True Christianity is not about religion. It’s all about relationship. Romans 8:14 says, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God.” How can one be led if there is no ongoing personal relationship, or a neglected or ignored relationship! Or a doubting, unbelieving, untrusting one!
In whatever way, manner, or form you first opened your heart and life to God, that was your free will invitation and God’s permission to come in and dwell with you in your spirit-man. Maintaining and developing that personal relationship is a two-way, or two person responsibility. Jesus said He would never leave nor forsake us. But we have been given free will, and we can certainly ignore the Presence of God’s Spirit or the Spirit of Christ within, turn a deaf ear and allow the distractions of this world to take over our lives, and try to live, purpose and solve all our issues and difficulties independently on our own, maybe asking God to step in and rescue us when we get into trouble.
So, how do we get wisely led? Psalm 46:10 says “Be still and know that I am God.” John 16:13 states, “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 Lord speaks to us through the Holy Spirit residing in us. Jesus also said “My sheep hear My Voice,” meaning we can, are able to. Are we interested, being sensitive, and listening? Are we fellowshipping with Him? Spending quiet time in communion, seeking oneness with Him, allowing Him to actually plan, guide and order our daily lives, according to HIS Wisdom, Will, purposes and ways? Are we eager to grow spiritually and co-labor with Him? Are we listening and actually allowing Him to lead us? Are we seeking and hearing? Obedience means to hear and follow what was heard. My Merriam Webster’s Dictionary defines obey 1: “follow the commands or guidance of 2: behave in accordance with.” It is not possible to be obedient to the Holy Spirit, if we are not turning our hearts and ears to hear His Voice, receive His inner prompts in our daily walk and journey.
If we live from our spirit-man, in oneness and unity with the Holy Spirit’s daily guidance , direction, grace and power, we also live and enjoy the Fruit of His Spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. In fact, any sensed absence or opposite of any of these is a warning or red flag that we are not thinking and operating, or living in the fullness of the Kingdom of God at that moment in time, but have dropped back into our former “this world” thinking. Spiritual growth and transformation is a process. All the fruit of the Spirit was given along with the Spirit, and deposited into our re-created new spirits. We can call upon them, acknowledge and affirm them, “Use” them as the spiritual forces they each are.
Actual Kingdom living, and co-laboring with God according to His specific on–going purposes, plans, deposited gifts, anointings, and will for your life, i.e. being led daily, and moment to moment, by the Spirit of God, is a glorious faith adventure with Him. There is nothing more joyful, exciting, or fulfilling than being in the center of God’s will and purposes for your life. It is God, in union or oneness with you, living in and through you. Nothing is more wonderful or miraculous.
It is up to each of us. Our own will, plans, purposes and strength, and whatever that brings us, or His. Sow to the flesh, self-sufficiency and independence, or sow to the Spirit, dependence on Him and His abundant Grace and Wisdom, a God guided, God led life as His son or daughter. It’s all about our relationship with Him.
Your choice…
Carole Robinson
A God Listener
12/15/2015
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