With so much bad stuff going on in the world today, it is more important than ever before that we be led by the Holy Spirit of God.  The Apostle Paul wrote a lot about that, and we need to pay attention, because there is another spirit out there leading people, and it is NOT the Holy Spirit.

It seems much easier for most people to hear the spirit of antichrist that is in the world, in fact, they don’t even have to put in any effort to do so, while being led by the Holy Spirit requires a great deal discipline.  The devil speaks to our natural lusts for power, money, material goods, sex, you name it.  And he doesn’t whisper, either.  In fact, he shouts, just to make sure everyone hears him.  Just look around and you’ll see what I mean.

I like this old testament example of hearing the voice of God, recorded in 1Kings 19:1-18,

 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword.

 2  Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.

 3  And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there.

 4  But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers. 

 5  And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.

 6  And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. 

 7  And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.

 8  And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.

 9  And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?

 10  And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.

 11  And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:

 12  And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

 13  And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?

 14  And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.

 15  And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:

 16  And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room. 

 17  And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.

 18  Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.

            We all want to experience that earth-shaking experience with God, where we hear His voice, and yet, as it is written in the above passage, He usually isn’t found in the wind or the earthquake or the fire or the spectacular, but rather in a still, small voice that you have to LISTEN for. Not to say that God CAN’T appear to you like Jesus appeared to Paul on the road to Damascus, but let’s just say that isn’t His normal way of doing things.

I can liken that to an experience I had as a child listening to the radio at night.  There would be my favorite show on, but as is normal with AM radio, distant stations fade in and out, and are over-broadcasted by closer and more powerful stations. So you really had to listen closely to follow the show you wanted to hear, as the other stations faded in and out over it.  But if I was REAL attentive, I could still pick out the voice of the show I was listening to while mentally blocking out all the other “noise”.  Hearing the Holy Spirit is just like that.

The devil broadcasts 24/7 on all frequencies, and if you want to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit, you must learn to tune out the devil’s noise first.  It gets easier with practice.  Here’s where to start: if it pleases your flesh, it isn’t God talking.  If it gives glory to Jesus, the Father, and the Holy Spirit, then it’s God.

The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 8:5-17,

 

 5  For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

 6  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.  

 7  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 

 8  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

 9  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

 10  And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

 11  But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. 

 12  Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

 13  For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

 14  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

 15  For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

 16  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

 17  And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

            Paul makes it abundantly clear that if we try to please our flesh, we won’t be pleasing God.  So first off, we must decide where we want to spend some time in the future: eternity, to be exact.  Many people think EVERYONE will be saved, but Jesus Himself said FEW would be saved.  Why?  Choices, priorities, and self will.

Here, l’ll let you read it for yourself, so you know it isn’t ME putting the pressure on you.  It is written in Luke 13:23-30,

 23  Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,

 24  Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

 25  When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:

 26  Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.

 27  But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.

 28  There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.

 29  And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.

 30  And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.

            So there you have it straight from the mouth of the LORD.  It’s YOUR choice whether you will turn to the LORD with all your heart, or remain listening to the voice of the world.  Being a disciple of Christ Jesus isn’t for sissies.  You will face much opposition and persecution for following Christ Jesus.  Even your own family may turn against you.  But it’s your soul we’re talking about here, and it will take up residence after you lay down your natural life either in the Kingdom of God, where you will hear “Well done, my good and faithful servant!”, or you will BE “well done” in the Lake of fire.  Your choice, I hope you will choose wisely.  Being led by the Holy Spirit is the correct choice, in case you haven’t figured that out yet.

And you’ll be so glad you chose to follow Jesus thousands of years from now, forever.  Don’t do it for me.  Do it for YOU!