Follow the Spirit

We are told something that is so simplistic in Romans 8:14 that it has been disesteemed and overlooked in favor of many religious traditions of men of a long time, to the end of much hurt to God’s people: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” So it is evident that we not only have to receive God’s Spirit, but also continue to follow after it till the end to be saved (Rom. 8:9; Col. 2:6). “Because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us” (Rom. 5:5). Regardless of what else we may seem to accomplish or do by means of God’s Spirit, if we “have not love, [we are] nothing” (I Cor. 13:2). This passage we can add to those to finish out the equation: “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved” (Mat. 24:12,13). That is where the holy Ghost is trying to lead everyone who has received it; into the perfection of God’s love (I Jn. 4:16-18). So that is the simplistic explanation for why it is utterly necessary to be led by God’s Spirit in all things in order to inherit eternal life. I’ve said these few things to say this: God’s Spirit is striving to lead his people today out of and away from all of the religious confusion that has been dictated to them erroneously in the name of the Lord. Even as God brought the children of Israel out of Egypt and led them to the promised land by the pillar of fire and the pillar of the cloud, so he is endeavoring to lead his people out from dominion to man and to the promised land, by means of the leading of his Spirit in their lives. So many children of God feel in their hearts that the mandates, traditions, and doctrines of their religious affiliations are suffocating them spiritually, and they will even say as much without coming right out and charging the religion for doing it to them. BUT IT IS THE RELIGION THAT IS DOING IT!! GO AHEAD AND CHARGE IT, AND GET OUT OF IT BEFORE YOU PERISH THERE!!

If you are doing your best to serve God, but you can feel in your spirit that the religious environment that you are in is hindering your growth in the Spirit, trust that feeling - IT IS THE HOLY GHOST trying to lead you out of the bondage of man’s religion and into the true liberty of Christ himself (Gal. 5:1; II Cor. 3:17). Do you feel besieged by mandates of observing certain days, or by needless dress codes, or endless ‘programs;’ or maybe the emphasis on “give ye” [Hos. 4:18], or the failure of leadership to reprove sin in the congregation? Yes, I’ve seen faithful saints who were troubled by the fact that people who were obviously in sin were allowed to be active in ministry, singing and such. And that SHOULD trouble the hearts of the righteous, but it should also be a direct signal to get out of such an environment. Many of God’s people can feel that the worship that is structured by man in their affiliation is quenching the free flow and move of God’s Spirit, but don’t know what to do about it. Most honest-hearted believers in these situations, out of loyalty to what they think to be of God, just figure that they must be feeling the wrong thing. But you are NOT feeling the wrong thing in these kinds of situations, not if you are honestly trying to follow the will of God in your life. In fact it is most of the modern Christian religion of all sects and denominations that is doing the wrong thing by “teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Mat. 15:9). Honest, loyal souls who are confused and uncomfortable in today’s man-made systems, are generally afraid to follow what they feel in their hearts because it is contrary to the environment that they are in; and they mistake loyalty to a religious affiliation for loyalty to God. Friend, be afraid to STAY in a religious or spiritual environment that is quenching God’s Spirit in your life and in your worship. But do NOT be afraid to be led by God’s Spirit. For that Spirit is seeking to, and will lead you to the glory world if you will simply follow it. Amen.