This is one of the best times of year, with the lights and the festive nature of businesses and city streets. It’s so fun; my kids and I love it! Merry Christmas! My prayer is that this season of holiday cheer fills you, your family, and your friends with the joy and peace that Jesus purchased and has given!
Every Tuesday morning, I have the privilege of joining a church teaching team on Zoom to discuss the coming weekend’s message. The pastor leading the discussion last Tuesday opened the meeting with a statement that stirred something in me, and I want to share it with you this month and build on it.
The pastor stated that curiosity brought about radical change both in the life of Saul, later renamed Paul, and in the known world. Saul’s question to the Lord, “Who are you, Lord?” is what produced his conversion. After the birth, crucifixion, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, Paul’s life and the revelation of Jesus had the most significant impact on the Christian church as we know it. I added this thought, in agreement with him: when Moses saw the burning bush in Exodus 3:2-3, he said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight…” Moses’ curiosity brought him to God and his destiny.
It’s been said that curiosity killed the cat. But I like what Walt Disney said about curiosity, “We keep moving forward, opening new doors and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.” I believe that to move forward, step through new doors, and embark on new adventures, spiritually speaking, we must keep our curiosity about the Lord and His will for our lives.
Isaiah 9:6 says, “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given…” John 3:16 says, “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever should believe in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” The Father gave us His Son, who shed His blood and brought forgiveness and reconciliation to all mankind. In John 24:49, Jesus says, “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.” The same Spirit in Luke 4:1-2, 14 that filled, led, and empowered Jesus has been given to us!
I believe that our curiosity to wait for and seek out the Spirit’s counsel is what will bring momentous change to our lives and the world we live in. I do believe we are living in what Peter preached on the day of Pentecost, “That this is that which was spoken by the Prophet Joel…‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh…”’ The Promise has been given; the Promise has come! It is our curiosity about His plan and will that releases His revelation into our lives so we can walk in full assurance.
When you think of the Spirit’s involvement in your life, I want you to think of the three points I mentioned above: He fills you! He leads you! He empowers you! This filling is the overflowing presence of God, and all that He is and possesses and has made available to you. When something is full, there is no shortage of any kind, financially, physically, or spiritually. “Not enough” is eradicated, and a full supply of wealth, health, and revealed knowledge of God is given.
Before I focus on He Leads You, I want to look at He Empowers You! The empowerment of the Spirit is to support you in all areas of growth as well as energize you to accomplish God’s will for your life. This power is given with full authority to maintain the victory that Jesus purchased. The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives in you…this is resurrection power flowing through your recreated spirit, enabling you to act and move forward, breaking all hindrances.
He Leads you! What does this mean, and how does it affect your life? When the Spirit leads, He does so by first having us listen and then acknowledge His voice. He’s leading you, not pushing you. Remember this: Our curiosity leads to His counsel, which produces confidence and clarity in the mission.
To be led by the Holy Spirit means you are placed in the “know” and you can have confident trust in the outcome of what God is doing and will do, because it has been revealed to you, not concealed from you. 1 John 1:5 says, “This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.” Too often, we sit in the frustration of ignorance produced by the darkness instead of turning on the light, God’s word, and allowing Him to speak and reveal His thoughts, His plan, and His will for our situation and our lives.
1 John 2:20 says, “But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.” You might not know what the next step is right now. You may not know what tomorrow holds, or what the doctors may say, but you have been given the Father’s Promise of the Holy Spirit, who will lead, guide, and direct every step as you lean not to your own understanding but acknowledge Him. I want to challenge you to become curious about God’s will and plan. Begin to seek Him and ask what it is He wants you to do. Proverbs 19:21 says, “There are many plans in a man’s heart, nevertheless the Lord’s counsel – that will stand.” To stand in any situation is confidence. Not standing blindly, but because the Spirit has revealed the secret counsel of God’s heart to you, and with bold clarity, you can navigate the season of life!