Today's title scripture is very clear if we do not have the Spirit of God, or Holy Spirit dwelling within us we do not belong to Jesus Christ. And it doesn't end there with the Holy Spirit dwelling within each believer we are also to be under His control! Ephesians 5:18 NLT says; "Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit." In other words don't be controlled by alcohol for that has ruined many a life, instead yield control to the Holy Spirit of God and really live!
Back to Romans 8, we are also told in verse fourteen of this chapter; "For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God." So we are to be filled (by the way the verb for filled as found in Ephesians 5:18 is a present, active participle, we are to continually be filled, daily filled with the Holy Spirit. And now in Romans 8:14 we are to be led by the Spirit of God if we truly are sons of God. To be led means controlled and guided by the Spirit. So now let's look at an example of a son of God being led by the Spirit.
Acts 8:25-40 tells the story of one day in the life of a disciple named Philip. Philip was told in verse 26; "Get up and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza." This was a desert road. So Philip did as he was told and he saw a man who was a court official to Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, this man in the chariot was in charge of all the treasure of Queen Candace. Then the Holy Spirit said to Philip in verse 29, "Go up and join this chariot." Philip starting running and caught up to the chariot. He didn't ask why, he didn't ask what am I going to say, I don't even know this person...Philip started running.
As Philip caught up to the chariot he heard the official reading from Isaiah the prophet. Philip then asks the man do you know what you are reading? The man responds how can I unless someone guides me? With that opening Philip sat by the man in the chariot and beginning with that very scripture; "He was led as a sheep to slaughter; And as a lamb before its shearer is silent, So He does not open His mouth." Then Philip opened his mouth, and from this Scripture in Isaiah he preached Jesus to him!!
Jesus Christ is found in all the books of law and the prophets, as well as all the New Testament. The question is do I know the Scripture well enough that I could, like Philip began anywhere and lead them to Jesus? Philip didn't just leave the man in Isaiah, he brought him all the way to Calvary, the tomb and the resurrection of Jesus Christ!
There are so many other life applications for us in 2012; Philip didn't have to make friends with the man, he wasn't concerned about how this total stranger would react to someone sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with him, Philip wasn't even worried that this man wasn't just a stranger, he came from another nation and might not be open to the one God of the Jews. All Philip concerned himself with was to be obedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit! He was being led by the Spirit and Philip trusted that the Spirit knew what He was doing.
As a result the Ethiopian saw water and asked if he could be baptized? Philip said "If you believe with all your heart, you may." To which the man replied; "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." So right then and there Philip and a total stranger who were put together by the Holy Spirit of God went together into the water and Philip baptized the Ethiopian!
Acts 8:39 says; "When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch no longer saw him, but went on his way rejoicing."
Now I ask you, could you ever design a day like that? No, neither could I but when we are filled with the Holy Spirit and obedient to do what He leads us to do, every day can be a day of wonder, a day of purpose, a day of surprise, a day you will never ever forget!
good information ... I have read and will be added to my personal knowledge... thanks
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