One Summer afternoon in 1977, I picked up a copy of Time magazine. It contained an article about a town in Wyoming that was booming due to coal mining. A sleepy cow town had sprouted overnight to become home to thousands of young workers. As I read it, I sensed an inner calling - "Jerry, take your wife and baby son to Gillette!" It didn't go away. Days later I approached my wife with the idea of tearing ourselves away from family, friends, and church to go to do ministry in that town. Late August found us traveling halfway across these United States in an old school bus that was packed with our possessions. We had no job waiting for us, very little money to sustain us, and a big dream pulling us westward!
The year that followed was full of experiences we have never forgotten, lessons that shaped us, and people who taught us in ways that continue to influence us to this very day. In September, 1978, we moved back to New Jersey and became the Associate Pastor of the Assembly there. Our year in Wyoming looked like a fool's errand. I am convinced that it was God's way of helping us to become more useful in His kingdom. I believe we were led there by the Spirit, but not for the purpose which I thought - establishing a ministry in Gillette, WY- but rather so He could mature us in faith.
Almost every day people use this phrase about their decisions: "I feel led..." It explains their choice to seek out a new church, to justify their purchase of a new car, to make all kinds of important life choices. Most disciples who claim to 'feel led' by the Lord are as sincere in their intent and motive as I was when I ‘felt led’ to move to Wyoming all those years ago. The Bible teaches us that Spirit-filled Christians should be led by the Spirit. Paul says that "those who are led by the Spirit are children of God." (Gal. 6.14) I am not taking issue with that idea, but I do want to argue with the erroneous idea that being led by the Spirit is just a feeling, a hunch, an intuition that ignores or replaces good sense and wise counsel!
Rick Nanez writes - "Waves of romanticism, relativism, individualism, and New Age teachings have unleashed a rising emphasis on feelings over thinking, emotions over doctrine, and experience over intellect. Wherever these find an inroad, it comes at the expense of casting away our rational rudders. In turn, this steers many Believers into the currents of waywardness - into the vast sea of subjectivity, where the drizzling clouds of mysticism dictate their spiritual journey. ... the turbulent winds of half-truth blow these helpless castaways into the vicious crags of confusion and mindless spirituality."
- Full Gospel, Fractured Minds? - Zondervan, 2005
Mature and effective disciples need to know that God gave them both mind and heart! God's Spirit operates through both equally to bring about His purposes and will. God’s invitation is "Come now, let us reason together.” Isaiah 1:18 (NIV) The word, 'reason' is a word meaning, "argue your case, talk it over, work it out!" God asks Spirit-led people to live with a deep, life-shaping faith but not a blind one! Paul encourages us to "present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service." Romans 12:1 (NKJV) Note the word, "reasonable." In the original language of the Bible it is the word, ‘logikos,’ from which we get our word, logical. As we serve God, we do so with reason intact.
Perhaps you are wondering -"What of faith? Are we to act on only what can be proven or tested by natural means?" No, friend. We, both individuals and the Church must be open to receiving truth that is revealed by Him to us in ways outside of the usual channels of discovery and learning. Some say that claiming to hear from God, being led by Him, is a marker of mental instability or is some sort of self-deception based in our psychological need to have a god. Yet, I am convinced - both by my experience and the testimony of the Scripture- that God speaks to His people, individually and collectively. There will be moments when His leading defies our natural reasoning powers, when what we believe God is asking of us flies in the face of the facts that surround us.
When someone claims to have a ‘revelation’ we do right when we evaluate what they claim as being ‘of the Spirit.’ Asking God to give us discerning minds, to keep us from impulse or gullibility is not the same as refusing to follow His lead. It is a humble recognition that we are imperfect, that we can get it wrong. I can tell many stories of unstable people who were given too much credence, who led God’s people into silly, foolish, even destructive places. That is why John gives us this warning: "do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world." 1 John 4:1 (NLT) The passage goes on to say that the primary test to determine who is a genuine 'prophet' - that is one who is claiming to hear from God and speak for God- is the way he conducts himself day to day. Is there strong evidence of submission to Jesus Christ as Lord? There is no one so dangerous to your spiritual health as the person who is a rebellious rogue, who recognizes no authority but himself. Paul likewise urges discernment about those who claim to be speaking for God. He says "Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said." (1 Corinthians 14:29, NIV)
Next time you’re ready to say, “I’m led…” make sure you really are hearing from the Lord! When someone urges you to take some action based on a ‘word from the Lord’ don’t be shy about telling them you want time to evaluate and test the word! Let's be people of the Spirit, led by Him into works of faith, using the wonderful powers of reason that He has given to us. By this God will be glorified and His kingdom built strong.
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He leadeth me, O blessed thought!
O words with heavenly comfort fraught!
Whate'er I do, where-e'er I be,
Still 'tis God's hand that leadeth me.
Lord, I would clasp Thy hand in mine,
Nor ever murmur nor repine;
Content whatever lot I see,
Since 'tis my God that leadeth me.
He leadeth me, He leadeth me,
By His own hand He leadeth me;
His faithful follower I would be,
For by His hand He leadeth me.
And when my task on earth is done,
When by Thy grace the vict'ry's won,
E'en death's cold wave I will not flee,
Since God through Jordan leadeth me.
He Leadeth Me O Blessed Thought
Gilmore, Joseph H. / Bradbury, William B.
© Public Domain
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