Driven by the Spirit of God

It is blessed and wonderful to be in a state where we can experi­ence being driven by the Spirit of God. The power which is then working in us is stronger than all tendencies to draw back, all hin­drances, and all sluggishness. “To be driven” is a blessed expression, and God’s Spirit works powerfully to that end, if we only let Him. The goal of the Spirit is to lead us “from something” and “into some­thing” for the purpose of hammering us together into a golden lamp­stand. Revelation 1:20.

We are baptized by one Spirit to be one body. 1 Corinthians 12:13. The Spirit drives us out of our “self” and into the body of Christ. Paul disciplined his body and kept it in subjection. When he was on his deathbed, Francis of Assisi is supposed to have said to his body: “Now you can rest, because you have suffered much hardship with me; you have hungered, frozen, etc., but now you will be set free.”

There is an expression known as “moral decay.” This happens when a society becomes prosperous and degenerates because of inac­tivity. This degeneration has made great strides in the religious world. There is only one way to keep it out of the church, and that is to allow the Spirit to drive us together. “For as many as are driven by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God.” Romans 8:14. The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God. The goal of the Spirit’s “driving” is for us to be without spot or wrinkle and be made rightful heirs with Christ. “. . . if we indeed suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.” Romans 8:17.

Jesus has made a way for us, and this way is in the light. By walking in His steps on this way, we will experience the judgment of the light that passes over everything that comes from ourselves. If we suffer with Him on this way, we will partake of the inheritance of the saints in the light. Colossians 1:12. In Ephesians 5:5 Paul emphasizes strongly that “no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.” If we allow ourselves to be driven by the Spirit into the light, we will receive the hope of an inheritance and a wonderful joy.

In the old covenant, coming too close to a dead body was enough to make one unclean. In the new covenant, all who live according to their lusts are dead, even while they live. 1 Timothy 5:6. When a righteous man falters before the wicked, he is like a murky spring. Covetousness, which is wanting to have more than God intends, hin­ders us from partaking of the inheritance. I am blessed if my heart is content before God’s face with what He has given me to be a steward over. 1 John 3:17-19. The Spirit of God, which is stronger than evil, can, by His power, drive us far away from everything that hinders us from partaking of our inheritance. He drives us into the steps of Christ.

In these steps we are shown compassion by Him who suffered and was in all points tempted as we are. Hebrews 4:15. These are the blessed and precious steps of Christ.