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Dakotasunbeam -> RE: Does God not lead unless one obeys what has already been revealed...... (5/10/2008 11:32:57 PM)
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Somefineday,
I understand what Stanley is say. He's not saying that God will stop leading you, what He's saying is that the direction He has given you will ALWAYS be His answer to your problem. Many people want God to tell them something different from what He has already outlined in the Bible. It is a fallacy to think that God will tell you to do something that goes against His word. Many people will feel that God will not give them any direction--but the fact is, He already did it, and He has no intention of changing that. So, people keep asking, wondering, and they think God is not leading them.
Let me give you an example. Let's suppose you are driving around trying to find 22 Elm Street, and you happen to meet me on the street and I know where it is. You ask me where you can find the address, and I tell you to take Oak Street down till you get to Redwood Avenue and make a left and turn right at Elm and you're there. But let's suppose that does not suffice you. Let's suppose you ask me again, "Hey, how do I get to 22 Elm Street?" I blink, pause a moment and repeat what I said earlier. "No, no, you tell me, I want to know HOW do I get to 22 Elm Street." At this point I"m a little puzzled, I can only guess that maybe you do not apprehend the language I'm usuing well so I speak slowly the same directions. You sigh heavily in anger and tell me, "I want to go to 22 Elm street, how do I get there!" After telling you a few times, there really is nothing else for me to say to you. The only thing left is for those in your part to induce you to take my directions or go in search of another individual or route. If you ask 10 people and they give you the same directions as i do, at this point, its clear you do not want that advice, even though you have asked a number of people who told you how to get there.
God even moreso, because He is the only one you have put the question to, and the only One who actually knows the way to go. Many times we ask God questions we ALREADY know the answer to, and God directs us to His word or gives us the same answer He's been giving for a million years to those who ask.
How can God continue to lead you if you will not take the directions He has given you to 22 Elm Street? How can He lead you any further if you will not accept that the first step is taking Oak Street down to Redwood Blvd? God stands there asking, "What else do you want me to say?"
I think this is the perdicament some believers get into when they are asking God for something. They refuse the first step in the leg of the journey, and so what else is there for God to say to them? It seems God has gone quiet.
I also believe GROSS transgression can cause God to be silent. God needs for us to get back to that place where He can lead us. He may lead us back to His word or He may lead us back to a scripture. He's saying follow after righteousness! He never stops covicting us to come back, or turn from sin, or obey His word--so in that sense He is still speaking. But in terms of giving us "another" word, we may be hard pressed. Additionally, growing completely hard hearted is a horrible state in which we refuse the advice He has given us and we WANT to go on our own way. We KNOW the right way, but refuse to follow it. In this sense, the danger comes when you cease to hear Him knocking on the door of your heart. Now THAT is a scarey prospect.
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