Led by His Spirit

Meetings and specific times with God and service to others are not laws we must meet to qualify in God’s eyes. We are led by His spirit rather than rules and regulations. Fellowship with other Christians is precious and can be mighty refreshing when we are led to gatherings in Him. Otherwise, it becomes just another thing that is required of us, a duty or habit rather than a joyous meeting with other saints to lift up praise and worship to our God.

Yes, we are directed not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. The idea here is to be led to be with others, joined in the spirit and gathering unto Him. We all know those who run to every meeting, seeking out the latest move of God. This is not God’s way. When we gather out of fear, duty, or others’ expectations or even religious requirements, is it truly a blessing to God? Are we to go to every meeting, even when exhausted and resentful in heart? What might the Holy Spirit be leading us to do instead?

Some of us were raised to dutifully go to church every time the door was open. We raise our families in the same manner and it is wonderful training for a child. It does not bring peace and rest, however, if it is merely a religious activity, tradition, or habit, a supposed to. We love the genuine worship and the honoring of God with others but we do not have to gather with others to be with God. As a dear Christian friend once said to me when I was exhausted and guilty about my lack of strength to go, “Sometimes it is more holy to stay home and rest!”

Jesus only said and did what He saw the Father do. That’s how all the needs and demands presented to Him in His ministry were sorted out. Jesus did not address every need around Him. He certainly did not go to every gathering or activity others asked of Him. He had a social life with family and friends, enjoyed fellowship with sinners as well as His disciples, teaching some more deeply of His truths than others. And He only did what the Father showed Him to do.

A key feature of many Christian gatherings is division, strife, and jealousy. When this dominates the gathering, there is little spiritual refreshment, let alone fruit, resulting from participation. We each must follow where our Lord leads, whether others understand or choices or not. Jesus had different callings and expectations of His followers, and He is in charge, or is supposed to be. Remember, He only took three to the Mount of Transformation:

“About eight days after these sayings, He took along Peter, John, and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while He was praying, the appearance of His face became different, and His clothing became white and gleaming. And behold, two men were talking with Him; and they were Moses and Elijah, who, appearing in glory, were speaking of His departure, which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

Now Peter and his companions had been overcome with sleep; but when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men who were standing with Him. And as these two men were leaving Him, Peter said to Jesus, ‘Master, it is good that we are here; and let’s make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah’—not realizing what he was saying.

But while he was saying this, a cloud formed and began to overshadow them; and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. And then a voice came from the cloud, saying, ‘This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!’

And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent, and reported to no one in those days any of the things which they had seen.” Luke 9:28-36 NASB

We can identify with Peter, who immediately wanted to do something for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah, but God’s voice stopped him. The law, represented by Moses, and the prophets, represented by Elijah, were fulfilled in Jesus Christ. That is why the Father said, “Listen to Him”. We do not know what the other disciples thought when these three only were taken by their Master to witness such an incredible thing.

We do know, however, that servants of the Lord are capable of resenting others’ callings that appear greater, more honorable, privileged, or exciting than their own portion. Some would push to hear all about it, even demand that they be included the next time a mountaintop opportunity arose. A few go so far as to insist we are all equal as inthe same in our calling in the Body, that differences are unfair and bring inequality. That is not what the scriptures teach.

We are to honor each other and our ministry, our service to God, recognizing that every part of the Body of Christ is needed in unique ways. There are gifts differing, and a marvelous variety of callings that fit each of God’s own in a unique way but One Lord. Christians can confuse our different gifts and callings as evidence of being unequal, some better than while others are less than.

We may more easily recognize when someone has a calling we would never want to be our own. But does jealousy or resentment burn in our hearts when God chooses to elevate someone above what we have been given? We know the disciples—at least some of them—fought for the highest place in the Lord, which only God could grant. Many still fight for their place, to be the one to minister a word, to be elevated, accepted, and seen by others as equal to everyone else.

