John 10:3b … (His) sheep HEAR his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

Hebrews 4:12 For The Word Of God Is (that is) Quick (Alive), and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a Discerner Of The Thoughts And Intents Of The Heart.

Psalm 119:130 The entrance of Thy Words Giveth Light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

Psalm 36:9 For with thee is the Fountain Of Life: In Thy Light Shall We See Light.

Christians have the usual number of problems in life, just as those who are not believers. These problems that trouble believers are often the result of inward darkness. This darkness is due to their lack of spiritual clarity. Most believers try to follow religious laws, rules and precepts, rather than walking in the light that is of the living Lord whose Spirit literally indwells their spirit.

As believers, we are the "children of the light" and should be "lovers of the light." Yet, often we don't heed the speaking and light of the Christ within our spirit. We should love and abide in the light of His life, and thus enjoy His spontaneous inward guidance in our walk. His words spoken within us are words spoken as light and life to us, to nurture and guide us in our personal, moment-by-moment, walk with Him. He is the "light of life (John 8:12)," and desires to lead us in all matters, every day. Nothing escapes His interest.

In answer to the questions some ask; "Should I do this. Is this the will of God?" First, we can be certain that every genuine believer "heareth God." John 8:47 He that is of God heareth God's words. Yet, apart from the inward sense and leading of the living Word, which is Christ, it's extremely difficult for us to distinguish which ideas and plans are from His leading. This is because we are often deceived by our own thoughts and intentions. As soon as the living Word of the Lord's inward speaking is heard or sensed, it sifts through the thoughts and intentions of our hearts and immediately shows us the ideas and thoughts that are headstrong or selfish, which thoughts come from fear, which thoughts are conjured up only to retaliate or to protect our self. Inwardly we will come to see and become very clear by His inward light.

Be sure that self-analysis will not give us light; it will only lead us into self-deception. The more we analyze ourselves, the more we will be deceived, and the more the living Word will be hindered. When the living Word is received, our eyes will be opened, and we will no longer need to ask any questions because we will be able to discern and differentiate the thoughts and intentions of our heart from the Lord's desire for us. While living in the light we enjoy a buoyancy and brightness in our walk. Walking in darkness, we are heavy and put down Whenever we are troubled within, we ought to look to the light that we get from the Word of the indwelling "Spirit of life." Knowing this way, we will never be deceived.

The troubling situations we all encounter in life are necessary for a Christian in the course of his spiritual growth. Some situations are seemingly insurmountable and entirely out of our control. Yet, these problems are designed and used by God our Father to push us to trust Christ in our daily living, in all its aspects. We would never know that He is able to sustain us in all situations unless we experience those situations of life. A Christian should not allow himself to remain in darkness and act on something when he is not clear. Our Father does not want to see us remain in darkness. Our Father does not want us to live by our emotions that most often are fickle and linked to desires of self-interest and pride. How then can we become clear, and come to rest in our soul?

As most Christians know, Jesus Christ is "The Word" (John 1:1, 14). He, as the Word, is alive within our spirit and He is ever speaking. He spontaneously expresses the Father's will for us in any given situation. "Christ who is our life"  (Col 3:4a) and our light has come to indwell our human spirit, to live in us and through us as we walk in His guiding light. The "Word" I speak of here is not the written word we call the Bible. The living "Word" is Christ Himself, alive within us as our new life.

Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ Liveth (His life) In Me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith (faithfulness) of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Paul says we are to walk in accord with Him by heeding the sense of His inward speaking as the Word alive within us. Scripture by itself is not the living Word. Paul said the written "word" of the Scripture can be deadly, "… for the letter killeth..." (2 Cor. 3:6). Then Paul continued; "...BUT the spirit giveth life." It is necessary for "the Spirit" to make the written word alive, for it to be light and life to us. Only the living "Word," which in Greek is the "rhema," is the living, spontaneous, Word of God, which is Christ. His Word is set above His name. “For You have magnified Your word above all Your name.” (Psa. 138:2). The Living Word gives us spiritual insight, guides, and also empowers us to live and endure, victoriously.

Now let's now look deeper into Hebrews 4:12. "For the word of God is quick (Gk., zao, is dynamically Alive), and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the Dividing asunder of Soul and Spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a Discerner of the Thoughts and Intents of the Heart.

The "soul (heart)" of man and "the Spirit" must be divided within man because our soul's heart can be "wickedly deceitful" (Jer 17:9). Heb 4:12 (above) tells us "the Word of God," the quickening or life-giving Spirit. The light of the Word within us enables us to see and distinguish between that which is of "the Spirit" that which is of our soul; dividing them as by a "sword." This division comes to us by Christs' life within our spirit, shining His light onto our soul, exposing our thoughts and intents, exposing us to us!

We can't discern the difference between our soul and spirit by merely rationalizing, figuring, or applying logic; this will only result in confusion as to which way to go. The more we look inwardly to our soul-self, the more we search ourselves, the more problems will arise and the greater the darkness will become. On the other hand, if we hear, listen and accept His inward speaking, there's no need to ask questions. The questions will be gone, and we will become clear, very clear. Every believer should already know they are saved through the inner witness of "His Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are the children of God" (Rom 8:16). This is how we also should conduct our daily walk.

