1. Ways of Guidance  Spectacular Guidance Missing the inward witness. When least expected. At a time of blindness.  The Spirit Directs Minister to the Lord. Fasting before the Lord. Hear the Spirit speak.  Guidance through Prophecy The gift of prophecy. The office of a prophet.  Guidance through Visions The nature of visions. The subject of visions.  Listen to your Heart It is our inheritance. It is our privilege.

2. Ways of Guidance  We have seen that the primary way in which the Holy Spirit leads is through the inward witness or intuition; the second most important way is through the inward voice or the conscience, and the third is by the voice of the Holy Spirit. Alt other, ways in which we find out where God wants us to go and what God wants us to do are subject to these; they should confirm what we have already received by the inward witness, the inward voice or the voice of the Holy Spirit

3. Ways of Guidance  Getting a Scripture We should have a hearing heart as we read our Bible. The Holy Spirit will make it come alive. Our spirit man, by the inner witness, will witness with the Scripture and so give us a leading. Do not take the inner witness for granted! In this sense, the Scripture confirms the inner witness and at the same time, the inner witness is subject to the Scripture.

4. Ways of Guidance  The Scripture in Context Other Christians get an isolated Scripture that is totally out of context and they make it fit their situation. This is a great danger! Only the logic, the reason, the will of man or the emotions will do this. The result will be a lack of peace and an uneasiness which is actually the inward voice saying, "No!".

5. Ways of Guidance  Spectacular Guidance God is unchangeable the same - yesterday, today and forever. What He did in the days of old, He will do today and forever. There is no difference! We have the same Holy Spirit Who has been poured out in the same way. We must remember that events recorded in the Book of Acts took place over a period of 35 to 40 years and only main highlights have been recorded.

6. Ways of Guidance  Indonesia In his book "Like A Mighty Wind", Mel Tari records mind boggling miracles where even the dead were raised. The great apostle of Zaire, Alexander Aidini, a man overseeing about 3 000 churches, has had seven people raised from the dead under his hands (he toured South Africa in 1988). In the Book of Acts, angelic appearances, flashing lights and voices from heaven were not everyday occurrences. It does not have to be spectacular to be supernatural.

7. Ways of Guidance  Missing the Inward Witness Sometimes Christians are so busy looking for visions or angels that they do not hear what God is already saying. It might not be spectacular, but it may be supernatural. But we have no right to expect it!  Prove Yourself The Pharisees asked Jesus to prove Himself by giving a sign - as if the mighty works He had already done were not enough!

8. Ways of Guidance  The inward witness is a sign It is all the sign we need. God will send visions, angels and the spectacular at His own time and convenience.  When Least Expected A preacher tells us how he, as a baby Christian, looked for and wanted spectacular guidance - which he never received. When he matured spiritually, he expected it less and less, and eventually, not at all. He did not expect spectacular guidance - and then it happened. By the inward witness he was told to shut himself up in the church to wait on God. The Holy Spirit - not his spirit - spoke to him and said "I am going to take you on to revelations and visions". From that day revelations and visions came - all in line with the Word of God.

9. Ways of Guidance  When Least Expected A preacher tells us how he, as a baby Christian, looked for and wanted spectacular guidance - which he never received. When he matured spiritually, he expected it less and less, and eventually, not at all. He did not expect spectacular guidance - and then it happened. By the inward witness he was told to shut himself up in the church to wait on God. The Holy Spirit - not his spirit - spoke to him and said "I am going to take you on to revelations and visions". From that day revelations and visions came - all in line with the Word of God.

10. Ways of Guidance  The Spirit Directs The Holy Spirit said! He spoke to a group of five men who came together. They were called prophets and teachers. It was probably a prophetic word that came through one of the prophets. There were certain conditions present when the Holy Spirit spoke.

11. Ways of Guidance  Minister to the Lord Their action was not the centre of their ministering; the Lord was. Sometimes we become so action conscious when we come to spending time with God that we forget about fellowship with the Father.  Concentrate on the Lord Have intimate and intense fellowship with God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, the Head by the Church, through the Holy Spirit

12. Ways of Guidance This is the birthplace of guidanceThis is the birthplace of guidance This is the nest of inspirationThis is the nest of inspiration This is the place of directionThis is the place of direction  God is Personal He knows you by name; He knows the number of the hairs on your head. The Father knows you intimately and individually - He is not impersonal and cold. He is warm and fatherly.

13. Ways of Guidance  God is Vocal He has a voice and He speaks. He demands conversation.  God is Directional He gives detailed instructions if you will take the time to listen and wait for all His instructions.

14. Ways of Guidance  Waiting on the Lord This means to present the Lord with your presence and service. It is the act of making yourself available to the Lord to do His will.  A Submissive Attitude This is an attitude that knows that the Lord is always right. Therefore, whatever He demands is the best and it is right.

15. Ways of Guidance  An Obedient Attitude Acts 9:6 “So he, trembling and astonished, said: Lord, what do you want me to do?”.Acts 9:6 “So he, trembling and astonished, said: Lord, what do you want me to do?”.  A Willing Attitude Isaiah 1:19 “If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land”.Isaiah 1:19 “If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land”.

16. Ways of Guidance  A Devoted Attitude Devotion is worshipful, adoring loyalty to God. This is the mark of all those who minister to the Lord.  Fasting before the Lord Matthew 6:16, 18 “Moreover, when you fast...do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father, who is in the SECRET PLACE; and your Father who sees in secret will REWARD YOU OPENLY”.Matthew 6:16, 18 “Moreover, when you fast...do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father, who is in the SECRET PLACE; and your Father who sees in secret will REWARD YOU OPENLY”.

