Guidance

The young woman stood high up on a mountain side and before her were spread the whole world, cities and towns and villages and rivers and oceans and forests. Seven distinct roads seem to lead from where she was standing on the mountain side, and her problem was to figure out which one to take.

She heard the sound of wind blowing behind her. She turned and there in the rock face of the mountain was a door and as she looked at the door, she could tell and she could hear that the wind was blowing on the other side of that door, and she was wondering whether this was some passageway leading to a subterranean river? What was this?

She finally opened the door, and to her amazement that door led to a totally different world. There was not darkness there, but light- blazing light! A sky far bluer than the blue she'd ever seen in any sky. And, from beneath her feet led one row higher and higher until it reached a throne far above. And somehow she knew that if she took that one road she would find herself down in that real world that she always knew below the mountain in exactly the place where she w as to be at any given moment.

I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. ¹⁰ I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet ¹¹ saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”

¹² Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, ¹³ and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. ¹⁴ The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, ¹⁵ his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. ¹⁶ In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.

¹⁷ When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, ¹⁸ and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. Revelation 1:9

John doesn't tell us the circumstances that preceded the beholding of that vision.

All tell us is that he was exiled for the word of God. He was being persecuted and he was put on this island; and doubtless he was suffering.

He's in the spirit on the Lord Day and he hears behind him a voice. In other words, he's looking in this direction, but the voice comes from that direction. He's trying to figure out what to do about these problems, but the voice comes from the interior world of Spirit. He turns and he sees his Lord, clothed in splendor.

Whatever problems were on John's mind, whatever kind of guidance he was trying to get that day were forgotten, as he's taken into a totally different kind of guidance than he ever imagined could be. He is drawn into the mystery of the glory of the Lamb.

And in that mystery he is given a work to perform he never imagined would be his.

When we say we need guidance we usually think in terms of …

…should I move to another town?

…should I take another job?

…should I answer this call or that call?

..what shall I do about this problem?

But these questions are not nearly as pressing as we normally think. What's really pressing is…

… will we turn and answer the voice that comes from the interior world, the voice of Jesus?

For if I will turn and go through that door and follow my Lord on that one road that leads up to the throne, all the external problems that I might have will soon iron themselves out. I will find that I will be in exactly that place in the world of flesh and blood (at any given moment), where I need to be. And, I will have everything from God that I need to have.

We know that our Lords ministry was about three and one half years long- very brief. That ministry was the external work of an internal, unseen hidden mystery.

Glory calling!

Thirty years we know almost nothing about our Lords life. We hear a little bit about his birth. And, one incident when he's twelve years old-.nothing else. That whole season of time, thirty years is hidden under the hand of God. Even during his Ministry of Flesh and Blood those three and a half years, we get hints of what’s really going on underneath the surface.

He spends the whole night in prayer before he chooses the disciples. After he feeds the 5000, he goes up in the mountain and spends hours and hours in prayer.

Many times, there are references to the fact that early in the morning; he gets alone with his Father.

These are glimpses that would lead us to understand that our Lord traveled not only within the narrow confines of the Nation of Israel, (which was very small), along those dusty roads. But while he was doing this, he was also traveling the infinities of God's Spirit. He was moving in the heart of his Father.

And because of this, he was guided in the world of flesh and blood. He always ends up in exactly the place he needs to be at any given moment, and he has what's necessary at that moment because he's moving in God.

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty…he shall be guided by God's hand wherever he is. And he will be given those necessary things.

That's exactly how our Lord lived, and that's how you and I are called to live. And if we look back through the Old Testament, we see exactly the same thing.

Moses was as used by God to deliver the nation of Israel from Egyptian bondage. Not only was he prepared for this for forty years in the Midian wilderness- he doesn’t even begin his life's work until he's eighty years old!

But during the time he exercises this ministry that God has given him, we see glimpses again that he spends long seasons in prayer, up there on Mount Sinai almost, you could say unconscious. He's conscious of God alone-that’s all. And because his real relationship in awesome communion with Yahweh the Father, is going on inside he is able to do the mighty things that we see taking place outside.

Isaiah, who exercises the work of a prophet in Jerusalem, only begins to move with power after he has seen a vision of God high and lifted up.

