Spiritual Lessons

“When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to." (Acts 16:7; NIV). What a strange prohibition! These men were going into Bithynia just to do Christ's work, and the door is shut against them by Christ's own Spirit. Have you experienced this in your life? It was hard at such times to leave one's work undone when one believed that work to be the service of the Spirit. As I have preached on October 2, the Christian life is not just characterized by action but waiting also. It is a divine plan for the good of us as well as those who are served by us. Rom 8:28 bears the important promise: in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose.

I'm sure you could think of dozens of reasons for your action or waiting in the Lord. The crucial question here is: Are we led by Spirit? I certainly could not give you a simple or even any answer at all. I Cor. 2:11 reminds us that no one knows a man's thoughts except the spirit of the man and no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Indeed, only the Holy Spirit is truly qualified to be our spiritual director and counselor. The practical implication of this teaching drives us back to God's breathed Word – the Bible. Yes, we must study the Bible with due diligence and practice a prayerful life in order to understand and to master a Spirit-led life.
"When I cannot understand my Father's leading,
And it seems to be but hard and cruel fate,
I Still I hear that gentle whisper ever pleading,
God is working, God is faithful, ONLY WAIT." --George Matheson

(inspired by Streams in the Desert by Mrs. Charles E. Cowman; Sept. 24th)