Walking After the Spirit

Imagine you're sitting across from me, the steam rising from a fresh cup of coffee between us. This is the heart of what I do—sharing those "rocks of revelation" that have been poured into my life. Lately, I've found myself caught in a trap that I think many of you can relate to. I've been staring at my Google Calendar and my growing to-do lists, trying to be the best steward of my time possible. I’m checking boxes, multitasking, and trying to be efficient with the mundane chores of life. But in the middle of scrubbing a sink or organizing a file, a question hit me like a ton of bricks: Are my priorities actually God’s priorities?

We live in a world that worships productivity. We feel the pressure to squeeze every second for all it's worth. But there is a danger in being so busy doing things for God that we forget how to walk after the Spirit. The carnal mind loves a list because it can control a list. It feels safe when everything is scheduled and predictable. But the Holy Spirit is not a line item on a calendar. He is the Spirit of Truth, and He wants to be the Lord of your schedule, not just a guest in the margins.

If you’ve been feeling dry, or if your spiritual life feels more like a chore than a relationship, you’re likely leaning too much on your own understanding. You might be suffering from the "Martha syndrome"—busy with much serving while missing the one thing that is needful. The solution isn't to work harder or pray more out of religious duty. The solution is to introduce the "Variable" of the Holy Spirit back into your daily routine. We need to move from a carnal reasoning that keeps God at arm's length to a supernatural partnership where we actually hear His voice in the middle of the day.

The other day, I was wearing my Bluetooth headphones, listening to the YouVersion Bible while I tackled a mountain of chores. I’ve been doing this Bible in 90 Days plan, and Susan and I also do a Bible in a Year plan every morning. There I was, the hum of the vacuum in the background, but my ears were filled with the Word. Suddenly, a passage I’ve heard a hundred times jumped out at me as if the ink were still wet on the page. That’s the thing about the Bible: when you read it, the Author is always present.

It reminded me of the Apostle Paul. In Acts 26:24, Festus shouted at him, saying, "Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad." From a carnal perspective, Paul was a crazy man. He was a highly educated Pharisee who had the scriptures memorized, yet he was sitting in chains, talking about a resurrected Messiah and a Spirit that guided his every move. Why did they think he was mad? Because Paul had stopped conferring with flesh and blood. He stopped leaning on the "experts" and his own reasoning faculties. He had found a new variable that changed everything: the Holy Spirit.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. (Romans 8:14).

This isn't just "kooky" talk; this is the standard for the child of God. I remember my own backsliding days. Back then, I used to think those "street preachers" and "supernatural" Christians were nuts. I was suppressing the Spirit of Truth because I wanted to lean on my carnal arguments. Carnal reasoning is actually enmity with God. I had to intentionally ignore the Spirit to keep my carnal belief system intact. I called faith "unreasonable" because I was living entirely by logic.

But here is the secret I’ve discovered: Faith is reasonable in reverse.

Think about Isaiah 53. We read that today in our plan. Looking back 2,000 years later, we see the suffering servant so clearly. We see the prophecy that He would be "numbered with the transgressors" (Isaiah 53:12) and we see Jesus between two thieves. We see He would make His grave "with the rich in his death" (Isaiah 53:9) and we see Joseph of Arimathea’s tomb. But if you were John the Baptist or a disciple trying to predict the future with just your carnal brain, you would have had a rough time. You needed the Spirit to make it plain.

Just yesterday, I had a dream. It was vivid, the kind that stays with you when you wake up, feeling "heavy" with meaning. Later that very same day, the events of that dream came to pass. I didn't sit there and try to decode it with a manual; I just recognized it when it happened. That’s the Spirit of Truth showing us things to come. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. (John 16:13).

When the Spirit shows you something, it’s like the "Bible Codes" Michael Drosnin wrote about. You might not see the pattern while you're looking forward, but once the event happens, you look back and see that God had it written in the fabric of reality the whole time. This is why we must pay attention to our dreams and our prayer lives. In my book OPEN YOUR EYES, I talk about how the supernatural realm is more real than the one we see. If we aren't "watching" in prayer, we're walking blind.

I think of Brother Yun, the "Heavenly Man." In his testimony, he describes a church so persecuted they couldn't have an "organized" meeting. They couldn't just put a service on a Google Calendar for 10:00 AM Sunday morning. They had to ask the Holy Spirit when and where to meet. Their lives depended on it. We might not be under that kind of physical persecution here, but our spiritual lives are under just as much threat from the "busyness" of modern life. We need that same level of intimacy where we don't move until the Spirit says move.