Ezekiel ministers to the exiles in the City of Babylon. His ministry is fired by these strange journeys through glory, that he takes, and we get glimpses of as we read the Book of Ezekiel.

The Apostle Paul traveled all over the Roman world. But the travels of Paul by ship and by foot were nothing compared with the traveling going on by Paul in the heart of the Heavenly Father. Years after he begins his ministry, he's still saying, “I have counted everything lost that I might win Christ and be found in him”. He's seeking closer and closer communion with his Lord.

So we say we feel we need guidance. And how many of us have said this this week, with our lips, or in our hearts. Doubtless, this is true. There is a road where you and I are to be. Each one here is given a special road to walk, given by God. There is no question about that. There is a work that you're going to perform; something that you’re going to bring to that road. There is ahead of each one of us, a battle and victories, miracles-marvelous things and a cross.

But the only way you're going to find that, is by following the example of our Lord. You're not going to find it by getting on your horse and riding forth to do this dramatic thing for the Lord. Rather, you will find the road in the world where God wants you to be, only by turning around and answering the call of Jesus, who speaks behind your back.

And He says, “Come and let me lead you into the heart of God”.

Guidance is not so much-should I do this or that? Guidance, is rather answering that call …

…”Come, let me take you”

If we will answer that call, and turn around and follow him up that road toward the throne. Then, everything we need out there in the world of flesh and blood will come in its time. And we will know what to do and we will have what we need.

Now Jesus stands in that doorway, so to speak, calling us, and makes it possible for us to walk that road that leads to the Father by means of his blood.

We couldn't move. We couldn't even put our foot on that road if he had not shed his blood, and if he had not given us his Spirit. But now- he's done both. Now, he begins to teach us to walk the road that leads to the Father's throne.

And the first thing he teaches us is that you move on that road that leads up to glory by means of prayer.

Notice in the gospels how much he talks about prayer.

And he told them a parable, to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.

Luke 18:1

⁷ “Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7

We're serious about God, as we are about prayer.

The person who talks a lot about God, but prays very little, or when she prays, or he prays, has a mind wandering all over the world- is not serious with God.

You can talk, about how you wish God would do this and you wish God would do that. You can't understand why you're not getting guidance.

The question has to come.

What are you doing really in your prayer life? Are you really praying? Are you aggressively seeking the face of God or are you still fooling around?

God will give us all the aid we need by means of the Holy Spirit. He will quicken our prayers constantly, if we put something into it. That is, we have to make time for it. If you don't make time for it- it won't happen!

“I pray while I'm doing the dishes” That’s lovely…but that's an insult to God if that's the only kind of prayer you give.

And when you get the time, you have to concentrate the mind. You always have to also remember that you are pursuing. Not just things from God by your prayers.

You are pursuing God himself.

Jesus teaches us also, (if we will only let Him teach us), that as we travel that road up toward the throne, it starts to get quite steep very soon.

And we only find ourselves able to ascend that road by means of praise.

The place where Jesus teaches us how to praise God the Father is in the Book of Psalms. The Book of Psalms is inspired by the Spirit of the Christ. They are the prayer book, and the hymn book of the Church and of Israel.

And when you really get into the book of Psalms, you discover that the further you go, the more it becomes praise. By the time you get to the end of the Book of Psalms it's nothing, but sheer praise.

And the praise is not directed toward men or toward women, or toward angels, or toward the created world, but only toward God. Everything in the world exists only to praise the Father and for no other reason. Now that we've been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, we exist only to praise the Father.

And by the way, while we're talking about praise…

…We praise God not in order to get power in praise. That's a ridiculous thing. If I’m praising God in order to get something, then I'm not praising God, I'm working some kind of deal.

“If I praise God, then things will work out”. Nonsense!

You praise God because God is worthy of praise and for no other reason. Anything less than that is not praise!

You'll wake up in the morning. Your heart begins to praise God, (if you'd only let it go up to Him). All through the day, your heart will continue to praise God, (you keep it fixed on Him) and your lips will open and your mouth.

¹⁵ O Lord, open thou my lips, and my mouth shall show forth thy praise. Psalm 51:15

And the most blessed time of the whole week ought to be not your duty to get here, but to be here praising God.

When the saints gather to praise the Lord, there's no other time in the week like that. If we came here to praise God, that's what we would experience.

