(Actually, “How to be led of God.”) How to find a wife.

(Actually, “How to be led of (Actually, “How to be led of God.”)God.”)

How to find a How to find a wife.wife.

On line folks, please grab a Bible and read Genesis 24. On line folks, please grab a Bible and read Genesis 24. It is a great story! It is a great story!

Also, if you have downloaded this file, please drop a Also, if you have downloaded this file, please drop a quick note to quick note to [email protected] and let me know! and let me know!

Stay awesome!Stay awesome!

mailto:[email protected]

Wouldn’t it be great if this was the norm?Wouldn’t it be great if this was the norm?

In seeking a wife for me, my dad should have hired a In seeking a wife for me, my dad should have hired a matchmaker to go to Escanaba, Michigan. The matchmaker to go to Escanaba, Michigan. The matchmaker would have gone to a gas station there matchmaker would have gone to a gas station there to ask a young woman for a Dr. Pepper. The young to ask a young woman for a Dr. Pepper. The young women would give him an extra large one and then women would give him an extra large one and then offer to gas up his car, showing that she was the one offer to gas up his car, showing that she was the one that God had for me. that God had for me.

Further questioning would reveal that she was within Further questioning would reveal that she was within then Olsen clan, affirming that the right woman had then Olsen clan, affirming that the right woman had been found.been found.

The young woman, of course, and her family, would The young woman, of course, and her family, would quickly agree to go with the matchmaker to be the quickly agree to go with the matchmaker to be the wife of someone whom she had never met. All that wife of someone whom she had never met. All that she would know is that I was rich.she would know is that I was rich.

Thesis:Thesis:

God leads us to right decisions throughGod leads us to right decisions throughObedienceObedienceCircumstancesCircumstancesConviction (Holy Spirit/ “mystical”)Conviction (Holy Spirit/ “mystical”)

ObedienceObedienceObedienceObedienceThis account begins with Abraham’s desire to keep This account begins with Abraham’s desire to keep Isaac separate from the pagan cultures around him. Isaac separate from the pagan cultures around him. He does not want his son being drawn away from God He does not want his son being drawn away from God and his covenant by marrying into and his covenant by marrying into a clan that knows nothing of the true God. a clan that knows nothing of the true God.

Abraham has learned this the hard way. Abraham has learned this the hard way. Sarah and PharaohSarah and PharaohSarah and AbimelechSarah and AbimelechThe Hagar thingThe Hagar thingThe demise of the family of Lot.The demise of the family of Lot.

Perhaps Isaac has taken interest in the local girls, or Perhaps Isaac has taken interest in the local girls, or at least, at least, they are noticing the heir to Abraham, Inc. they are noticing the heir to Abraham, Inc.

He wants Isaac to remain an alien in the land of He wants Isaac to remain an alien in the land of promise. promise. The Balaam effect: Numbers 22-24; Revelation 2:14The Balaam effect: Numbers 22-24; Revelation 2:14Solomon: Deuteronomy 18: 16-17Solomon: Deuteronomy 18: 16-17

ObedienceObedienceThis account begins with Abraham’s desire to keep This account begins with Abraham’s desire to keep Isaac separate from the pagan cultures around him. Isaac separate from the pagan cultures around him. He does not want his son being drawn away from God He does not want his son being drawn away from God and his covenant by marrying into and his covenant by marrying into a clan that knows nothing of the true God. a clan that knows nothing of the true God.

Eliezer is acting on Abraham’s desire to see God Eliezer is acting on Abraham’s desire to see God honored within honored within his family group. Eliezer has been greatly affected by his family group. Eliezer has been greatly affected by this, seeing that he depends upon God for the success this, seeing that he depends upon God for the success of his difficult mission.of his difficult mission.

Abraham expects God to provide for his obedience.Abraham expects God to provide for his obedience.Is this reasonable?Is this reasonable?

