|
Author
|
Topic: Being led by the Spirit
|
Rogg
Advanced Member
Member # 5394
|
posted
quote:
Originally posted by oneinchrist:
Hi Rogg,
I sense by your fervent speech that you are diligently seeking the will of God. Press on my friend. You sound like you do not want to miss out on the great opportunities God may present you in your life. I completely agree with you that Gods timing is not our timing. It can be easy to get caught up in constant schedules which pay no attention to the spiritual battle we are in the midst of. With love in Christ,
Daniel
Actually I didn't write it, but I do agree with it.
In His Glory
Rog
Posts: 83 | From: St. Louis MO | Registered: Jan 2006
| IP: Logged | 
|
|
oneinchrist
Advanced Member
Member # 6532
|
posted
Hi Rogg,
I sense by your fervent speech that you are diligently seeking the will of God. Press on my friend. You sound like you do not want to miss out on the great opportunities God may present you in your life. I completely agree with you that Gods timing is not our timing. It can be easy to get caught up in constant schedules which pay no attention to the spiritual battle we are in the midst of. With love in Christ,
Daniel
Posts: 1389 | From: Wind Lake, WI | Registered: May 2007
| IP: Logged |
|
|
becauseHElives
Advanced Member
Member # 87
|
posted
Rogg, ![[thumbsup2]](graemlins/thumbsup2.gif)
lot of good stuff there ...
looked up the source, seems to be a good board.
thanks for the article, it is a shame people program Yahweh out of their lives.
Dale
--------------------
Strive to enter in at the strait gate:for many, I say unto you will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. ( Luke 13:24 )
Posts: 4578 | From: Southeast Texas | Registered: Jun 2002
| IP: Logged |
|
|
Rogg
Advanced Member
Member # 5394
|
posted
A very good article written, on being led by the Holy Spirit
from:11/17/04
"Being led by the Spirit"
By:Yahonatan ben-Elohim
The Lord our GOD is Eternal, and is not bound by the restraints of the measurements of time, as we tend to be. In this "microwave society" in which we live, and the "rat race" in which we oftentimes run to and fro, we are influenced in varying measures and degrees by the quick pace of it, trying to accomplish everything that we desire to do. We have set up schedules, or timetables, in which we desire to accomplish certain things at a fixed point in time, which have been appointed, assigned, or designated. I agree that there are some schedules that we cannot seem to do away with, such as when to go to school, work, etc. However,....at the same time,....we must realise that we are called to live by the laws of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus, not being bound and constricted by the fallible and non-Spirit-- inspired schedules and laws of man.
If we are to be Spiritually-minded, rather than naturally-minded, then we must practice walking in the Spirit, as well as living in the Spirit, operating only by HIS leading, rather than the human impulses of the carnal/fallen nature.
(Isaiah 55: 8,9) "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways', says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the Earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts."
(Psalm 94:11) "The Lord knows the thoughts of man, that they are futile."
(Romans 8:5-7) "For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be."
(Proverbs 20:24) "A man's steps are of the Lord; How then can a man understand his own way?"
(Proverbs 3:5-8) "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear[reverence] the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones."
(Proverbs 1:20a,21b,22,23) "Wisdom calls aloud outside...She speaks Her words: 'How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge. Turn at My rebuke; Surely I will pour out My Spirit on you: I will make My words known to you."
(1 Cor. 2:10-16) "But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For 'who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?' But we have the Mind of Christ."
(1 John 2:20,27) "But you have an Anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things....But the Anointing which you have received of Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as that same Anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as It has taught you, you will abide in Him."
(Romans 8:14) "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God."
There are MANY examples that I can give, which illustrate my point of the fact that if we allow our schedules to dictate exactly how to move, act, and operate,...then we will be doomed to continual failure and loss. For many years, I have visited local churches which have very strict schedules, such as to when to greet others, when to praise and worship, when to take up the tithes/offerings, when to dismiss the children to their classes, when the pastor preaches, and when to end the service and dismiss the congregation. I understand the point that some people make, when they say that without some kind of a schedule, and law and order, that there will be chaos and disorder. However,....whenever we have the presumption that this is the only correct way or manner to do things, then we are in direct and indirect resistance and opposition to the Divine guidance of the Holy Spirit who desires to lead us into the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God the Father. There have been more times than I can count, of when the congregation of the saints (during a gathering in church, etc.) have spent about 20 minutes in praise and worship unto the Lord, and the room becomes filled with the tangible and awesome Presence of the Holy Spirit,....and as the Lord is beginning to affect the people very strongly, healing them of emotional wounds, liberating them from demonic strongholds, etc., ....and then, all of a sudden, the pastor gets up, takes the microphone, instantly calls for an end to the praise/worship, and dismisses the children to their classes, so that he can go ahead and preach his sermon. There have been times when the audience was immersed deeply in His wonderful Presence, singing and worshipping in the Spirit, with psalms and spiritual songs, in other tongues/languages, as well as in English,...and then the leader of the church immediately asks for silence. Oftentimes,...if one is sensitive to the Anointing of the Spirit, one can literally sense the Spirit becoming grieved, and the Cloud of His Presence is no longer thick and tangible, but begins to thin out and fade into the background. In this situation, the Lord wanted to do many mighty works and miracles, but the pastor (unfortunately) ignorantly chooses to keep things "on schedule". I have seen occasions when people who were praying at the "altar" were asked to hurry up and finish praying, so that the pastor could preach. We should not try to fit God into our "boxes" of time,....but rather to immerse ourselves into the FULLness of His will and Kingdom.
