Changed
by the Spirit
THERE
are two kinds of progression: the progression in godliness and the
progression in evil. Every individual will either be progressing into
godliness or evil throughout the duration of his or her life. The
life of a true Christian is marked by a progression into godliness—of
leaving the tendencies and traits of sinful humanity behind and going
on to reflect those of holy Divinity. He progresses from “glory
to glory” (2 Corinthians 3:18) and from “strength to
strength.” (Psalm 84:7) In contrast, we read of those that
progress “from evil to evil.” (Jeremiah 9:3) The course
of life of the unconverted is one of progression on the pathway of
evil and moral corruption; and as the Christian is turning away from
the unholy tendencies and traits of his humanity toward the cleanness
and righteousness of His Maker, so the unconverted soul is
progressively turning away from all that is of the cleanness and
righteousness of God towards the ways of fallen humanity.
What
is the reason for this difference in behavior and conduct? It
depends upon the presence of one specific element in the heart of an
individual. If one is lacking this element, he will choose the way of
evil; but if one possesses it, the way of godliness. That element is:
submission to the Spirit of God. Whether one is led by God’s
Spirit or not is the basis for such difference in behavior. God’s
Spirit will move upon the heart of man to abandon all that is of
ungodliness and to choose rather conformity to holiness. But will man
obey and surrender? If one rejects this motivational, holy
influence—and this rejection is maintained on a regular basis,
thus leaving the Spirit no choice but to turn away from him—there
will be no godly progression. We read:
“But we all, with
open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed
into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the
Lord.” 2 Corinthians 3:18
Man
is changed from a vile existence into that which is holy and
righteous by “the Spirit of the Lord.” But he must yield
himself. When God delivered His ancient people out of land of Egypt,
out of the house of bondage, “this thing,” He said,
“commanded I them, saying, Obey
my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk
ye in all the ways that I have commanded you,
that it may be well
unto you.” (Jeremiah 7:23) One of the very first things God
commanded of His people was obedience. Yet, God does not demand
obedience because He is a harsh and tyrannical ruler. On the
contrary, “God is love.” (1 John 4:8) His motives are
pure and righteous. When God gives instruction to His child, it does
not arise from an unholy motive, or because He delights in ordering
and commanding His creation to action. Rather—because of the
wisdom He possesses, and the ability to perceive what is truly good
for that child and what is not—God gives instruction that the
child may know the way in which he will find good and that health may
be brought to his soul. In the above verse (Jeremiah 7:23), notice
the reason God gave for obedience to Him. “That it may be well
unto you.” He gives—not just any instruction—but
only those that will specifically result in being “well unto
us” when, and if, obeyed. God cares about the prosperity and
well-being of our soul. If this was not so, He would not have
consented to the death of His Son, for it was to save our soul from
eternal destruction that God “spared not His own Son, but
delivered Him up for us all.” (Romans 8:32) This
demonstrates—with absolute certainty—that the well-being
of our soul is of great concern and importance to God our Maker. And
so, when God moves upon our heart by His Spirit, bidding us to do
this, or walk in this way, or to forsake and abandon some specific
thing, it must be known that He is not seeking to add restraint and
restriction to our lives or keep us from some good thing, but
specifically for the health and prosperity of the soul.
“But they hearkened
not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the
imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.
Since the day that your fathers came forth out of the land of Egypt
unto this day I have even sent unto you all my servants the prophets,
daily rising up early and sending them: yet they hearkened not unto
me, nor inclined their ear, but hardened their neck: they did worse
than their fathers.” Jeremiah 7:24-26.
The
ancient children of Israel were a rebellious and hardhearted people.
(See also 2 Chronicles 30:8; Jeremiah 5:23; Ezekiel 3:7 & Psalm
81:6-16) How the heart of God must have grieved as He beheld the
people whom He had chosen above all the nations of the earth to be
His “peculiar treasure” manifest this behavior of
rebellion and disobedience towards Him. Their hearts were so
calloused, so set upon the way of iniquity. God has had their conduct
recorded in His Word that we might “learn” from their
experiences and avoid committing the same errors. (See Romans 15:4 &
1 Corinthians 10:6, 11) What will we
do with the leading of the Spirit of God? Will our behavior be like
that of the Israelites? Will we harden our hearts or will we heed the
counsel of the Spirit? (See Psalm 95:7-11)
Often,
it is because we believe our own way will give us more pleasure than
the way to which God is leading that we choose to reject His
instruction. I ask, “Do we know better than God?”
Concerning the house of Israel God said,
“I have spread out
my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way
that was not good, after their own thoughts [or plans and
intentions].” Isaiah 65:2
The
Israelites walked after the way of self and the way of the human
nature. We have read that they “walked in the counsels and in
the imagination of their evil heart.” (Jeremiah 7:24) Yet
consider where this course brought them. Many texts have been listed
that speak of Israel’s rebellion, defiance and disobedience
towards God. These were but the fruits of walking after the flesh;
and that rebellion, defiance and disobedience was the very cause of
Israel’s downfall. How true is God’s pronouncement that
their course was “a way that was not good.” When a man is
led and guided by the “evil heart” that is in him—that
is, his nature, “the flesh”—he will proceed in no
other way but “from evil to evil.” This will be the
result when it is the wishes of our fallen humanity that we obey
instead of the leading of God’s Spirit. But the instruction
that brings health and prosperity to our soul is that we walk not
after “the flesh” but “the Spirit.”
“For he that soweth
to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth
to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”
Galatians 6:8
“For if ye live
after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do
mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” Romans 8:13
“And they that are
Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and
lusts.” Galatians 5:24
So
then, having put all rebellion aside, let us have in our hearts
submission to the Spirit of God. Ask God to circumcise your heart
(See Deuteronomy 10:16) that you would not “resist the Holy
Spirit” (Acts 7:51) and may progress in the way of godliness,
being changed into the image of Christ. It will be well with your
soul.
“For as many as are
led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” Romans
8:14
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Revelation Messengers
P O Box 3204
Santa Barbara, CA 93130
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