Don’t you love reading the words “and suddenly” in the Book of Acts? While these Spirit-filled, Spirit-led men were walking with the Spirit and obeying His promptings, the Holy Spirit showed up in an unplanned, surprising way that brought about supernatural results. The “and suddenly” reminds us that we never know what He is up to or what He is going to do next. Just because He moved in one direction in last week’s service doesn’t mean that it will happen in the same way this weekend or ever for that matter. It fills the New Testament Church with anticipation because we know that the service will be both unpredictable and fresh!
You know this already but I will share it anyways. The spontaneity of the Spirit is to be seen in ALL of the New Testament Church … not only in the adult services but also in the children and youth ministries. The very same Holy Spirit that wants to have the freedom for suddenlies in the adult services would love to have the same freedom in your Sunday school classroom or children’s church or mid-week Bible club or youth ser
vice.
Let me set you free from a decades-old fallacy. YOU DON’T HAVE TO FINISH A LESSON IN JUST ONE SERVICE. The Holy Spirit knows that you’ve prayed and studied to prepare for the ministry, but yet He is asking of those that are sensitive to His voice to yield to His urgings and promptings. While teaching the lesson from your leader’s manual or curriculum, the Holy Spirit may prompt you to remain on a point and not move forward in your lesson plans. He may tell you to skip a portion of the lesson. Feel free to obey His prompting.
Lest you think that I am advocating that you throw away your leader’s manuals and curriculums and abandon the study and preparing process, read these words … “STUDY to show yourself approved unto God” (2 Timothy 2:15). I am not telling you to just “flow”. I am saying that you study and then study some more. Pray and then pray some more. Then, as you enter into the service, ask, “Holy Spirit, what are You saying and wanting to do?” and then yield to His direction.
What will be the fruit of allowing the Holy Spirit to be in control? He will turn what was printed in black ink in a Sunday school leader’s manual or children’s church lesson into a red letter, thus-saith-the-Lord word from heaven.
I pray that this has been a help for you. I so want to see the Holy Spirit be allowed to move as He desires. I so want to see the “demonstrations of the Spirit and of power” (1 Corinthians 2:4) that accompanies His spontaneity. If you have the same desires, why don’t you turn off your computer and vocalize your longing and passion to Him. Go ahead and begin that yielding process right now.
This is applicable to every believer, lay or clerical, as he leaves the house each day. May we follow the promptings of the Spirit even if it deviates from our daily plans.