Led by the Spirit

[Episkopos]

As some of you may know I have written on this forum about the perfection of Christ and that level of walk..which few will attain to...and so many are unreasonably hostile to the very idea of.

But I'd like to dial it back somewhat and speak of the walk that is being one of being led by the Spirit...although that walk is imperfect and fraught with dangers and difficulties. But this is the "normal" walk of a child of God. It is where we all spend either all our time...or come in and out of the full grace of walking IN the Spirit.

So I'll begin by saying that being led by the Spirit is not the same as being IN the Spirit.

If we are faithful to God we will seek the Lord everyday for His guidance...and just be open to Him because of the awareness of Christ in us. This becomes quite automatic...although there is effort involved...to slow down and quieten ourselves to listen for His words. I like peace and quiet since I hear His words the better.

So then many of us are led by the Spirit. Paul says that if we are led by the Spirit we are the sons of God. So then this is an entry level type of walk in faithfulness to the amount of grace that we have been given thus far. And it is a walk that can be sustained with the deposit of faith we have been given. We can just be faithful to God on that level.

Of course there is more...a lot more. Look at what John the Revelator says...

Rev. 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

Was John always in the Spirit? No...he makes the distinction that he was on a certain day. If he was always in the Spirit he would not have said that he was on the Lord's day above any other day.

But we can be sure that John was always led by the Spirit. He was a faithful follower of Jesus Christ after all.

 

[Episkopos]

One of the biggest dangers of being led by the Spirit is that a person's self-love...ego, pride are lifted up WITH the experience of God. When we self-evaluate our own faithfulness in a positive manner...rather than just seeing we are poor servants..we fall into a trap.

It should be remembered that the devil himself began as innocent and childlike in blamelessness (tamim). But at one point a line was crossed.

Now a person cannot be lifted up in pride when he is actually IN the Spirit because there is no doubt who is doing the works. There is a crucifying that goes with the life. No, the pride comes later...or at least the temptation to comes later.

So then we are speaking of spiritual sin....being puffed up like the devil was.

There is sinning on the carnal level, on the soulish level and on the spiritual level.

Since being led by the Spirit is by influence of the Spirit yet it is still we walking in our own power...although that power is being bent into submission to God's will by our own will...we are still reachable by pride.

The good gets in the way of the perfect.

Jesus said..Blessed is he that is not offended in Me.

Matthew 11:6
6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

This is a specific sin for the believer in Christ. So we should be aware of that as we seek to be led by the Spirit. We need to stay humble and not see ourselves as higher than we ought to. Otherwise our pride will get in the way and we will not be able to discern Christ in the body.

 

[Episkopos]

Being led by the Spirit, in humility and with a lack of judgment for others, is the best possible walk we can have while still walking in our own strength. So we are led to die daily. Our commitment to Christ is being constantly renewed in the face of every new situation.

And this is very good if we can avoid the issue of pride. We are not being led by the Spirit to make ourselves superior to others.

And if we can avoid judging others. We are not led by the Spirit in order to put others down.

The life that is led by the Spirit is a living witness of a living God in the midst of a people who are living in the limitations and bondage of a fallen humanity. It is a life that points to God...even without words. I would say especially without words...without any religious overtones. It is letting people see what a child of God does in every kind of situation...what it looks like to know the Lord.

People are watching what we do...as well as what we say. They are looking to see if we have more understanding, wisdom and any kind of supernatural connection with God that they lack.

Are people led by the Spirit to share the "plan of salvation" with the people they work with and walk alongside? or is this a religious thing...something that is forced and uncomfortable for others. Do people want to be "witnessed to?" Or do they want to see a living witness of what a life lived before God looks like?

Is our walk completely unique and spontaneous...or are we living in a cardboard religiously indoctrinated way so that we are just trying to put the man made technique into practice as we were taught to do by men? Are we actually just embarrassing people?

Are we just like the sects..JW's or Mormons but with a different set of doctrines? same kind of dogmatic certainty...just slightly different set of beliefs?

Or are we really being led by the Spirit? In a way that people see something miraculous.