Some Christians assume that one must be at church everytime and on time,....but I have heard a true story about when some of the saints were led by the Spirit to not go to church on a certain day, and a tornado hit that church. The ones that did not listen to HIM went anyway, and were killed. There is another story (from overseas) about when a church became destroyed by terrorists, and some had stayed home and were spared, but the ones that went anyway were mostly injured and some were killed. We must allow the Lord (rather than the traditions of men) to direct our steps.
Most of us have gone to school on a scheduled basis. However,...there was one day when I sensed very strongly that I should not ride the bus and go to school, and I somehow convinced my mother to allow me to stay home. And lo and behold,....I found out later that day, that my bus driver was driving too fast when he made a turn, and the bus flipped over and many of the students were badly injured. On several occasions, when I had plans to drive my car to some place,....I felt led to wait, and to have my car checked out, and sure enough, there would be something broken or badly damaged, that would have caused me to either stall or to get into an accident, if indeed I had not listened to HIM. At least two or three times,....I have sat at a red light, and gotten ready to go ahead through it, as it turned green,....but in my spirit, I sensed strongly that I should wait,....while people were behind me blowing their horns,.....and all of a sudden, a car or an 18-wheeler truck would come "flying" through there, running that red light,...and if I had gone on ahead, I would most likely have been killed, or injured very badly. On another occasion, me and my mother were planning to go shopping for the day,...but shortly before we had planned to leave,...the Holy Spirit told my mother to lay down in her room and to pray. Thankfully, she complied with Him, for within a few minutes, she heard a crackling sound, and began to smell smoke. What had happened, was that the multiple outlet extension cord was malfuctioning, and as it threw out some sparks, the curtain caught on fire. If we had not listened to the Lord, and paused our "schedule",....our house would have burned down to the ground while we were shopping.
We must not do ANYTHING without Him leading and guiding us,....for without Him, we can do nothing of any true and eternal value. The very decisions that we make, can determine whether we live or die(prematurely), succeed or fail, reap the Blessing or the Curse. Rather than being governed by the thoughts of your mind, or the intents of your heart, allow the Holy Spirit to lead and guide in ALL things,...no matter how "small" they may seem to be. The life that we live is as a "puzzle", or "maze",...and we desperately need Him (who knows all things) to guide us, step by step, for HE alone is the true and Divine "Navigator", "Orchestrator", and the Supreme "Maestro", the GOD of all gods, the High Priest of priests, the KING of kings, and the Lord of lords. A step taken without HIM is a step out of His Light into the darkness.
(Isaiah 30:21) "Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk in it,' whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left."
(Psalm 37:23) "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way."
(Psalm 25:9) "The humble He guides in justice, and the humble He teaches His way."
(Psalm 139:10) "Even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me."
Of His commandments, it says in Proverbs 6:22,23, that, "When you roam, they will lead you; When you sleep, they will keep you; And when you are awake, they will speak with you. For the commandment is a lamp, and the Law a light; Reproofs of instruction are the way of life."
(John 16:13) "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." The Holy Spirit only speaks according to the Father's will, just the same as the Son does,...and likewise, so should we. As we heed His Words, we will NEVER go astray.
There are many voices in this world, whether it be of God, of self, of other people, or of demonic spirits. We must be very specific about who or what we hear, and the manner and measure that we give heed to that voice. May we deny those voices of deception, of our carnal/fallen-self nature, as well as those of other evil influences, and listen ONLY to the Voice of the Good Shepherd.
(John 10:27) "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me."
(Mark 4:23-25) "If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.' Then He said to them, "Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given. For whomever has, to him more will be given; but whomever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him." May we be wise and faithful in how we give heed to His Voice, for to the degree and measure they we listen to His guidance, that is the same measure/degree in which we will receive from Him. We will reap whatever we sow. To those who are faithful unto Him, more will be given, but those who are not, even what they already have will be taken away.
(Matthew 25:21a, 29,30) "...you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.....For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
This Scripture is part of a prophecy, but is nevertheless applicable to us in our spiritual walk and lifestyle in His Spirit. :
(Isaiah 42:16) "I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight."
The events of the Old Testament were written as examples unto us, who should take heed. In Numbers 9:17-23, we read that the Israelites were commanded to stay and abide, whenever the Cloud of the Presence of the Lord dwelt upon the tabernacle in a certain place. However, when IT moved, they were compelled to move along with Him,....staying in sync. In verse 23a, it says, "At the command of the Lord they remained encamped, and at the command of the Lord they journeyed." We are nowadays under a better Covenant, and have received the Promise of His Spirit, whom has been poured out in a much greater measure and degree than in those days. Therefore, we should never assume that we can do anything without His leading. The Lord changes not, and is the same, yesterday, today, and forever.
