Imagine a leader as an initiator, and a follower as a responder. The leader can initiate verbally or nonverbally, and the responder can respond to either. Focus on initiation and response to understand how the Spirit leads you.
For example, Jesus simply said, "Follow Me," to Matthew the Tax Collector, and Matthew left his occupation and followed Jesus. Jesus verbally initiated, and Matthew responded. In the Book of Acts, the Spirit verbally told Phillip to go to the chariot of the Ethiopian Eunuch, and Phillip responded.
Matthew was led by Jesus' verbally. Phillip was led by the Spirit verbally.
Yet often times the Spirit leads nonverbally, like when Jesus was "driven by the Spirit" into the desert. Jesus felt compelled within Himself to go to the desert to be tested by Satan. The Spirit initiated Jesus' act by an internal leading or driving, and Jesus responded by following this drive. Again in the book of Acts, Paul would attempt certain missions trips, and the Spirit would "hinder him," or "forbid him." The Spirit would initiate a sense of restraint on Paul's act, and Paul would respond by following the Spirit's restraint.
The Spirit initiated Jesus' movement nonverbally, and Jesus responded. The Spirit initiated Paul's missions trips nonverbally, and Paul responded.
click HERE for part 3
No comments:
Post a Comment