 

[Episkopos]

To be led by the Spirit means that we will be also operating in the gifts of the Spirit...as we are led to.....by the Spirit.

Does that mean we are walking in the Spirit? No. it means that the Spirit is guiding us. The Spirit is trying to teach us, to convince us of the goodness of His ways in all circumstances. We remain however, in control of our own lives at this stage. And we can be doing very well one part of the day....and failing in another part of the day. IOW we can be being led by the Spirit...but be very inconsistent in our walk. That is because we are still walking in our own capacities...BUT...also listening to the inner voice that is telling us which way we SHOULD go.

At this level we can be operating in the spiritual gifts AND yet be grieving the Spirit...because of an attitude that is not Christ-like. Because of our conduct...which may very well be bringing dishonour to God even as we seem to be doing God's bidding in the operation of the spiritual gifts the Spirit is trying to guide us into to help others. But at this stage we may not be seeing how that the gifts are for others. We may very well be trying to use them to our own advantage...for a kind of spiritual pride.

If this condition persists...we can become like the people who say...Lord, Lord, we did many wonderful things in your Name (spiritual gifts) ...but whom Jesus rebukes saying...I never knew YOU.

Now this is very confusing for many...and myself for a long time as well.
But the purpose of being led by the Spirit is not to puff oneself up...to make a man-titled ministry. In short, we are not to try exploiting what God is doing either in the formation of a "ministry" with a religious sounding name...or personally as a means of feeling superior to others. We are being led to be servants of God to help others...not ourselves. God wants us to learn to be HIS conduit in the world. And we are to desire to walk in His presence and life...always. Paul was after the high calling which is to be as Jesus in this world...in life and power. And we need to be encouraged in that pursuit.

Remember a person can easily operate in the gifts of the Spirit and NOT YET BE CRUCIFIED in his walk. Until then we will not know the intimacy of the Lord...so that He KNOWS us in that intimate way.

This is why I stress that we must seek the full measure of grace in a dying WITH Christ and walking in His resurrection life. This is why the standard of THAT walk needs to be taught. This will keep us humble and keep our understanding of godly doctrine sound.

But this thread is about the best we can do while not yet walking as a dead man in Christ...and in the very power of the life of Jesus Christ...to walk just as He walked.

 

[marks]

Now this is very confusing for many...and myself for a long time as well.
But the purpose of being led by the Spirit is not to puff oneself up...to make a man-titled ministry. In short, we are not to try exploiting what God is doing either in the formation of a "ministry" with a religious sounding name...or personally as a means of feeling superior to others. We are being led to be servants of God to help others...not ourselves. God wants us to learn to be HIS conduit in the world. And we are to desire to walk in His presence and life...always. Paul was after the high calling which is to be as Jesus in this world...in life and power. And we need to be encouraged in that pursuit.

Amen!

This makes me think about what so many have called "consumerism Christianity", when it becomes about "What do I get?"

Well . . . you get to lose your life! That's when we can start sharing His.

This part . . . I think some people miss,

Philippians 3:10 "That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;"

Being made conformable to his death . . . I think this talks about now. We are to be conformed to Jesus' death, that we will live dead to sin.

Much love!

 

[Episkopos]

Now being led by the Spirit doesn't mean that God will do our thinking for us. He doesn't tell us HOW to think...just points us in the right direction. It may take many years to realize the purpose of God in what was simple obedience to God at that time.

I have a little story for this.

There is a certain brother in the Lord that lives quite near to us. Dot met him at a soccer game. Now this brother has many difficulties in his life...even his own household...but he is a sweet brother. He came over for the first time for a few hours and ended up staying well into the evening....he was here about 10 hours or so. So there was quite a connection there in the Lord.

Now, on 2 separate occasions the Spirit told him to come over to be a part of the meetings we host on Saturday night. And for those 2 Saturdays he came over. It was a good time. But he only came over when prompted directly to do so. As if he would never do anything at all unless the Spirit told him specifically to do so. You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink. You can lead a human to knowledge but you can't make him think.

This kind of error can happen when we don't differentiate walking in the Spirit from being led by the Spirit.

