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Sermon #1164

Divine Guidance

A Sermon on John 4:13-14

Originally preached April 9, 1967

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Scripture

John 4:13-14 ESV KJV
Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” …

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Sermon Description

There is no doubt that God gives guidance and wisdom to believers, but how does He do this? In the Bible there is extraordinary proof of this as God gives visions to the prophets and apostles. Listen as Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preaches this sermon from John 4:13–14 titled “Divine Guidance,” and shares that these extraordinary instances of God revealing Himself in order to make known His will are not the normal way that He leads. Christians should not expect God to communicate in these extraordinary events but they should look to many of the ordinary ways He guides and leads His people in the Spirit. Those who always look to an immediate and infallible revelation from God to guide them often fall into error. They should look to the Holy Spirit’s ordinary guidance that can be found in Scripture, wise advice, and enlightened common sense. All these things form the Christian conscience. It is not in a way that makes it an infallible guide, but it is an everyday means that God uses to guide and lead to a deeper knowledge of Him. Ultimately, the Christian’s conscience can only be bound by Scripture and God uses the ordinary things in life to lead to a deeper knowledge of Him and His will for the Christian life.

Sermon Breakdown

  1. There is no automatic or mechanical guidance in the spiritual realm. Guidance is not infallible or immediate.
  2. Guidance can be divided into two categories: exceptional (visions, dreams) and usual (common, customary). Exceptional guidance is clear, unmistakable and assured. Usual guidance involves general principles, enlightened understanding and inward leading.
  3. The world cannot provide guidance or satisfaction. It only offers worldly wisdom and leads to thirsting again.
  4. Jesus offers living water that completely satisfies and provides guidance. Whoever drinks it will never thirst.
  5. Intellectual satisfaction: The gospel provides a complete worldview that answers life's deepest questions. It addresses the problem of evil, purpose of life, etc.
  6. Conscience: The gospel fully answers the accusations and questions of our conscience through Jesus's work.
  7. Death: The resurrection of Jesus defeats death and provides hope. The world has no answer to death.
  8. Guidance: We need guidance on what to do in life's circumstances. The world cannot provide this but the gospel can.
  9. There are general principles for guidance in Scripture and we have an enlightened common sense as Christians to apply them. We follow biblical morality and wisdom.
  10. We experience inward leading of the Spirit which we must test against Scripture and common sense. God's leadings follow a pattern and never contradict His Word.
  11. We can seek guidance from pastors, teachers and other believers. But we must never make someone else our conscience.
  12. General rules: Don't anticipate God's leading. Put yourself in God's hands. Watch for openings and closings. Be prepared for delays and testing. Have peace in God's will. Wait for unanimity of heart and mind. God will not punish us for seeking His will.

Sermon Q&A

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on Guidance: Questions and Answers

What does John 4:13-14 teach about the all-sufficiency of Christ's gospel?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, John 4:13-14 emphasizes the complete and all-sufficient nature of Christ's gospel. Jesus contrasts the water He gives with ordinary water: "Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again. But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst." Lloyd-Jones interprets the phrase as "shall never, no, never thirst as long as the world stands," indicating that Christ's salvation provides complete satisfaction in every area of life, including intellectual questions, moral dilemmas, and practical guidance. Unlike the world's temporary solutions, Christ's "water" provides permanent and complete satisfaction.

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain the difference between exceptional and ordinary guidance?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones distinguishes between two types of divine guidance:

  1. Exceptional guidance: This includes visions, dreams, and direct divine interventions that are unmistakable and assured. Examples include Paul's vision of the Macedonian man (Acts 16) and Peter's vision before visiting Cornelius. These are rare, clear, and exceptional occurrences.

  2. Ordinary guidance: This is what applies to most believers in everyday life. It involves biblical principles, enlightened common sense, inward leadings that conform to Scripture, counsel from spiritually-minded people, and God's providence in opening and closing doors. This type of guidance follows patterns and is consistent with God's character.

Dr. Lloyd-Jones warns against those who constantly seek the exceptional, comparing it to the difference between the regular work of the Holy Spirit and revival.

What are the dangers Christians should avoid when seeking guidance?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies several dangers in seeking guidance:

  1. Expecting automatic or mechanical guidance where you'll never have problems or difficulties again
  2. Identifying our own will with God's will
  3. Falling prey to evil spirits that counterfeit genuine guidance
  4. Following guidance that contradicts Scripture or God's established laws
  5. Allowing others to become our conscience through emotional pressure
  6. Creating theoretical problems by anticipating God's guidance rather than continuing in our calling
  7. Being impatient and not prepared for delays or testing
  8. Being anxious, tense, or frantic when seeking guidance
  9. Moving ahead when there's still internal division or doubt

What practical principles does Dr. Lloyd-Jones offer for receiving God's guidance?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones offers these practical principles for guidance:

  1. Never anticipate God's leading; continue in your current calling until God stops you
  2. Put yourself utterly in God's hands with complete honesty and surrender
  3. Watch for both openings and closings of doors in your life
  4. Be prepared for delays and testing, and practice patience
  5. Follow Philippians 4:5-6 by being anxious for nothing and maintaining the peace of God
  6. Never move until the "final signal falls" - when both your mind and heart are unanimous
  7. Consult pastors and spiritually-minded people who can offer biblical counsel
  8. Test all inward leadings against Scripture and God's consistent patterns
  9. Trust that even if you make mistakes while honestly seeking God's will, He will not punish you

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the relationship between peace and guidance?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that peace should be our priority rather than knowing exactly what to do. He states: "You are worried about the wrong thing. You are worried about what you're supposed to be doing... The thing you want to be worried about is this: Have you got the peace of God which passeth all understanding?"

He teaches that whether or not we know where to go or what to do, what matters most is maintaining our relationship with God and enjoying His peace. This focus on peace rather than certainty will actually solve most guidance problems, as it prevents us from constant anxious analysis. When we experience God's peace and have unanimity in our heart and mind about a decision, this is often the "final signal" that it's time to move forward. As Romans 14 concludes, "Whatsoever is not of faith is sin" - we should only act when doubt is removed.

What reassurance does Dr. Lloyd-Jones offer to Christians who fear making mistakes in seeking God's will?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones offers tremendous reassurance to those who fear making mistakes in their pursuit of God's will. He concludes his sermon by saying: "if you have fulfilled honestly these conditions I've been laying down to you, that even if you find that you've done something which is wrong, you'll never suffer for it."

He explains that God is our Father, and a worthy father doesn't punish a child who is honestly trying their best. When believers have genuinely sought God's will with a desire to honor Him, even if they prove to have been wrong or misled, God will not punish them but rather reward their faithfulness. In fact, God is able to take our very mistakes and turn them into blessings. This reassurance means believers need never be anxious, for they will enjoy the peace of God regardless of outcomes, knowing they've acted in faith and with pure motives.

The Book of John

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.