The Word says that we must "therefore be imitators of Christ." In John 5:19, and 30, we read the words of the Master, "...Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son does in like manner.......I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgement is righteous, because I seek not My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me."
(John 15:4,5) "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me, you can do nothing."
(Philippians 4:13) "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Some Christians take this Scripture out of context, saying that that can do ANYTHING (that they think is good)through Christ,...but that is contrary to Scripture, for HE will only strengthen and enable us to do the very things that the Father has specifically willed and ordained. We cannot have a form of godliness, while denying the Power thereof. We must comply in obedience to everything that He commands, not operate in manipulation of His will, in order to try to suit our own desires, ambitions, and agendas. In the Old and New Testaments, we see examples of the fact that the Lord has severely judged and destroyed those who did this (Lev.10:1,2 ; Acts 5:1-11).
(Colossians 3:17) "And whatever you do in word or deed, do ALL in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."
The Lord our GOD, who was, and is, and is to come, is the Eternal, Self-Existent One, and HE already knows our future, and exactly what needs to be done for us to achieve our predestined calling and goal. However, we see "through a glass darkly", only seeing in part and knowing in part. So therefore, realistically, we have no control over it, for we simply cannot truly plan ahead, due to not knowing what future lies before us, as HE does. Christ commands us (in Matt.6:25-34) to not worry about our future, but to trust Him. We should never concern ourselves with what we shall wear, eat, drink, do, speak, etc., for we must only operate as He leads, guides, and provides. For "in HIM we LIVE, MOVE, and HAVE OUR BEING." (Acts 17:28a)
Yeshua (Jesus) says to us, "My sheep know My voice". However,....even though we should automatically know His voice,....we still have to practice listening to Him on a repetitive basis, tuning our spirit to His Spirit, in order that we may discern the difference between Him and the voice of the thoughts of our minds, as well as those of the deceptive, demonic forces of darkness. An excellent way to tune our spirit to His frequency and wavelengths (as compared to a radio that must be tuned to a station), is through continual meditation of His Word and spending ample amounts of time in prayer, worship, etc.
Most of the time, His peace will arise within our spirits to confirm that it is Him speaking, but there are occasions when He may speak in a strong and sudden manner, as in warnings, corrections, etc. It is proven when it is Him, for His "fruit" and manifestation is that of holy righteousness and love, seeking to draw us deeper into Him, rather than into our fallen nature. It is the carnal self-nature that the demonic spirits use and exploit, in order to trick, seduce, and entrap, for the sole purpose of our damnation into Hell with them for all eternity.
To use a few more examples for the purpose of teaching anyone who may not know about these things:
I have found by experience that whenever I comply fully with His leading, that He synchronizes everything, or in other words, causes events to occur at the proper time and in harmony and balance. In days past, occasion, whenever I would have a schedule to meet with someone, the timing would (oftentimes) be "off" and inaccurate, and thus, nothing worked out successfully . But when I would wait on Him to lead me, the timing was "on key", precise and accurate. Whenever I am looking for a person or a place, in which I have no knowledge of the whereabouts or location....I ask Him to guide me, through His Spirit within my spirit, and as I follow the sense of His nudgings and promptings, I am led to the proper person or place. Rather than trying to play drums in praise and worship music exclusively in my own ability, I ask for His Anointing and Divine Unction, and I find that rather than it seeming like labor that is worked through fleshly abilities,....it becomes restful and easy, with no burden oncesoever. Whenever I teach, whether in writing or in speaking, I NEVER do so without His Anointing guiding me, for therein, it seems to "flow like water" and without any effort on my part.
We must never do anything without precisely following His leading. Even during periods of prayer,....they are times to speak, as well as times of quietness. There are times of praise, as well as times of worship, in our native language, or perhaps even in other tongues(languages). He may lead you to stand still, or to bow before Him, or perhaps, even to dance. In other words,....we should not be bound by the constraints of tradition and habit,...but only moving and acting in accordance to the promptings and movings of His Spirit. If and when we act in our own will, rather than in His,....we grieve, quench, and vex His Spirit, and thus, nullify (to some degree) our potential in Him, as well as His potential in our lives and situations. In order to tap into our full potential in Him as His sons and daughters, we must be led by Him in ALL things, in the thoughts of our minds, the words of our mouths, the works of our hands, and the steps of our feet.
I close with these Scriptures:
(Matthew 10:19,20) "But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you."
(Ex. 4:12) "Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say."
The (prophesied) Messiah says of the Father: (Isaiah 50:4) "The Lord God has given Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to hear as the learned."
(Luke 21:14,15) "Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you shall answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist."
(Jeremiah 1:7) "But the Lord said to me: 'Do not say, I am a youth,' for you shall go to ALL to whom I send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak."
In HIM we live, move, and have our being,
Jonathan
Posts: 83 | From: St. Louis MO | Registered: Jan 2006
| IP: Logged |
|
|
|
Printer-friendly view of this topic
