Perfect Timing

Outline

        I.            Not Every Door

·         Sometimes God tests you with open doors to see if you’re listening and to see if you’re ready for the real opportunity he’s preparing you to receive.

      II.            Not Every Voice

·         Not every voice you hear has the right understanding of God’s direction for your life.

    III.            Not Every Calling

·         We can’t rob callings from other people because when we do we rob calling from ourselves.

Study Questions

1.      When have you jumped on a “can’t-miss” opportunity only to realize later you stepped into a massive headache?

2.      Read John 7:1–4. Why did the Feast of Booths make Jerusalem look like such an obvious public opportunity for Jesus? Why is it so tempting to mistake strategic, exciting momentum for God’s divine timing?

3.      Read Proverbs 3:5–6. How does this passage help us practice discernment? How does “leaning on our own understanding” make us chase the wrong open doors?

4.      Read John 7:3–5. Why were Jesus’s brothers pressuring him to go public, even though they did not yet believe in him? How do we guard ourselves from well-meaning advice that may contradict the Spirit’s leading?

5.      Read John 7:6–9. How does understanding the uniqueness of your specific calling free you from the pressure to say “yes” to every good cause? How do you discern the difference between a real assignment from God and a need someone else has?

6.      Faithfulness is not the same as busyness. How does trying to participate in every good cause actually rob us from our own calling? How does this create burnout, and where are you most in danger of burnout?

7.      Memorize Proverbs 3:5–6. Share with your group or a trusted friend an open door, an influential voice, or a possible calling you are currently trying to discern. Take a step this week to move forward with God’s specific leading for you.