The Leading of the Spirit

The Leading of the Spirit

God does not work before the time, before it is absolutely necessary that He reveal His will. Everything you do before God has moved is not from Him—even though your intentions may be good. The Spirit of the Lord does nothing before the time. He reveals His will just when it is necessary—not before and not after. You will seek in vain until it becomes necessary to find Him. His faithfulness is infinitely great—He makes Himself known to us at just the right moment—not before.

In the old covenant God revealed Himself in various ways by giving light concerning different matters and in different situations. In the new covenant in Christ Jesus, God leads us by faith. In the old covenant they received their light from a distance and were able to think beforehand about how they should act. We, however, always depend on the divine moment for our leading. This means that we must constantly abide in absolute confidence and total surrender. This childlike confidence never asks “Why?” It waits patiently, no matter how long it takes, because it knows that God’s care will provide help at precisely the right moment. The greater your trust, the greater will be your abandonment to God’s leading, and the more faithfully you will follow Him. In this way, you will receive revelation from God and will experience what Paul speaks about in Ephesians 1:17.

An unfaithful person will quench the Spirit’s voice and before long be unable to recognize His promptings. No one is as sensitive as the Spirit of God, and no one withdraws as quickly as He does.

God’s Spirit works in two ways: either by drawing and gently coaxing, or by convicting and chastening. When we pay attention to the Spirit’s voice, He will reveal His hidden treasures to us. He will lead us into His treasure chamber and share the knowledge of God with us. Those who abandon themselves to God’s care will be transformed into the image of Christ and partake of divine nature. 2 Pet. 1:4.

God’s Spirit guides us in the truth. His work is to lead us from deep darkness into light and glory. He does not speak of Himself; He only speaks what He hears. The best works and the best intentions will be wasted efforts if they have not been prompted by the Holy Spirit. Give careful heed to this voice, be obedient to it, and you will also keep “My works,” as it says in Revelation 2:26.

A life that is lived according to the leading of the Spirit is a hidden life in God. No one except you and God will understand it. When this experienced Leader gives revelation, all outward glory pales, the soul becomes introspective and the ear is opened. If you compare the external with the internal, you will get some understanding of the difference between what is human and what is divine.

God’s leading does not always lead us to good feelings. Its goal is the glory behind the flesh and its ways lead through the flesh to the goal. A new and living way has been made for us through the veil, which is His flesh. The Holy Spirit is our guide on this way, and we are the ones who walk on it.