This week, as we continue to study the person of the Holy Spirit, we will be looking at the way that He wants to actively lead us.
The whole Bible paints a picture of God being active and leading His people. In the New Testament, we see the Spirit actively leading and empowering His people. I can’t see any justification for reducing Christianity to living by godly principles but without the leading of the Holy Spirit in our lives. As we head up to Easter, we see that the curtain of the temple was torn from top to bottom; this points, amongst other things, to a new era of God being with us by the Spirit. Surely, we should be expectant of Him speaking and leading us!
Israel was to follow the presence of God. Their history is illustrative for us. As a community, we, likewise, are to follow the Spirit of God.
‘On the day the tabernacle, the tent of the covenant law, was set up, the cloud covered it. From evening till morning the cloud above the tabernacle looked like fire. That is how it continued to be; the cloud covered it, and at night it looked like fire. Whenever the cloud lifted from above the tent, the Israelites set out; wherever the cloud settled, the Israelites encamped.’ (Numbers 9:15-17)
‘The Lord said to Moses: “Make two trumpets of hammered silver, and use them for calling the community together and for having the camps set out.’ (Numbers 10:1)
God required them to make two trumpets so as to communicate God’s leading to the people. Following God in the New Covenant is not as objective as following a cloud as it moves. They walked by sight. For us it’s different; we have God’s word, which is objective, but things become less clear when we want to know if it’s God’s will on ‘optional’ things: whether to marry or to marry that person, to move home, to plant a new church, start a new ministry… how can one be sure what things are God’s will? This week, we will be thinking about how we can hear God's voice more clearly and more regularly.
RESPONSE
As He led Israel, the Spirit wants to lead His church and to lead you. Take a moment to express your desire to learn to follow His voice by meditating and praying out of the account of Samuel,
Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” (1 Samuel 3:7-10)
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