Technique: Following God's Method, Not Our Own

A technique is a method that has proved successful in the past and is used again as a pattern when repeating an activity or process. This article considers whether the Kingdom of God can be reduced to formulas – and why intimacy with the Father must always outrank familiarity with methods.

Tried and Tested in the Natural and Spiritual Realms

In the natural world, it is a valid approach to use tried and tested ways when repeating an activity or process. In the spiritual realm, however, there is the need to be constantly hearing God's voice and responding appropriately, for He is a God of infinite variety. While certain principles are involved, God is so creative He seldom works in exactly the same way in two similar cases. Jesus healed people with the same condition in a variety of ways, and He was always in intimate relationship with His Father – that should be our priority too, connecting to the miracle worker rather than focusing on a method, trying to duplicate the technique that brought about a previous outcome. This requires us to live in humble dependency on Him, as Jesus did (Jn 3:1,3, 5:19, 8:28-29), to be discerning and sensitive to the Spirit, and to follow through with obedience.

Jesus lived in complete obedience to His Father's will

Even a method that has succeeded before should therefore be held lightly, for its past success was never inherent in the method itself – it came from the Lord who directed it. To treat yesterday's pattern as automatically repeatable is to put confidence in the instrument rather than in the One who wielded it. So before reaching for yesterday's pattern, be sensitive to the Spirit and pause to ask, “Is this the best approach?” David did precisely that: before each battle he enquired of the Lord, and although the enemy was the same both times, God gave a different strategy on each occasion (1 Chr 14:10-14). Scripture promises that those who trust the Lord rather than leaning on their own understanding will have their paths directed (Prov 3:5-6), and that God gives wisdom generously to all who ask (Jas 1:5). The question is not simply ‘has this worked before?’ but ‘what is the Father saying now?’.

Never at the Expense of Principle or Character

Neither is it wrong in itself to reuse an approach through which God has worked before, provided it will not violate biblical principles or compromise godly character and integrity. What must never be trusted is the method as a guarantee – God may bless it again, or He may say, "this time, walk this way instead". God is a God of order who works through dependable principles – "whatever a man sows, that he will also reap" (Gal 6:7) – and He honours ability that is developed and exercised honestly: Bezalel was filled with the Spirit "with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts" (Ex 31:3), and David "shepherded them with integrity of heart and skilful hands" (Ps 78:72). The test of any method is therefore not simply whether it works, but whether it can be practised with a clear conscience before God: does it contradict Scripture, manipulate or exploit people, or require cutting corners the Lord would never cut? The end never justifies ungodly means (Rom 3:8), and no achievement compensates for the loss of Christlike character – "what good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?" (Mk 8:36). Even the most impressive gifts and methods count for nothing without love (1 Cor 13:1-3). Techniques may serve us, but obedience to Scripture and integrity of heart must always rule over them.

Relationship, Not Ritual

Solomon warns, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end leads to death" (Prov 14:12, 16:25), emphasizing how easily we are deceived by our own reasoning. A way can appear sound, sensible and even spiritual – patterned on what worked before, or endorsed by majority opinion – and still lead away from God, because its starting point is human wisdom rather than His voice. Saul's offering seemed a reasonable act of devotion, yet it cost him the kingdom (1 Sam 13:8-14); Cain's offering seemed right to him, but was not received (Gen 4:3-5). As the Lord says: "My thoughts are not your thoughts... as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways" (Isa 55:8-9). A 'tried and tested' technique must therefore never substitute for present obedience – the only way that leads to life is the one the Father shows us, step by step, as we walk in relationship with Him (Mt 7:13-14; Jn 14:6).

Living for God is not about obeying a rigid set of life-less formulas, which can be likened to 'having a form of godliness while denying the power'; instead it is having a deepening, vibrant, life-transforming love relationship with our Saviour (Isa 29:17; 2 Tim 3:5). It is vital to walk in close fellowship with Him and not rely on our own ability or techniques, for it is "Not by might, nor by power [human ingenuity and skill], but by my Spirit" says the Lord (Zech 4:6). Meditating in the Scriptures (hearing what the Lord says), then doing what it says, guarantees success (Josh 1:8).

The Kingdom of God operates through relationship, not ritual

Divine Gifts Cannot Be Bought

One early New Testament church observer had a wrong approach to spiritual matters: he offered Peter money, saying, "Give me also this ability so that every one on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit" (Act 8:18-24). Salvation, forgiveness of sin and God's power cannot be bought or manipulated by human ingenuity. These divine gifts can only be gained by humble repentance, belief in Christ as Saviour and an ongoing walk in righteousness. His Kingdom operates on different principles than this world.

Reflection and Application

Ask God for His word for today, rather than repeating yesterday's method.
Measure every technique against Scripture and the Spirit's leading.
Prioritise intimacy with the Father; power flows from relationship.
Guard against treating God's gifts as commodities to be bought or controlled.