Thesis 84 We Must Seek the Spirit’s Guidance.
I suspect it is part of the craftiness of the Devil’s strategy, that when he encourages one part of the church body to misuse a gift from God he also through that misuse discourages the rest of the body from using that gift. We see, for instance, churches zealous for sound doctrine that lack zeal for godly living and suddenly, other churches are fearful of sound doctrine. So it is with the active guiding work of the Holy Spirit.
It is not a difficult thing to say, “The Spirit told me to…” when the Spirit said no such thing. It’s a genuine problem, and has been from the very beginning. Israel itself was so overrun with false prophets, so much so that even their heathen kings got sick of them. That some speak what the Spirit has not spoken, however, doesn’t mean the Spirit doesn’t speak. That some confuse their own internal desires for the prompting of the Spirit doesn’t mean the Spirit doesn’t prompt.
Consider Martin Luther himself. If ever there was a man who was both acutely aware of the reality of spiritual warfare, but likewise zealous for the Spirit’s guidance and insight, it was Luther. This was the man who threw his inkwell at the devil on one occasion. This was the man whose fervent prayer the night before he gave his “Here I stand” speech was so Spirit filled that you feel the Spirit’s presence even now as you read it, five hundred years later. The Reformation was driven by the Holy Spirit- giving light, giving life, giving courage, giving counsel.
How then do we seek the Spirit’s guidance? We seek it in prayer, and in His Word. We recognize that the church itself is defined by a living, breathing relationship. While we are united by what we affirm happened 2,000 years ago in Palestine, we are likewise united with the Spirit Himself. God is not just the object of our study, but the One with whom we walk.
Paul enjoins us to do just that in Galatians 5. We are to keep in step with the Spirit, not just walking with Him but walking to Him. We are to open ourselves such that we might bear the fruit of the Spirit. He, after all, is the means by which, in each of us, we are being brought to the fullness of faith. He is reshaping us, individually and corporately into the image of our Husband.
We must never downplay the power and calling of the Holy Spirit on the grounds that others wrongly speak for Him. We seek Him, earnestly, constantly, humbly and openly. We walk with Him knowing that His zeal for the reformation of the church is infinitely greater than our own. Like Joshua asking the Captain of the Lord’s Hosts outside Jericho is He was for Israel or their enemies, we must never lose sight that we are called to fight beside Him, pursuing His agenda, rather than the other way around. The Spirit of the Living God will accomplish His holy will. Let us follow.