Verse 14 ties in wonderfully with what we looked at yesterday from Verse 13. We have before us another facet of the co-operation between the believer and the Holy Spirit in the life of the Christian. The Holy Spirit working in us and through us overcomes the power of sin in our lives, enabling us to live a holy life. Even so, we are called to mortify the deeds of the body (v.13). We play a role in the process of Sanctification in that we must put aside the sin which tempts us to disobey God. The Holy Spirit has done all that is necessary for us to resist sin’s lure, but in the end, we do need to in fact resist it.
Now we are told that the Holy Spirit leads the child of God. The Holy Spirit does not drive, compel, coerce, possess, manipulate, force, or goad the Christian; He leads the Christian. In the Tenth Chapter of John’s Gospel, the Lord Jesus gives several analogies between Himself and a shepherd. Jesus is the Good and Great Shepherd Who leads His sheep. He goes out in front of His sheep and calls to them to follow. They hear His voice and go where He leads. “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:”, the Lord declares (John 10:27). Those who do not belong to Him do not follow.
The Spirit of Christ goes before us and we follow Him because we belong to Him. We do not follow out of fear or compulsion, nor are we forced to follow; we do so because we are His. The Holy Spirit will lead us every step of the way, yet we must voluntarily follow Him. He does the leading, we do the following. He does the guiding, we do the walking.
Romans 8 reveals so many of the works and gifts of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer; we are shown such great things which He does on our behalf. But in all of these things there is a call for a response from us in order to enjoy these benefits that the Holy Spirit is providing. Is it possible for a believer to not follow after the Spirit of God? Of course it is possible. Can we live the abundant life that our Lord desires for us if we do so? Can we walk in victory over sin or stay in the will of God, knowing that peace which passes all understanding and the profound joy which accompanies it? Absolutely not.
If you are a child of God, then the Holy Spirit is leading you. If you have trusted in Jesus Christ for Salvation, then God has a direction in which He wants you to go. Perhaps you have lost sight of Him and have no idea where He is leading. It makes no difference, He is ready to lead you and show you which way to go from right where you are. If you will come toward Him, listening for His voice, if you will get alone in prayer with the Lord and respond to His leading, He will show you which way to go.
To God goes all glory. In service to Him,
Loren