| Back to Home Page | Back to Book Index |

Leading of the Holy Spirit
 
《The Leading Of The Holy Spirit》
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. The Scriptures speak of the Christian being led by the Holy Spirit...
 a. Those led by the Spirit are the sons of God - Ro 8:14
 b. Those led by the Spirit are not under the law - Ga 5:18
 -- So it is important that the Christian be led by the Spirit of God
 
2. How does the Spirit lead the Christian...?
 a. Is it by the Word of God only?
 b. Is through feelings
impressions
visions
dreams
etc.?
 -- There is much confusion as to how the Christian is led by the
 Spirit
 
3. Conflicting ideas on this subject is one reason for much religious
 confusion...
 a. Many justify their beliefs and practices saying
"The Spirit led
 me to this..."
 b. Catholic
Protestant
Pentecostal
non-Pentecostal
all claiming
 to be led by the Spirit
 -- Yet the Spirit of truth (Jn 16:13) does not lead people into
 confusion - cf. 1 Co 14:33
 
[How then does the Spirit lead? Here are some thoughts regarding...]
 
I. HOW THE SPIRIT LEADS THE CHRISTIAN
 
 A. THE SPIRIT LEADS BOTH EXTERNALLY AND INTERNALLY...
 1. "The leading is both internal and external. To whatever extent
 the Holy Spirit by its indwelling strengthens the human spirit
 to enable it to control the flesh
to that extent the leading
 is internal; to whatever extent the motives of 'the law of the
 Spirit
' when brought to bear on the heart in the New
 Testament
enlighten and strengthen
and so enable it to keep
 the body in subjection
to that extent the leading is external.
 The leading
then
consists of the whole of the influences of
 every kind exercised by the Holy Spirit on the human spirit

 enabling it to keep the body under. - David Lipscomb and J.W.
 Shepherd
A Commentary on the NT Epistles
Vol. I
Romans

 p.149 (commenting on Ro 8:14)
 2. "But what kind of "leading" is here meant--an occult
internal

 inexplicable leading
or an external
explicable one by the
 truth? Before replying
let us ask
who are led? Certainly
 not the unconverted
but Christians. In those led
then
the
 Holy Spirit already dwells. What kind of leading then is it?
 I answer
both internal and external. To whatever extent the
 Holy Spirit by its indwelling strengthens the human spirit
to
 enable it to control the flesh
to that extent the leading is
 internal. To whatever extent the motives of the gospel
when
 brought to bear on the mind in the written word
enlighten and
 strengthen it
and so enable it to keep the body in subjection

 to that extent the leading is external. The leading
then

 consists of the whole of the influences of every kind
spent by
 the Holy Spirit on the human spirit
in enabling it to keep the
 body under. More definitely than this it would not be wise to
 attempt to speak." - Moses Lard
A Commentary on Romans
p.264
 (commenting on Ro 8:14)
 3. "The Spirit leads both externally and internally. Externally

 the Spirit supplies the gospel truth as set forth in the New
 Testament
and the rules and precepts therein found are for the
  instruction and guidance of God's children. Internally
the
 Spirit aids by ministering strength and comfort to the
 disciples in his effort to conform to the revealed truth and
 will of God." - J.W. McGarvey and Philip Y. Pendleton

 Thessalonians
Corinthians
Galatians and Romans
p. 361
 (commenting on Ro 8:14)
 4. "...Christ most likely refers here to an influence of the
 Spirit
over and above that which it exercises through the word
 of truth and the ordinary workings of Divine providence; an
 influence
by means of which it helps our infirmities (Ro 
 8.26); strengthens us with might even into the inner man (Ep
 3.16); and enables us to bring forth abundantly in our lives
 the fruits of 'love
joy
peace
long suffering
gentleness

 goodness
fidelity
meekness
and temperance' (Ga 5.22
23)."
 - Robert Milligan
The Scheme of Redemption
p.283 (commenting
 on Jn 7:38-39)
 -- Note the distinction made between an external and internal
 influence by which the Spirit leads; now let's take a closer
 look at this distinction...
 