17. Ways of Guidance  Fasting is Switching off Distractions When we fast, we exclude all the distractions of the physical world around us - we rest our bodies so that the inner man of the hear can be free to listen.  Pasting is Sensitizing the Spirit When we fast, we become conscious of the spirit man - the lamp of the Lord. We become spiritually aware and we can hear clearly..

18. Ways of Guidance  It is not a Penance We do not use fasting as a tool to stir God into action. There is faith in fasting. Fasting enables us to draw near to God.  Hear the Spirit speak You get to a point where you hear and understand.

19. Ways of Guidance  Guidance through Prophecy When Paul was departing from Ephesus to go to Jerusalem, he stated in his farewell message that... Paul arrived in Caesarea and after a few days there, he encountered the prophet of God, Agabus. He prophesied to Paul that the Jews in Jerusalem would imprison him - which is exactly what happened.

20. Ways of Guidance  Did Paul miss it God led Paul through an inward witness prophecy spectacular guidance. God was preparing Paul for what lay ahead of him - Paul was right on target. It is evident that the prophecy was subject to the inward witness

21. Ways of Guidance  The Gift of Prophecy 1 Corinth 14:3 “He who prophecies speaks EDIFICATION and EXHORTATION and COMFORT to men”.1 Corinth 14:3 “He who prophecies speaks EDIFICATION and EXHORTATION and COMFORT to men”.  Edification This is a word which means building up, lifting or recharging someone. It combats deflation and depression. It builds boldness, fearlessness and courage into a person.

22. Ways of Guidance  Exhortation This is when we urge or earnestly advise someone by the Holy Spirit. It could deal with pointing out faults, but with the view to urge the person to right actions which will lead to healing and restoration.  Comfort By comfort we mean "to bring a person into a state of relief, ease and contentment in times of great uncertainty and pressure". We proclaim by the Holy Spirit words that provoke faith and confidence that God is Almighty and All Sufficient.

23. Ways of Guidance  The Word of Wisdom This is an extension of prophecy where we proclaim by the Holy Spirit things to come. This leads to taking the right actions ahead of time so that we are not in the dark.  The Word of Knowledge This is the revealing of past or present facts which only God could know. If we can understand the leading of the Holy Spirit, we will know how to flow in the gifts of the Spirit. The same principles apply.

24. Ways of Guidance  The Office of a Prophet The gift and the ministry are two different things. Everyone in the church is gifted to prophecy, but not everyone has been appointed by the Lord Jesus Christ as a prophet. This is a special anointing and commission from Jesus Christ.

25. Ways of Guidance  The Gifts of the Prophet Everyone should be able to flow in any and all the gifts of the Spirit, but the prophet is regularly and consistently used in the Word of Knowledge, Word of Wisdom and the Discerning of Spirits.  Spiritual Things can be Misused It is important to realise this truth. In the Old Testament, Balaam the soothsayer, abused his office. The New Testament tells us to watch out for false prophets.  Businessmen have been destroyed  Ministries have been destroyed

26. Ways of Guidance  Sound Judgment  Subject prophecy to the Wordthe gifts of the Spirit need to be judged and evaluated, but, "If God is doing it, it has to be all right!" While this is true, man is also involved and thus no gift is perfect in outcome the Wordthe gifts of the Spirit need to be judged and evaluated, but, "If God is doing it, it has to be all right!" While this is true, man is also involved and thus no gift is perfect in outcome

27. Ways of Guidance God does not force anyone - we initiate the gifts. We can stop them or let them flow.  Personal Prophecies  Get it on the inside first! When the Spirit said, "Separate Barnabas and Saul", He was merely confirming the timing

28. Ways of Guidance  Prophecy gives added weight and confirmation. When that happens, cling to those prophecies.  Prophecy confirming prophecy If one or two or more prophecies confirm the first one, you can know that God is speaking to you by His Spirit.

29. Ways of Guidance  Guidance Through Visions Acts 2:17 “ And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh: Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams”.Acts 2:17 “ And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh: Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams”.  The Nature of Visions There are two basic kinds of visions that the Bible speaks of. It can refer to specific direction for immediate action, or to general direction in long term action.

30. Ways of Guidance  Literal Physical Vision On the mount of Transfiguration, when Jesus appeared to Peter, James and John along with Moses and Elijah, it was a physical appearance which was called a vision or a sighting.  Peter and the angel Peter thought he saw a vision when the angel woke him up and led him out of prison. The angel was literally manifested.

31. Ways of Guidance  An External or Open Vision This is seeing a picture of something with the physical eyes where what is seen can only be seen by the beholder. Others cannot see these things. When Peter was on the roof, he saw a vision of unclean creatures on a sheet with his physical eyes. Then an angel appeared to him in a vision also probably in the open, yet without physical substance.  An Infernal or Closed Vision This is vision that appears on the inside of man in the inner man.

32. Ways of Guidance  The Subject of Visions The Lord Jesus ChristThe Lord Jesus Christ The AngelsThe Angels The Life's Call of the LordThe Life's Call of the Lord The People we are sent toThe People we are sent to The inanimate objectsThe inanimate objects The symbolism of prophecy, etc.The symbolism of prophecy, etc.

33. Ways of Guidance  Listen to your Heart We do not perceive what the Holy Spirit wants to say mentally; nor do we perceive physically, but we perceive spiritually.  It is our Inheritance John 14:16-17, 26-27 “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you, and will be in you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid”.John 14:16-17, 26-27 “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you, and will be in you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid”.

34. Ways of Guidance  It is our Privilege 1 Corinth 2:6-161 Corinth 2:6-16