Eternity Daily Bible Study
(A ministry of Eternity Christian Fellowship)
Walking In The Spirit - 15
Studies in this series can also be found online at www.globalchristians.org/walkspirit/
Topic: The Highway of Holiness
Date: August 6th 2009
In the last few studies we have seen that the Holy Spirit is our loving personal Coach (or comforter, counselor, advocate – Gk. Paraclete) who instructs each of us in how to be holy so that we can become like Jesus. Today we will look at two verses from the book of Isaiah that tell us something about this process of divine instruction:
Isaiah 30:21 MKJV And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way, walk in it, when you turn to the right hand and when you turn to the left.
Isaiah 35:5-10 MKJV Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. (6) Then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing; for in the wilderness waters shall break out, and streams in the desert. (7) And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land shall become springs of water in the home of jackals, in its lair, and a place for the reed and rush. (8) And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called, The Way of Holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it. But He shall be with them; the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err in it. (9) No lion shall be there, nor any beast of prey shall go up on it; it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there. (10) And the ransomed of Jehovah shall return and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy on their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
When we go astray to the right or to the left the Holy Spirit corrects us saying 'this is the way, walk ye in it'. This is like the GPS in my car, which when I go off course, or miss a freeway exit says 'recalculating' and then gives me new instructions to get me back on track.
The Holy Spirit also opens our spiritual eyes so that we perceive spiritual truth and our spiritual ears are unstopped so we can hear God. We are spiritually strengthened so we are no longer weak in the profession of our faith and we find ourselves finally able to truly praise God and we are released to worship Him.
Our parched souls are filled with the living waters of God and become pools and springs of water. Out of our innermost being shall flow rivers of living water (John 7:38)! What once was dry and barren shall be completely saturated and even 'swampy' like a wetland system.
There will be a highway there with unique properties. The ransomed and redeemed will be completely safe upon it. They will not go astray (even if they are foolish) or be attacked even if they are vulnerable. This highway shall connect them with Heaven, with the Zion that is above, the heavenly Jerusalem of faith (Hebrews 12:22-24, Revelation 3:12, 14:1, 21:2).
Now what sort of highway cannot be trodden on by wild beasts or by the unclean? Obviously this highway is not a literal road. This highway is a safe spiritual path to Heaven. It is the way that was established by Jesus who is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6). The new and living Way that was consecrated through His flesh (Hebrews 10:20).
This highway is so safe that even the fool cannot go astray in it (if he or she is saved). Thus the highway is not a path that requires a lot of books or brains. Once the spiritual eyes and spiritual ears of a person are opened (Isaiah 35:5) the highway becomes safe for them because they hear the directions of God the Holy Spirit. This is why even the most simple believers have no problem at all in following Jesus Christ.
The guidance of God is a blessed inner work that results in living waters flowing out of the Christian and great joy and worship being released. The increasing presence of God in the heart of the believer simply banishes all sorrow and sighing:
…...but the redeemed shall walk there. And the ransomed of Jehovah shall return and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy on their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
It is a happy highway! God guides us into peace so that we may rejoice in the Lord always:
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 ISV (16) Always be joyful. (17) Continually be prayerful. (18) In everything be thankful, because this is God's will in Christ Jesus for you. (19) Do not put out the Spirit's fire. (20) Do not despise prophecies. (21) Instead, test everything. Hold on to what is good, (22) but keep away from every kind of evil. (23) May the God of peace himself make you holy in every way. And may your whole being-spirit, soul, and body-be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (24) The one who calls you is faithful, and He will do this.
So we see that the Highway of Holiness is safe, joyful, peaceful, thankful and prayerful. It is not an anxious striving, rather it operates in the confidence that God is faithful and will do it.
If this is the case then why are so many Christians feeling dry, barren and discouraged? Why is there little or no sign of the highway of holiness in their lives? There are a number of reasons: Many have not learned how to tune in to God and to His directions. They may have been taught to distrust such 'subjectivity'. Yet others are trying to steer themselves. They are determined to figure t all out. We cannot do that. The holy things are quite simply beyond us. Others are caught up in 'works' and are trying to earn what God has freely given to us. But God wants sons not slaves.
Let God bless you. Pray in the name of Jesus and ask that He might lead you and guide you so that you will find yourself rejoicing as you travel along the Highway of Holiness.
Blessings,
John Edmiston (johned@aibi.ph)
Pastor – Eternity Christian Fellowship
Chairman/ CEO Cybermissions
http://www.eternitychristian.com
http://www.cybermissions.org
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