Morning by Morning, June 28 - Both Grounded in the Word and Led by the Spirit
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Have first place in my heart, as I welcome You here and in every place that I go today. ...
“And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us.’ And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them” (Acts 16:6-10).
We can assume we know where to go and what to do. But if we are in Christ and Christ is in us, we’re no longer our own, but belong to You. Where we go and what we do, what we speak and how we speak it, who we see and even who we help, all belong to You.
No doubt You wanted the word of God to be spoken in Asia. For “this Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations” (Matthews 24:14). You are “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). You call us to be “baptized with the Holy Spirit” and “receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon (us), and (we) will be (Your) witnesses ... to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:4-8).
But at the same time, we must wait for Your leading and listen for Your Spirit. In Your timing and in Your way, we can be “forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word” at a certain time or in a certain place (Acts 16:6). “The Spirit of Jesus” may not “allow” us to do what seems obvious to us, in our own wisdom, our own timing, our own way, even when it’s consistent with Your Word (Acts 16:7).
That’s why You give us the Gift of Your Written Word, but we also need the Gift of Your Living Word. We’re to be both grounded in Your Word and also led by Your Spirit. So we must have a deeply personal relationship with You, with Your Holy Spirit deeply abiding in us. We’re to look for Your visions and listen for Your leading to go where You say go and do what You say do -- all in Your time and all in Your way.
Your sheep hear Your voice, and Your voice leads Your sheep (John 10:3). “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God (for we) have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God” (Romans 8:14-16).
Come, Holy Spirit -- “Spirit of Jesus,” Spirit of the Living God -- and fall afresh on me today, as I cry out ‘Abba! Father!’ Fill me up. Saturate me with Your Spirit. Baptize me with Your Spirit. Empower me and send me in the power of Your Spirit where You will, to say what You call me to say and do what You call me to do -- not leaning on my own understanding, but trusting in You will all my heart, to follow You wherever You lead (Proverbs 3:5-6). In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
My friend, may you be grounded in the Word of God and led by the Spirit of God in all you do and all you say, everywhere you go, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!
Tommy & Rocio Hays
Messiah Ministries
412 S. Adams Street #148
Fredericksburg, Texas 78624
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