Old Testament:
Numbers 9:15-23 And on the day that the tabernacle was reared up the cloud covered the tabernacle, namely, the tent of the testimony: and at even there was upon the tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until the morning.
So it was alway: the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night.
And when the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, then after that the children of Israel journeyed: and in the place where the cloud abode, there the children of Israel pitched their tents.
To me, the cloud hovering over the tabernacle is similar to those times the direction concerning the issue at hand is cloudy and we just don't see clearly what to do. Then when the cloud lifts and we can see what to do, we move forward, doing that which we see. But as long as it is cloudy, do we nothing about the matter.
18 At the commandment of the Lord the children of Israel journeyed, and at the commandment of the Lord they pitched: as long as the cloud abode upon the tabernacle they rested in their tents.
And when the cloud tarried long upon the tabernacle many days, then the children of Israel kept the charge of the Lord, and journeyed not.
And so it was, when the cloud was a few days upon the tabernacle; according to the commandment of the Lord they abode in their tents, and according to the commandment of the Lord they journeyed.
And so it was, when the cloud abode from even unto the morning, and that the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they journeyed: whether it was by day or by night that the cloud was taken up, they journeyed.
Or whether it were two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle, remaining thereon, the children of Israel abode in their tents, and journeyed not: but when it was taken up, they journeyed.
At the commandment of the Lord they rested in the tents, and at the commandment of the Lord they journeyed: they kept the charge of the Lord, at the commandment of the Lord by the hand of Moses.
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New Testament:
The New Testament church is led by the Spirit of God.
Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
When we don't know what to do, we pray, asking God for wisdom.
James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
To recognize when the wisdom is from God, the following points are helpful:
James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
It a plan is very complex, I find it usually is not of God.
Very important is this: God's plans are easy to be administered.
If something is costly and difficult to do, I questions the plan for usually God's plans are exactly opposite, being simple and easy to handle.
If there is hypocrisy in the plan, I know it is not a plan from God.
Plans are given to us by the Holy Spirit who dwells in each believer.
The Holy Spirit knows the will of God in each thing we encounter and it matters very much to go according to the will of God.
Proverbs 16:25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
I John 5:14-15 And this is the confidence that we have in HIM, that, if we ask any thing according to HIS will, HE heareth us: And if we know that HE hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of HIM.
The Holy Spirit searches the heart of God concerning that which we are going though in this life. And the Holy Spirit of God reveals to us the will of God.
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
We compare the idea brought to our mind to the characteristics of the wisdom of God in James 3:17.
And sometimes our heart just isn't in the project. That is when we need to stop and pray, asking God to change our heart if the way of that project is of HIM.
Often God will give us a dream to show us what to do. But most often, a gentle throught from the Holy Spirit will come to my mind on the issue at hand.
But we also must be careful for the devil can bring thoughts to our mind, but the plan of the devil is to hurt us and to destroy us, if possible.
And thoughts can come from our own fleshly desires which often lead us into forms of destruction.
If there is any question about the proposed plan, we can ask God to confirm to us HIS will in the matter.
Here is what the Holy Spirit does for us:
John 16:13 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 shew you things to come.
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