I heard Perry Stone tell a story the other day of how, many years ago, he had a dream about a certain man. Not once, but twice in one night. The next morning he told his wife and she said ‘did you pray for him?’ He replied ‘no’ and later that day they found out that this same man had a car accident that night and was killed. Perry often wondered if he had prayed, would the outcome have been different.
My mom has told me a similar story for years; she too had a dream about a particular man. It woke her up but she simply went back to sleep. The next morning she found out he had a wreck at the same time as her dream and died. Personally, I don’t think things like this are coincidence. I think it is God doing everything he can to get someone to pray or intercede.
Romans 8:14 says “those who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God.” The word led means ‘compelled, pointed in a particular destination, and impelled of forces and influences of mind. God is talking to us all the time, the question is, are we listening.
Today I was working diligently; all of a sudden I felt the need to pray in the Spirit, so I got up, locked my door and began to pray. As I did, I thought about the Perry Stone story and I didn’t want to not pray when I should. I am not judging Perry, I have done the same thing many times, especially when God calls in the middle of the night, frankly sometimes I just want to sleep.
Today as I got up and prayed, His presence filled my office as I continued to pray. I then spent time in worship, sealing our prayers in His presence. I knew I had been led by the Spirit of God. I didn’t know what I was praying about, I didn’t need to know. If it was important enough for God to compel me in the middle of working, it was important enough.
Many Christians are easily led by God when it is beneficial to them but not as easily led when it is inconvenient or when it costs them something. I understand, as I stated earlier, I have been there, when God was compelling me to pray and I wanted to sleep and frankly sometimes I just continued sleeping. What did I miss when I did that? Only God knows.
It reminds me of the teaching I heard years ago on that scripture when Jesus asked His disciples if they could not tarry with Him one hour. He needed them and they slept instead. They missed their opportunity to help strengthen the Son of God.
Those who are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. What does it mean to be a son of God? The basic meaning is pretty clear, but I have one meaning I want to share with you: those who revere God as their father, the pious worshippers of God, those who in character and life resemble God, those who are governed by the Spirit of God, repose the same calm and joyful trust in God which children do in their parents (Rom. 8:14, Gal. 3:260. The term used of Jesus Christ, as enjoying the supreme love of God, united to him in affectionate intimacy, privy to his saving councils, obedient to the Father’s will in all his act.
Isn’t that awesome! When you are called a son of God, your life and character will resemble God, you will have a calm and joyful trust in God, you will be intimate with Him, and enjoy the same LOVE He gave Jesus. And you will be obedient to the Father’s will at all times; this is the one we would often like to forget.
Sons obey their father, or they should, at all times. Whether He is telling us to go pick us out a new car, or give the biggest offering we have ever given, sons obey. Whether He is telling us to preach around the world, or go take a meal to a neighbor. Sons obey their father.
If God is compelling you to do something, if His word is compelling you…simply obey…you shall be called a son of God when you do and enjoy all the benefits that come along with being a son of the Most High God.