ObedienceObedienceWe need to remember that God is leading us to be We need to remember that God is leading us to be like him and not to a particular ending point. like him and not to a particular ending point.

Character not geography.Character not geography.Christlikeness is the destination.Christlikeness is the destination.

““Lord lead me to the ‘right’ job.”Lord lead me to the ‘right’ job.”or or

““Lord, place/leave me in a job where I can honor Lord, place/leave me in a job where I can honor you.”you.”

oror““Put me where I can grow in Christlikeness the Put me where I can grow in Christlikeness the

most.”most.”

ObedienceObedienceWe need to remember that God is leading us to be We need to remember that God is leading us to be like him and not to a particular ending point. like him and not to a particular ending point.

Character not geography.Character not geography.Christlikeness is the destination.Christlikeness is the destination.

To obey God is the most critical aspect of how he To obey God is the most critical aspect of how he leads us.leads us.If you will not follow what is clearly written, why If you will not follow what is clearly written, why should you should you

expect to be led in grey areas? How would you expect to be led in grey areas? How would you discern it?discern it?

ObediencObedienceeIn this case, God arranges things to work out just In this case, God arranges things to work out just right for Abraham’s desire for Isaac to remain right for Abraham’s desire for Isaac to remain “alien”.“alien”. Abraham fully expects God to work out the details.Abraham fully expects God to work out the details.

It is God’s responsibility to work out the details that It is God’s responsibility to work out the details that we might walk with him.we might walk with him.

Note that Abraham said that even if the girl won’t Note that Abraham said that even if the girl won’t come here, do not take him away from the land of come here, do not take him away from the land of promise.promise.

There is no compromise: obedience is primary. No There is no compromise: obedience is primary. No excuses.excuses.

CircumstancCircumstanceses

ObediencObediencee


Rebekah does exactly as Eliezer requested that he Rebekah does exactly as Eliezer requested that he might might know that she was the one. know that she was the one.

(Note that she appears before he is done praying. (Note that she appears before he is done praying. God is anxious to fulfill his good request.)God is anxious to fulfill his good request.)



Rebekah does exactly as Eliezer requested that he Rebekah does exactly as Eliezer requested that he might might know that she was the one. know that she was the one.

His request, if fulfilled, would tell something of her His request, if fulfilled, would tell something of her

character.character.

Did God tweek the events or the request?Did God tweek the events or the request?(regardless, He worked it out.)(regardless, He worked it out.)


ObediencObedienceeGod given circumstances will never lead you away God given circumstances will never lead you away from from obedience. (Bathsheba on the roof . . . / found obedience. (Bathsheba on the roof . . . / found wallet)wallet)

“ ““ “God wills it!” because we can.” God wills it!” because we can.” (Kingdom of (Kingdom of Heaven film)Heaven film)““Lord, should I fudge on my taxes a little?”Lord, should I fudge on my taxes a little?”““My marriage is bad. Is it alright if I cheat just a My marriage is bad. Is it alright if I cheat just a little?”little?”““Should I take this job that will require me to Should I take this job that will require me to lie?”lie?”““I am low on lunch money. The cashier gave me I am low on lunch money. The cashier gave me $5 too much.”$5 too much.”““This product is mismarked. Is this God This product is mismarked. Is this God providing a discount?”providing a discount?”““I found a case of beer. God is leading me to get I found a case of beer. God is leading me to get drunk!”drunk!”““God has not provided for us to get married, so God has not provided for us to get married, so we just we just moved in together.” moved in together.”



God given circumstances will not always be God given circumstances will not always be pleasant. (Joseph)pleasant. (Joseph)

Lorrie’s cancerLorrie’s cancerGetting firedGetting fired

Sometimes it is a matter of God overruling Sometimes it is a matter of God overruling circumstances.circumstances.

Again, it is all about becoming more Christlike Again, it is all about becoming more Christlike and serving and serving him. him.

Not, “Why, Lord?” but rather “How do I serve you Not, “Why, Lord?” but rather “How do I serve you in this?in this?



