Be Led of the Spirit!
ROMANS 8:
[13] For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
[14] For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
[15] For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
[16] The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
[17] And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
As you read through these verses, you can’t help but notice that there is a big difference in having the Spirit of GOD, and being led by the Spirit of God. Many times as Christians, we do not allow the Spirit to lead us. The main function of the SPIRIT is to lead us and guide us into all TRUTH….JESUS is the TRUTH…so said another way…the SPIRIT will testify of and lead you into more and more of JESUS. Even though we have been given the dove portion of the SPIRIT at salvation, JESUS the one who baptizes with the HOLY GHOST and FIRE…desires for us to have the eagle portion, of the Spirit. Let me explain….
As JESUS was being baptized the scriptures tell us the the Holy Ghost descended upon him like a dove…
Matt.3[16] And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
Also, when speaking with his disciples after his resurrection, Jesus breathed on them and said, “receive ye the HOLY GHOST”..
JOHN 20:[21] Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
[22] And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
At the baptism of Jesus, something was imparted to HIM, and immediately afterward the SPIRIT led him into the wilderness. With the disciples, when JESUS breathed on them, something was also imparted to them. In both of these instances, there was no outward expression from those who received the dove portion of the SPIRIT…it was quiet, as calm as a dove that settles. This is why the dove is always a symbol of the spirit and peace.
However, the HOLY GHOST and FIRE that was promised by JESUS, was expressed with fire. It would be an expressive, vibrant, outward expression as it was on the day of Pentecost when the disciples received the HOLY GHOST. This was a different expression here; the same spirit, just another portion being poured out. It descended upon them as “cloven tongues like as of fire” and it filled the room where they were sitting, and they began to speak with other tongues as the SPIRIT gave them utterance”. Acts 2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tounges like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them the utterance. There was no quiet, dove portion meted out here, but the eagle, powerful portion of the baptism with the Holy Ghost AND FIRE!
Another expression or representation of the spirit was the eagle. In the old testament, around the tabernacle, the Israelites encampment was on the east, west, north, and south….each representative tribe had their standard or flag that was flown. On the side of the north, the encampment of Dan was the symbol of the eagle. It was representing the spirit, and the south or the opposite side was the face of a man. GOD is always so balanced and perfect. Where He gives in one area, he will equally give in another. While the disciples benefited from the quiet blessing of the “dove” portion of the spirit, on the day of Pentecost they would also experience the “eagle” portion. The fire they were baptized (immersed) in was just that. The timid Peter who denied Christ 3 times at the judgement hall was a changed man in this SPIRIT baptism. It was no problem for him to stand before 3,000+ men and boldly declare….
ACTS 2: [14] But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
[15] For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
[16] But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
[17] And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
[18] And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
[19] And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
[20] The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
Eagles are mentioned several times in the Old Testament…to signify the Power of GOD and the results of those who TRUST in GOD and are Led by Him…
Exod.19[4] Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles‘ wings, and brought you unto myself.
Isa.40 [31] But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Allow me to conclude with one of the most wonderful group of scriptures in all of the Bible..
Pss.23
[1] The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
[2] He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
[3] He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
[4] Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
[5] Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
[6] Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
In verse 2…he leadeth (hebrew word nawhal ) which means to run with a sparkle…to be gently led on…..there are times in our life when GOD leads us gently by HIS SPIRIT to the still waters where HE restoreth our souls..In verse 3 he leadeth (hebrew word nawhag) which means to drive forth by effort…it is not gentle…it is in the paths of RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR HIS NAME’S SAKE. Either way, we must be led of the SPIRIT, we must allow him to lead us with his gentle dove spirit to the refreshing waters of HIS WORD where our souls can be refreshed, and we must allow HIM to lead us by the POWER and FIRE of HIS SPIRIT, to allow HIM to DRIVE FORTH IN PATHS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS…those things in our lives that are still unlike HIM.
OH SAVIOR lead us!!….don’t let us stay the same….we desire more than ANYTHING to be called the “sons of GOD” Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God!
BE BLESSED today, READ GOD’S WORD and find such beautiful treasures therein!!!
Pastor Stephen