THE HOLY SPIRIT AS OUR GUIDE
“That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
Has it ever dawned on you how it could have been possible that those leaders about whom we read in the Old Testament were able to lead such a large number of people through completely barren areas without the latter attempting to stone them – as was the mode of killing in those days?
DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILIES
Getting a family to function properly takes a lot of trouble. Just within one family, there are so many diverse interests and value systems, and children nowadays sometimes live far apart from their parents, despite staying in the same house. What trouble it takes to get the family together around the dinner table!! Each one has his/her own idea about matters – thus leading to stress and ructions.
DYSFUNCTIONAL MARRIAGES
Similarly, smooth cooperation between a newly married couple doesn’t come easily. The number of marriages being terminated within the first six months is increasing alarmingly. Rivalry among young people for career satisfaction and establishing the role of each in the marriage partnership are both factors seriously impeding harmony. Assistance or advice from a (preferably objective) third person is of the utmost importance in these cases.
WHAT WE THINK AND FEEL
And this is where we should reckon with the Holy Spirit. As already said, it is part and parcel of our fleshly, sinful nature to evoke discord and stress in any relationship. Either husband or wife complains that the other partner is insensitive to his/her (the complainant’s) feelings – “he/she doesn’t understand me!” But – God knows exactly what each one thinks and what their feelings are. Psalm 139: 2-4 reads
“Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.”
THE SPIRIT INTERCEEDS
It is His will that we should understand and appreciate each other in our marriages, therefore He made His Spirit available to us to act as an intercessor – provided that we declare ourselves willing! Galatians 5:15 -18 says
“But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.”
KNOW THE DIRECTION
The road along which our Heavenly Father wants to guide us, to avoid disagreement among Christians and between husband and wife, in particular, is clear. To experience His guidance, however, one has to be sensitive to the Person of the Spirit, to get to know in what direction He wants to take us. The following verse from the John 16:13 points it out quite clearly:
“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 shew you things to come.”
UNITY IN THE SPIRIT
When the Spirit guides us “into all the truth”, it does not only refer to theological truths, but also to everyday matters. How often do relationships break up due to misunderstandings and lies? The man or woman filled with the Spirit is the one seeking the truth, and will when all is said and done, put everything else aside to attain that truth. Double-heartedness or pretence has no place in the life of a Spirit-filled person, and such sincerity of heart and mind creates trust and respect between husband and wife, strengthening the ties of love. Ties of unity can only grow and become stronger when both partners submit themselves to God’s guidance through the Spirit. Important decisions about finances, lifestyle, career change, child-rearing, and so on, should be submitted to the Spirit as the third party. This will simplify matters immensely.
MY ENCOUNTER WITH THE SPIRIT
20 June is our wedding date. While I was busy working on this section, the name of a venue came to my mind where I wanted to take Annatjie to celebrate. As we left home, she asked me where we were going. As I wanted to please her, I left her the choice. So we found ourselves at a newly opened restaurant, recommended by friends. As we took our seats, however, we looked at each other in the realization that it was not a place where we were meant to be. When I mentioned to her that the Holy Spirit had given me the name of a venue, we excused ourselves and left for it. We immediately found ourselves at ease, both the atmosphere and the menu to our satisfaction, and the celebration a wonderfully blessed occasion!
GOD WANTS THE BEST
So, even in our celebrations, the Spirit wants to guide us. Then it is no longer a matter of opposing self-willed or “macho” sentiments, but the truth that triumphs, with the right answers being found in the Holy Spirit. God always wants the best for His children when they walk and live in keeping with His will and Spirit.
DR KRIGE AND HOUSE REGENERATION
This adapted content was extracted from Make your Stand, authored by Dr Ado Krige, the Founding Director of House Regeneration, a South African drug rehabilitation centre offering a comprehensive discipleship training program. By applying principles of Biblical Therapy, using the Scriptures to teach, rebuke, correct, and train in righteousness, House Regeneration counsellors show anyone who has suffered from addiction how to fully understand why they do what they do and how to bring their belief systems in line with the Word of God.
