11 DAYS TO PENTECOST

11 DAYS TO PENTECOST

TEXT:  ROMANS 8:14

As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

KEY TEXT: Romans 8:14 “Led by the Spirit of God…”

REFLECTION:  

God is often blamed for what He did not do.

Growing up in the Parsonage and now Pastoring for 29 years, I have heard people testify:

…that God led them to go into taverns where they met “the answer to their prayers,”

…that God led them to marry a person they scarcely knew (this was usually confirmed by a tingling sensation when they first touched),

…that God led them into a wonderful experience that confirmed God’s sanction of their disobedience, and

…that God led them to leave a Bible-preaching, conservative church to join a liberal, compromising, but oh so much more “loving” fellowship.

Time inevitably revealed that they were all, not at all, led by the Spirit of God.  Tragically most of them never recovered in time to get back on the right road.¹

Because our Holy God is all knowing, all powerful, and everywhere present, He never contradicts Himself.  He never leads us to do what His Word forbids.  He never leads us to renounce what His Word enjoins.  We are urged to “try [or test] the spirits, whether they be of God.” (1 John 4:1).

The Spirit of God leads all who honor and heed Him.

He leads by showing us particular truth in His Word. 

He leads by bringing others along to show us the right way.

He leads by experience, through trial and error we gain knowledge of God’s will, and

He leads by immediately (without mediation) presenting ideas to our mind.

God’s Word teaches that God’s Spirit leads us:

…into the truth (John 15:26)

…to repentance (Romans 2:4)

…to holiness of heart (1 Peter 1:2)

…to the straight and narrow gate that leads to life (Matthew 7:14)

…to be witnesses (Acts 11:12)

…to change our course of direction (Acts 16:7)

All who are born of the Spirit are led by the Spirit.  Those who are not led by the Spirit grieve the Spirit. (Ephesians 4:30).  So let Him lead!

¹I like C. S. Lewis’ advice to those who are off track: “Progress means getting nearer to the place you want to be. And if you have taken a wrong turning, then to go forward does not get you any nearer.
If you are on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; and in that case the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive man.”

PRAYER: Our Father in Heaven, We are so grateful for the day that you led us to yourself!  We thank you for leading us in the paths of righteousness.  We thank you for leading us when we don’t know which way to turn.  We thank you for leading us moment by moment, and day after day.  Oh Father, we pray that we would never grieve the Spirit by ignoring or resisting His leadership.  May we be Spirit-filled, and Spirit-driven, and Spirit-led throughout this day.  In the strong name of Jesus we pray, Amen. “Our Father, &c.”