Asking For Directions Series

Asking for Directions

March 11, 2007 “Directed by the Holy Spirit”

This last Tuesday, Tim Birkeland, Roy Jameson, and I went to visit with Jim Griffin, a church consultant in Columbus. As we were driving up Tim used his GPS locater and mapping program. I was amazed at how it not only tracked our trip, but it told us where to turn, and which direction to turn.

As we got close to the 339 and State route 7 turn it began to beep. Then when we were closing in on State Route 33 off of 50 again the beeps tells us a turn was coming. After we arrived in Columbus, we decided to go a different way; it began to warn us we had make a wrong turn. I was mystified. Then when we turned back on the right road, it again told us we were back on course.

Would it not be great if we could have a GPS for life? Some internal guidance system that would warn us when we need to make a turn in our lives, or warn us when we have made the wrong turn, or let us know when we are back on the right road. I think that would be great. We would just enter our finally destination (heaven) and then just follow the advise of the GSP. When it said to turn left we would go left, if it said go right, we would go right, if it said to say still, we would stay still. Would that not be great?

Did you know that God has given us such a GPS system, no you cannot buy it off the Internet at megaGSP site, and you cannot get one from the office depot, but God will give it, or I should Him to you if you ask Him. The GPS system I am talking about it is God’s Personal Spirit or The Holy Spirit.

John 16:13

3 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth.

That word guide is an interesting term it means to

To direct the course of; steer.

To guide a ship through a channel.

First, Like a GSP the Holy Spirit will Guide Us

Look at the story of Philip in the book of Acts. If you have your bibles turn with me to Acts 8:29. Our story begins with Philip in the city of Samaria where he is leading a great revival. There is great church growth, and people are coming to Jesus. But God’s angel comes to him and tells him to go to a road in the middle of the desert. He obeys. There is where I would like for us to pick up our reading with

Acts 8:29-31

The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” 30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.

31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

To make long story short, the man came to know Jesus as his personal savior and was baptized. Then, at the end of the story we read,

Acts 8:39

39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.

Do you see that GPS thing at work here? The Holy Spirit; also known as the Spirit of God, or the Holy Ghost, directs Philip to go to the chariest and the Holy Spirit catches him away after the baptism.

Just as Jesus promised, the Holy Spirit is guiding Philip.

But this is not the only place in Scripture this happens.

Look with me at Acts chapter 13.

This story begins in the middle of prayer meeting. Pick up reading with verse 2.

Watch with me and see your selected Barnabas and Saul for this work, and who sends them on their trip to preach the Gospel?

Acts 13:2-3

2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. 4 The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.

Who selected them? (The Holy Spirit) Who sent them on their way? (The Holy Spirit) That is right, the Holy Spirit was large and in charge. He selected and He directed.

But the Holy Spirit can do more than just direct our lives, He can correct our lives. When we have taken a wrong turn we need the Holy Spirit to help correct us.