When we teach that it is time for God to move, and that we must wait on Him for our directions, the enthusiastic disciple may carry this concept to impractical extremes, becoming the prey of evil spirits. This is to lapse into passivity.

The novice may surrender his will in such a manner he becomes an "empty vessel," waiting for the Spirit of God to move him. This approach seems to be that of the true rest of God, of death to self-will. But it is not the true rest of God. It is a state of passivity. God will not work when the believer attempts to become a "medium" for the Spirit of God.

Rather, the true Christian life is one of actively using our will each day to make the choices necessary for the particular day. We must pray, read the Scriptures, assemble with fervent saints if possible, rejoice in the Lord, perform diligently the tasks set before us, confess our sins, give of our means as we are able, seek the Lord for our area of service, and do all the other good works set forth in God's Word. We are to do all this whether we particularly "feel" like it or not! Also, we are to take delight in serving the Lord, as much as possible. The Lord is pleased when we rejoice and work righteousness.

We must interact vigorously with the Word of God, the Spirit of God, and the blood of the Lamb. Keeping the words of the Lord Jesus is different from becoming an "empty vessel," waiting for the "spirit to move us"!

One hardly would gain the impression from reading the Epistles of the New Testament that the believer is supposed to become an empty vessel and wait for the Spirit of God to move him. From the Gospel accounts forward there are things to do. An abandoning of one's will in the hope of being directed by supernatural forces may appear to be the rest of God, but it opens the believer to demonic activity.

To learn precisely how to combine the exhortations of the Scriptures with the exercise of the wisdom and power of the Spirit of God in us requires considerable experience. It is an art and there are many pitfalls. Yet, it is an art well worth pursuing; for it is only as we learn how to obey the Scriptures through the Spirit that we enter the Kingdom of God, the rest of God, the land of promise.

We are pressing toward life lived in the fullness of the Presence of God where we die to our self-centeredness and self-seeking. Our will (always kept razor-sharp) is becoming one with the will of God. We never are to empty ourselves of our power of choice, seeking to be moved by feelings and voices.

To be continued.