To be led by the Spirit

(Matthew 4:1) Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness…

If the Lord Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Spirit, the question I need answered is how much of that leading was generated by his own ability as a man? And then I realise where I have been going wrong for so long with regard to this reality, even now at 3:30 am, I too have been lead by the Spirit of God to my desk and computer to consider varying probing thoughts that need clarification.  Faith demands our dependence upon the finished work of the cross. There was no split personality in the Lord Jesus’ mind. He was about God His Father’s business and that was to prepare men (the Apostles) to proclaim the gospel and die for the sins of the world.

The flip sight of such focus would be; “a double minded man is unstable in all his ways”. Although the Lord Jesus was a man just like any other man, with a flesh and blood body; he bled like any other man. His emphasis was on something far greater than the cares of this life, he was tasked to accomplish a mission - to rid the world from the bondage of sin and allow men and women to find repentance for their sin and then to be freed up to serve God without that yoke shackling them like it once had.

Why then do so many Christians still battle with sin and their bondage to it? The answer in a nutshell is double-mindedness thrives in their minds! I confess that I have drifted in and out of that mind-set as I peruse through the chapters of my life; however today is a new day and the cry is “be gone double-minded man” there is no place for you in God’s kingdom nor in my mind for “I am a new creature in Christ”. This must be every Christian’s war-cry!

When the Apostle James teaches us about the double-minded man, he concludes that, that man is unstable in ALL of his ways. Now “double-mindedness” most certainly plays out in many arenas of life, or let me rather say that it potentially has the ability to affect varying aspects to our lives. But James concludes that if we waver in one area, all this proves is that we falter in all.

One may say the context of that verse does not warrant such a radical conclusion; well let’s unpack it…

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:5-8) – James highlights a point about those who lack wisdom and how we as Christians are to find it; we must ask in faith and with no doubt. Wisdom drives us to trust the Word of God! – ALL OF IT! - What causes doubt? Unbelief or if you would like another interchangeable word that the bible sometimes uses; disobedience! There were those taken by this mind-set after being freed from Egypt when Israel lived as slaves. You see, all were freed from Egypt but many fell in the Wilderness to the snares of unbelief. They did not believe the promises of God and they never entered the Promised Land. We cannot live in a place of defeat, all that proves is one of two things, we are not saved and need to find salvation in and through repentance and the finished work of the cross or we are living in disobedience and discipline is just on the horizon. Once discipline arrives we will soon learn where we stand in God’s economy; “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives." It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.” (Hebrews 12:6-8) – The bible teaches us to be sober minded and just as I have examined my heart this morning I would encourage you to do the same; where do you stand in the frugality of God’s kingdom? Have you found your place? But above all do what needs to be done and do not wait until tomorrow.     

What has always hindered us from entering God’s presence? Sin! But the Lord Jesus Christ conquered sin, “once and for all”. Sin has been defeated. So what ever your nagging sin may be, it has been defeated. Christ has overcome. These are the facts according to the recorded documentation found within the Bible. However it needs to move from the sheets of paper into out hearts and minds as a living entity, which then affects every area of our lives. If this is not foundational in our lives we will remain babies in Christ never maturing into adults.

Here are some compelling facts that need to be embraced with all we have and although we live in a flesh and blood body, the Christian has moved on and we as believers need to travel in the right direction and get out of the starting blocks; This world and it luxuries -- “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” (Romans 8:5-8) – The shift in our minds must be radical if we are to have peace with God, there is no such thing as an even balance between the Spirit and the flesh because the one promotes sin whilst the Spirit has conquered sin, which now lives within a believer and there is no room for darkness or “double-mindedness” in God’s economy. We are either in or out, we are either children of God or not. But for the Christian this is now our authenticity; - “You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” (Romans 8:9-14)

Just as the Lord Jesus was lead into the Wilderness by the Spirit we too must be sensitive to His leading in our lives, but remember God’s Word will always confirm His leading, we must establish every truth upon sound doctrine.

Signing off

Tyrone