Recognizing the will of God – Part 13

God’s leading through other believers                     

Bible Reading: I Thess. 5:13-21

As I was about to write this piece, I remembered that when I was in my teenage years, I was very concerned about my future and so I visited a prophet to make inquires about it. He made predictions about some things that will take place in my life. Although some of those things came to past, it doesn’t stop my action from being a gross expression of ignorance. Why? Hebrews 1:1-2 (GW) says – “In the past God spoke to our ancestors at many different times and in many different ways through the prophets. In these last days he has spoken to us through his Son”.

If we had existed before Jesus Christ, it would be very valid to run to a prophet when you want to know the mind of God, because that was the way God related to his people. But after the glorious death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, things have changed. The mind of God has been revealed in Jesus Christ and we have unlimited access to it if we have received Him.  God said in Hebrews 8: 10-11 (MSG) “This time I’m writing out the plan in them, carving it on the lining of their hearts. I’ll be their God, they’ll be my people. They won’t go to school to learn about me, or buy a book called God in Five Easy Lessons. They’ll all get to know me firsthand, the little and the big, the small and the great.

Wow! We will get to know Him firsthand thereby making it easy to know His will firsthand. God does not want to breed spiritual toys that are jumping from one prophet to another seeking to know his will, but he desires to have matured Christians who are enjoying the provisions of redemption by getting to know him and his will firsthand.

Does this mean you shouldn’t listen to prophesies of other believers? No. Am I trying to say you should despise the inspired messages of your pastor? Never. I just want you to know that you have the privilege and responsibility of knowing God’s will. Any other message that comes from other believers should serve as a confirmation and corroboration to what you already know. It is a secondhand means that should be thoroughly examined before it is accepted most especially when there was no initial conviction on your part. The Bible says “… Don’t stifle those who have a word from the Master. On the other hand, don’t be gullible. Check out everything, and keep only what’s good” – 1Th 5:20-21 (MSG).

But how do you examine your hearts’ messages and the ones from other believers to be sure that they are actually from God? The answer and many more insights will come your way in our subsequent messages.

– tope aladenusi