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God's Children are Led by the Spirit
By Sarah Leland
The theme of this devotional series is being God's children. We should all be working everyday to try to be better children of God. In this passage, we are told that those who are led by the spirit of God are sons of God. It would seem important, then, that we allow ourselves to be led by the Spirit.
There are many different views on how we are to be led by the Spirit. However, we must ask ourselves … How does God, through the Bible, say that the Spirit leads? We want to approach this topic as we would any spiritual topic… with an open mind to what the scriptures teach.
In Romans 8:13-14, our text for today, we read a discussion of the conflict between our spirit and our flesh. We can see that if we live after the spirit, we will put to death the deeds of the body… sin.
"For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." (KJV)
Walking in the spirit and walking in the flesh are contrary. We are either in the flesh or in the spirit. But, does the Spirit lead us without our consent? Does the flesh force us to sin because God's Spirit has determined that it will not have an impact on our lives… all outside of our own control?
To help us answer these questions, we must keep in mind other Biblical passages as they lend instruction on how we are guided by the Spirit.
1. We know that God has provided us a way to mortify the deeds of the flesh and walk in the Spirit, but we must make this choice. Therefore, we are not led away from the Spirit beyond our control.
"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. " (1 Corinthians 10:13 KJV)
2. We know that the true Spirit of God will not lead contrary to what has been taught already. Therefore, if we are led of the Spirit, we will follow God's teachings for us in the Bible.
"But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that, which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed." (Gal. 1:8 KJV)
3. We know that the Spirit does not lead miraculously today because gifts of the Holy Spirit were passed through the apostles ONLY. Therefore, if we are to be led by the Spirit, we will need to have contact with His guidance in the pages of the Bible.
"And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money," (Acts 8:18 NKJV)
4. We know that we were given everything that we need to believe in the pages of the Bible. Therefore, if we want to believe, we need not wait for special guidance, but study what has been written.
" And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name." (John 20:30-31 KJV)
5. We know that faith comes from a study of God's Word. Therefore, it is going to take our time and our effort to grow in our faith of God's word, not miraculous intervention.
"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17 KJV)
6. We know that God in time past spoke to people in various ways, but he has spoken to us through Jesus. Therefore, we need to find out what it is that Jesus has spoken to us in the pages of the Bible.
"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;" (Hebrews 1:1-2 KJV)
7. We know that if we are led by the spirit, we will have the fruit of the spirit in our lives. Therefore, the result of being led by the Spirit is action in our lives.
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance:" (Galatians 5:22-23 KJV)
Thus, we can see from the instructions that God has given to us that we are to be led by the Spirit through God's inspired Word. This implores us to spend much time in study of the words that will help us develop the fruit that comes from following the Spirit… love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such, there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23 KJV). Only then will we be truly led by the Spirit and will be children of God.
Questions
1. Can a person be led by the Spirit and still live in sin? (Romans 8:13-14)
2. Use a Bible computer program or <http://www.biblegateway.com> to find passages that have both the word "led" and the word "spirit" (Use KJV, NKJV, or ASV). Read the context of these passages. Who is being led and what can we learn about how WE are led by the Spirit?
3. Read 1 Corinthians 10:13. Write down one or two of your most challenging temptations. What way of escape has God provided to you? What can you do to flee that temptation?
4. Read Galatians 1:8. Think of our religious world today. What implication can be made from this passage today?
5. How were gifts of the Holy Spirit passed on to people? (Acts 8:18)
6. John 20:30-31 says that the signs Jesus performed which are recorded in the book of John are written so we may believe. Skim through the book of John and make note of each of the miracles Jesus did.
7. Thinking about what you found in the book of John (question #6), did any non-believers attest to these miracles? Were there witnesses to the miracles? Were the people healed strangers to the witnesses? Compare the answers to these questions with what we see in television "miracle workers" today.
8. Read Romans 10:17. List 2-3 practical ways (applying this passage) that you can increase your faith.
9. Based upon our study, how are we led by the Spirit?
10. Read Galatians 5:22-23. When we are led by the Spirit, we will have the fruit of the Spirit. What are one or two things you need to do in your life to emulate the fruit of the Spirit?
All Scripture is taken from the NKJ Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson,Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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