Se[tember 29th

SEPTEMBER 29th

We have been talking about following the lead of the Holy Spirit. Listen to Paul’s words in Acts.

Acts 20:22 And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.

Compelled by the Spirit. Deo’ ho Pneuma. Greek, pneuma is Spirit. Deo means compelled, obligated, bound. He is compelled or obligated by the Holy Spirit even though he is not certain what will happen to him there. Nevertheless he is obedient because he trusts God.

Acts 10:19-20 While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.”

Acts 8:29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”

Acts 13:4 The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.

The Holy Spirit actively directed the followers of Jesus and they obeyed.

Acts 16:6 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia.

Sometimes the Spirit compels us TO something or somewhere and sometimes the Spirit compels us to avoid places or keeps us FROM them.

Galatians 5:25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

1Corinthians 2:9-16 However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” —the things God has prepared for those who love him—these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

We have been given the Holy Spirit to speak the truths of God to us and to lead us. Let us be sensitive to the Holy Spirit so that we don’t miss when He compels us to (or from) something. Have you asked the Lord to fill you to overflowing with His Holy Spirit? To baptize you with the Holy Spirit? Why not today? Why not surrender today and become a follower, not just a believer?

Lord, thank you for sending the Holy Spirit so that I would not be alone. Please help me to totally surrender to you Holy Spirit so that you are the one that is in charge and help me to be sensitive to your leading and compelling. Thank you for your patience. Show me anything that might be standing in the way of being completely surrendered to you.