I think the “paradigm” of what the Spirit-led life is, is often wrong to begin with. That is, if the basic assumptions are faulty to begin with, we build a wrong understanding.
Here’s what i mean: We have a spectrum: On one end, there are the non Spirit-filled evangelicals, who are saved, but work more out of their own intellectual capacity and reasoning than by revelation and guidance by the Holy Spirit.
And on the other end, the super-spirituals, who would even pray about whether they should go to the bathroom, or to wash the dishes, etc.. While claiming to be focused on Jesus they are really focused on themselves. (The NAR groups like Joyner et al are an example of this)
Should we find a middle-ground between these two extremes?
Or, is LIFE in Jesus not even on that spectrum?
I suggest it’s not on that spectrum. Jesus is our LIFE. Every breath, every heartbeat is to be FOR Him and BY Him, and IN Him.
His LIFE gets incarnated into us: I no longer live, but Christ lives in me... In these terms, our life can’t be divided into “spiritual” or “secular” units : we are a different person at church than in any other place we find ourselves.
Ian Vincent 
March 19, 2010 at 12:08 am
Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
March 19, 2010 at 1:03 am
Many moons ago i got hooked up with some brethren who were like this, and that thing began to influence me. I started becoming paranoid about nearly every decision in life, whether the Holy Spirit was wanting me to do this or that… etc.. It often led to inaction, not spontaneity.
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Self-consciousness is the issue here.
March 19, 2010 at 1:22 am
When i was in the system, 1987-90, i always felt that something was really wrong, a nagging that wouldn’t go away, but i didn’t know why. I found out years later that i was like a square peg trying to fit into a round hole (the peg board game).
Think how Jesus or the Apostles would go trying to “fit in” with the system? Impossible.
Unless church is relational then we have a system.
It means that we are not made to function in a system.
The Holy Spirit is not given for that.
If we are led by the Spirit AND try to function in the system it only leads to frustration and disappointment.
Like putting a majestic eagle into a little canary’s cage.
March 19, 2010 at 1:20 pm
“like a square peg trying to fit into a round hole” ha ha. I said those exact words about myself the other day.
What we are finding is that not only have we left the system, the system is no longer IN us! The things that used to wow us are “YAWN,” but a simple preaching of the true word brings us to tears.
I’m not exactly comfortable here, yet. More on that later.
March 20, 2010 at 1:25 am
Again, the parallel between natural infant development and the spiritual is clear: A baby born into a dysfunctional household will not understand WHY he/she is disturbed by the abuse and shouting going on. He/she loves her parents but he/she is still troubled. When they get older they understand WHY they felt troubled.
It’s the same when we grow up spiritually. Things all fall into place. We then know the reason WHY we were so troubled in our spirit while in the system.
March 21, 2010 at 12:23 am
Striking analogy as far as the dysfunctional household.
You said, “And on the other end, the super-spirituals, who would even pray about whether they should go to the bathroom, or to wash the dishes, etc..”
So if we are in Him, and He in us shouldn’t some things happen naturally? I mean shouldn’t we be trusted to do those things right if we have been born again of His Spirit? So much of that kind of stuff can be covered with ‘doing it as unto the Lord.’ I put the shopping cart back because it’s the considerate thing to do. I don’t have to ask about it.
The relationship doesn’t start and stop depending on what we deem as critical/important or not. As you saw the other day, a mundane drive to town can become life or death. I go about my business doing “stuff” as if it was for the Lord, while keeping my spiritual ears open for any specific directions. I also ask for specific reminders in places where I know my personality is lacking.
Ok, so that’s my goal. Not that I’m “all-together.” I completely missed a divine appointment today until I was past it. I wasn’t really paying attention, and I don’t think of myself as having much influence. I didn’t recognize the opportunity until it was gone. Aaaarrrrg!
March 21, 2010 at 12:42 am
Yes. That was the point.
Again, to use an analogy: If you were spending a day with your earthly dad, with him all day, you wouldn’t be expecting him to tell you everything you should do. Even though you are WITH him in fellowship, the relationship is such that his role is not to tell you everything you must do. But a Godly dad would tell you things he should tell you.
That’s a very loose analogy, but the point is, that we can have wonderful fellowship with God, in Christ, in the Spirit, AND at the same time, he is NOT saying, “Go to the bathroom now!” etc.. :) But He is speaking things into our spirit which HE deems we need to hear, when we need to hear it.
Yes, sister, agreed, we are learning as little children, and sometimes miss obeying Him.
March 21, 2010 at 1:36 am
And then there’s the analogy of Jesus feeding His sheep. He doesn’t just indiscriminately continually force-feed His sheep. He gives us our portion daily, our daily bread, as He sees fit, as we seek His face, as we come to Him to eat.
“Feeding” here means Him speaking to us.
Some go beyond this and and almost DEMAND that Jesus speak to them continuously. That is idolatry.