Being Led by the Spirit
Romans 8:12-17
Most of us believe in the leadership of the Holy Spirit. However, too often in our lives we lead instead of letting the Holy Spirit lead. We think that our individual feelings, urges, and desires are the things the Spirit has led us to do. How does the Holy Spirit lead us? What must we do in order to be Spirit led?
I. The Holy Spirit will never lead contrary to His Word
A. Referring to the authorship of the Bible we read
1. 2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness”
2. 2 Peter 1:20-21 “knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”
B. When Jesus promised the apostles He would send the Spirit to them, He said in John 16:13 “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth...”
C. The Holy Spirit guides us into a deeper understanding of His Word, purpose and will.
D. 1 Corinthians 2:9-11 "But as it is written, 'Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.' But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God."
E. The Holy Spirit speaks to us as we prayerfully, openly, and thoughtfully read the Bible.
F. God will never lead you to do anything contrary to His Holy Word. God will never lead you to do something that contradicts His written Word. No matter what wisdom we think we may have; regardless of the advice we get; no matter what peace we feel; and no matter what we might sense in prayer if it runs contrary to Scripture, it is wrong and not God’s will.
G. For example, God will never direct you to marry an unsaved person, because He has already directly told you not to be unequally yoked together with unbelievers in 2 Corinthians 6:14.
H. Psalm 119:105 “Thy Word is a lamp unto our feet and a Light unto our path.”
I. We are led by the Spirit when we prayerfully read God’s inspired word and allow it to influence our minds and our actions.
II. The Holy Spirit will never lead contrary to His Nature
A. God can never tell a lie – He is truth. He cannot go back on His word – He is Faithful. He cannot sin – He is Holy. God cannot go against His nature – He is immutable.
B. Malachi 3:6 "For I am the Lord, I do not change”
C. He is the unchangeable one, with whom is no variableness or shadow of turning.
D. 2 Timothy 2:13 “If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.”
E. Concerning this passage of Scripture, Dinsdale Young explains: “God cannot be inconsistent with Himself... He is evermore true to righteousness, whatever we are.” - MacDonald, W & Farstad, A. Believer's Bible Commentary: Thomas Nelson
F. Galatians 5:19-23 “Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”
G. 1 Corinthians 14:33 “God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.”
III. Requisites to be led by the Holy Spirit
A. One must have a Relationship with God
1. Romans 8:14 “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.”
2. "A Christian may not always be conscious of the Holy Spirit's presence, but he would not even be a Christian in his absence." - John Blanchard
3. Romans 8:9 “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.”
4. "The Christian's birthright is the power of the Holy Ghost." - Lionel Fletcher
B. One must be available
1. 1 Thessalonians 5:19 “Do not quench the Spirit.”
2. The command could be paraphrased something like this... Stop putting out the fire (of the Holy Spirit). Stop hindering and repressing the Holy Spirit, for in so doing you are preventing Him from exerting His full influence! - copied
3. If we are so busy with our own life, that we don't have time for Him, He cannot talk to us.
4. Ephesians 5:18 “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit”
5. Pleroo (Filled) was often used of the wind billowing the sails of a ship and providing the thrust to move the ship across the water.
6. The Puritan John Bunyan said “Seamen cannot create the wind, but they can hoist their sails to welcome it; neither can we create the breath of the Spirit, but are we to miss it when it comes through failure to keep our sails unfurled?”
7. Being filled with the Holy Spirit doesn't mean we have more of the Spirit, but that the Spirit has more of us! More of my heart. More of my will surrendered to His will. Removing things from my life that keep me unavailable.
8. A “Spirit Led” Christian is ready for God to interrupt their plans and follow His.
C. One must be Obedient
1. If we make ourselves available and listen, God will speak to us. Then we have to do something with what He says. It doesn't matter if we like what He told us or not. What matters is that we obey.
2. Luke 6:46"But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do the things which I say?
3. Someone has said that the heartbeat of a Spirit led Christian is obedience.
4. Leaving a life of sin and beginning a new life of humble obedience to God's laws marks the life of those led by God's Spirit - copied
D. One must Trust God’s Leadership
1. The Holy Spirit knows best and His way is best even when we do not understand or agree.
2. Isaiah 55:8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
3. We must trust God no matter what occurs in our Spirit led walk as He leads us through both the storms and through the sunshine, to the mountain tops and into the valleys, through joy and through sorrow.
E. One must be willing to exercise Faith
1. As a child begins to walk, they have to take chances. They have to be willing to take that first step even though they may fall down. Until they are willing to step out on faith they will never walk.
2. 2 Corinthians 5:7 “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”
3. Faith is daring the soul to go father than it can see.