I may speak something to my wife, and although the words may be correct, yet, just before or as I am about speak them, I may feel very uneasy by the sense of Christ within. The words were correct and my intention good, but inwardly I may have an inward sense of the spirit that I should keep my mouth shut and trust Him. This disturbed sense is actually Christ speaking within me, saying NO! By contrast, another time I may speak with a person similar words and the words are helpful to him, even life affirming. This time I felt free and inwardly satisfied; that I have rendered a service to Christ. There's little difference in the words spoken on these two occasions, but there's a great difference in my inward sense and satisfaction. In the first case I am disturbed and in the second case I am at rest.

In this example that I sensed Him inwardly saying "No, don't speak that to your wife," yet I heard or sensed nothing when all was according to His will as I spoke. This is as it should be since we don't hear or sense Him when everything is okay. This is much like we sense nothing in our physical body when we are healthy, we only sense discomfort in our body when it is not healthy, or something is wrong.

This difference then becomes clear to me; it is the sense of the indwelling "Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus" telling me that my plan to speak was not in accord with the indwelling Spirit of Christ. Superficially, it seems that the words to be spoken on both occasions were perhaps identical, but inwardly, by the sense of "the Spirit," I am able to perceive a difference. There was my soulish plan to speak, but there was the living Word of the indwelling Spirit saying, No! He then, as the living Word within, divided my soulish intent from the will of "the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus" within me. He saved me in my conversation.

So it's not sufficient to speak what seems correct or logical. In Christ there's no "one shoe fits all" and no one answer to every situation. We don't live by a list of outer rules or regulations. Christ is not a principle, law or list of rule to follow. Christ in us is a living person, and He bears the Father's life and He innately conveys His will to us. He deals with us according to where we are in our walk and according to our need. Since we don't possess adequate insight apart from the leading of "the Spirit of Christ," we must heed our sense of the indwelling Spirit, in order to speak and act according to the Father's heart.

Note in John's Gospel that Jesus said He only spoke that which He "I speak not of myself but the Father" (Jn 14:10). Jesus didn't live, judge, or act independent of the Father's will, within Him.

The Word of God for us is spoken by Christ in us. We shall know from within what is from "the Spirit" and what is from our soul, which is evident when we are acting independent of the leading of "the Spirit." Once we have this inward sense, there will be no more questions and we will know how to proceed in any situation. Incidentally, when there is no inward sense, restraint or prompting, in a given matter or concern, I've learned it's best to do nothing regarding that matter.

When the living Word of God, the indwelling Christ, speaks by a leading inward sense, it gives His light. We then become inwardly clear and will have an assurance. We can trust "the Spirit" within, knowing that the inward leading will never contradict or lead us contrary to the revealed truth of the Bible that is applicable to us in this day of the "dispensation of grace of God."

Only the living Word will divide your spirit from your soul. It's not a question of reading a book to find the system or the right "way." Only Christ alive in you is "the way." Even if you follow the way given in a Christian "how to" book, the result will most often be soulish and unsuccessful. Books may give us some insight but only Christ is alive in you. When the living Word of God speaks within you, perhaps through the Bible, or a book, or through another words, it will shine and enlighten within you; this also will separate your soul from your spirit. The light of the Spirit will expose the "joints," that is "the soul" by which we live, move and do, from the "marrow" of "the spirit" as our empowering life source. Thus, you will know what is wrong and what is right for you in every instance. This is an inward knowledge.

Such a person will no longer need to ask questions because there is light within him, he sees and perceives clearly from within. This is why John would write these words about the "unction" of the "anointing" every believer has by Christ within as the living Word, to teach and guide us.

1 John 2:20 But ye have an unction (anointing) from the Holy One (Christ), and ye know all things.
1 John 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth (dwells) in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

We're not to follow "the letter" but the living Word, which is known to us by the sense "the Spirit" that flows life to and through us. The living Word is Christ Himself. He indwells the human spirit of every believer (John 3:6, 1Cor 6:17). Thus, Paul wrote that we are not to follow "Jesus of Nazareth" or anything He spoke in His earthly ministry to "the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (cf., 15:24, 10:5-6).

2 Cor. 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

2 Corinthians 5:16 Wherefore henceforth know we NO man after the flesh: yea, Though We Have Known Christ After The Flesh (as Jesus of Nazareth), Yet Now Henceforth Know We Him NO More.

Christ "after the flesh" refers to "Jesus of Nazareth." But now after the cross, Jesus of Nazareth is changed in His form and ministry. "...The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam (Jesus Christ) was made (became) a quickening (life-giving) spirit." (1 Cor 15:45). Jesus is now the resurrected Christ who is now "that Spirit" who dwells within us. Paul wrote of this change; "Now the Lord is that Spirit... (2 Cor 3:17a). Peter, after the cross, says "... let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made (brought forth) that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord (Gk. kurious, ruler) and Christ. (Acts 2:36).