Led by the Spirit of the Living God

Being led by the Spirit of the living God begins with the search. The search for something beyond this finite world. Whether it’s identity and belonging, equality and freedom, honour and respect, truth and purpose, peace and love, there is only one answer. His name is Jesus. As you listen be blessed, empowered and transformed in Jesus name.

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Transcript

00:00 Intro music and voice over.

Welcome to jesus loves the world podcast. For more information and free resources visit our website jesuslovestheworld.info Be blessed empowered and transformed in Jesus’ name! 

00:21 Speaker

I asked a man who was of another faith how he had come to be a disciple of Jesus. He explained that as he was walking through the natural environment, He observed everything was living. The trees were living, the birds were living, the grass was living, everything was living. He said within himself, ‘I want to know that God, the God of the living.’ That was the moment he began his incredible journey of being led by the Spirit of the living God.

Being led by the Spirit of the living God begins with the search. The search for something beyond this finite world. Whether it’s identity and belonging, equality and freedom, honour and respect, truth and purpose, peace and love, there is only one answer. His name is Jesus.

So the man surrendered himself to the living God. He gave total allegiance to Him and as a result, worships only Him. He once was lost, but now is found. Was condemned, but now lives with no condemnation. 

Yet there is always more with God. So no matter where we are in this life journey, God desires us to live in the reality of who He is and what He has done in Christ Jesus. Each day is a new day to know and experience Him more. No matter how deep our revelation and experience of God is, there is always a place in the heart of God to go deeper. For His love is unmeasurable and His presence eternal. 

To go deeper into the heart of God, we will journey through chapter 8 of the book titled Romans. 

Romans was written by Paul, who was separated to the gospel of God. The gospel being the good news of what God had given us in Christ Jesus. 

This is the good news. That the Son of God who was spirit came in human form. In a moment in human history was born into the lineage of David, the second king of Israel. He lived, died and was resurrected from the dead. Just as God foretold it would be through His prophets in the Holy scriptures centuries before it was so.

In this letter to the Romans, Paul reaches into eternity and speaks to all recipients throughout the ages. In Paul’s introduction he states that the recipients of the letter are called of Jesus Christ. That is have been invited to a banquet by God, in the proclamation of the Gospel. Having received Jesus, received God, have said yes to the invitation by God to His banquet. An invitation that is to all people throughout the ages. 

Therefore through Christ Jesus we are all called. For God has never left Himself without a testimony. He continually pursues humanity in love. Reaching down to each one during their lifetime, in a way they would understand. Everyone in their own lifetime and culture has an opportunity to say yes to God. That is accept His invitation to His eternal love feast. Entering into a covenant relationship with the divine. Where we are beloved by God and partakers of the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

So let us go to deeper into the heart of God beginning at Romans 8:9-18 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Identity and Belonging

Being led by the Spirit of the living God is to know Jesus’ identity and reality of belonging. In knowing Jesus’ identity and belonging, we come to know ours. As having said yes to Jesus, yes to God, we enter into the same covenant relationship that is between Jesus the Son of God and God the Father.

Having received Jesus, received God, we are led by the Spirit of the living God. For He is the Spirit of truth who testifies. The Spirit of the living God makes His home in each one who has said yes to Jesus, yes to God. he testifies to our spirit and the powers of the air that we are a child of God.

Our identity and belonging is in Christ Jesus. We are spiritually adopted into the beloved covenant relationship between God the Father and God the Son. 

So regardless of gender, age, ethnicity or socio economic status we have in this world, upon saying yes to Jesus, yes to God, we receive Jesus’ identity and belonging. As it is all because of who Jesus is and what He has done. We receive Jesus’ eternal identity as being sons of the living God. That is, like a first born son in ancient cultures who inherits all things. Having received Jesus, we receive not only His identity but His full inheritance. We are equal joint heirs with Christ Jesus.

Where in the same intimacy, Spirit and truth of Jesus, we can cry out to God the Father. Just like Jesus did when He walked the earth as a man. 

