The Gift of God’s Guidance

Key Message: God directs our lives with wisdom and clarity through the truth of his Word, the work of his Spirit, and the wisdom of his people.

The Decisions We Make

• We all need God’s guidance because we all face difficult decisions.
• It’s especially important to seek God’s guidance on the bigger issues we face.

Follow God (Not Your Heart)

How do we know if we’re making a good decision? 

• The world tells us to follow our heart, live our truth, and do what feels right.
• The Bible tells us that the heart is deceitful and not a reliable guide of what’s best (Jeremiah 17:9).

If we want to make better decisions, we have to ask better questions. For example:

• Where is God leading me?
• How does the Bible speak into this?
• What’s the best way to glorify God?
• How do I know if I’m doing God’s will?

These questions involve asking God for wisdom, something he generously gives to everyone who asks him (James 1:5).

• If we want God to guide us on our journey, we need to stop and ask him for the wisdom we need.

How God Guided Joseph

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-19

• Joseph and Mary are betrothed (a formal and legally binding type of engagement).
• Mary is found to be pregnant, which Joseph (and others) assume to mean she has committed adultery. 
• Joseph’s plan was to quietly divorce Mary to avoid a shameful situation, but God had a different plan.

Scripture: Matthew 1:20-25

• The angel directs Joseph to take Mary as his wife anyway. 
• People might talk, gossip, or make assumptions, but God had great plans for this child, and Joseph needed to stay with Mary to raise him.
• Joseph was a dedicated servant of God and chose to obey the angel’s instructions. 

The Lord Determines Our Steps.

Scripture: Proverbs 16:9

• Sometimes we think we know best, but our plans don’t always align with God’s plan. 
• In situations like that, God might intervene to redirect us, like he did with Joseph.

God’s Guidance in Matthew 2

God Sent Joseph Three More Messages:

• Flee to Egypt for safety (Matthew 2:13).
• Return home to Israel (Matthew 2:20). 
• Don’t settle in Judea (Matthew 2:22).

Why did God intervene? Why didn’t He let Joseph follow his heart and live his truth?

• God’s guidance might protect us from danger, align us with his will, or draw us closer to him. 
• It’s not about control, it’s about a loving father guiding us on the path that is best for our lives.

How Does God Guide Us Today?

God guides us through his Word, his Spirit, and his People.

1. Through His Word (Psalm 119:105, 2 Timothy 3:16-17).

• BIBLE = Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.
• Illuminates our path, teaches us what we need to know, and equips us to serve God.

2. Through His Spirit (Isaiah 11:2; John 16:13).

• A spirit of wisdom, understanding, counseling, and knowledge of the Lord.
• Jesus says a key function of the Spirit is to guide us into the truth.

3. Through His People (Matthew 10:20, 1 Peter 4:11).

• Jesus promises that sometimes the Spirit will speak through us to other people.
• God may choose to speak his words through you to another Christian or speak his words to you through another believer. 

Remember: Trust, But Verify. (Acts 17:10-12)

• Make sure that the messages you take to heart are aligned with the Word of God.

If you want to know God’s will, go to the Bible, pray (while listening for the Spirit’s guidance), and talk through it with other Bible-believing, Spirit-filled Christians.

Call to Action

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” -Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

Study and Reflection:

“For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end.” –Psalm 48:14

Read: Matthew 2:1-12

This part of the story focuses on the three magi (wise men) who come to worship Jesus.

• How do we see the theme of God’s guidance in the story of the Magi? What two things did God use to guide them (v. 9, 12)?
• When Herod asked the religious leaders about the birthplace of the Messiah, they answered him by quoting Scripture. How does this reliance on the Bible fit in with today’s sermon?
• Why is it important for us to stay rooted in the Bible and grow in our knowledge of the Word? Without that foundation in place, what is likely to happen in our walk with God?
• In verse 8, Herod claims to have pure, godly motives for wanting to know the location of Jesus, even though we later realize he actually wanted to kill Jesus. How does this relate to the idea of “Trust, But Verify”?
• Bryan mentioned that God’s guidance is about protection, alignment, and drawing us into his presence. Which of those do you see in this story?
• When you are faced with a difficult decision, how can you use God’s Word to discern God’s will for your life?
• What would it look like for you to listen for the voice and guidance of the Holy Spirit in your walk with God? How would you know if you’re doing that or ignoring him?
• Who are some Christians that you would feel comfortable talking or praying with about big decisions in your life? How will you let them know that you need their advice?

Faith Challenge: Commit to reading the Bible, praying for God’s guidance, and talking with other Christians about big decisions in your life.