Mark, we will let the individual decide (including you and me!) which is being spirit led. We will simply place the yardstick. Because I’m pretty sure the very same everyone who said they were led by the spirit would now say they were not if clarity could be introduced to what is meant by “spirit led”!
Let me start with an example. One pastor, who loves quoting the scriptures that I share, shared about spiritual mindedness. After the sermon, he announced a Saturday fasting prayer. Later in the day in private I simply asked him just this - is this your fasting prayer spiritual or not (carnal)?
Being an open person, he immediately admitted that it was not spiritual. You know why? Because he knew this fasting prayer was to counter another fasting conducted at the same time by a newly joined family.
Now what is “spirit led”?
This can be understood in at least 3 ways:
- in the context of the text used in Romans 8, spirit inspiration to get “spirit of the law” type of understanding of scriptures. Or simply Jesus word/message minded.
- in the context of Acts 8:39, and maybe Matthew 4:1 too, spirit forcefully or otherwise leading/taking someone
- in the context of Revelation 1:10, spirit revealing through visions and stuff like that.
In our “rapture” case adjudication, by “spirit led”, I meant using the context 1 in Romans 8. I’m not sure if context 2 & 3 can be used (other than such contexts already in the bible), as it would pave way for story telling. Also I can’t say anything conclusive in this case as I do not know the full facts (scriptures) for rapture.
Sharing of my views is only to be able to get clarity for one to make correct judgment. It would be then up to the readers to take a stand on a particular case to either face hostility from God or from devil/world!!
So using context 1, “Spirit led” (walking after spirit) is what leads you to be spiritual minded. The opposite is “flesh led” (walking after flesh) which leads to carnal mindedness. The example I provided earlier should give a fair idea about what is spiritual and what is carnal.
Now I will explain what you need to do to be “Spirit led”. In order to be spiritual, one should operate through born again spirit (spiritual man). One cannot operate through flesh (carnal man).
It is like this. You are like how you think. In other words, you are like how your mind is. You indulge your mind to something; your action would be based on that something in your mind.
Proverbs 23:7
7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:
At least there is 2 choices of influence for mind in a born again person.
- Get influenced by your flesh (non-desirable)
- Get influenced by your born again spirit (desirable)
Flesh and spirit are contradictory by nature. Jesus said in John 3:6,
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Flesh (carnal man) —influence—> Your mind < —influence— Born again spirit (spiritual man)
In order for the 2nd choice to happen, you need to be born of the Spirit. Only then you could allow God’s Spirit to operate and influence your mind and thereby your behavior and activity.
Conventional wisdom expects controlling the flesh through flesh to have a correct behavior/action (this is works, hence a proven failure!) whereas God’s wisdom expects your allowing of God’s Spirit to have a correct behavior/action (this is labor of faith, hence success!). You know Jesus’ word sanctified his disciples! Jesus’ word is spirit! So all you need to do is, just listen to God’s word and believe in it! Your steps will be ordered by it! But then the problem today is, there’s not many (it is hard find) who is sent/appointed by God to dispense His true word, hence false word (false message), and no desired result in churches!
When you accept Jesus to become a Christian, you not only repent but you also consent/agree to play by kingdom of God rules. By design, rules of the worldly kingdom you are in are subordinate to the rules of this spiritual kingdom. So, what is the constitutional guiding principle for the rules of this kingdom of God?
Romans 11:36, For of him(God/Jesus), and through him(God/Jesus), and to him(God/Jesus), are all things:
Here, all things (creations) include man. Since man was created in the image of God, he was given free will, like God to act by his own counsel. Before accepting Jesus, it was of man/devil, and through man/devil, and to man/devil, for the fallen man.
A desire to be of him and through him and to him, and an action you show towards this desire, is what is repentence! When one thus repents and consents to play by kingdom rules (born again - spiritual man is born), one is given a clean slate to start with (justification), lost things in life restored (redemption), all kindgdom benefits (promise for this world and the world to come) becoming available, and help is provided to know and to play by the rules (wisdom and sanctification), all from believing. You then carry out your kingdom responsibility. Thus you become kingdom compliant.
So when someone claims he is spirit led and share a teaching, is he repented and born again? Is he guided by the kingdom principles and rules? Is his teaching fulfill spiritual purpose? If so, his teaching can be spirit led. If not, it is simply flesh led.
I hope you can agree with this yardstick for determining who is spirit led and what is being spirit led.
If anyone found wanting, the gospel is this - repent and believe (like pointed out here!), as the kingdom of God is right here, right now!!!