And we would have no problems this liturgy! “I can't understand it” Saints have been praising the Lord through that for almost 20 centuries. We're not saying it's the only way, but don't knock it. Come with a heart full of praise and you can praise God standing on your head if you have to.

As we move up toward the throne. We begin to hear a sound coming from this blazing light that sits on the throne. You can't even see who is on that throne; not with these eyes. Just light and sound that comes forth from the throne. You can't tell if it's a voice speaking, or if it’s thunder. You can't distinguish. What’s this? Is it a language, or isn’t it?

And the Lord then begins to teach us that we will begin to understand the voice that comes from that throne, by means of simple down to earth obedience. If you will obey what you know God has already told you, then your ears will open and it won't sound like thunder. It will be a voice that's speaking directly to you.

And what does the voice coming from the throne say?

Basically, one thing. He says “Go, and show mercy”.

³⁶ Which of these three, do you think, proved neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” ³⁷ He said, “The one who showed mercy on him.” And Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

Luke 10:36, 37

13 Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ Matthew 9:13a

Everything God tells us to do in these bodies of flesh and blood can be summed up in just that.

³⁵ for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, ³⁶ I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Matthew 25:35, 36

And don't look around and figure out how many people failed on that. Look at yourself, and leave it with God. Leave it with God, whether these other people fail. You might just be surprised, if you only knew.

Now, this is the way our Lord lived. Constant mercy; nothing but mercy all the time.

He calls us to do the same.

When he tells us to love our enemies, that's what he's telling us to do. He wants us simply to show to our enemies the same kind of mercy that the Father has shown to us.

Sure, were to be wise as serpents, and innocent as doves. We are not to cast our pearls before swine. But, we are not to hold grudges. When he says forgive seventy times seven, he is saying to take the mercies which God has shown you and turn around and show it to your neighbor.

Some of us are still sitting around waiting for that grandiose commission to go forward. We’re waiting for a dramatic, stupendous ministry. We say to ourselves, “I haven't heard it yet. The Lord hasn't told me yet. I know he's going to tell me to go on Channel 7”.

You're never going to hear it. You're going to sit there forever and you'll never hear it, because God has already told you to go and show mercy right where you are.

You get up near the throne and the light gets so bright you can hardly stand it. Your eyes can't stand it, nor can your skin.

Now he begins to teach us that we can abide in that light before that throne by means of thanksgiving.

Look at Jesus.

²⁵ At that time Jesus declared, “I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes.

Matthew 11:25

Thank you Father for this bread, thank you Father for this wine. The Son of God never ceases thanking his Father.

How pleased he is when he sees this coming, usually from the Samaritans, (the people outside the church)

¹⁵ Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; ¹⁶ and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan.

Luke 17:15, 16.

It was those who gave thanks who entered into the Kingdom, and only those.

Jesus Ministry, and ours behind it, is the same. It was basically a ministry to the ungrateful. He didn't care whether they said thanks or not, whether they joined his church, whether they repented, whether they did anything.

He cared -for their good. He cared; but he didn't tie strings on the good things that he did for them.

But the only ones, who followed the signs of healing and blessing that came to them into the Kingdom of God, were those who were grateful.

And over the months and years, many, many people in this fellowship, and doubtless others that are represented here have been touched by God in wonderful ways.

Doors have opened, things have changed, prayers have been answered, bodies and minds have been healed. Families have been healed.

But those who show no gratitude for God- never change in their hearts. They go along for a while and then they're right back where they were.

The only heart that changes, the only heart that changes is the heart that's grateful to God.

Revelation 1:9

I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. ¹⁰ I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet ¹¹ saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”

¹² Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, ¹³ and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. ¹⁴ The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, ¹⁵ his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. ¹⁶ In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.

¹⁷ When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, ¹⁸ and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.

If you want him to guide you in this world, let him first guide you every day and every hour into the heart of God.

Prayer

We're asking more that you show us exactly what this means in our own lives.

Help us before we leave this place today Father, to know specifically what it is that will help us see what we need to see. And take those blinders off our eyes and those scales that we might once again, (or perhaps for the first time), see your mercy.

Deliver us every one of us Lord God, from prayerlessness, from praiselessness, from disobedience and from thanklessness. That we may truly prove to be your sons and daughters, even in this world of flesh and blood.

In the power of your Holy Spirit and in the Name of Jesus.

Amen.