We can't think that God will tell us every little thing we are to do. We must also add in our own thinking...so as to learn lessons.

Walking in the Spirit is God leading us moment by moment. No thought need go into that. But being led by the Spirit is God trying to show us something as well as doing what He wills for us to do. God is trying to get us to think and reason as He does.

 

[Episkopos]

Now here is a good reference that shows being led by the Spirit...

Acts 9:10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.”
And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”
11 So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. 12 And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.”
13 Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.”
15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”
17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.

Here is a visitation from the Lord to a disciple who was led by the Spirit...yet not walking in the Spirit.

How do we know this?

1. He and Jesus had to locate each other...as in...I'm over here! A person who is already walking in the intimate presence of God doesn't have to respond to a call.

2. Ananias thought to question God's judgment...as in...don't you know that this man Saul is dangerous? So then it is obvious that Ananias retained some of his own opinions...which he wouldn't have had had he been walking as a dead man so as to be alive ONLY in Christ.

So we see that one can go very far by being led by the Spirit. But the closer walk of being always IN the Spirit is indeed further.

 

[marks]

Hi @Episkopos,

A question please, When Paul received visions, this then indicates that Paul was not at that time in the Spirit?

I'm thinking of the man from Macedonia, and preaching in Corinth.

Of course Peter saw a vision, and question what was said, so then this would mean the same thing?

Much love!

 

[faithfulness]

Now being led by the Spirit doesn't mean that God will do our thinking for us. He doesn't tell us HOW to think...just points us in the right direction. It may take many years to realize the purpose of God in what was simple obedience to God at that time.

I have a little story for this.

There is a certain brother in the Lord that lives quite near to us. Dot met him at a soccer game. Now this brother has many difficulties in his life...even his own household...but he is a sweet brother. He came over for the first time for a few hours and ended up staying well into the evening....he was here about 10 hours or so. So there was quite a connection there in the Lord.

Now, on 2 separate occasions the Spirit told him to come over to be a part of the meetings we host on Saturday night. And for those 2 Saturdays he came over. It was a good time. But he only came over when prompted directly to do so. As if he would never do anything at all unless the Spirit told him specifically to do so. You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink. You can lead a human to knowledge but you can't make him think.

This kind of error can happen when we don't differentiate walking in the Spirit from being led by the Spirit.

We can't think that God will tell us every little thing we are to do. We must also add in our own thinking...so as to learn lessons.

Walking in the Spirit is God leading us moment by moment. No thought need go into that. But being led by the Spirit is God trying to show us something as well as doing what He wills for us to do. God is trying to get us to think and reason as He does.

I'm stepping out of the boat or my comfort zone here and coming back to this post after reading it this morning. It goes without saying that I enjoy your posts. I've especially paid close attention to the difference between the walk in and being led by the Spirit. Desiring with all of my being to be one of the few who attain to the walk.

I picked up along the way that no one was interested in what I had to say. That you had to be anointed and it had to be from the Spirit of God, not from my thinking or opinion. Which is probably true, because who is really interested in anything anybody has to say that doesn't speak to the heart? And then I believed that you had to be walking in the Spirit to even hear from the Spirit, His thoughts and not your own.

But I'm encouraged by "We can't think that God will tell us every little thing we are to do". We must add in our own thinking...so as to learn lessons." "God is trying to get us to think and reason as He does"...as well as doing what He wills for us to do".
Thank you.

 

[Episkopos]

I'm stepping out of the boat or my comfort zone here and coming back to this post after reading it this morning. It goes without saying that I enjoy your posts. I've especially paid close attention to the difference between the walk in and being led by the Spirit. Desiring with all of my being to be one of the few who attain to the walk.

I picked up along the way that no one was interested in what I had to say. That you had to be anointed and it had to be from the Spirit of God, not from my thinking or opinion. Which is probably true, because who is really interested in anything anybody has to say that doesn't speak to the heart? And then I believed that you had to be walking in the Spirit to even hear from the Spirit, His thoughts and not your own.

But I'm encouraged by "We can't think that God will tell us every little thing we are to do". We must add in our own thinking...so as to learn lessons." "God is trying to get us to think and reason as He does"...as well as doing what He wills for us to do".
Thank you.

