Led Of The Spirit

by D. Smith, Lerwick | Category: General | Dec 1974

The unity and oneness of Israel shone forth beautifully the day that Joshua led the whole nation across the Jordan. The men of Reuben, Gad and half the tribe of Manasseh did not necessarily have to cross the river as their territory lay on the east side of Jordan, but in fulfilment of their pledge to Moses (Num. 32:25-27) and their responsibility to their brethren they passed over armed before Israel. Their fellowship was duly recognized in the twelve stones which Joshua took from the river and set up at Gilgal as a memorial to the working of God, "that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty" (Josh. 4:24).

The unity and oneness of the Godhead was seen when the Lord Jesus came up from being baptized in the waters of Jordan. From an open heaven the Spirit of God descended upon Him and the voice of the Father declared, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased". No finite mind could ever appreciate the infinite pleasure the Son has from all eternity given to the heart of His Father.

The Holy Spirit thus descended upon Him in confirmation of the Father's delight, and as a witness to John that "this is the Son of God".

Most significant are the events that followed: "Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil". Our hearts bow in adoration as we behold the Captain of the Lord's host, who in His resurrection would lead captivity captive (Eph. 4:8) and who in the ages to come will bring the redeemed to fountains of waters of life (Rev. 7:17), submitting to the leading of the Spirit of God.

Every child of God, upon acceptance of Christ, is sealed with the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13). The Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, was sent from the Father in the name of the Son to indwell each believer and to comfort and teach him things relating to the way and will of God, and to bring to remembrance what the Lord Jesus has said through the Scriptures (John 14:17,26). A tremendous work indeed and one of eternal importance to every child of God!

The Spirit's work is summarized in the words of the Lord, "He shall guide you into all the truth: for He shall not speak from Himself; but what things soever He shall hear, these shall He speak, and He shall declare unto you the things that are to come" (John 16:13). Only the Divine Spirit is capable of conducting the mind and heart of a human being into this exalted realm of spiritual knowledge and enjoyment. He is able to employ the faculties and physical members as instruments of righteousness unto God (Rom. 6:13) for such necessary power is not inherent in the human will. Sometimes we restrain the working of the Spirit in our hearts and lives and thus prevent this divine Teacher from operating within us. Such an attitude will entail loss at the judgement-seat of Christ. When there is no response to the teaching of "all things" and "all that I said unto you it is evident that the individual is unwilling to accept them or to wait till the Spirit patiently instructs the heart and mind into the deep things of God (1 Cor.2:10).

The Holy Spirit who indwells the believer today is the same as descended on the day of Pentecost upon those who were together in Jerusalem. The path those early disciples were led by the Holy Spirit to tread is clearly shown in the Acts and Epistles of the New Testament. Indeed the day of Pentecost saw the establishment of a testimony that was to extend far over Asia and Europe, a Community as definite and united as Israel when they crossed the Jordan. The happenings of the memorable day magnify the Holy Spirit who filled all who were together and moved Peter to stand up and preach with power to the men of Judea and dwellers of Jerusalem. About three thousand persons received his word and believed. They were then baptized and added to those who were already together, and thus" they became the Church of God in Jerusalem (Gal. 1:13) and as such they continued steadfastly in the apostles' teaching and the Fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers (Acts 2:42).

Thus were they led to give effect to all that the Lord had said unto them, guided into the truth relating to collective testimony apposite for the present dispensation. Not for very long did that testimony consist of only one church but soon the work of the Lord extended. Those engaged in this early work were ever dependent on the guidance of the Holy Spirit (Acts 16:6,7). The result was not the founding of detached assemblies of undisciplined converts, but the orderly planting of churches of God on the same principles and observing the same decrees, and all holding the one faith (Jude 3).

The body of doctrine that governed their position was called "the faith" (1 Tim. 1:19) and "the truth" (1 Tim. 2:4). The knowledge of "the truth" was according to godliness (Titus 1:1). This knowledge does not come at the time of placing faith in Christ. It is something to be learned as taught by the Holy Spirit. Alas, even in that day there were those who were "ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth" (2 Tim. 3:7).

Blessed indeed are they who allow the Spirit to guide them "into all the truth", and who gain a "knowledge of the truth". Many refuse to be led by the Spirit. It is clearly seen in the New Testament writings that at the beginning of this dispensation the purpose of God was that believers in Christ should be together in churches of God which, linked one to another, formed one people. We conclude that this is the way the Holy Spirit would lead the children of God today.

It can also be the precious experience of the child of God to be led and guided by the Holy Spirit in all matters of life, private and personal. The Scriptures teach them that it is often necessary for our eternal good that we undergo the trial and rigour of the wilderness.

D. Smith, Lerwick | Dec 1974
General