Followers of Jesus don’t center their walks around following a list of rules, commandments or ‘do and don’t do’ lists. Children of God are ‘led by His Spirit’ (Romans 8:14), which infers they not only ‘hear His voice’...but they ‘follow Him’ as well (John 10:27). Peter refers to them as ‘obedient children’ (1 Pet. 1:14-17)

If you are uncertain as to whether you even know or recognize His voice...well, that might be part of the problem that would explain why your walk may have been a struggle for some time now. And I don’t say that with any hint of condescension or condemnation either. You are probably not alone given how many of us were taught to trust and rely on ‘doctrines’ and ‘clichés’ and ‘comforting sayings’ that don’t always line up with God’s word. It happens. (Mark 7:8-9,13). Did you catch my post on ‘spatial disorientation’ from the other day?

Lots of folks are wired in such a way that they desperately need and ask for a ‘list’, a set of ‘rules’ that they can follow to the letter...so that they can remain in ‘good standing’, whether it is with God, an employer, or their parents, or whoever.

The Pharisees were ‘experts in keeping/knowing the law’...to a fault; so much that when the very ‘Word/law personified’ appeared before them, they didn’t even recognize Him. (John 1:1,14,11-12)

Here’s the problem when we make ‘rules and boundaries’ our guideline- we tend to see how close we can get to those lines and still be ‘okay with God’, or still remain ‘saved’. That mentality alone ought to tell us something is a bit ‘off’ in our hearts to begin with. Think about that recurring question that young unmarried couples always want to know...’how far can I go with my bf/gf and still go without sinning’? IYKYK. 

Over the past few years, I have come to learn that there are things that the Holy Spirit speaks clearly to me that are not going to necessarily be written down in the ‘good book’. Ever had a thought or opinion that you were ready to post to social media...just because you felt like you needed to get it off your chest? It usually falls under the heading of ‘complaining and grumbling’ and most likely fails to line up with the admonition found in Eph. 4:29 – ‘edifying and imparting grace’. And the Holy Spirit is trying to reel you back in by refraining from ‘sharing what’s on your mind’. So is it a ‘sin’ to post/share that?

It was six years ago this month that I had that initial ‘awakening’ where God brought me back from the ‘dead’ and began to do a new work in my life. And I remember back in those early days of the pandemic, where we were all posting our thoughts and opinions on social media ...our impressions of wearing masks and social distancing and such. There was one particular instance where I had posted something that I thought was pretty comical...as did many who read it. In fact, I kept going back to reread it and look at all the ‘likes’ and funny responses and the Holy Spirit told me loud and clear: “Go delete that post now!”. I balked...confused...because there was nothing at all wrong with what I posted. Nothing ‘sinful’ or inappropriate or questionable...at all.

So I began to ‘question’ the Lord as to why I needed to remove it and to refrain from sharing any more on the matter. He answered me loud and clear in a way that really got my attention; and I promptly deleted it and a few other posts from the previous few days. It was not a ‘sin issue’; rather it was an ‘obedience’ issue and a testing to see if I would comply with what He was speaking to me in that particular instance. (John 10:27; Luke 6:46)

There have been numerous times over the past six years...where God speaks quite clearly and I hear His voice...and respond accordingly. That is what it means to be ‘led by His Spirit’. When you trust Him, you don’t always need an explanation as to ‘why’ He says to do this or do that. And something else you can be sure of: God will never tell you to do something that will contradict His word.

When the Israelites were getting ready to cross over the Jordan River to go in and possess the land God had for them, Moses had named at least 7 of those Canaanite nations that God was going to have them remove and overthrow. God did not leave that decision as to which nations the Israelites were to take on first to them. So when we read that we are to be led by God’s Spirit to go and begin to ‘put to death the deeds of the body (flesh- Rom. 8:13), it’s not like we sit down and write out a list of areas in our life we know we want to overcome and then rush off and do it ourselves. Remember...it is God who is leading and then doing the overthrowing, not us. He just needs our cooperation and obedience. When was the last time you had a better idea or plan than God? And when and why...did the word 'obey' become such a 'trigger word' for people of 'faith'?

I think many of us sincerely like the idea of being able to ‘hear God’s voice’ and ‘be led by His Spirit’...but we just have not figured out how to put that into practice, and I have a hunch I know why that is: We’ve been conditioned to trust in our doctrines, and not in Jesus. Doctrines don’t ‘save us’, Jesus does. And there is a real fine line of deception that has ensnared many sincere people who may ‘say the know/love Jesus’, but their actions prove otherwise (Titus. 1:16). Many have a ‘form of godliness but deny the power’ as they are ’always learning but never coming to the knowledge of the truth’ (2 Tim. 3:5,7), a ‘truth’ I will remind you...that is designed to set us free (John 8:32-36; Heb. 10:26-27).

So how can you tell if you are guilty of trusting in a ‘doctrine’ and not in Jesus? It’s an easy test actually. How do you respond when you come across verses that don’t ‘fit’ with your doctrine, or your set of ‘beliefs’? Take a look at what Jesus had to say to a bunch of folks who were well versed in scripture, but rejected the ‘Word’ when He was standing right before them. (Mark 7:6-9,13; John 8:37-47; 1:1,14,11-12)

May I finish up today with this word of encouragement? Jesus wants to reveal Himself to you in a new and living way, where you can actually experience His presence, hear His voice, and actually lead and guide you in the ‘pathway of peace’. The real question that needs to be addressed though, is this: Are you ready to not only hear...but are you ready to follow Him? (John 10:27; Luke 6:46).