The Daily Word of Righteousness

The Development of Eternal Life, #5

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 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. (Romans 12:1,2)

Perhaps the most significant New Testament passage concerning finding God's personal will for us is the one above.

We must be obedient to the specific guidance and direction given us as the Holy Spirit reveals God's wisdom and plan. In the area of personal leading we learn to walk slowly, prayerfully, and often with the knowledge and advice of the elders of the assembly of Christians we attend—especially if the Lord Jesus is leading us into a major move or action of some kind.

In addition there are many daily promptings and guidances that we learn by experience to recognize as the leading of the Holy Spirit—or else our imagination.

In the present hour many of the lords of darkness have come to the earth to prepare the nations for the climactic events of the last days. They are attracted to the diligent disciple and speak to him as the voice of the Lord.

The lords of darkness now seem to be able to state that Jesus is Lord, that Christ has come in the flesh, that He was crucified for our sins and rose again from the dead.

How, then, are we to test the spirits? Only by the greatest vigilance, always watching carefully the fruit of our revelations. The Pentecostal people are particularly vulnerable because they believe the Lord would never permit them to be deceived. They are mistaken. Numerous ministers and Christians are accepting "words" that are not from the Lord.

We are to pray that God will not lead us into temptation but will deliver us from Satan. Personal revelation must be checked against the Scriptures, but in many instances the Scriptures do not specifically address the issue being raised. The warrior must move very slowly, watching, praying, calling on the Lord Jesus constantly. Even with every safeguard we still may be deceived. But the Lord finally will deliver us if we beseech Him to lead us in paths of righteousness for His name's sake.

The Christian people of today are too arrogant. They are being deceived by the thousands and their ministers along with them. The spiritual warfare is intense but many Christians have been immobilized by the current overemphasis on grace.

The sons of God are to be led by the Spirit, not by the Scriptures. In our day being led by the Spirit requires the utmost vigilance and the fellowship of fervent, totally consecrated saints. Otherwise we will be deceived by satanic voices and impulses.

The first step, then, in the development of eternal life in us is the transformation of our mind in accordance with the Word of God so we actually do God's will. As we keep on hearing the Word of God, allowing the truth and power of the Word to transform our thinking and will until we do what is pleasing to God, we grow in the power of eternal life—the power that one day will enable us to bring the light and life of God into the earth.

To be continued.