Guided

There is a voice at every turn providing the Truth about its destination.

Isaiah 30:21 (NLT) 21 Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left.

His guiding is for provision through you.

Isaiah 58:11 (NLT) 11 The LORD will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring.

Guide – the way of Truth

John 16:13 (NLT) 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.

Led – following obediently in the provided way.

Romans 8:14 (NLT) 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.

Leading beyond understanding for immediate reward, but also leading beyond understanding for delayed reward but immediate kingdom purpose.

To get to the reward must trust in the trenches:

Abraham – went not knowing where, but with a promise of reward.

Genesis 12:1 (NLT) 1 The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you.

His son – but enabled a promise that would mirror the sacrifice of Christ – great reward.

Genesis 22:2 (NLT) 2 “Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.”

Hebrews 11:19 (NLT) 19 Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead.

Moses – unlimited list of adversities – something he would have never chosen at this point in his life, but was for a purpose way beyond his own preferences.

Exodus 3:10-11 (NLT) 10 Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.” 11 But Moses protested to God, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?”

Jesus

Matthew 4:1 (NLT) 1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil.

Reward of Redemption required a life of obedience that led to hearing and responding in the moment of challenge.

Luke 22:42 (NLT) 42 “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

When trust is established, direction is followed

Acts 20:22-23 (TLB) 22 “And now I am going to Jerusalem, drawn there irresistibly by the Holy Spirit, not knowing what awaits me, 23 except that the Holy Spirit has told me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead.

Failing to respond is hardening the heart and eliminating the reward.

Hebrews 3:7-9 (NLT) 7 That is why the Holy Spirit says, “Today when you hear his voice, 8 don’t harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled, when they tested me in the wilderness. 9 There your ancestors tested and tried my patience, even though they saw my miracles for forty years.

Developing the Spirit Response:

Practiced Response to the Word and the Spirit

In everything there is an opportunity for developing Spirit adherence.

Luke 6:46-48 (NLT) 46 “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say? 47 I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. 48 It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock.

When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built.

John 6:63 (NLT) 63 The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

The Spirit inside provides guidance for every action in Truth.

1 John 2:27 (NLT) 27 But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.

Control is not imposed but is the willing submission to direction that is trusted.

Romans 8:5 (NLT) 5 Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.

Freedom from living according to the voice of the Spirit/Truth

John 8:31-32 (NLT) 31 Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”