- For it is God which worketh in you, both to will, and to do, of His good pleasure.
- Do all things without complaining, and disputing.
- That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.
In a dark world, you would think it would be easy for God’s light to shine through His children. But we know this is not the case, and in fact, much effort is put into snuffing God’s light out of the world. There are also those who use God’s name to manipulate others or to give validity to their points. But the true light bearers often go unheard and unseen. So is the world more wicked and evil today than it ever has been? Is believers being the minority something new to our age? And is it really difficult to find God’s will for our lives, or do the very things He warns against — selfish ambition, covetousness, anger, and discontentment — blind us from seeing His will clearly?
Jesus knew how essential it was for us to receive the Holy Spirit. Before going to the Cross He told His disciples that “it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you” (John 16:7). Our understanding of what was taking place may become clearer if we read John 13-17 as a changing of the guard — a transition from Jesus’ earthly ministry, where He laid the path for salvation and being born again, to God working directly with and in His children, preparing them for a life of service and for the Kingdom of Heaven.
We know that since the fall of man, the god of this fallen world is Satan, which makes the spirit of the world his spirit. It is dangerous for believers to assume his influence is limited to unbelievers. On the contrary, the evil one has little reason to waste his efforts on those already separated from God — his focus is on those who follow Christ. This is why 1 Peter 5:8 gives such a stark warning to believers, “Be sober, be vigilant: because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”
It is revealing that Peter chose a lion to describe the devil. Jesus is from the tribe of Judah, and the lion represents the tribe of Judah. 2 Corinthians 11:14 may tell us why Peter chose this example: “And no marvel, for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.” It may be that finding God’s will for us becomes difficult when we confuse the enemy’s imitation of light for the true light of God. When the work of the fallen spirit convinces us that it is the work of the Holy Spirit, we can journey down wrong paths and face severe tests of faith.
Jesus calls the Holy Spirit the “Comforter” and says He will lead us to all truth (John 14:16, 16:13). He says this with good reason. Philippians 2:14 instructs us to “Do all things without complaining and disputing.” Complaining blinds us from seeing any good in circumstances we may not prefer, and it blinds us from seeing how God may turn those circumstances in our favor. In every situation, the Comforter will keep us in understanding — if we remain calm enough to hear His whispers or sense what the natural world calls intuition. The wisdom that leads you to make decisions you wouldn’t otherwise make — decisions that save, protect, and lead you to favor — is not your own. It is the wisdom given by the Spirit of God within you.