Doctrine of Divine Guidance

Doctrine of Divine Guidance

1. Definition: Divine guidance is the doctrine of determining the will of God for mankind; the communication of divine will through divine revelation.
2. Cardinal principle of divine guidance (1 John 3:23):
   1. For unbeliever—salvation (2 Pet. 3:9).
   2. For believer—spirituality (Eph. 5:18) and virtue-love (1 John 3:23b).
3. Three categories of will in history:
   1. Sovereign will of God.
   2. Angelic will.
   3. Human will.
4. The humanity of Christ had free will (Matt. 26:42; Heb. 10:7, 9).
   1. No free will in mankind would imply no free will in the humanity of Christ.
   2. The basic principle of divine guidance, however, is based on the fact that man possesses volition of the soul as free will.
5. Types of the will of God as related to the human race (for example, Balaam):
   1. Directive will is the same as the desire of God. His directives are commands and prohibitions: “Do this”; “Don’t do this” (Num. 22:12).
   2. Permissive will is what God allows to happen because He has given free will to man (Num. 22:20).
   3. Overruling will is the principle that Jesus Christ controls history (Num. 23).
6. Mandates of divine guidance:
   1. Submit to the will of God by being filled with the Holy Spirit to empower obedience to God’s will (Rom. 6:13; 12:1–2; Eph. 5:17–18; 1 John 1:9).
   2. Know the will of God by accumulating Bible doctrine in the right lobe of the soul (Ps. 32:8; Prov. 3:1–6; Isa. 58:11; Rom. 12:2).
   3. Grow in the will of God by advancing to spiritual maturity in order to execute His will to the maximum (James 4:6; 2 Pet. 3:18).
7. The will of God for believers:
   1. Viewpoint will of God: What does He want me to think?
   2. Operational will of God: What does He want me to do?
   3. Geographical will of God: Where does He want me to be?
8. Mechanics of divine guidance (Acts 1):
   1. Guidance through prayer (verse 5).
   2. Guidance through the right lobe of the soul (verse 6).
   3. Guidance through God’s Word (verses 7–10).
   4. Guidance through providential circumstances (verse 11).
   5. Guidance through the filling of the Holy Spirit (verse 12).
   6. Guidance through comparison of events (verses 13–15).
   7. Guidance through recalling Scripture (verse 16).