There is an invisible leader who is much more reliable than any leader you can see with your eyes. His followers are able to hear His voice as He speaks in various ways. (John 10:27)
The Bible calls the invisible leader: “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27) This inner leader speaks through throughs, images, words, impressions, promptings, and even through the still small voice of your conscience. Those who are led by the inner voice of Christ’s Spirit are the children of God. (Romans 8:14)
What the invisible leader says will always align with what the writers of the Bible heard Him say. He won’t contradict what He taught them. When you feel like you are hearing Him, always confirm it by the Bible. Refuse to follow a counterfeit of His voice. (Acts 17:11)
As a newly born again follower of Jesus, I began reading the Bible. It burned in my heart. I spent hours absorbing it every day. I’ve read it almost every day since then.
When I was first reading the book of Acts, I noticed that God the Holy Spirit spoke directly to Peter, to Phillip, to Paul and to others. In frustration I asked God, “You spoke to people in the Bible, why aren’t You speaking today?”
Suddenly these words came to my mind. “The problem is not that I’m not speaking. It’s that you’re not listening.” Those words still burn within me (Luke 24:32) because they changed me. They caused me to begin to listen to and to learn to obey the inner teachings, leadings, and promptings of Christ in me.
The Invisible Leader is speaking to you as you are reading these words. Pause and listen to Him now. Take time throughout each day to notice what is going through your mind and your heart. Much of it is your own thinking. Some of it is the voice of temptation and deception. And some of it is God Himself speaking to you. Learn to discern the difference.
When God speaks to you — verify that it’s Him and then obey. The more you obey God, the more you will learn to recognize His voice as He speaks within you. The more you will connect heart-to-heart with Him and with other people who are also hearing and obeying His voice.
Since all true Christians have Christ the Invisible Leader, living within them and talking to them, we don’t need to be dependent on a mere human leader when we gather to worship. If we have the courage to allow Him to, Jesus will personally assemble our hearts together (Hebrews 10:24-25) as He is permitted to lead the meeting.
Here’s how Jesus wants to lead His followers when they meet together. It’s simple. He wants them all to listen for His inner voice and then for each person to say and do what He tells them to. (1 Corinthians 14:26)
You are invited to experience a Christ-led meeting that functions that way. It happens every Saturday morning at Chile Burrito, 330 Franklin Road, in Brentwood, TN 37207 at 8:30 am.
Free Gas for Your Think Tank -- Short Reflections, Lasting Encouragement 