I see that it is quite necessary that we spend time...a lot of time really, seeking to be led by the Spirit. I can only imagine not having to learn the deeper lessons of surrender and humility so as to never depart from the Lord's presence.

I liken the sparks of periodic encounter to precious stones. Even if we only attain to that...to be as precious stones to the Lord...He is zealous over us with a fierce love...an eternal fire that is never quenched. God bless you sister.

Mal. 3:17 And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.

<><

 

[Episkopos]

Another picture of being led by the Spirit was in the Israelites being in the intermediate zone between being saved from Egypt and saved TO Canaan land.

The forty years in the desert were training. A lifetime of training. Or seemingly so.

The people were led by God by the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. When the cloud or the fire moved...so did the people.

This is a type of being led by the Spirit.

 

[Enoch111]

The forty years in the desert were training. A lifetime of training. Or seemingly so.

Seemingly so is correct. They all perished in the wilderness because of their unbelief. Were they being trained, they all would have entered Canaan.

 

[Episkopos]

Seemingly so is correct. They all perished in the wilderness because of their unbelief. Were they being trained, they all would have entered Canaan.

That is not so. Not everybody passes the training. In the NT there is a 50% failure rate... at least in the parables.

But the people who left Egypt had children. These were trained in the wilderness to trust in God so as to possess the land. But in your haste to spout an errant opinion...you obviously forgot to factor in the children!

 

[amadeus]

To be led by the Spirit means that we will be also operating in the gifts of the Spirit...as we are led to.....by the Spirit.

Does that mean we are walking in the Spirit? No. it means that the Spirit is guiding us. The Spirit is trying to teach us, to convince us of the goodness of His ways in all circumstances. We remain however, in control of our own lives at this stage. And we can be doing very well one part of the day....and failing in another part of the day. IOW we can be being led by the Spirit...but be very inconsistent in our walk. That is because we are still walking in our own capacities...BUT...also listening to the inner voice that is telling us which way we SHOULD go.

At this level we can be operating in the spiritual gifts AND yet be grieving the Spirit...because of an attitude that is not Christ-like. Because of our conduct...which may very well be bringing dishonour to God even as we seem to be doing God's bidding in the operation of the spiritual gifts the Spirit is trying to guide us into to help others. But at this stage we may not be seeing how that the gifts are for others. We may very well be trying to use them to our own advantage...for a kind of spiritual pride.

If this condition persists...we can become like the people who say...Lord, Lord, we did many wonderful things in your Name (spiritual gifts) ...but whom Jesus rebukes saying...I never knew YOU.

Now this is very confusing for many...and myself for a long time as well.
But the purpose of being led by the Spirit is not to puff oneself up...to make a man-titled ministry. In short, we are not to try exploiting what God is doing either in the formation of a "ministry" with a religious sounding name...or personally as a means of feeling superior to others. We are being led to be servants of God to help others...not ourselves. God wants us to learn to be HIS conduit in the world. And we are to desire to walk in His presence and life...always. Paul was after the high calling which is to be as Jesus in this world...in life and power. And we need to be encouraged in that pursuit.

Remember a person can easily operate in the gifts of the Spirit and NOT YET BE CRUCIFIED in his walk. Until then we will not know the intimacy of the Lord...so that He KNOWS us in that intimate way.

This is why I stress that we must seek the full measure of grace in a dying WITH Christ and walking in His resurrection life. This is why the standard of THAT walk needs to be taught. This will keep us humble and keep our understanding of godly doctrine sound.

But this thread is about the best we can do while not yet walking as a dead man in Christ...and in the very power of the life of Jesus Christ...to walk just as He walked.

Give God the glory!

 

[faithfulness]

And we are to desire to walk in His presence and life...always. Paul was after the high calling which is to be as Jesus in this world...in life and power. And we need to be encouraged in that pursuit.

This is why I stress that we must seek the full measure of grace in a dying WITH Christ and walking in His resurrection life. This is why the standard of THAT walk needs to be taught. This will keep us humble and keep our understanding of godly doctrine sound.

