The role of the Holy Spirit in the lives of a Christian is one of the most misunderstood aspects of the Christian life. I heard a preacher comparing the role of the Holy Spirit in a believers life to that of a navigation system in a automobile. He accurately described that if you rely on the navigation system, it will safely deliver you to your destination every time. He even went on to say that if you make a wrong turn the system will adjust to your new position and still guide you to your destination. To sum up his message he quoted a famous passage from the book of Proverbs:
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3: 5-6
While this is a great passage to remind us that we are to trust the Lord with our Christian walk rather than trying to live it in our own energy, I believe quoting this passage leaves something out. How is it we rely on the Holy Spirit? Christianity is full of times when scriptures are used as platitudes to comfort or guide a believer, but the individual is left to determine what is meant by the citation and how to apply it. Other examples of this is when you hear people say things like:
"Let go and let God."
"Just give your troubles to the Lord."
"God doesn't close a door without opening a window."
These are great and I know people have been encouraged and comforted by them, but again I ask, "How?" How do we let go and let God? How do we give our troubles to the Lord? "Where is this window? The normal response to being led by the Spirit is to give people laws to obey or rules to follow. Depending on your denomination or who or what is the biggest influence in your life, these tenants can vary. Most often people will turn to their religious upbringing in an attempt to live within its guidelines as a way in which to abide in the Holy Spirit. But, this is subjecting ourselves to a life under the law.
"You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life." John 5: 39-40
It is interesting to note that Jesus scolded the Jews for studying the scriptures. I bet that was the only time in history anybody has gotten reprimanded for reading the Word of God. But, His point is clear. Knowing the Word, or religious teachings, does not mean you know Jesus! I have heard about Jews that know the scriptures so well, particularly the Old Testament, that they have memorized all of it to the point they could tell you what letter is on the opposite page from where they are reading. Now that is "dilingently" studying the Scriptures. But, they didn't know Jesus, much less have faith in Him. And, ultimately, that is what the Christian life is all about. The Christian life is about trusting Jesus and learning to be dependent on Him to live His life through you. The way this is accomplished is by the indwelling Holy Spirit reminding a believer of who they are in Christ; how God views them. The most important thing a Christian can do is to understand their idenity in Christ. Amongst other things, Christians are a new creation, totally forgiven, totally righteous, totally reconciled, redeemed, sanctified, justified, part of the Body of Christ, a citizen of Heaven, have eternal life and are totally loved. Now, these are things we learn from reading the Scriptures, but apart from the illumination that comes from the Holy Spirit, we would be forced to lean on our own understanding when it comes to discerning what they mean to a Christian.
"I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you." John 16: 12-14
The role of the Holy Spirit is to bring to mind the truths of God as we live our lives. Here is an example of what this means to a believer. Take for instance the topic of forgiveness. Christians often ask each other what do we do when we sin? The normal response is to "confess our sins" to God in order to receive forgiveness because if we don't God "will not forgive" us. And this idea can be supported by scripture. The scriptures that come to mind are 1 John 1:9 and Matthew 6:14-15. Simply reading scripture, apart from the guidance of the Holy Spirit, will lead to this accepted conclusion. However, the ability to rightly divide scripture, that comes from the Holy Spirit, leads to a different conclusion. First, He reminds a believer that a Christian already has the forgiveness of God, as a present possession, through the inheritance we received when we accepted Christ. Passages like Ephesians 1:7 and Colossians 1:13-14 are a couple of scriptures that attest to this fact. Secondly, the Holy Spirit instructs us that 1 John 1:9 is a salvation passage, written to unbelieving gnostics that had infiltrated a particular Christian fellowship. Furthermore, it tells us that Matthew 6: 14-15 is an Old Testament scripture written before Jesus died on the cross. At that time in history, forgiveness was conditional on what we did. After the cross, forgiveness is unconditional because of what Christ has already done for us.
"We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me." Colossians 1: 28-29
The Holy Spirit is definitely the internal "navigation system" that guides a believer. However, apart from knowing our identity in Christ we end up trying to "drive" ourselves on a daily basis. And just like the navigation system sitting, unused, on the dashboard, the Holy Spirit goes along for the ride, content to let us try to live the Christian life on our own terms. We end up relying on our own understanding which reveals itself in the form of religion. As we make wrong turn after wrong turn the Holy Spirit waits patiently for us to finally pull the car over and ask Him to take the wheel. Granted, from the outside, those relying on the Holy Spirit to guide them may not appear to be doing anything different than the person relying on their own understanding. However, the motivation behind the actions is the difference. When the Holy Spirit is guiding a believer, there is no burning out, no endless attempts at being obedient to rules and regulations, no fear of condemnation for our failures, no lack of discernment, no misunderstandings and no lack of spiritual growth. You realize that letting go and letting God is allowing the Holy Spirit to live His life through you, because only He can. Giving your troubles to God is the realization that His yoke is light because He is carrying it for you. And finding that window to escape your troubles is simple because God is "making your paths straight" from within. So, let us get in the passenger seat, let God drive, and enjoy the ride!
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