I do not want to deny that God can guide people through dreams and visions. In Acts 13:1-3 the Holy Spirit speaks to prophets and teachers while they were worshipping and fasting, he told them to set apart Barnabas and Saul for specific ministry. In Acts 16:6-9 Paul is called to Macedonia in a vision at night. Yet I would be worried if people thought that such direct guidance was the only form of guidance, or even the normal way God guides us.
Speaking about prophecy Samuel Storms (an associate pastor of Metro Vineyard Fellowship) says '. . . one should avoid looking to or depending on the gift of prophecy for making routine daily decisions in life. God does not intend for the gift of prophecy to be used as the usual way we make decisions regarding his will' (Are Miraculous Gifts for today?, p. 211).
On a number of occasions we can see how the Apostle Paul was guided through his understanding of Scripture, his assessment of situations and the use of his mind. Storms points to the following examples:
Philippians 2:25, 'But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus . . .' Paul made his decision on the basis that he knew how Epaphroditus was feeling and that it would be good for him to return to those in Philippi.
1 Corinthians 6:5, '. . . it is possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers . . .' There were people in Corinth who had the gift of prophecy and people who were given messages of wisdom of knowledge. Yet Paul laments that they are lacking people with sanctified wisdom. 'Paul gives this advice: Find someone with sanctified wisdom who can settle your disputes' (Storms).
1 Corinthians 16:4, 'If it seems advisable for me to go also, they will accompany me.' It was his evaluation of his circumstances that would determine his plans on this occasion.
Philippians 1:9-10a, 'And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best . . .' Paul's prayer for the Philippians includes their guidance. That guidance is to come as they grow in knowledge and depth of insight.
Colossians 1:9, 'For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.' 'If we want to know God's will, we need to be filled with spiritual wisdom and understanding' (Storms).
Romans 12:2, 'Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.' To know God's we must have a renewed mind!
It is sad when people think that God only intervened in spectacular ways in the past. He can reveal things through visions, dreams and prophecy today. But in our desire to know his leading we must let him lead on his terms not on ours. The usual way he leads us in through a sanctified mind (does our understand of guidance demonstrate our acceptance of this?). So we should saturate our understanding with God's Word and submit ourselves to him in prayer. Then we will be more able to discern how to live in a way that pleases him.
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