 B. THE SPIRIT LEADS EXTERNALLY THROUGH THE WORD...
 1. The Word is the instrument used by the Spirit to instruct and
 convict...
 a. The Spirit was sent to convict the world - Jn 16:7-11
 b. The Spirit guided the apostles into all the truth - Jn 16:
 12-13; cf. Ac 20:27; 2 Pe 1:3
 1) What the Spirit revealed
the apostles received and
 preached - 1 Co 2:9-13
 2) What they received
they wrote that we might understand 
 - Ep 3:3-5
 3) Thus the early church continued steadfastly in the
  apostles' doctrine - Ac 2:42
 c. Thus the Word is the "sword" (instrument) used by the Spirit
 - cf. Ep 6:17
 2. To resist the Word is to resist the Spirit...
 a. As when Israel resisted the inspired word given through
 prophets - Ac 7:51-53
 b. As when we resist the inspired word given through apostles 
 - 1 Co 14:36-37
 3. When one sets their mind on the things of the Spirit (i.e.
His
 revealed Word)...
 a. They will live according to the Spirit - Ro 8:5
 b. They will experience life and peace - Ro 8:6
 4. When one walks in the Spirit (by heeding His Word)...
 a. They will not fulfill the lust of the flesh - Ga 5:16
 b. They will be thus led by the Spirit - Ga 5:18
 c. They will so produce the fruit of the Spirit - Ga 5:22-25
 -- Do you desire to be led by the Spirit? Then let Him lead you
 through His Word!
 
 C. THE SPIRIT LEADS INTERNALLY THROUGH HIS INDWELLING...
 1. By strengthening the inner man...
 a. God is at work in the Christian - Ep 3:20
 b. Even as we are working out our own salvation - Ph 2:12-13;
 Ph 4:13
 c. The instrument by which God strengthens the Christian is His
 Spirit in the inner man - Ep 3:16
 d. By His indwelling Spirit
we are able to put to death the
 deeds of the body - Ro 8:13
 e. In this way the Spirit likewise leads us - Ro 8:14 (cf. Ro
 8:11)
 2. In conjunction with the Word...
 a. When we make effort to heed the Word
the Spirit aids us
 1) Supplying what strength we may need
 2) So that which is produced may rightly be called the
 "fruit" of the Spirit
 b. To illustrate
consider the development of a Christ-like
 character
 1) Peter reminds us of the need for diligence on our part 
 - 2 Pe 1:5-10
 2) Paul explains these qualities produced are the "fruit" of
 the Spirit - Ga 5:22-23
 -- Do you desire to be led by the Spirit? Then let Him strengthen
 you as you obey His Word!
 
[The Spirit leads both externally (via the Word of God) and internally
(via His strengthening). But there are some misconceptions about the
Spirit's leading that we should be careful to note...]
 
II. HOW THE SPIRIT DOES NOT LEAD THE CHRISTIAN
 
 A. THROUGH FEELINGS
INTUITION...
 1. Many people believe their feelings or intuitions are "leadings"
 of the Spirit
 2. Yet the Spirit did not lead people through such subjective
 means - cf. Ac 16:6-7
 a. If Paul and his companions had been led by their own
 feelings
they would have gone to Asia or Bithynia
  b. In some audible or visible way
the Spirit forbade them
 3. Much religious confusion is the result of failing to note this
 distinction
 a. People appeal to "feelings" to justify their beliefs and
 practices
  1) The heart (emotions
feelings) can be a deceptive guide 
 - Pro 28:26; Jer 17:9
 2) What may "seem" to be right
may not be right - Pro
 14:12; e.g.
Ac 26:9
 b. Rather than appealing to the Word of God
the sword of the
 Spirit
 1) God is not the author of confusion - 1 Co 14:33
 2) He has provided an objective standard by which to know
 the truth - 2 Ti 3:16-17
 3) That standard is the Word of God
not one's feelings
 -- Don't let feelings of the human spirit keep you from following
 the teachings of the Holy Spirit!
 
 B. THROUGH VISIONS
DREAMS...
 1. Yes
God did at one time reveal truth through such means
 a. As exemplified in the example we just considered - Ac 16:
 9-10
 b. As part of the Spirit's work in being poured out - Ac 2:17
 2. But this was part of the process of revealing and confirming
 God's truth
 a. Along with signs
wonders
and miracles - cf. He 2:3-4
 b. Which confirmed whether such visions or dreams were from God
 c. Which was a temporary process
finished when God's Word was
 complete - 1 Co 13:8-10
 3. Even when such dreams and visions were used by God
tests were
 provided
 a. Such as whether it was in harmony with God's revealed Word 
 - Deu 13:1-5
 b. Such as whether the dream came to pass - Deu 18:20-22
 4. The Scriptures warn against the danger of being led astray by
 dreams
 a. They can be vanity - Ecc 5:7
 b. They be the tools of false prophets - Jer 23:25-32; Zec 10:2
 c. They can be the product of our imagination - Jer 29:8
 -- We have God's Word fully and completely revealed; let it be
 your guide
and not the dreams and visions of others or your
 own!
 
