“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the sons of God…The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” Romans 8:14-16
The earmark of a mature believer is their ability to be led of the Holy Ghost. Paul tells the church at Rome that our position as sons of God is directly tied to our ability to be led and directed by the voice of God. We are spirits, we possess a soul, and we live in a body (1 Thess. 5:23). The Holy Ghost doesn’t speak to our bodies; our bodies are the temples that house the reborn spirit. Neither does he speak to our minds. Our minds are the devices that house our senses so we can function in a material world. Above those two faculties, lies the real us, and that is the spirit man. This is the faculty that receives from God, and as Paul tells us, this is the faculty that the Holy Spirit bears witness to. This being the case, it is imperative to develop a sensitive spirit so it becomes easy to hear. If we don’t hear, we can easily become sincerely deceived.
Acts 13:1-2 says that before Paul embarked on his first missionary journey, certain prophets and teachers had given themselves to fasting and ministering unto the Lord. Notice Paul didn’t step out until he had sought God. Fasting is not something we do to petition God. It doesn’t move him one bit. He doesn’t see us go on a hunger strike and then pity us. “Oh looks like my child isn’t eating until I move on his behalf. Better act quick or he is going to die of starvation.” You can’t force God’s hand. The purpose of fasting is to tune the carnal desires of your body out so that your spirit can become more sensitive to the things of God. You become more aware of spiritual things because your body is not in the way to create distraction via the digestion process (which is a tremendous physical activity). On top of fasting the early church practiced ministering unto the Lord. Ministering unto the Lord is a type of contemplative mediation (Jos. 1:8) that fixes ones soul (desires, will, and emotions) on the Lord. It is worship. With all the static out of the way, the early believers were able to get onto the same wavelength as God.
We are too busy, a lot of times, to get into rhythm with the Spirit so that we can flow. God wants to participate with his people the way a conductor participates as the leader of an orchestra. Following him and not doing our own things will create a beautiful, harmonious sound and bring each person to their fullest potential.
Today let’s make a decision to develop our maturity by allowing the Holy Ghost to lead us. By prayer, fasting, and spending time ministering unto the Lord we will begin to pick up on the rhythm that is in the Spirit and we won’t miss what God is trying to say in do. It is an exciting think to be in perfect sync with the Holy Ghost. Let’s go after it today!
Prayer:
“Father, in the name of Jesus, I commit to spending time in your presence today. I do not want to miss what you are saying or doing, especially in the times that we are living in today. I will do what it takes to block my carnality out so that I may pick up on your wavelength and cooperate with you. Thank you that you do not hide things from me, but make all things available for me to receive. Holy Spirit may my heart be tender to your voice today. In Jesus name, AMEN!”
