OBEDIENCE TO GOD'S WILL

The attitude of heart must not be entirely negative, that is, the seeker does not desire to be filled merely to be free from the presence of "the flesh." He desires to do the will of God fully in his life. This he could not do as long as the Spirit was lusting against the flesh, and the flesh was lusting against the Spirit. To be sure there is obedience to the will of God in the regenerated life, but this is an obedience which not only keeps one from doing the wrong, but which is interested most in doing what God desires. An obedience which catches the will of the Spirit in things which may not be recorded as God's will for him, but which through the revelation of the Spirit he sees will bring greater glory to God and make him more of what He would have him to be. His rulership is not confined to certain portions of his life, but the vast areas of life are all brought under His control. The keys of the whole house are turned over to the Spirit, He has right of way through soul and body. God may look at His temple and realize that every portion of it is His. It is to be recognized at once that this obedience cannot be a condition which is met at one time, but ignored at another. It is a continued relationship of obedience that is sustained through having a heart yielded to the Holy Spirit.