Satan and His Kingdom 61 the Lord brings a deep calm over the spirit, whereas the voice of the devil often causes confusion, restlessness, agitation and uncertainty. The voice of the Lord is invariably in accord with the teaching of the Word of God, although the adver sary also can quote Scripture, but it is usually texts with the portions omitted which safeguard, or interpret the whole, or else he uses isolated words wrenched from the context which explains them! The wiles of the adversary are the most subtle, and likely to succeed, in the early days of the life in the Spirit-sphere, for as the believer matures in the knowl edge of God, the "mind of Christ” becomes the mind of the one closely in fellowship with God. I t is well that the believer should understand this, lest he give advantage to the enemy by falling into discouragement, or depression, when the transition from childhood to manhood takes place, and God is teaching him how to use his spiritual senses, discerning good and evil. (Heb. 5:14.) The wiles concerning guidance. “As many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God” (Rom. 8 :14 ). There is scarcely any subject connected with the spiritual life more difficult to explain, and more misunderstood than the subject of guidance! The words, “I was ‘led’ to do this or that,” are so often used when there is no evidence of any lead ing at all. There are many wiles of the adversary around the subject. One tactic of the evil one is to make souls confused and distracted over what is the will of God; others he deludes into throwing aside all use of their judgment and knowledge, to act upon some isolated text, or some “thought” that came to them in prayer; others are beguiled into an attitude of judgment upon the walk of others, or else into a position not far short of infallibility, though they would not use the word. Our text gives the principal mark of the true guidance of the Lord. “Led by the Spirit” means that He deals, and does not drive or force, therefore the soul must take heed not to force itself to any course of action which is repugnant to it,
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker