to follow Naomi, regardless of the Cost. She decided to exchange her way of life, for God’s way of life.

Ruth 1:

16 But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.”

Question 27

Why is God in a better position than us, when it comes to knowing what path to take?

Answer 27

1. God knows us

2. God knows the future

Question 28

What is the relationship between love and obedience?

Answer 28

Love and Obedience walk hand in hand. If we love God we will obey his commandments and follow Him. We will trust His leading and not our own

John 14:21 - 24

21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”

23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

John 15:10

10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love

Question 29

What is the relationship between love and obedience?

Answer 29

Love and Obedience walk hand in hand. If we love God we will obey his commandments and follow Him. We will trust His leading and not our own

John 14:21 - 24

21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”

23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

John 15:10

10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love

Luke 6

46 “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say? 47 I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. 48 It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. 49 But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house right on the ground, without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.”

Question 30

What is the right thing to do in any circumstance?

Answer 30

The right thing to do in every circumstance—no matter how devastating or painful—is to bring God glory through our response.

Question 31

Where does the power and desire to do God’s will come from?

Answer 31

2 Peter 1

3 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.

Philippians 2

13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

Question 32

What has God given us to enable us to make the right Decisions?

Answer 32

God’s promises which enables us to share in His divine nature and escape the corruption of this world

2 Peter 1:

4 And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

Question 33

How is moral excellence related to strong faith?

Answer 33

2 Peter 1

“5 In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.”

The more our behavior is modified by God, the stronger our faith becomes because we are more attuned to Him. And follow the list on down. The more knowledge we have of Him, the more willing we are to develop moral excellence, which results in self-control…and on and on, with the end result being that we are able to feel love toward everyone.

Question 34

What do we reap when we please the spirit

Answer 34

Galatians 6

7 Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. 8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. 9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessings if we don’t give up. 10 Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.

Question 35

Did Ruth wait around for God to reveal his will to her?

Answer 35

She did not sit around waiting for the Lord to reveal His will. As she started to do something, God led her.

Question 36

Did Ruth wait around for God to reveal his will to her?

Answer 36

She did not sit around waiting for the Lord to reveal His will. She focused on doing the right thing as presented to her at the time, by putting Naomi’s needs before her own. As she started to do something, God led her.

Question 37

What did Isaiah 30 tell the Israelites to do in order to save themselves from their own initiatives?

Answer 37

To rest [from their own initiatives and plan] in God, by trusting Him.

Isaiah 30:

15. This is what the Sovereign Lord,
    the Holy One of Israel, says:
“Only in returning to me
    and resting in me will you be saved.
In quietness and confidence is your strength.
    But you would have none of it.

Question 38

What happened to the Israelites in Isaiah 30 when we made plans without consulting God?

Answer 38

It angered God because He expects us to consult Him about His plans, not to take the initiative and make our own plans.

Isaiah 30

1 “What sorrow awaits my rebellious children,”
says the Lord.
“You make plans that are contrary to mine.
You make alliances not directed by my Spirit,
thus piling up your sins.
2 For without consulting me,
you have gone down to Egypt for help.
You have put your trust in Pharaoh’s protection.
You have tried to hide in his shade.
3 But by trusting Pharaoh, you will be humiliated,
and by depending on him, you will be disgraced.

Question 39

What is the secret for discovering God’s will in every situation?

Answer 39

There is no secret about finding His will. We find it as we behave the way He wants us to behave, always doing the right thing. As we follow His steps, He will continually be leading us in the direction we should go.

Question 40

What is the secret to discovering God’s will for our lives?

Answer 40

There is no secret about finding His will. We find it as we behave the way He wants us to behave, always doing the right thing. As we follow His steps, He will continually be leading us in the direction we should go. The more we confidently trust God and apply His Word to our lives, the more we will be aware of what He is saying to us through circumstances, people, His Word, and the Holy Spirit—and the more we will find living in His will to be a natural lifestyle.

Question 41

What does the Bible tell us not to put our trust in when seeking God’s will?

Answer 41

1. The Occult

2. Our own selfish desires

Question 42

What does Philippians 2:2-8 and Romans say about how to follow in christ’s footstep?

Answer 42

1. Humble yourself as a slave of God.
2. Don’t be selfish. Don’t just think of your own interest, but take an interest in others.
3. Don’t try to impress others
4. Treat others better than yourself

Question 43

What does God promise to do for us when we submit to him?

Answer 43

To supply all our needs and to lift us up in honour when the time is right.

1 Peter 5:6-7

6 So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. 7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

Mathew 6:25-32

25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.

Philippians 4:19

19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 9:8

8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.

Question 44

What are two red flags when making a decision?

Answer 44

1. Anxiety - for the spirit of God brings peace
2. Rationalizing decisions - Doing the right thing doesn’t have to be rationalized

Listen to your spirit when you are grappling with a decision. Is it struggling against God the Holy Spirit? Do you feel anxious or unsettled? That’s a huge red flag. The Holy Spirit brings a sense of peace, not anxiety. If you find yourself rationalizing a decision, that is another red flag. Doing the right thing never needs to be rationalized.

Question 45

What is a hesed attitutde?

Answer 45

The desire to make things better for those whom God brings along our path. It’s loving-kindess and compassion

Question 46

Will God’s spirit ever prompt you to do something that is inconsistent with scripture?

Answer 46

Holy Spirit will never prompt you to do something that does not agree with what the Bible says. If you feel like you should do one thing but the Bible says differently, then—it is not the Holy Spirit leading you.

Naomi and Elimelech felt like they should go to Moab to ride out the famine, but that feeling was in direct opposition to God’s instruction in the Old Testament. It is very easy to be misled by our feelings.

Question 47

Does every decision require prayer for discernment?

Answer 47

Some decisions don’t require discernment—they just require obedience to God’s moral law as we talked about in the first chapter. In Boaz’s day, the law stated that the next closest relative should be the family redeemer. Boaz didn’t have to pray to discern God’s will in that matter—he just did it because it was the right thing to do.