But this thread is about the best we can do while not yet walking as a dead man in Christ...and in the very power of the life of Jesus Christ...to walk just as He walked.

GLORY! \0/

 

[Episkopos]

GLORY! \0/

All praise and glory are His for ever. \o/ \0/\o/

 

[Episkopos]

All the OT saints were led by the Spirit. God spoke to them to direct them into His will. So in this way we could say they were prophets. God chose righteous people and took them into His confidence. God likes to try improving on the fruit He sees...so that this might bear MORE fruit. So He takes us further...and further.

When Jesus came on the scene He brought yet another level...the level of a true walk in holiness.

So then we have the righteous...they who are led by the Spirit...and they who walk in the Spirit (as Jesus walked).

Jesus said...

Matthew 13:17
17 for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

So the level of a Jesus walk was unheard of in the world and unseen. Unfortunately so many modern believers still can't grasp this.

But to be led by the Spirit makes us to be as the OT saints. Exactly as they were. When Jesus speaks of they who are led by the Spirit He calls these prophets.

So we are also to be led by the Spirit even as the OT prophets. But with an even greater capacity...a capacity to grow into the likeness of Christ.

 

[amadeus]

All the OT saints were led by the Spirit. God spoke to them to direct them into His will. So in this way we could say they were prophets. God chose righteous people and took them into His confidence. God likes to try improving on the fruit He sees...so that this might bear MORE fruit. So He takes us further...and further.

When Jesus came on the scene He brought yet another level...the level of a true walk in holiness.

So then we have the righteous...they who are led by the Spirit...and they who walk in the Spirit (as Jesus walked).

Jesus said...

Matthew 13:17
17 for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

So the level of a Jesus walk was unheard of in the world and unseen. Unfortunately so many modern believers still can't grasp this.

But to be led by the Spirit makes us to be as the OT saints. Exactly as they were. When Jesus speaks of they who are led by the Spirit He calls these prophets.

So we are also to be led by the Spirit even as the OT prophets. But with an even greater capacity...a capacity to grow into the likeness of Christ.

"Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he." Matt 11:11

 

[Episkopos]

Jer. 31:33 "But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days," declares the LORD, "I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

This is what the bible says about the New Covenant. It is God's laws written on the heart. (that we should walk in them)

But many don't read what is written and have been induced to interpret this as rather...

'Salvation is written on their brains"...

For many the word "salvation" has been hardwired into their minds as being the end run around the purpose of God. Avoiding the process (which IS the purpose after all) and claiming the prize in an entitled kind of way. Seeking to divert God's will to serve the natural man.

The New Covenant is not an automatic salvation...it has to be walked out. But we begin the new life with a new level of understanding and a new motivation. As such we should be doing much better than the people around us.

That is unless the purpose of the New Covenant has been hijacked by human interests.



​

 

[Episkopos]

I saw this video once on facebook that sought...very mistakenly...to present how Jesus presents His advocacy of His followers before God. In the video it has certain non-believers being sent to hell no matter what they did...which is false to begin with.

Then it has another sinner come up to be judged...and Jesus steps in to say "this one is mine and I cover all his sins" ...another glaring error. As in...this one has diplomatic immunity and God cannot judge righteously in this case.

Now the advocacy of Jesus subject is raised up specifically in this verse.

1 John 2:1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;

People mistake that Jesus will do this on judgment day for those who claim the blood for themselves. But John wrote that so that we don't sin...and who's going to sin on or after judgment day?

So then this advocacy is for right now.

We are in training towards the full stature of Christ. IF we sin along the way...Jesus (who is the author and finisher of our faith) will step in and restore us to the race of faith so that we can continue to move forward in our training.

People who are in the race of faith need a chance to err and get back to the race. So we have grace from God in both power and patience so that we get things right. Jesus restores us to a spiritual walk when we fall back into walking according to the flesh.

But this advocacy is not a free pass to not be judged by our own works on judgment day.

The advocacy is to help send us into a life that will indeed pass the judgment of God on that day. There will be no advocate to hide behind when ALL things are revealed. All the hidden things will come to light. And all people will receive for their works.

Maranatha!