What is Spirit Led Living?
A Spirit led life must by definition be a life of intentionality. We cannot say that we are Spirit led and just let life happen. If we are truly Spirit-led then that same Spirit gives us a sense of urgency and of place that reminds us that other than living to have fellowship with the Father, our main purpose is to make dsiciples. As the Aposlte Paul says, the Kingdom of God is not a matter of words but a matter of the demonstration of His power in order that lives would be saved and transformed. True Spirit led living is not content to experience God's presence without seeking to share that experience with someone else.
We cannot claim to be sons and daughter of the King if we are not led by the Spirit. But what does that mean?
Many churches make plans months in advance. They have their worship songs and sermon series all mapped out. Some would say that this takes God out of the equation. Not necessarily. It is good to plan and it is good to be disciplined as long as it is preceded by prayer and asking God what He wants first. The trick is to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and be willing to change on a moments notice if God wants us to go in a different direction.
I have a friend, John Paul Jackson who ministers in the prophetic. I used to think that God was giving him words in the now as he was ministering. After talking to him, I found out that while God does give him words in the now, he spends weeks praying before he goes to minister somewhere and that much of what he shares has been given to him before he gets there. Often, the Lord just confirms what He has told him before. (I will talk about the prophetic and the different between the Old and New Testaments in another blog)
The best way to demonstrate what I mean be being Spirit led comes from this passage in the Old Testament.
2 Sam 5:17-25
When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they went up in full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went down to the stronghold. 18 Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; 19 so David inquired of the LORD, "Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?"
The LORD answered him, "Go, for I will surely hand the Philistines over to you."
20 So David went to Baal Perazim, and there he defeated them. He said, "As waters break out, the LORD has broken out against my enemies before me." So that place was called Baal Perazim. 21 The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them off.
22 Once more the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; 23 so David inquired of the LORD, and he answered, "Do not go straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees. 24 As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because that will mean the LORD has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army." 25 So David did as the LORD commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.
David went up against the Philistines twice in a row. After getting the first battle plan from the Lord and beating the Philistines, most of us would have thought we had a battled tested plan and used the same plan when the Philistines attacked the second time. Not David, he wanted to be Spirit led and so he "inquired" of the Lord a second time. This time the plan was different and as a result he was victorious again over his enemy.
When we are Spirit led our lives will be marked by the demonstration of His power and glory. After all, they sang songs of David's prowess in battle. We need to learn to live lives that are naturally supernatural. Miracles should be a daily occurence. But lest we fall, we need to remember that it is not about us but about Christ in us and His Spirit working through us.
Spirit led living is a life surrenderd to God. It is an intentional disciplined life that prays in the Spirit and makes daily deposits of Scripture. It is a life that continually inquires of the Lord and then is obedient to the Lord.
Rom 8:14
"...because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God."We cannot claim to be sons and daughter of the King if we are not led by the Spirit. But what does that mean?
Many churches make plans months in advance. They have their worship songs and sermon series all mapped out. Some would say that this takes God out of the equation. Not necessarily. It is good to plan and it is good to be disciplined as long as it is preceded by prayer and asking God what He wants first. The trick is to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and be willing to change on a moments notice if God wants us to go in a different direction.
I have a friend, John Paul Jackson who ministers in the prophetic. I used to think that God was giving him words in the now as he was ministering. After talking to him, I found out that while God does give him words in the now, he spends weeks praying before he goes to minister somewhere and that much of what he shares has been given to him before he gets there. Often, the Lord just confirms what He has told him before. (I will talk about the prophetic and the different between the Old and New Testaments in another blog)
The best way to demonstrate what I mean be being Spirit led comes from this passage in the Old Testament.
2 Sam 5:17-25
When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they went up in full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went down to the stronghold. 18 Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; 19 so David inquired of the LORD, "Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?"
The LORD answered him, "Go, for I will surely hand the Philistines over to you."
20 So David went to Baal Perazim, and there he defeated them. He said, "As waters break out, the LORD has broken out against my enemies before me." So that place was called Baal Perazim. 21 The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them off.
22 Once more the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; 23 so David inquired of the LORD, and he answered, "Do not go straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees. 24 As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because that will mean the LORD has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army." 25 So David did as the LORD commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.
David went up against the Philistines twice in a row. After getting the first battle plan from the Lord and beating the Philistines, most of us would have thought we had a battled tested plan and used the same plan when the Philistines attacked the second time. Not David, he wanted to be Spirit led and so he "inquired" of the Lord a second time. This time the plan was different and as a result he was victorious again over his enemy.
Gal 5:16
So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
David did not want the glory for himself and so he humbled himself and turned to God for the answers. He realized that if he inquired of the Lord and then was obedient and followed God's plan, that regardless of the circumstances, he would be victorious.
Gal 5:25-26
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit . 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. When we are Spirit led our lives will be marked by the demonstration of His power and glory. After all, they sang songs of David's prowess in battle. We need to learn to live lives that are naturally supernatural. Miracles should be a daily occurence. But lest we fall, we need to remember that it is not about us but about Christ in us and His Spirit working through us.
Eph 6:18
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
To be Spirit led we need to pray in the Spirit. Prayer in the Spirit means to listen for God's voice and pray back to Him His will for our lives. That prayer will always be answered.Spirit led living is a life surrenderd to God. It is an intentional disciplined life that prays in the Spirit and makes daily deposits of Scripture. It is a life that continually inquires of the Lord and then is obedient to the Lord.
Comments
Post a Comment