Being Led By The Spirit

THE DAILY WORD
By Jim Seekamp

Monday March 9, 2009

Romans 10:14,15 (NIV)
14. How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15. And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

As Christians, we are most effective at whatever we are doing when we are SENT ! Verse 15 asks, "How can they preach unless they are sent?"

So does that mean being sent in a general way, or a specific way? According to the Bible, its both!

There are many examples in the Bible of believers being led very specifically. Here's one:

Acts 8:26-29 (NIV)
26. Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Go south to the road-- the desert road-- that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." 27. So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28. and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. 29. The Spirit told Philip, "Go to that chariot and stay near it."

Here we see the Holy Spirit leading Philip very specifically to "Go to that chariot and stay near it." The result is the Ethiopian eunuch's salvation:

Acts 8:30,31,35-38 (NIV)
30. Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. "Do you understand what you are reading?" Philip asked. 31. "How can I," he said, "unless someone explains it to me?" So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
35. Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. 36. As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?" 37. And Philip said, If you believe with all thy heart, you may. And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." 38. And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.

In Acts 13, we see Barnabus and Saul being SENT by the Holy Spirit in a more general way:

Acts 13:1-3 (NIV)
1. In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 2. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." 3. So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

The truth is, when you are led by the Holy Spirit, a lot of times you will have no idea what you'll be doing next.

John 3:8 (NIV) (Jesus speaking)
"The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

We are the sons of God, and we are to be led by the Spirit of God:

Romans 8:14 (NIV)
because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

When God sends us somewhere, we can be sure that we are doing the right thing, whether we see the results WE expect or not!! It is our job to just follow through and obey Him!

PRAYER
Thank You Father for Your Word, that tells me so much about You. Help me to always listen to Your leadings from inside, and obey You. Help me to always be ready to be "sent" to bring Your blessing wherever You send me.
In Jesus' Name, Amen.

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