RADICAL OBEDIENCE TO THE HOLY SPIRIT

By Rev. Dr. Noel Monzon

spachurch.org

Intro: Church, we are called to live as Jesus did, fully surrendered to the Holy Spirit, and this is without reservation or excuse. In these last days, with the world growing darker and the Spirit moving powerfully, God expects us to walk in complete obedience to His Spirit, just as Jesus modeled during His earthly life and ministry. 

Today, we’ll explore four biblical principles to inspire us to live in total obedience to the Holy Spirit.

I. WALK AS JESUS WALKED

1. To live in complete obedience to the Holy Spirit, we must follow Jesus’ example. He relied on the Spirit in every step of His earthly ministry. This meant prioritizing the Spirit’s guidance over our own plans or desires. (1 John 2:6)

2. In this verse, John called believers to emulate Jesus’ life, that is, living in total dependence to  the Holy Spirit. 

3. Some might say, “Jesus was divine; I’m only human. I can’t live like He did.”While Jesus was fully God, He too was fully human but modeled a Spirit-led life that we can follow. (John 14:16-17)

4. The Holy Spirit empowers us to live as Jesus did, to teach, pray, display miracles and walk by faith under the Spirit’s direction.

II. LISTEN TO THE SPIRIT’S VOICE

1. Obedience to the Holy Spirit requires actively listening to His voice through prayer, Scripture, and quiet moments. We must intentionally tune out distractions from the world and ourselves to hear His guidance clearly. (John 10:27)

2. Listening to the Spirit involves cultivating a sensitive heart through prayer and God’s Word. This helps us to recognize His promptings and obey without hesitation amid any situation.

3. Some might argue, “I’m too busy to listen, or I don’t know how to hear the Spirit.” Busyness and uncertainty are no excuseto not knowing Gd’s voice. God speaks to those who make time to listen. (Psalm 46:10)

III. OBEY WITHOUT DELAY

1. Complete obedience to the Holy Spirit means responding immediately to His promptings, without excuses or procrastination, just as Jesus acted promptly in His ministry. (Acts 5:32)

2. In this verse, Peter declared that the Holy Spirit was given to those who obeyed God. This implied that obedience was both a condition and a result of the Spirit’s presence. 

3. Some might say, “I’ll obey later when it’s more convenient or when I’m sure it’s God.” Waiting for perfect timing often masks fear or rebellion. The Spirit’s promptings are clear to those who seek Him. (James 4:17)

4. Quote: Charles Stanley said, “Delayed obedience is disobedience.”

IV. SURRENDER YOUR WILL DAILY

1. Living in complete obedience to the Holy Spirit requires daily surrender of our will. (Luke 22:42)

2. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus faced the ultimate test of obedience, submitting His human will to the Father’s plan through the Spirit’s strength. This surrender defined His life and ministry. 

3. Note: Some might argue, “Surrendering my will feels like losing control or freedom.” True freedom comes from aligning with God’s perfect will, and not clinging to our limited plans. (Romans 12:1-2)

4. Quote: “The greatest freedom is to be obedient to God’s will.”— Corrie ten Boom, Holocaust survivor and Christian author. 

Conclusion: Church, the Holy Spirit is moving, and God is calling us to a radical, no-excuses life of obedience, just as Jesus lived. In these last days, will you walk as Jesus walked, listen to the Spirit’s voice, obey without delay, and surrender your will daily?