Being led by the Spirit at a time of great darkness.
I woke up last night, which is not unusual for me, and read Isa. 50 & 51. I am a little stirred by the six times in the 51st chapter to the beginning of the 52nd chapter that we are told to “Awake” – H5782 עוּר ‛ûr oor A primitive root (rather identical with H5783 through the idea of opening the eyes); to wake (literally or figuratively): – (a-) wake (-n, up), lift up (self), X master, raise (up), stir up (self).
Each time we are told to “Awake”, it is repeated twice – “Awake, awake”. I did find the word “Awake”, in Isaiah a seventh time (KJV), but it was a different word, and it was speaking of the resurrection from the dead (interesting?). I am not a big-numbers kind of guy, but I did notice Isaiah repeats this word six times, the number of men.
These three commands to “Awake” can be broken down into three steps.
Here they are: (Isa 51:9) Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. Art thou not it that hath cut Rahab, and wounded the dragon?
We are told here twice to “Awake” and come out of Egypt, the world. Just like the children of Israel past on dry ground thru the Red Sea, there is a dry path for those who are redeemed to pass, even the great deep, the depths of the sea. (Isa. 51:10) Those who are ransomed of the Lord need to overcome and be delivered from the love of the world, that dragon needs to be wounded in the life of every Saint.
Secondly: (Isa 51:17) Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of the LORD the cup of his fury; thou hast drunken the dregs of the cup of trembling, and wrung them out.
As I have attempted in many different ways to convince all the Saints that they have been under the judgement of God, although they claim to be led by the Spirit of God, they do not operate with the “new wine”, but they operate with the dregs of the cup of trembling, Lamentations ch. 3 laments of these things saying, “he has made my paths crooked”. If you are redeemed of the Lord, you will recognize these things, you will be “Awake” to admit that he has made YOUR paths crooked and you will no longer rejoice in the dregs of your mixed drink, but you will “AWAKE” to understand the judgements of your God!
Thirdly: (Isa 52:1) Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no longer come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.
Here in this third “Awakening”, we will receive new clothes, which is the righteousness of the Saints, this is yet to come. No, right now, your clothes are filthy (Zec. 3:3), but to those who overcome, they will receive a change of raiment, for those who wait. (Ps. 25:3-5)
I am faced with a people today who, as my last article pointed out, they don’t fear the Lord and neither do they accept the judgements of their God. So, the double “Awake” that I refer to here is the second one above, acknowledge and receive the judgements of your God. Unless one acknowledges the problem, the solution to the problem will never be seen. Notice in Lam. 3, we start the chapter off with the judgements of God and end the chapter off with the mercy of God? Those who believe their New Testament theology shelters them from the Old Testament judgement of God, are walking in a delusion, they have a lie in their right hand! All scripture is given for our benefit and just as Jesus said, not one jot or title will pass away until ALL be fulfilled.
I think it would be useful to consider this little tidbit of truth regarding being led by the Spirit of God. Many, especially those raised up in the Pentecostal movement, have come to understand the leading of the Holy Spirit as a feeling, as a sense, as a still small voice, as an intuition. I am not attempting to limit God here, I know that the Lord can lead and speak to whom he will, and he can do so in whichever way he chooses, a way understandable to the person he is speaking to, I have no problem with that.
However, being led by the Spirit of God is not the function of the heart, the seat of emotions, but that of the mind. (1Co 2:11) For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. We are told that we are to KNOW the mind of the Spirit. (Rom 12:2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (1Th 5:21-23) Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly, and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Notice that we are body, soul (heart) and spirit and notice that the Spirit of God testifies of Jesus Christ, the spirit is a function of the mind, not the heart. While the heart is circumcised by the Word of God, “thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against God”, the spirit is a function of the mind, to know the mind of the Spirit, is to be led by the Spirit of God. Discerning of spirits is not a function of a sense or feeling or check in your spirit, as some claim, but it is a function of patiently waiting, renewing one’s mind that they might prove the perfect will of God.
People don’t seem to know the difference nowadays between one who is argumentative, petty, who wishes to be heard for their much speaking and hundreds of scripture quotes, vs. one who knows the mind of the Spirit. Jesus demonstrated this wisdom when he answered the Scribes and Pharisees, he did not need to be heard for his much speaking, the wisdom of God in him just pierced right through the foolishness of the religious leaders and they were speechless. This wisdom and discernment were also reported in the letter to the church of Ephesus, they patiently tried those who claimed to be Apostles, sent by God, and found them out to be liars. 1John 2:27 states “that anointing which you have received is truth and no lie”, it’s not a feeling, nor a sense, nor a check in your heart, but it is to KNOW the MIND of the Spirit of God, that what it means to be led by the Spirit of God. This leading requires patience, the renewing of the mind and a great foundation in the fear of God. Just in the same vein that I was speaking of in my last post, I have noticed many times in my interaction with others, especially women (sorry sisters), is this inability to speak the truth. So many times, it seems as though feelings and senses are at the forefront of the actions of discernment, while little patience or waiting is employed in the process of passing judgement on others. This is NOT true discernment, this is NOT what it means to be of a “contrite spirit” and as a result wicked, partial, false judgement proceeds forth! Every man or woman who operates in this vein of false discernment, I call them spiritual females.
Sisters and Brothers, if there really is no difference in Christ, no male or female, then it is understood that the Lord is bring many SONS to glory, not daughters, the head of every MAN is Christ, not Woman! I realize I have offended some weak individuals who are influenced by the concerns of this world, and so feel the need to defend women, they are ignorant persons who do not understand the revelation I speak of, if you are truly a “Man of God” and Jesus is your head, then act like it!
When I have the wisdom that can come from God alone, when I know the MIND of the Spirit, I am not debatable. You can claim that I am just trying to be right, you can claim that I am just really clever, you can shut me out and miss-characterize what I am saying, you can implore every trick in the book to garner sympathy for your lack of discernment, for your lack of knowing the mind of the Spirit, but you simply cannot answer honestly, you are caught and there is no place for you to go! While all the time wishing you could accuse me of something, pride, being angry, being insensitive, being hateful, you cannot debate with truth and ever succeed honestly, because truth is indisputable and eternal. Like many people do with a world-influenced false sense of humility, I do not put any premium on being wrong, in fact my desire is to be right-eous, that’s why I am willing to consider and hear all rebuke and so should you.
Those who believe they are being led by the Spirit of God, yet refuse to answer when they are questioned, they are demonstrating a vacancy of truth right before your eyes. Yes, there is a time not to answer a word, like Jesus did when he was being crucified, like the children of Israel on the wall when they were being spoken to by the servant of the King of Assyria. I can assure you, brothers and sisters, I have no interest in crucifying anyone, but I do want to know what the mind of the Spirit is because I fear God and I want to be found acceptable to him when he returns. How about you?
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