Some who have been given very public gifts or ministries may forget this as well, taking honor and recognition as their due rather than remaining humble as a servant is to be. Others who are insecure in their own spiritual place in the Lord are stung by this, when it is a matter of the other person’s heart, rather than the differences in calling and ministry. They forget that God said it is His business, not ours, revealed first with Jacob and Esau:

“As it is written and forever remains written, ‘Jacob I loved (chose, protected, blessed), but Esau I hated held in disregard compared to Jacob).” Romans 9:13 AMP

This Old Testament account may seem unfair to human reasoning, but it reveals the sovereignty of God in all His doings. Israel was His chosen people, for whom He showed His might and power to deliver and prosper according to His will. God challenges us to recognize that He is in charge of forming those for honor and those for dishonor.

“Look at these people! They are arguing with the one who made them. Look at them argue with me. They are like pieces of clay from a broken pot. Clay does not say to the one molding it, ‘Man, what are you doing?’ Things that are made don’t have the power to question the one who makes them. A father gives life to his children, and they cannot ask, ‘Why are you giving me life?’ They cannot question their mother and ask, ‘Why are you giving birth to me?’” Isaiah 45:9-10 ESV

We have all likely done this when a particular aspect of our nature that is giving us grief seemed like a bad idea for God to have created. Maybe we have even said, “God what were you thinking when you created me this way?” Father God reminds us that He is the creator of the universe and who is to question His ways? We learn to accept and even be at peace in all He has planned and allowed for each of us.

What a rest that will bring, to be led only by His spirit within us! We are not there yet, but we have faith to pursue that prize along with others, to enter into such rest as He has. God is a changer of hearts. He invites us to be a part of showing forth His rest as He builds faith for it now. We rest in His hands as He does His work within and without. We are learning to be led only by His spirit:

“For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons and daughters of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons and daughters by which we cry out, ‘Abba! Father!’” Romans 8:14-15 NASB

Being led by His spirit is the mark given to us, His sons and daughters. He has adopted all of us, chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world. There is definitely a difference between slavery, which is bondage, and sonship, which brings freedom. Those called to sonship are sons and daughters of God, promised kingly authority as servant-priests to others. The calling and election are God’s choice, not our own. Such is the qualification for being overcoming sons and daughters of God, joined with Father God, led only by His spirit.

Sons and daughters led by God come to God as our Father, not in the fear of a slave to a master. It is the work of Jesus to bring us to the Father through Him. As we experience God as our Father, we learn to rest in Him. There is always more to learn about being led by the Lord in everything. Our Lord Jesus is the perfect model of a faithful and true Son. We read many times about how He sought time with His Father as He fulfilled His ministry. So we, too, seek time with God our Father.

Prayer is a conversation with God about any of our concerns. But we can come to be burdened down and unfruitful in prayer, particularly intercessory prayer, when we haven’t been taught how to pray as led by the spirit. Without the spirit’s leading, prayer becomes automatic, repetitive, and perhaps even laborious. We sometimes fall asleep in the middle of it, too! Of course, we can bring any prayer or concern to Him, that’s not an issue. But praying as the holy spirit leads brings us to prayer in accord with His will and purpose.

When we automatically pray for whatever someone asks us to pray for without godly discernment using our own reasoning for what makes sense in our own minds for the situation, it becomes unnecessary or even unproductive: “Pray for me to get this job. Pray that I will recover from this illness. Pray that God will give me a…(spouse, child, new house, prosperity, etc.” These are all good and needful things, worthy of intercession for others. God is absolutely able to do all of them and they are valid requests.

But what if God’s intent in the matter differs from the obvious need presented to us for intercession? When we ask, the Lord graciously provides discernment about how to specifically pray for those who ask. Perhaps He leads us to pray that someone accepts their single status or waits longer before a job comes through. One time when interceding for another’s sorrow at their request, God clearly told me “I will heal their broken heart when it is given to me.” Well, I surely could not do that part for another!

As an intercessor, it is a work in progress to learn to pray according to His will. There are clearly some things we cannot do for another. God is the Master Healer of broken hearts, particularly when humans do the unspeakable to other humans. Regardless, each of us has to surrender our own hearts and our own will. We take our life of prayer and intercession to a higher level when we wait upon the Lord to pray according to His will.

It brings a rest when we know we are praying in words or in the spiritual language God give and only understood by God. This is the way the Lord would have us pray. He reveals issues in the heart in need of intercession for those He trusts to keep His secrets. Prayer is not just a one-sided conversation of talking to God. It is also listening to Him. It takes time walking with the Lord to hear His voice, to converse with Him. We believers surely desire to pray according to His will and not our own thoughts or ideas.