God given circumstances will not always be God given circumstances will not always be pleasant. (Joseph)pleasant. (Joseph)

God given circumstances will not involve folly. God given circumstances will not involve folly. (word (word study “fools”)study “fools”)Proverbs 10:21 ~ “Fools die for lack of judgment.”Proverbs 10:21 ~ “Fools die for lack of judgment.”

““My credit rating is 2 and I just lost my job. I My credit rating is 2 and I just lost my job. I believe that believe that God is leading me to buy this $200,000 God is leading me to buy this $200,000 home.”home.”

““God is leading me to jump off of a tall building.” God is leading me to jump off of a tall building.”


ObediencObedienceeFully expect God to provide the circumstances for Fully expect God to provide the circumstances for obedience. obedience.


ObediencObedienceeConviction: The clear understanding from God that Conviction: The clear understanding from God that God wants God wants you to do something that is out of the you to do something that is out of the ordinary.ordinary.

““This is what God wants me to do. It is not open for This is what God wants me to do. It is not open for discussion”discussion”

““Once done, you have no second thoughts.”Once done, you have no second thoughts.”

CircumstancCircumstancesesCircumstancCircumstanceses

ConvictionConviction

ObediencObediencee



ObediencObedienceeThis passage starts with Abraham’s conviction This passage starts with Abraham’s conviction about his son.about his son.

(Isaac obviously shared this conviction.) (Isaac obviously shared this conviction.)

The local circumstance did not provide for the The local circumstance did not provide for the conviction.conviction.

Local opinion ought not override conviction.Local opinion ought not override conviction.

Acts 21:7-16Acts 21:7-16 10After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’ ” 12When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. 13Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”







You do not get to have directive conviction for me. You do not get to have directive conviction for me. ““God wants you to give me $1,000.”God wants you to give me $1,000.” ““God wants me to go to live in Russia and you have God wants me to go to live in Russia and you have to come!”to come!”““God wants you to quit!” God wants you to quit!” (leaving Meriden)(leaving Meriden)Acts 13:1-3Acts 13:1-3 In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers:In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 22While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” to which I have called them.” 33So after they had fasted and So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.







You do not get to have directive conviction for me. You do not get to have directive conviction for me.

Exception: “Repent!” Even this is simply a call for Exception: “Repent!” Even this is simply a call for someone someone else to do what God desires as clearly else to do what God desires as clearly defined in defined in Scripture. Scripture. This is not to exclude the giving of requested Godly This is not to exclude the giving of requested Godly counsel.counsel.







You do not get to have directive conviction for me.You do not get to have directive conviction for me.

Beware of folly. I just know that God wants me to Beware of folly. I just know that God wants me to put $10,000 put $10,000 on the number 22! on the number 22!




ObediencObediencee Commit your way fully to the Lord. Commit your way fully to the Lord. (Heart, soul, mind & (Heart, soul, mind &

strength)strength)Know/understand scripture.Know/understand scripture.Obey in everything that you know to without Obey in everything that you know to without compromise.compromise.

Be open to what God provides and what he does not Be open to what God provides and what he does not provide.provide.Do not create circumstances and then credit God for Do not create circumstances and then credit God for them.them.

Be triple-sure that this is what God has told you to do. Be triple-sure that this is what God has told you to do. Conviction will not contradict the Word and must not Conviction will not contradict the Word and must not be folly.be folly.Ask and expect God to lead you. (But not about the Ask and expect God to lead you. (But not about the menu.)menu.)



ObedienceObedience

This is where is starts: Leading 101 ~ Follow This is where is starts: Leading 101 ~ Follow Jesus. Jesus.

How do you find a wife? (Or anything else.) How do you find a wife? (Or anything else.)

Walk with Jesus, look and listen.Walk with Jesus, look and listen.

He works it out.He works it out.


Date post:	26-Dec-2015
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(Actually, “How to be led of God.”) How to find a wife.

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