Personal Reflections

There have been many times in my life where I missed it. I’ve had seasons where I treated God like a task to be completed. I’d finish my Bible reading and then "check out" for the rest of the day, moving into my own strength to handle my business. But Jesus corrected me through the simple act of "praying it through."

When I talk about praying it through, I'm talking about a dialogue. It’s not a monologue where I dump my wishlist on God and walk away. It’s about waiting. I’ve sat in prayer and asked the Lord, "Am I supposed to go here? Am I supposed to do this?" and I’ve waited for that "witness" in my spirit.

I remember King David. He was a man after God's own heart because he inquired of the Lord. He didn't just assume because he was king that he knew the plan. He asked, "Shall I go up?" and the Lord answered. Contrast that with King Saul. When Saul stopped hearing from God through dreams or prophets, he got desperate and went to the Witch of Endor. And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets. (1 Samuel 28:6).

That is a terrifying place to be—to have a "silent" God because you've leaned on your own understanding for too long. I’ve had to repent of my "carnal noodle" thinking that I could manage my own life. I’ve had to learn that following the Spirit is probably going to mess up my plans, and that’s okay. In fact, it’s better than okay. It’s where the life is.

Biblical References

The Word of God is our ultimate guardrail. I always say that the Spirit of Truth will never violate the Word of Truth. If you get a "revelation" that contradicts the Bible, it’s not the Holy Spirit. This is how we discern.

We are living in the days Peter spoke about on Pentecost, quoting the prophet Joel: And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: (Acts 2:17). Notice it says "all flesh." Not just the "super-apostles" or the "experts." You, in your kitchen, in your car, at your job—you have access to the Spirit of Truth.

But this requires use. We have to exercise our spiritual senses. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. (Hebrews 5:14). If you want to know the voice of Jesus, you have to spend time listening to it. You have to "reason of use"—practicing that spiritual relationship until you can tell the difference between a "soulish" thought and a "spiritual" revelation.

The comforter is here to teach us. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26). Whether it's a verse you need for a friend in crisis or a reminder of a dream from twenty years ago that is finally coming to pass, the Holy Spirit is the active agent in your life.

Key Takeaways

The Author is Present: When you read the Bible, you aren't just reading ancient history; you are engaging with the Living Spirit who wrote it.
Reasonable in Reverse: Faith often looks like "madness" (like Paul) until the event happens. Looking back, we see God’s perfect logic.
The Holy Spirit is the Variable: Without the Spirit, theology is just "much learning." With the Spirit, it becomes a life-changing relationship.
Discerning the Voice: Use the Word (KJV) as your plumb line. The Spirit will always glorify Jesus and align with the scriptures.
Lord of the Calendar: Following the Spirit means being willing to let God interrupt your to-do list for His priorities.

Conclusion and Call to Action

My passion is for you to have a spiritual relationship with the biblical Jesus. Don't settle for a "form of godliness" that denies the power thereof. Don't let your carnal mind talk you out of the supernatural life that God has for you. Whether you’re dealing with the mundane tasks of life or the deep battles of the soul—like those I talk about in Overcoming Ni ght Terror—the Holy Spirit is your guide into all truth.

Let’s take it to the next level today. Stop trying to fit God into your schedule and start asking Him to lead it. Spend that extra time in prayer, and don't just talk—listen. Pay attention to those "inclinations" and those dreams.

If this message has touched you, I want to hear from you. Please share this with your friends and family on social media. We need more people walking after the Spirit in these last days. Subscribe to the podcast, leave a comment, and let's keep this conversation going.

Until we meet again, dig deeper and go higher.

Action Items

The Morning Wash: Start your day by listening to or reading the Bible before you check your phone or your to-do list. Let the "Author" set your mindset for the day.
The "Wait" Period: Dedicate at least 10 minutes in your prayer time to simply sit in silence, asking the Holy Spirit to speak or bring things to your remembrance.
Keep a Dream Journal: Start writing down your dreams, even if they don't make sense yet. Look back at them after a few weeks to see if the Spirit of Truth was showing you things to come.
Prioritize the Witness: Before making a decision today—even a small one—stop and check for the "peace" or "witness" of the Spirit in your heart rather than just leaning on logic.
Scripture Memorization: Choose one of the verses mentioned here, like Romans 8:14 or John 16:13, and meditate on it throughout your day.

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Friday, March 24, 2017