Sadly, a number of Christians don’t believe that God directly talks to anyone, that no one really hears the Lord talking to them in their inner being. They only know one-sided prayer requests. Yes, there are answers in the Word, as illuminated by His light of understanding. But there are also answers that rise up within us. Elijah needed to hear from God when he had become weary of dealing with rebellious Israel and fearful in his prophetic work:

“There Elijah entered a cave and spent the night. And the word of the LORD came to him, saying, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’ ‘I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of Hosts,’ he replied, ‘but the Israelites have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I am the only one left, and they are seeking my life as well.’

Then the LORD said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD. Behold, the LORD is about to pass by.’ And a great and mighty wind tore into the mountains and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire.

And after the fire came a still, small voice.” 1 Kings 19:9-12 BSB

Many would think or even prefer to have God arrive in a mighty wind or anearthquake to know it is Him. Instead, He allows Elijah to see God in a still small voice. Elijah received clear direction from God through this inner voice, telling Elijah his next steps which included anointing Elisha to replace him as prophet to Israel. God always comes His way, and since Pentecost, He comes within as an ever present help in time of trouble.

“God is our refuge and strength,va very presentb help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling." Psalm 46:1-3 ESV

Evil is often loud, and darkness screams around us daily, but the Lord dwelling within believers chooses to speak in a still, small voice. As we quiet ourselves to hear Him, shutting out all the outside noise and clamor, we hear this voice telling us how to pray, how to walk, what to do. There are answers about anything we need from the Lord to walk in His specific path of life for each of us.

We can learn to be tuned to the right spiritual channel, to hear Him without the static of our soul. Our soulish life not submitted to Him, our thoughts, will and emotions may cloud what God is telling us. His still, small voice becomes ever more clear as we are trained to listen, to have ears to hear what the spirit is saying to us. When we are given discernment about how to pray for another, we have the precious privilege of praying for the root of the matter, whether the person for whom we’re interceding knows it or not.

God may direct us to keep that to ourselves, just like Peter, John, and James did, not discussing what they experienced with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration. Early on, when ministering to others, God told me, “Don’t tell all you know.” Jesus surely did not. Some of us have lots of words, not all of which are edifying and in season! He was teaching me discernment about what to share and not share, when to use words and when to wait in silence. I am still learning that.

We can rest in the truth that God desires us to hear Him, or He would not have repeatedly told us to rest in Him. The Lord can tune out all our fleshly static. He has a multitude of ways to bring His personal word to us. Saints testify of reading His word and the answer, the truth, the comfort, and the wisdom sought are right there, leaping out of the page. We may find ourselves singing a song in which we recognize an answer to our petitions. And it is not always a spiritual song through which He speaks!

During a very busy time early in my life, God brought this line from a song, “Stop and smell the roses…” and it was just what I needed. To the sincere and willing heart, He makes a way. We can trust that! He knows we need to get His wisdom and direction, so He responds but not always in the time frame we’d prefer. Often the best answers require waiting on the Lord. We can wait in impatience, fear, or distress or in peace and gratitude that He will answer according to His will in Christ Jesus.

As we walk and learn of our Lord daily, our relationship with Him, like with all those we love, deepens in understanding. He already understands all about us and loves us just the same. Our Lord promises to reveal Himself to those who love Him. This is our greatest need, above all seeking Him in His kingdom of righteousness within. It’s what, long-ago, Mary was seeking at His feet.

The Lord said to sit at His feet is the only true need, while Martha was busily worried about many things. It’s about the heart-to-heart relationship that the Father longs to have with His children, made possible by Jesus our Savior.

“As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.

But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, ‘Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!’

‘Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered, ‘you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.’”Luke 10:38-41 NIV

To be with the Lord, to follow Him wherever He leads, to learn at His feet daily—this is the one thing that is needful for our hearts to do. We must have the holy spirit to lead us into all truth. It is just like it is with humans we love. The more time we spend with someone we love, the more mutual understanding we gain, and the more we comprehend what is said to us. We rest ourselves in God while He does His work within us. He is our peace and is all we need.

“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has torn down the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing in His flesh the law of commandments and decrees. He did this to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace.” Ephesians 3:14-16 BSB