7.12 Receiving new desires from the Holy Spirit

In the Old Covenant, Israel had to keep the law on the outside, but they failed on the inside. For example, the Pharisees kept the law on the outside but not on the inside. The solution was not found on the outside through the sinner’s efforts, but on the inside by the new birth, and the renewal of the Holy Spirit.

This is the answer. God says that He will give us a new heart and put a new spirit within us.

(Ezekiel 36:26)
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

The Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts and is joined to our spirit. 1 Cor 6:17 says, “He who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.” Because of this union, the Holy Spirit is able to impart His guidance and desires into our hearts. Hebrews 8:10 says that He writes His laws on our hearts. Not only does He guide us, He also gives us the desire to walk in His will.

(Hebrews 8:10, 12)
For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and WRITE THEM ON THEIR HEARTS; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

"For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”

When we rest in the finished work of Christ, we will start to experience the guidance and the desires of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. Heb 8:12 tell us the secret to experiencing the leading of the Spirit in our hearts as promised in Heb 8:10. We must believe that God has forgiven all our sins and made us righteous.

Many Christians want to be led by the Holy Spirit but they are hindered by their sin-conscience and the voice of condemnation within. This short-circuits the leading of the Spirit. When people feel condemned, they will try to attain to justification through self-effort. As such, many Christians struggle to do God’s will because they are doing it with their own strength, to be justified.

The New Covenant works this way. Jesus has made you righteous. Go forth and be led by His Spirit. When we walk in the Spirit, there is no struggle. When He asks us to do something, He also gives us the desire. You end up achieving more through His empowerment. It becomes a great joy walking in the Holy Spirit.