My wife and I just had a married couple, who really love Jesus, over for dinner and we saw the Spirit lead. We ate, shared testimonies, laughed, prayed, danced, took communion, prayed more, laughed more, repeatedly saw the gifts of the Spirit in action, and basked in the fruit of the Spirit, for 5 hours! It was awesome.

For almost two years now, my wife and I have been calling another couple every Sunday morning. We share testimonies, Scriptures, laugh, pray, open our hearts to each other, and have fun enjoying the fruit and gifts of the Spirit for an hour or more. All of that happens with no arguing or conflict as we humbly and joyfully celebrate the unity of the Spirit.

“The kingdom of God is at hand,” means you have the opportunity to be led by the Spirit anytime and anyplace (if you so choose). That makes me wonder why the typical sermon seems to be loaded down with over analysis, over preparation, over rehearsal, and loss of spontaneity when innocent spontaneity opens the door for the Holy Spirit to begin to truly take the lead.

Rigidity resists the Holy Spirit, but godly spontaneity freely goes with the Spirit’s flow. The definition of boredom is the absence of spontaneity. Church services too often stick religiously to that definition.

When Christians program, formalize, and systematize “worship,” we stifle the spontaneity of the Spirit. Biblical spirituality is spontaneous and unprogrammed, flowing like rivers of living water from deep within you. (John 7:38.)

To be Spirit-led you need to get out of your head and begin to spontaneously respond to what God’s saying in your heart. Being led by analysis, opinions, desires, or feelings is not being led by the Spirit. To be led by the Spirit is to surrender any control that you think you have, to the living God.

If you aren’t continually attentive and obedient to Christ in you, you won’t be able to be consistently led by the Spirit. To be led by the Spirit, we must embrace the humility and lowly position of a little child. (Matthew 18:3-4.) Since Jesus said to be like a little child, perhaps we should set aside religious formality and play along with the children’s sermon.

When the Spirit-leads you experience “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” When was the last time you know for sure you were led by the Spirit? (Romans 8:14.)

I enjoy listening to Jesus, both when He makes the Bible come alive and when He speaks directly to my heart. It’s even more fun when I do it with friends who love & obey Jesus.