Heads up — listen and obey

Following the leading of the Holy Spirit is a bit scary, at least to those who are not sure that God will bless and keep them. This as a challenge to individuals so I can imagine the challenge to church leaders. Will they all hear the same thing? Will the Spirit make God’s will plain or will there be confusion? Will the rest of the congregation receive or reject their understanding?

Regardless of these questions or any hesitation about doing what God says, He says several times: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Revelation 2:29)

We attended a large church in California with a leadership of 70 plus elders. They had voted to build a Christian education center, a vote that had only one NO. However, this church also had a policy that required a 100% vote before going forward. With one person not in agreement, they tabled the motion and told all of them to pray seeking the will of God on this matter. After a time, they came to an agreement; the Holy Spirit was telling them not to build that facility! Later they understood His reasons and were glad that one of them had carefully listened.

Tozer writes, “There is a question that should be answered in every Christian church: Are we honoring the Holy Spirit of God? That is, are we allowing Him to do what He wants to do in our midst today?”

If listening to God is a challenge for me, I can imagine the challenge for an entire body of believers. Tozer has reason to think many try leading without yielding to the wise and effective guidance of the Holy Spirit. This is a scary yet also a humbling process. One reason is that each of us must refuse to gratify the flesh . . .

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” (Galatians 5:16–26)

At first, this seems a no-brainer. The fruit of the Spirit is so wonderful! Why would anyone want their church to be characterized by fleshy work? Yet it happens. One group wants the walls painted gold and another wants them blue. One group wants prayer meetings on Wednesdays and another wants it on Tuesdays. Some want modern music and others want older hymns. These and other issues threaten division. Both sides of any conflict often feel that they are the only ones that know what God wants.

Jesus shows us what to do. He relied on the Spirit to guide His talk and actions. In Gethsemane as He sweat drops of blood, He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” (Mark 14:36) He yielded always to the Spirit’s leading.

^^^^^^^^^^^

Jesus, this does not say it was easy. Before Your greatest sacrifice You struggled with the will of God and the leading of the Spirit. At times, I may also be asked to do things that I dread, yet as with You, the doing could have incredible consequences. What will happen if I or an entire church body decides that personal comfort, personal desires, even personal wisdom should take priority? From Galatians, I know what I would miss — that precious spiritual fruit. From Your example, I can only imagine what would the world would miss if Your people refuse to listen to You.