Theme Scriptures: Romans 8:14
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God”
Believers can be led or controlled by either one of the following …
- The fresh (soul) – your mind, will and emotions?
- The world – influence of other people or money
- The Devil or manipulating familiar spirits
- Holy Spirit – (Romans 8:14)
As you continue to grow in holiness, you will find yourself growing in your ability to discern God’s will.
Romans 12:2 declares; “Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will”.
Following Holy Spirit leading promotes the believers spiritual growth
Spiritual maturity requires Holy Spirit leading in every area of our lives especially in our decision making. We cannot be effective in showing forth the light and life of Christianity if our flesh or our emotions are controlling us.
Here is a picture of the man of God that we should all desire to be like.
- He is mature in his walk with God.
- He is balanced and trustworthy.
- He loves God with all his heart plus he has a powerful testimony of God’s goodness upon his life.
- Holy Spirit of God guides him, and it appears that in whatever he does prospers.
- God trusts him and gives him assignments that he fulfills with confidence.
- He hears the voice of God and is turned neither to the left nor to the right but stays focused on the job assigned to him until it is done regardless of who tries to sway him.
- 7) He is a blessing to his family, friends, pastor, community, and church family.
So many times, believers are ruled and governed by emotions / feelings instead of the Spirit of God. This always causes confusion in whatever environment they go in. The conversations they have with friends and church family are sprinkled with all the right “spiritual” words but there is no depth or wisdom by the spirit of God applied in their conversations. They are unstable and they lack in producing the desired fruit. (fruit of the Spirit as in Galatians 5:22)
If you want to know if you are a Spirit-led or an emotion-led believer, ask yourself these questions:
- Do I make the decisions of my daily life based on how I feel, or on the Word of God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit?
- Do I consistently spend time with the Lord in prayer, reading the Bible and listening for His direction? I am I able to differentiate His voice from others?
- Do I spend time with other believers including friends, family or co-workers justifying the wrong decision I have made?
- Am I an emotional believer and are unable to control myself when faced with difficulty situations in this life?
Your answers will help you determine if you have a problem.
Why is it so important for each of us to be led by the Spirit of God in this hour?
Because we’ve been told that in the last days deception will be prevalent. We must be spiritually aware and able to discern what is of God and what is not.
2 Timothy 3:1 declares; “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come”” These words contain a warning of imminent dangers.
Again: the apostle, in speaking unto Timothy, speaks unto us also and continues to say, “This know ye also…”
The duty of all believers is, to be intent (alert) of present and imminent dangers. The disciples asked Jesus in Matthew chapter 24, “O Lord, what shall be the sign of thy coming?” They were fixed upon His coming. Jesus Christ answered, “I will tell you:
- There shall be an abounding of errors and false teachers: many shall say, ‘Lo here is Christ,’ and, ‘Lo, there is Christ.’
- There shall be an apostasy from holiness: ‘iniquity shall abound, and the love of many shall wax cold.’
- There shall be great distress of nations: ‘Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.’
- There shall be great persecutions: ‘And they shall persecute you and bring you before rulers; and you shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake.’
- There shall be great tokens of God’s wrath from heaven: ‘Signs in the heavens, the sun, moon, and stars.”‘
Jesus Christ was preparing believers how they should look for His coming; He tells them of all the dangers. Be intent (alert) upon these things. I know you are apt to overlook them; but these are the things that you are to be intent (alert) upon.
How do we break the cycle of repeatedly making same mistakes in order to avoid the enemy’s traps and deception?
- Slow down! Don’t rush into making decisions. Most emotional decisions are made quickly without any real thought or analysis.
- Do an evaluation: Does thing I want to do have to be done at this exact minute? Is this wise? What is the Spirit of God saying? What could the repercussions of this decision if be?
- Cultivate stillness in your inner man. The Word of God says, “Be still, and know that I am God” (Ps. 46:10, NKJV). Our spirit-man should always be at peace. When it is not, the Spirit is not leading us. Our lives should be governed by the peace of God in the inner man.Personally, I have found that ignoring that lack of peace in my spirit does not pay. We can be led and governed by peace of God or simply ignore it and follow our own flesh, emotions or even convictions of other people but we shall remain miserable until we obey the Lord.
- Verify decisions by the Word of God whenever possible. The Bible does not give us specific answers for each decision we must make. In other words, the Word will not tell you if you should go to a meeting or not. It will not tell you whether you should take a particular job or whom to marry. The Word of God will, however, give you guidelines for your daily life.
- Make a conscious decision NOT to be led by emotions. Determine to be led by the Spirit of God. Ask Holy Spirit to help you. (Romans 8:14)
John 16:13 says; “…however, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority; but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come”
Brothers and sisters, we have been given the tools to become spiritually mature Christians. God desires to raise an army of believers that will hold a place in history which the world cannot hold.
Choose today to be the one full of the Spirit, led by the Spirit, empowered by the Spirit and obedient to His Spirit.
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