Being Led Of The Spirit

February 19, 1956
Simeon

Many of us are familiar with the story of Simeon the priest; how it was revealed to him by the Holy Ghost “that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.” One day Simeon was back in a little room in the temple reading the scrolls. Out in the midst of the temple women were standing in line waiting for their newborn children to go through the usual circumcision ceremonies. It didn’t appear to be a day different than that of any other to Simeon. He was well stricken in age and was a priest, so he had most likely seen hundreds, if not thousands, of circumcisions performed. But this time was different. This time he was interrupted from his readings and led of the Holy Spirit to walk into the crowded temple room. He walked down a certain row of people and stopped in front of a young mother standing in the line. She too was awaiting her Child to be circumcised along with the many others. Simeon took the baby that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was holding. With a gleam of joy and tears flowing down his face, he said to his faithful Father, “Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation.” (Luke 2:29)

Simeon

Mary must have gladly released the child over into Simeon’s arms as he reached for baby Jesus. She too knew that her Son was the chosen One of the LORD, for she also was visited by the Holy Spirit and told who the child she had conceived would be. God had fulfilled His promise to Simeon, His servant, and confirmed His Word to Mary, the handmaid of the Lord.

In the Scriptures it is written,

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. (Romans 8:14)

We can recall throughout all Scriptures how God’s chosen servants have always been led by the Spirit of God to serve Him and His children, and even His creatures. From Noah, to Moses, to Abraham, and on down to Simeon and Mary, God has led His children by His Spirit. The reward for following the path and leading of the Lord is one far greater than anything the world could offer, yet far worse when one chooses not to heed to God’s provided way. There were some that failed to believe God’s Word during this period of time when Jesus was born into the world. Zacharias was one of them. He was told by the Angel of the Lord that his wife, Elizabeth, was to conceive and bare a child. But when he doubted what the Angel told him, God struck him dumb until the baby was born. It wasn’t because Zacharias wasn’t a godly man, because he was righteous before God; he simply didn’t believe the message God sent him.

The same instances occur today, yet it seems hard at times to recognize it in our own lives. Are we like Simeon and Mary who believed God’s Word and followed His leading, or are we as Zacharias who chose otherwise? We see the reward of each, and it’s plain to distinguish the greater of the two. There is a reward of Life Eternal when the path of righteousness is chosen. Brother Branham has given us many illustrations to follow.

One of the common stories recorded in the Message is how God led an ignorant opossum to the door of His prophet. Though Brother Branham didn’t realize it until God had revealed it to him, the opossum was led there for a purpose. She had nine little babies and was badly hurt. The Holy Spirit spoke to him and showed him how the mother opossum had so patiently waited her turn to be prayed for. Brother Branham then followed the leading of the Lord and said a prayer for the dying opossum. She was healed! As Brother Branham tells us in this message:

Oh, He leads. If God can leave a--lead a dumb opossum, who hasn't even got a soul, how much more can He lead a man or woman that's borned of the Holy Spirit?

How true this statement is. Truly, we should be so much more led of the Holy Spirit than a little ole opossum? We are sons and daughters of God.

We must remember to always search out the leading of the Lord in our lives. Brother Branham said, Whether it’s for me or against me, it’s still right because it’s God. So we have to take God at His Word (Being Led Of The Spirit) . No matter what it is or how contrary something may seem to our own beliefs and feelings, we want to be in that remnant that believes in God and follows Him no matter what the world may say. Brother Branham says it just right:

But God's always got a remnant who will believe Him, that's led by the Spirit, that will be called crazy. Do you believe it? 56-0219 – Being Led Of The Spirit