CRAVE FOR THE GUIDANCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 02, 2023.

SUBJECT : CRAVE FOR THE GUIDANCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT!

Memory verse: "Nevertheless I tell you the truth, It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart I will send Him to you." (John 16 vs 7.) 

READ: John 16 vs 12 - 15:

16:12: I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.

16:13: However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth: for He will not speak of His own authority, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

16:14: He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare to you.

16:15: All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine, and declare it to you.

INTIMATION:

How are you guided or driven? Who, and what guides or drives you determines how purposeful your life will be. Everyone is guided or driven in life by something. What guides you determines the driving force in your life. Many of us are driven by life's circumstances they face at a time. Some are driven by a problem, a pressure, or a deadline. Some by painful memory, a haunting fear, or an unconscious belief. 

There are several circumstances, values, and emotions that can drive your life. But your ultimate, and God ordained guide is the Holy Spirit—the Spirit of God Himself. When you are driven by circumstance(s), it unfortunately leads to a life outside God's purpose because these are the works of the flesh. The most common ways people are driven, outside God's purpose for their lives include the following:

1. Driven by guilt.

Many people are driven by guilt. They spend their entire lives running from regrets and hiding their shame. Guilt driven people are manipulated by memories. They allow their past to control their future. They often unconsciously punish themselves by sabotaging their own future.

2. Driven by resentment and anger.

These category of people hold on to hurts and never get over them. Instead of releasing their pain through forgiveness, they rehearse it over and over in their minds. Resentment always hurts you more than it does the person you resent. While your offender has probably forgotten the offense and gone on with life, you continue to stew in your pain, perpetuating the past.

3. Driven by fear.

Many people are driven by fear. Their fears may be a result of a traumatic experience, unrealistic expectations, growing up in a high-control home, or even genetic predisposition. Regardless of the cause, fear-driven people often miss great opportunities because they're afraid to venture out. Fear is a self-imposed prison that keeps you from becoming what God intends for you to be.

4. Driven by materialism.

Many people are driven by materialism. Their desire to acquire becomes the whole goal of their lives. The drive to always want more is based on the misconception that having more will make them more happy, more important, and more secure, but all three ideas are untrue. Possessions only provide temporary happiness. It's a myth that if I get more, I will be more important. Self-worth and net worth are not the same. Your value is not determined by your valuables, and God says the most valuable things in life are not things—possessions!

5. Driven by the need for approval.

Many people are driven by the need of approval. They allow the expectations of parents or spouses, or children or teacher or friends to control their lives. Others are driven by peer pressure, always worried by what others might think. Unfortunately, those who follow the crowd usually get lost in it. One known key to failure is to try to please everyone. Being controlled by the opinions of others is a guaranteed way to miss God's purposes for your life.

These aforementioned forces, and many others, which are the works of the flesh, can drive your life, but all lead to the same dead end: unused potential, unnecessary stress, and unfulfilled life—life outside the God’s purpose. Nothing matters more than knowing God's purpose(s) for your life, and nothing can compensate for not knowing it; not success, wealth, fame, or pleasure. 

It’s only God, through His Holy Spirit indwelling the believer, that will reveal His purpose for your life. The Spirit-driven life is a purposeful life in accordance with the will of God. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God who knows the things and thoughts of God, and only Him can lead you accordingly. If your life is not guided or driven by the Holy Spirit, you are completely walking toward a dead-end, away from the will of God for you. Therefore, we should be concerned about how much of us the Holy Spirit has. Submit yourself daily to His leading and draw constantly on His power to be in tune with God’s purpose for your life. 

Those who seek a spiritual relationship with God will seek God’s direction through the inspired word of God. Therefore, those who are led by the Spirit depend on God. Those who have turned from depending on themselves, that is the works of the flesh, have turned to depend on the direction of God. Thus, the fruit of the Spirit is brought forth in the lives of those who seek direction from God for moral attitudes and behavior. 

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5 vs 22 - 23.) The fruit of the Spirit is the spontaneous work of the Holy Spirit in us. The Spirit produces these character traits that are found in the nature of Christ. They are the by-products of Christ’s control—we can’t obtain them by trying to get them without His help. If we want the fruit of the Spirit to grow in us, we must join our lives to His: We must know Him, love Him, remember Him, and imitate Him. As a result, we will fulfill the intended purpose of the law—to love God and our neighbors.

Because the God who sent the law also sent the Spirit, the by-products of the Spirit-filled life are in perfect harmony with the intent of God’s law. A person who exhibits the fruit of the Spirit fulfills the law better than a person who observes the rituals but has little love in his or her heart.

Prayer: Abba Father, thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit. I call Him my senior partner because He is my Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Standby, Strengthener, Counselor, Comforter, Empowerer, and Encourager. Strengthen me in my inner man through the leading of the Holy Spirit to live for You, dedicated to You in all aspects of my life, in Jesus’ great Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!