 C. THROUGH ENLIGHTENMENT...
 1. In order to understand the Word
 a. Many believe that they need the Spirit's leading to
 understand the Bible
 1) Based upon a misapplication of 1 Co 2:14
 a) Concluding one cannot understand the Bible without the
 leading of the Spirit
 b) Which leads to much religious confusion
because
 everyone claims the Spirit led them to this
 interpretation or that one
 2) The context is contrasting the apostles with philosophers
 a) Philosophers cannot know God's will simply by wisdom 
 - 1 Co 1:18-20
 b) The apostles have received God's will by the Spirit 
 - 1 Co 2:6-14
 3) The "natural man" is simply one who does not have the
 benefit of the Spirit's revelation
whereas the 
 "spiritual man" is one like Paul who did!
 b. The Spirit has revealed God's will to us through the
 apostles and prophets
 1) When we read their writings
we can understand! - e.g.

 Ep 3:3-5
 2) When we read the apostles
we can know! - e.g.
1 Jn 5:13
 c. We don't need the Spirit's help to understand what the
 Spirit Himself reveals!
 1) We simply need to have good and honest hearts - e.g.
Ac
 17:11
 2) We can certainly pray that God help us to be free from
 preconceived ideas so as to be completely open to His
 Word - e.g.
Psa 119:18
 -- Let's the Spirit's Word
revealed that we might know and
 understand God's will by a simple reading and contemplation
 of it
be your guide!
 2. In order to be led to new truth
 a. Many believe the Spirit is leading His church into new truth
  1) Based upon a misapplication of Jn 16:13
 a) Believing the Spirit is still guiding us into new
 truth
 b) Which leads to much religious confusion
as people say
 the Spirit tells them to now accept homosexuality

 leadership of women in the church
etc.
 2) The context is the work of the Spirit in the lives of the
 apostles
 a) Jesus is preparing them for their work as apostles 
  - Jn 16:1-7
 b) Together with the Spirit
they would be witnesses - Jn
 15:26-27
 c) The Spirit would aid them in this task
reminding them
 of what Jesus taught
revealing the rest of what Jesus
 wanted them to know - Jn 14:25-26; 16:12-13
 b. The Spirit led the apostles into "all" the truth
just as
 Jesus said He would
 1) Paul had received the "whole" counsel of God - Ac 20:27
  2) Peter had received "all things" that pertain to life and
 godliness - 2 Pe 1:3
 3) Jude said the faith was "once" (lit.
once for all)
 delivered to the saints - Ju 3
 c. The Spirit fulfilled His work of revealing and confirming
 the truth
 1) With the aid of inspired Scriptures
we have what is need
 to be "complete
thoroughly equipped for every good work"
 - 2 Ti 3:16-17
 2) Those who claim to be led by the Spirit to new truth

 need to back up with the same sort of signs
wonders and
 miracles the Spirit used to confirm the apostles!
 -- Let the "sword" of the Spirit be your guide
not the
 pronouncements of human councils
synods
or individuals who
 claim to be led by the Spirit
but unable to prove it!
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. It is a wonderful blessing to be led by the Spirit...
 a. As He guides us through His revealed Word
 b. As He strengthens us through indwelling our bodies
 
2. It is a blessing to know...
 a. That we have a Guide to direct us as we live in this world
 b. That we have a Helper to strengthen us as needed
 
3. But this blessing is only for those...
 a. Who become the sons of God - Ga 4:6; cf. Ac 2:38; 5:32
 b. Who are willing to set their minds on the things of the Spirit 
 - cf. Ro 8:5-6
 c. Who are willing to diligently work out their salvation - cf. Ph 2:
 12-13
 
Are you willing to be led by the Spirit? Then walk in the Spirit by
heeding His Word and praying that the Father strengthen you by His
Spirit in the inner man!

－－《Executable Outlines》