When I started writing this series, I didn’t even expect it to even become a series, but fortunately it has become one, and to God be the glory for it! I’ve been greatly encouraged by the comments which I received from the previous posts (A BOOK THAT CHANGED MY LIFE I-III, you are strongly encouraged to read them, if you have not done so).
Now, today we would be looking at the prerequisites for Divine Direction (From the book – Understanding Divine Direction by Bishop David Oyedepo). There are certain conditions that must be met before you can be divinely directed.
God does not lead just everybody on the earth.
No, not everybody is entitled to His leading and direction. Certain conditions must be in place, for you to enjoy divine direction. These are:
1. Be His Son
2. Meekness
3. Faith
4. Fellowship with the Holy Spirit
5. Quietness
6. Walk in Love
7. Be Open
8. Worship/Praise
1. Be His Son
The first prerequisite is that you must be born again. You must be a covenant child of God before He can lead you.
“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
John 3:3
For God to be committed to directing you, you must first be His child. You need to be born of the Spirit, for he who is born of the spirit is spirit. A spiritually dead man cannot perceive the things of God.
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”
Romans 8:14
God only leads His sons, not the sons of men or the sons of the devil. So, accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour is the ticket for divine direction. Divine direction is the heritage of only the sons of God.
2. Meekness
You also need a meek spirit to be guided or directed by God. David said in Psalm 25:9: The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way. Meekness of the heart must be in place, before God can show you His ways, which are higher than our ways. The Bible described Moses as the meekest man in all the earth, so he had access to the ways of God.
“He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.”
Psalms 103:7
Note that there cannot be meekness without the fear of the Lord.
“What man is he that feareth the Lord? Him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.”
Psalms 25:12
3. Faith
You also need faith to be directed by God. Paul said:
“For we walk by faith, not by sight:”
2 Corinthians 5:7
Divine direction is not for those that walk by sight, but for those who will trust God to lead them aright. It is faith that makes a man seek God for divine direction. If you don’t believe that God will direct you, then you will not bother to seek His direction.
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
Hebrews 11:6
The reward of those who diligently seek God is divine direction.
4. Fellowship with the Holy Spirit
A continuous fellowship with the Holy Spirit is another requirement that must be met, if you desire divine direction.
“But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.”
1 John 2:20
“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.” John 16:13
The Holy Spirit is to show you the things to come. But before He can do that, you first have to know Him and enjoy communion with Him. You also have to be conscious of His indwelling presence in you. The Holy Spirit is a Person, so you can cultivate fellowship with. You can talk to Him, ask Him questions and seek His help.
5. Quietness
You need quietness to enjoy divine direction. Not just a quiet outer environment, but much more, a quiet spirit. Avoid a rowdy spirit, for God is a Spirit and He communicates with our spirit.
“God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
John 4:24
Since our fellowship with God is in the spirit, you need to create quietness around you; so you can have sweet fellowship with the Father, where He can instruct you in the way to go.
“For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength…”
Isaiah 30:15
Great strength is released to you when you are quiet, as a calm spirit enhances hearing from God.
“And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rentthe mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks 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
God’s voice of leading is, in most cases, a still small voice, not an earthquake. You therefore need quietness to pick it. A quiet environment can be of help, but inner quietness can be cultivated even in the hustle and bustle of the environment.
6. Walk in Love
You also need to embrace liberty of the spirit. One of its manifestations is walking in love (2 Corinthians. 3: 17-18). Walking in love is a condition in which you live without malice, anger and are relaxed with others, forbearing them in love. The conscience must be free of all manner of entanglement. Even disobedience quenches the Spirit (1 Thessalonians. 5:19).
7. Be Open
You need openness of heart too. That is, do not be set in your own ways like concrete; be willing to adjust to God’s instructions, if they contradict youractions (Matthew. 18:3-4). Keep a sensitive heart – a tender heart before God (2 Chronicles. 16:9). Allow God to direct your path, for He knows it better than you.
“A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.”
Proverbs 16:9
You can maintain sensitivity of heart by developing a consistent pattern of Scripture reading, thus immersing your spirit in the Word of God. When you commune with the Holy Spirit, especially by praying in the Holy Ghost (Jude 1:20), you get accustomed to Him.
8. Worship/Praise
In addition, worship and praise must become your life style, if you must enjoy constant direction. God inhabits the praises of His people (Psalms. 22:3). Thus, His voice of direction will come very clearly to you when you give Him the venison His heart loves.