How to Know God’s Will, Part 4: The Perspective of Trusted Others
"What is God's will for my life?" is one of the most often asked questions that comes up when a person considers whether to be a GOER to the nations for the sake of the Gospel. This blog series will help you identify how God wants you to invest in the nations - whether that be as a GOER, SENDER, or a MOBILIZER.
You need to care about the insights of other mature Christians in your life. Their spiritual insights matter because God often speaks in the context of community, not just to an individual.
The only zoomed in anecdote of a local church sending out missionaries in the New Testament is found in Acts 13:1-3:
“Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a member of the court of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.”
There are four main things to notice in this passage. First, God speaks through His Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit still speaks today and calls people to mission! Secondly, The Holy Spirit spoke to the church in the context of their spiritual community. Notice the text says, “While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said…” In the New Testament, God typically speaks to people in the context of their spiritual community. This is one reason why it is so vitally crucial for a believer to prioritize living in community with other believers... if you do not, you may miss what God is calling you to do! Thirdly, the Holy Spirit calls the church to set apart Paul and Barnabas. The church took this calling seriously; so seriously that they fasted and prayed about this calling. When God calls people to go and serve cross culturally as missionaries, they should be set apart and prayed and fasted for by their church community. Fourth, the church commissioned Paul and Barnabas with the laying on of hands and by prayer. The laying on of hands is a ritual that helps us to affirm back to the Holy Spirit that we agree with God’s work and calling.
Therefore, as you discern God’s calling on your life, you should go and seek the counsel of your spiritual community as well as other respected Christian mentors and pastors. God speaks most typically in the context of Christian community. Don’t just go and ask your friends. They will just tell you what you want to hear. Mentors, pastors, and the trusted Christian community that you are “doing life” with will help affirm or deny your potential calling from God. This will be a profound demonstration of your humility. This humility admits that God’s Spirit has been poured out fully on the church..
ASK YOURSELF: Have I shared God’s potential calling for me with my missional community?
Have I asked my missional community what they think I should do… have they prayed with me and for me about this decision?
Have I shared the potential calling on my life with my respected mentors, pastors, or other leaders? What do they think God is calling me to do?
If the perspective of other trusted Christians is contrary to what I think, am I willing to admit that I might be wrong?