Lesson 07 – The Prayer Warrior’s Marching Orders

Foundational Scripture:
Trust GOD from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for GOD’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. — Proverbs 3:5-6 (MSG)

The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend… — Exodus 33:11 (NIV)

Four Premises of Divine Guidance

Premise One:
Divine guidance is the _________________ communication of God’s daily ____________ for every believer.

Summary: God still ___________ to ___________ today!

Seven Ways God Communicates with His Children
The Circle of Guidance

1. God communicates _____________.

Scripture:
As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. — Acts 9:3-7 (NIV)

And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain…And when the blast of the trumpet sounded long and became louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by voice. — Exodus 19:17, 19 (NKJV)

2. God communicates through ____________.

Scripture:
Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia… So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” — Acts 16:6, 8-9 (NIV)

In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered. — Acts 9:10 (NIV)

3. God communicates through ____________.

Scripture:
Now when they [Mary and Joseph] had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.” — Matthew 2:13 (NKJV)

But God speaks again and again, though people do not recognize it. He speaks in dreams, in visions of the night when deep sleep falls on people as they lie in bed. — Job 33:14-15 (NLT)

4. God communicates through ____________ ________.

Scripture:
There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit… And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all… for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit… to another discerning of spirits… — 1 Corinthians 12:4, 6, 8, 10 (NKJV)

Three Ways God Speaks Using Spiritual Gifts

A.   ____________
“The right use of knowledge” communicated supernaturally      

B.  __________________
The supernatural revelation of understanding regarding situations

C. ______________________
The supernatural ability to identify error or impure motives

5. God communicates through _____________________.

Scripture:
The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai:  “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD. Then the LORD sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up… The sea was getting rougher and rougher. So they asked him, “What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?” “Pick me up and throw me into the sea,” he replied, “and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you.” — Jonah 1:1-4, 11-12 (NIV)

6. God communicates through a ________ _________ _________.

Scripture:
Then He [God] said [to Elijah], “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. — 1 Kings 19:11-12 (NKJV)

7. God communicates through His ________.

Scripture:
Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us. — 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (MSG)

AFTERTHOUGHTS… PONDER AND PRAY

Ponder Points:
Ponder ways you feel God has spoken to you in the past. What do you think most hinders one from hearing God’s voice concerning personal, divine guidance? Journal your thoughts in the space that follows.

Prayer Points:
Ask God to give you a sensitive heart to be able to hear His “still small voice.” Be silent for a moment and ask God to speak to you about how you should pray, and then pray what you hear.

Premise Two:
Divine guidance _________ from the dwelling _________ of God, which is the _________ of man.

Summary: God speaks from __________ He _________.

Scripture:
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you… Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” — John 14:16-17, 23 (NIV)

Premise Three:
Divine guidance must be ____________ with ____________ and counsel.

Summary:  Expect God to __________, but use ________!

Scripture:
Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” Whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left. — Isaiah 30:21 (NKJV)

My sheep recognize my voice; I know them, and they follow me. — John 10:27 (NLT)

Understanding the Three Voices of Divine Guidance

Scripture:
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you… — James 4:7-8 (NIV)

The Three Voices of Divine Guidance

1. ________ can speak.
“Submit yourselves… to God.”

2. _________ can speak.
“Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

3. _______ can speak.
“Come near to God and he will come near to you…”

AFTERTHOUGHTS… PONDER AND PRAY

Ponder Points:
Ponder what you believe it means that God speaks from His dwelling place, our hearts. Note instances you can recall where you feel God did speak directly to you about how to handle a specific situation. 

Prayer Points:
Consider a specific item for which you would like God’s guidance at this time in your life. Then, specifically ask God to help you get “self” out of the way. Next, verbally resist the devil, commanding him to flee from the situation. Finally, ask God to help you draw near to Him that you might hear His will in the matter.

Premise Four:
Divine guidance, to be effective, requires a ____________ of _______________.

Summary: Learn to __________ and ______.

Scripture:
Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine…  — Exodus 19:5 (NIV)

Hear, O Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, promised you. — Deuteronomy 6:3 (NIV)

And we will receive whatever we request because we obey him and do the things that please him. — 1 John 3:22 (NLT)

Seven Steps to Discerning the Will of God 

Step One: Spend a season in ___________ daily concerning the matter in question until specific ______________ or direction is received in some manner.
Key: ____________

Step Two: During prayer, spend time actually ____________ for an inner voice or impression from God concerning the matter in question. Contemplate the __________ of your situation. Ponder it carefully.
Key: ____________

Step Three: Study God’s __________ in reference to your situation. God may impress you to _______ to a specific verse or passage of Scripture. Do it!
Key: ________

Step Four: Seek wise ____________, whenever possible, from at least _______ respected Christians whose lives indicate they have learned to live in God’s Word.
Key: ____________

Step Five: Evaluate all that has come to you through God’s Word, circumstances, and any inner ______________. From all of this, _______ a prayerful conclusion.
Key: _____________

Step Six: To the best of your ability, commence to carry out the ___________ necessary to ___________ God’s will or direction for this given situation.
Key: _______

Step Seven: Don’t look back once you begin to ______, even if you find yourself in ____________ circumstances. Remember, Jesus sent His disciples into a storm so that He could later give them a miracle (Matthew 14:22-32).
Key: ____________

AFTERTHOUGHTS… PONDER AND PRAY

Ponder Points:
Ponder how you feel the seven steps for discerning God’s will are a help to you. Which of these steps are most helpful to you and why? Journal your thoughts in the space that follows.

Prayer Points:
Specifically pray about issues in your life for which you are seeking divine guidance. Be open and bold to share your feelings as you pray. Then, specifically ask God to help you use the steps mentioned in this lesson to help you seek His perfect guidance in these matters.