by Geoff Wiklund
We live in a democratic country and for that I am glad. However when it comes to the things of God, democracy does not always work. In Acts 27:9 we read:
Now when much time had been spent, and sailing was now dangerous because the Fast was already over, Paul advised them, 10 saying, “Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives.” 11 Nevertheless the centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship than by the things spoken by Paul. 12 And because the harbour was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised to set sail from there also, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, a harbour of Crete opening toward the southwest and northwest, and winter there. NKJV
The majority had their way and it lead to disaster. The problem was the others conferred together and they did not confer with God. There is a great lesson here for all of us. We need to confer with God and not just go along with the majority.
I recall an elders meeting where the senior pastor and myself laid out the plans for the Church and the vision he had given us in fasting and prayer. The elders turned us down and told us to forget it. I was not so easily dissuaded. I asked the first elder how many hours he had prayed concerning the document we had given him. He spoke eloquently of his discernment and why he felt we could not achieve this very ambitious scheme. At the end I asked again. How many hours of prayer? The answer was none. The same for others. I asked them how they could say no to us when we had heard from God and they were too lazy. They hastily agreed to the program we laid out and God achieved all he said He would.
Democracy is a wonderful tool, but God is the majority and we need to make sure that our decisions line up with the will of God. John writes:
1 John 5:14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. NKJV
These guys with Paul went their own way and they were shipwrecked. I can guarantee that going your own way will make a shipwreck of your life. So go with the majority that is God. Hear and listen to the prophets voice, and if you feel uneasy then check again. God is only too pleased to confirm His will to you. Blessing is always the result of obedience and loss is the result of disobedience.