I Thessalonians 4:8
“Anyone, then, who rejects this command does not reject man but God, the very One who gives you His Holy Spirit.”
Today we’ll focus on the Holy Spirit’s voice. It’s not audible, but one that is sensed. The last entry the focus was on how the Spirit draws us. It’s the devil that uses guilt and shame. The enemy seeks to attribute those methods to The Lord. Some denominations and religions portray a harsh, disapointed god. However, guilt and shame are not part of the Spirit’s voice.
Romans 8:15 says He is not a slave master, but one of adoption. We were as orphans that were unconnected. The Spirit comes along and attempts to take us in. Verse 15 also says that our spirits cry out, “Abba, Father”, as we are joined to Him. That’s our response to any advance that He makes to us. When we sense His voice, our spirits recognize it and want more.
John 10:27 says, “My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.” This is a great analogy. I can picture a meadow in which several shepherds have brought their flocks. All the sheep are intermingling. However, when it’s time to go, the shepherd calls and his sheep come out and follow him. His voice causes us to follow Him. It guides and leads us.
The better we know His voice, the easier it is to recognize the counterfeits. I’ve already addressed shame and doubt. That is Satan’s number one method. He will entice a person to engage in sin. It’s sold as satisfying. However, as soon as we transgress, he instantly piles on the shame and regret. That’s not the Holy Spirit.
Another counterfeit message was “the shoulds”. As a young christian I would constantly think of things I should be doing if I were a better christian. These would fill me with guilt. Unfortunately I didn’t share this with anyone. I spent atleast a decade feeling bad about this. Until I learned the message of grace. God doesn’t work that way. A good parent doesn’t constantly guilt a child into behaving more like…
Lord, thanks for the loving, drawing voice of the Spirit. Help us to be more cognizant of it and to yield to it.