The first recorded use of the words that have been translated as Abba Father, is in the gospel according to Mark. It is at that sacred moment when Jesus in human form, surrenders His human will to that of divine will. At that moment in time Jesus was experiencing the human anguish of knowing what He was about to suffer for humanity’s sake. Yet in that unfathomable depth of pain and suffering, Jesus said, ‘Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.’ 

The most intimate moment with God the Father is in surrender of self will. A moment of realisation and revelation, awe and wonder. That as a child of God, we have the identity and belonging of Jesus, no longer trapped in fear. Jesus did it all for us to be led by the Spirit of the living God. In identity and belonging. 

Equality and Freedom

Being led by the Spirit of the living God is also to live in the reality of Jesus’ equality and freedom. The Spirit of life is given, not because of who we are or anything we do in this life. But the Spirit of life is given because of Jesus’ righteousness. That is God’s equitable character or act in who He is and what He has done in Jesus. In the identity of Jesus, we receive His Spirit of equality and freedom. 

Yet to live in the reality of this truth, in this world damaged by evil, is a daily journey of being led by the Spirit of the living God. Living in the equality and freedom that Jesus has already given us in His identity is being in continual surrender of our self will, to that of God’s will. 

This is what Paul describes as, put to death the deeds of the body. For being in continual surrender of self will, puts to death the bondage of the controlling destructive forces of self. No longer a slave to the selfish desires of humanity. In surrender to the Father’s will, being transformed by the Spirit of equality and freedom of Christ Jesus. For that is the heart of God.

As we surrender to God, we receive more of Him. As we have been given His identity in Jesus, instead of having our identity in the things of self or this world, the truth empowers us to live in this equality and freedom of being in continual surrender to Him.

Honour and Respect

Being led by the Spirit of the living God is to receive His honour and respect. For because God so loves He gives this to us. Having received Jesus, received God, He gives us the highest honour and respect with His identity and presence. 

The living God delights in us and calls us His own. Bearing witness of us as His children and that we are joint heirs with Christ.

God placed the highest value on setting us free. He gave us His honour and respect by paying the cost for us. Jesus became human and identified Himself with our suffering. He experienced it all. 

Emotionally, mentally, and physically, He experienced the extreme injustices of this world. The rejection and isolation, the shame and condemnation, the suffering and pain and ultimately the separation and loss that comes with death. 

He did it all so that we could be glorified together with Him. In the highest honour and respect we will be like Him. Together around the throne of the living God for all eternity. 

Truth and Purpose

Being led by the Spirit of the living God is also to receive His truth and purpose. To be conformed, that is joined and formed into the likeness of Christ Jesus. For this is the will and purpose of God.

Romans 8:28-30 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

That with His love in us, we can love God and others. Being partakers of the Gospel of Christ Jesus are called according to the purpose of the living God. That is that none should perish and all who will come to Him will come. God fork new all things and knows all those who will come to Him. In His truth, love and power are justified and glorified. 

Peace and Love

Being led by the Spirit of the living God is also to receive His peace and love. A peace that surpasses all understanding and brings an assurance that cannot be shaken. For it is the peace and love of God Himself. 

Romans 8:35-39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Nothing, absolutely nothing can change God and His character. His love is unshakable and unconditional. God’s love is greater than any powers and circumstances of this world. For God is love. A pure, selfless love that is not subject to the corruption of this world. 

Whilst we live in this world that is in the bondage of corruption and subject to futility, God is greater. Each day is a new day to surrender and receive more from Him. Being led by the Spirit of the living God, we are more than conquerors. 

For we have God’s identity and belonging, equality and freedom, honour and respect, truth and purpose, peace and love. To be led by the Spirit of the living God is a daily journey. A circular continuum of surrendering self will to God’s will and receiving more of Him. More of the reality of being led by the Spirit of the living God. His identity and belonging, equality and freedom, honour and respect, truth and purpose, peace and love. Praise His mighty name! 

19:40 Outro music and voice over. 

For more information and free resources visit our website jesuslovestheworld.info Be blessed empowered and transformed in Jesus’ name!