Our final episode of this series is about learning to discern the Holy Spirit’s leading through the peace of God. In the last several episodes of this series, entitled “Learning How to be Led by the Holy Spirit,” we discussed ways the Lord communicates with us through the Holy Spirit, and they are:
Today, we will focus on God’s peace and presence in our lives to direct our paths.
God desires us to grow in sensitivity to His peace and presence within our lives. As we grow in our relationship with Him, we do not need to put out a “fleece” or have a sign (Matt 12:38-42) to follow His leading. Judges 6:36-40 tells us about the doubt Gideon had about being called by God and describes what a “fleece” is. A fleece is when we ask the Lord to give us a sign before we act. Think about this: isn’t this like asking God to prove Himself? This is not faith in action but doubt and fear. Jesus chastises the religious leaders of the day when they insist that Jesus perform a sign. Here is Jesus’ response: Matthew 12:39, “But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” The door into the peace and presence of God is faith, not signs; remember Hebrews 11:6, “But without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
It is important to realize that Satan cannot counterfeit the peace of God or the love of God. We will not be so easily led astray when we learn to trust and be directed by God’s love and peace.
New Creation Believers
The Apostle Paul gives us insight into how we are to live our lives as “New Creation Believers.” Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” Then Paul shows how to live as a new creation Believers in Colossians 3:14-17, “But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
This scripture gives us four essential attitudes that we must learn to develop in our lives.
- Love. The love mentioned in verse 14 comes from the Greek word Agape, which means unconditional love. God’s unconditional love for us is the kind of love we must learn to have for others. It is a love that is not earned by performance or deserved by work. In truth, it is a love born out of decision. Just as God decided or chose to love us while we were yet sinners, we, in turn, must reflect that kind of love for others. This challenge to love unconditionally is the greatest test of our commitment to Jesus, our Lord and Savior. However, when we can love as Jesus loved, it will produce the fruit of peace in our lives.
- Peace. Verse 15 says, “let the peace of God rule in your hearts.” The word “rule” in this verse can be translated as referee or umpire. In this case, the Holy Spirit is the referee or umpire of our hearts. His peace tells us when something is right. The meaning is clear, especially when making decisions. If there is confusion, fear, or turmoil in your heart, that usually means that it is not of God! So, let God’s peace help you make the right decision in life.
- The Living the Word of God, or the scriptures, is also mentioned, and we find that in verse 16. To navigate unknown territories, we need a map and a compass. The map shows us where we are, and the compass shows us how to reach our destination. As Christians, our map is the Bible, and the Holy Spirit is our compass. We need both to navigate successfully in life. The Bible is a spiritual book and must be discerned or understood through the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
- Our final challenge in these verses is Doing all things as unto the Lord. You are a Christian 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, until you go home to be with Jesus. That means we must be Christ-like all the time. 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us that we are new creations when we accept Jesus into our lives; the old habits, patterns, and ways of thinking have passed away. I know that is easier said than done; there is a constant battle between the flesh or the carnal nature and the new Spirit of Christ in us. In the words of the apostle Paul, we are choosing to put to death the old nature. “But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:20-24.
Powerful Assurance
How can we walk in the peace of God? It begins with seeing and believing that you serve a big God. Remember, there is nothing impossible with God! Absolutely nothing! (See Matthew 19:26; Luke 1:37; Philippians 4:13.) God has also promised to never leave you nor forsake you. He sees you as a son or daughter!
Finally, in the light of who God is to us, we must take all anxiety and fear and make a conscious decision to lay them at the cross of Calvary. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:6,7; see also Isaiah 26:3, 1 Peter 5:6,7).
The peace of God—together with the Holy Spirit’s conviction, the Bible, the Holy Spirit’s recall of scriptures, the Holy Spirit’s orchestration of circumstances, and Holy Spirit messengers—provides us with a powerful assurance that we are working with God and not just for God. This allows us to walk confidently in our relationship with God, His calling, and His ministry.
The Goal of Being Spirit-Led
Let me encourage you that you are to be a voice for God and not an echo. This means that you must be able to discern His voice. You must be confident in your call and ministry to proclaim what He says and carry out His instruction and direction. You have a spiritual ministry and calling. Now, most of us start in ministry as echoes! That means that when we start, we often copy or imitate those who are our mentors or examples in ministry.
When I started in ministry, I would imitate how other pastors dressed, walked, and spoke. I would rehearse the messages I had heard from others and try to preach or teach them as if they were my own. I was an echo! It seemed easier to be an echo than to develop my relationship with God and learn to hear from Him.
Herein lies the problem. If we develop the habit of seeking man’s direction (books, audio, TV, radio, friends), then we will not be asking, seeking, and knocking for the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Jesus makes a statement relating to the promise of the Father: “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”(Luke 11:9-13).
If you desire more of the Holy Spirit, you will have to look to and rely upon God, not man; you will have to seek the Kingdom of God, not the kingdom of men and this world (Matt 6:33).
After His resurrection, Jesus appears to His followers and restates the promise: “And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, ‘which,’ He said, ‘you have heard from Me’” (Acts 1:4)
Finally, Jesus says, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
“Witnesses To Me…”
When we apply this scripture, we most often apply it in an evangelistic sense: We will be empowered for “witnessing.” While that is a true statement, it is also very limiting.
If I am to truly be a witness to Jesus, I will testify of what He says and does. That is not limited to boldness in evangelism. It also implies that the witness is active, personal, and now!
I am a witness to Jesus because I talk to Him daily, and He talks to me through His Holy Spirit.
If you want to be a voice for God and be assured that is God’s plan for you, you must also expect the Holy Spirit to do what He has promised to do in His Word! That means you will not resort to your own strength or plans to accomplish God’s will. It is as if you were to say, “God, unless You show me what to do, I will not move. Unless You tell me what to say, I will not speak. Unless Your presence goes with me, I will not go on” (see Exodus 33:15).
You were called and created to be a voice for God. Seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened; ask, and it will be given to you! That is the Lord’s promise to you!
