“The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame” (Proverbs 29:15)

King Solomon knew the wisdom in leadership, because the Master Teacher taught him so. Life without leaders would be an awful mess; but thank God, the sons of men have received a portion of wisdom from the Most High. Spirit-led leadership will lead us to higher heights and greater peaks in our walk with the Lord.

Notice — Spirit-Led leadership

In this devotion, I would like to point out three reasons, though there are many more, for God’s Presence in our life. Moses knew the necessity of having God with him throughout his ministry to the people of Israel. God has given us the same promise of His Presence in John 14:16-17

“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; (17) Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”

In these days when Spirit-led leadership is growing so scarce, it is important to understand that God’s Holy Anointing will lead and guide us into all truth. If we have His Presence we need not grow weary, for Jesus is the Chief Shepherd. He will not leave us lost in the woods to be devoured by the beasts of the field. Jesus will bring us out from the people, and gather us from the countries, and will bring us to our own land. And we will feed upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of a heavenly country, Hallelujah!!

His first promise is that He will comfort us. Notice in the Scriptures the Holy Ghost is called the Comforter. “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me” (John 15:26). “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:26). God’s Presence is a comfort when we are going through pain; and so will Spirit-led leadership be as well. There is no greater comfort that God’s Presence in our life. And He will sustain us through all of our trials and tribulations.

Secondly, God’s Presence is with us to teach us. The Apostle John writes in 1 John 2:27:

“But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.” And John 16:13 says, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”

And finally John 14:26 says, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost… shall teach you all things...” So it is clear that leadership should not only comfort us, but also teach us; that we might have an understanding of the precious truths of a loving God.

Lastly, God’s Presence is to restrain us. God’s presence is like the governor on a brand new Chevy Silverado. When the truck gets to a reckless 100 mph, the governor will shut down the motor so the driver won’t have a wreck. This is exactly what God’s presence does in our life. He restrains the powers of darkness from manifesting in our lives. If God removed His Presence from any Christian walking on the face of the earth (which He has promised He will never do; (Hebrews 13:5c) “…for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee”), that person would be seven times worse that he was before he found Christ. The restraining Presence of God is mentioned in 2 Thessalonians 2:7-8, “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. (8) And then shall that Wicked be revealed…” In verse 7, “letteth” means “hindereth” and “let” means “hinder.” So this wickedness that is trying to come forth in this world is being restrained by God’s Holy Anointing. Thank God, in judgment upon man, God remembers mercy.

As we approach the final days of this age, God’s presence is going to continue to be rejected and refused; because sinful man loves lawlessness above God’s concern for man’s sinfulness. His presence will comfort us in these days. He will teach us as the famine for the Divine Word grows; as the Divine Word becomes more scarce. And He will restrain us from living for sin, self, and Satan.

May you take comfort in these great truths of Scripture and draw nigh to God and He will draw nigh to you.