“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” (Rom. 8:14) That verse affirms that every believer in this age can be assured that God leads them by His Holy Spirit. This is not to say that Christians are espousing what some call “extra-biblical revelation.” Not in the least. Rightly understood, everything about God’s leading is based upon what is in the Word of God, the Bible.
Before the present Church age began, God led His people in various and sundry ways. In the wilderness, the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night directed the Children of Israel to start or to stop, to go or to stay. (Numbers 9:15-23) Before that, it was sometimes an appearance of the “angel of the Lord,” or a vision or dream in the night, or the voice of God—as when God gave His first recorded direction to the newly created couple, whose address was simply The Garden of Eden: “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.” (Gen. 1:28) During the era of prophets, God spoke to and led His people through directives uttered by Him via the prophets to His people. Then, upon the birth of the Church that Jesus founded, the Holy Spirit of God came to and indwelt each believer. He is the indwelling person of the Godhead, leading each of His people in this church age, and He will continue to do so until the Church is raptured out of this world just before the seven years of tribulation begin.
So, in this church age, let it be clearly stated: God leads believers by His Holy Spirit through, as we will see, His Word.
A young lady is seriously interested in the young man she’s been dating. He has told her that he loves her and wants to marry her. She wants the will of God for her life, her marriage, and future home. How can she decide whether this man is the right match for her life?
A high-school student is confronted with the reality of “life after high school.” What should he do. Go to college? If so, where? What should his major be?
A businessman is faced with a decision about a possibly lucrative business opportunity. What should he do? Should he sign the contract or not?
A factory worker notices on the work bulletin board that three new job openings have been posted. Two of them would mean better pay, though both would necessitate a transfer out of the department he has worked in for years. Should he bid for the jobs or stay where he is?
People seek answers to questions like these every day. Major and mundane decisions face us daily. The answer to each of the above scenarios would require that one determine the will of God. If believers are indwelt by God’s Holy Spirit today, how does He factor in helping us find God’s will as we seek answers to how, when, and where the pieces of life’s puzzle fit together?
1) The Holy Spirit leads through the Word of God. In ages past, God spoke to and led His children in a variety of ways. (Hebs. 1:1,2) Today, He leads through His Word, Jesus, the living and written Word of God, as revealed by the lamp and light of the written Word, illumined and interpreted for us by the Holy Spirit of God. (Ps. 119:105) This means that God will never lead you to do anything contrary to His Word. (Isa.8:20)
2) God can and does arrange circumstances in our lives. He does this, no doubt, more often than we recognize, but every child of God can look back and testify that if he or she had not been delayed a few minutes, they would probably have met head-on with a disaster. This is just one simple illustration; the almost daily happenings give evidence that causes us to most assuredly affirm with Paul the Apostle that “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28) These things are engineered by the guidance of God through the work of the Holy Spirit. (See Acts 16:6,7)
3) God directs by His Spirit through common sense. When the early Church hit a brick wall concerning whether converted Gentiles were required to keep certain aspects of the Law, such as circumcision, parties for and against the idea met in Jerusalem for a full and free discussion, hearing testimonies from Peter, Paul and others. Here is what the conclusion of the whole matter boiled down to, as stated by Pastor James: “For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things.” (Acts 15:28) Note that the Holy Ghost was leading these searching saints to the conclusion; but they also drew upon their own common sense, i.e., “it seemed good to us.”
4) He leads when believers are acting in faith, for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. (Rom. 14:23) And He, the Holy Spirit, leads when we have renounced sin, for sin grieves the Spirit. (Eph. 4:30) When we are dead to self, we are in a place that God’s Spirit can and will lead us. (Gal.5:16ff.)
5) He leads and empowers in crises in our work and witness for Christ: “For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.” (Luke 12:11,12)
6) He leads us through the counsel of other servants of God. Paul was entreated by many believers not to go to Jerusalem; a prophet of God, through the Spirit, warned him not to go, but he went anyway and found much trouble there. (Acts 21:4) God, though, did graciously appear to Paul, assuring him that He would still be with him—and that good could and would come, even though Paul had not previously followed good counsel. (Acts 23:11)
The Holy Spirit indwells, illumines, guides, teaches, empowers, and comforts each individual member of the Body of Christ. He will never leave you. He has all the power and knowledge you will ever need for any situation this side of heaven. Stay in tune with Him. Draw moment by moment upon Him for His power and direction—for the BIG questions as well as the everyday ones.
“But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me….” (Acts 1:8)
YOU and GOD 