Walking in the Spirit -- Better than "Intuitively Know" . . .

We will lose interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows. Self-seeking will slip away. Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change. Fear of people and of economic insecurity will leave us. We will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us. We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves . . . .

It is easy to let up on the spiritual program of action and rest on our laurels. We are headed for trouble if we do, for alcohol is a subtle foe. We are not cured of alcoholism. What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition. Every day is a day when we must carry the vision of God's will into all of our activities. "How can I best serve Thee - Thy will (not mine) be done." These are thoughts which must go with us constantly. We can exercise our will power along this line all we wish. It is the proper use of the will. (AA, pg 84-85)

This passage seems like a dream come true. How often people want security as well as serenity to figure out what they should do and where they should go in their lives.

In fact, the notion of following "God" from within, waiting for voices, or for some even to relate to me God's will is quite dangerous and disturbing. So many forces from within and without can pressure us to say and do or believe anything. In my opinion, people invested in AA end up susceptible to all kinds of perverse leadings and evil diversions. Often, they fall into foolish thinking because the program teaches them to run their lives by a "sponsor", someone who has a little more time sober than they.

The Bible provides a better way:

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14: 6)

Everyone of us is called to a Person, Jesus Christ, not to set of rules, not to a list of principles, not to a set of demands and doctrines, but the Person of Jesus Christ:
"7To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 28Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: 29Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily." (Colossians 1: 27-29)

Notice how Jesus was working in Paul, and in turn He works in everyone of us because He lives in us. He is our new life:

"1If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." (Colossians 3: 1-4)

These wonderful promises were laid out for all of us in the Old Covenant, which Paul the Apostle restates in the Book of Hebrews:

"For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

"And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.

"For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." (Hebrews 8: 10-12)

This New Covenant permits the Holy Spirit to live within every believer. By His peaceful presence, we can know what to do, and  more importantly we can know the Lord intimately.

Instead of following certain rules, or working Twelve Steps for that matter, every person who believes on Jesus Christ can receive His life and leading within himself:

"Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

"For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." (Philippians 2: 12-13)

When we no longer walk in sin, alienated from God because we are dead in our trespasses, we receive both the will and the while to do the things that God wants us to do.

His peace, one part of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5: 22-23), directs us in the paths that He wants us to take, or say, or do:

"15And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." (Colossians 3: 15-16)

When we rest in Christ, letting His righteousness flow in our lives, God then quickens within us what to and what not do, and He leads us gently, by His own hand:

"9If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

10Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me." (Psalm 139: 9-10)