PLEASE LEAD US HOLY SPIRIT

John 16:7- Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.(KJV)

It was to our advantage that Jesus went to be with the Father. Had He not done so, the Holy Spirit, also known, as the Comforter, wouldn’t have come to the believer. Many Christians have been taught that the Holy Spirit was sent to fill and empower them, which is correct! However, without discounting the importance of these truths as vital to healthy Christian living,  the functions and operations of the Spirit are much larger than tends to be understood. Therefore, in relationship to what Jesus stated and promised in John 16:7-15, we need to take a look at how the Holy Spirit communicates and guides.

Please take a look at the following list that identifies the manners of the Spirit’s communications according to the entirety of the biblical picture.

1. Leads and drives

2. Speaks

3. Instructs

4. Bears witness to the truth

5. Teaches all things

6. Brings all things to remembrance

7. Guides into all truth

8. Shows things to come

9. Gives wisdom in interpretation of spiritual things

10. Reveals and gives revelation-

11. Gives vision

12. Forbids to preach

13. Restrains from going somewhere

14. Through various gifts of the Spirit- word of wisdom, word of knowledge, prophecy, tongues and interpretation of tongues.

Obviously, each of these forms of communication is worthy of particular attention. However, for the sake of space and time, I’ve decided to address most of them individually in separate articles; so that each one is clear, offering a more manageable practical approach. Nonetheless, I will not be doing as extensive  of a treatment of them as some of you might desire,  in hopes that you will investigate the specific manners you are impressed to study further.

HOW DOES THE SPIRIT COMMUNICATE AND GIVE GUIDANCE?

The Holy Spirit is a leader. If you’ll recall, in an earlier posting I mentioned that the Spirit is a mover! You can count on this! That is not to say, however, that the Spirit is always on the move. There are times when the Spirit rests. Even so, those times of rest are not without purpose or pointless. Therefore, when you don’t know where to go, the Spirit does, and will help you. There are, however, several factors necessary for this to occur in your life. I say this because we often forget that there must almost always be cooperation between you and God in order for spiritual dynamics to occur! Sometimes there are sovereign visitations, albeit, according to biblical records concerning their frequency, they're rare. Nonetheless, the normal healthy Christian life is one that does not presume upon God, in the sense of believing “He has to do this for me”. Instead, faith chooses to believe He will lead us, and then confesses, "I must do my part as well". So, how does the Spirit lead?

Matt 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.   (KJV)

Luke 4:1 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,   (KJV)

Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.   (KJV)

Gal 5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.   (KJV)

Both the gospels of Matthew and Luke state that the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness for the specific purpose of facing the temptations of the devil. Prior to this leading, Jesus had been baptized by John, and was consequently full of the Holy Spirit. This point must not be ignored. The leading of the Spirit is very much dependent upon whether you are "full of the Spirit" or not. At the time of Jesus’ baptism by John, Jesus was filled to full of the Holy Spirit. It was therefore, out of this condition, that the leading transpired. Moreover, there are several distinct characteristics that you might also call symptoms, which are notable manifestations, and related to “feeling”, associated with the principle of the Spirit’s leading.

The first obvious condition, necessary to when the Spirit led, was that the person being led was full of the Spirit. The definition for this word “lead”, according to the Greek idea related to it, comes with the sense of being launched out, or, positioned to go forth and move forward. Furthermore, the Spirit-filled person will probably possess a general witness or knowledge of where he or she is heading into, but sometimes, like Abraham, they won’t necessarily know in entirety where they’re going: just that, they are going!

Ephesians 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; 21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. KJV

                                                                      

Being full of the Spirit, according to the summary of scriptures speaking on the matter, is notably not a constant condition, because it generally requires a type of personal spiritual maintenance that is seldom emphasized or practically understood. First of all, Ephesians 5:18-21, indicates that the believer has a personal responsibility toward the end of being Spirit-filled. Paul instructed his readers how to do so with a warning. Drunkenness was considered a deplorable state because it made its victims senseless and unwise. This was why, in the Old Testament ministry of the Levites and priests, they were not allowed to drink alcoholic beverages because they would become witless in their administration of ministry, incapable of discerning what was holy and unholy according to the word of the Lord. (Lev. 10) Paul did not compare the things of the Spirit to drunkenness for the purpose of encouraging over-the-top expressions. In fact, once you consider the four standards of context for interpretive accuracy, you'll see he meant something entirely different.  He was, in fact, warning the believers against irresponsible excesses that contradicted the fear of the Lord and a deep working of the Spirit.  Sadly, I’ve observed a misinterpretation of these verses by well-meaning Christians, who wanting to endorse the practice of extreme manifestations, used these verses to support excessive, lawless behaviors of what they believed to be spiritual in nature in connection with the filling of the Spirit. Now I do not want to dismiss the fact that on occasion, such as described in Acts chapters 2, 10 and 19, the Spirit was, and accordingly still is poured out upon the saints. In such instances spiritual manifestations result with various expressions, such as speaking in tongues and prophesy. To an outsider these behaviors would look like drunkenness. However, our current cultural condition in many circles of Christendom emphasizes the pursuit of experience over truth, in favor of what some have come to totally believe is the moving of the Holy Spirit, not always discerning the difference between the works of the flesh and emotional hype. This is the danger every move of God faces. But in our pursuit of truth, we dare not live in an adrenaline high that eventually crashes, and is often not discerned, considering the difference between what is flesh and what is the anointing of the Spirit. Therefore, when I say we're to be filled with the Spirit, Paul identifies several practical ways this can be accomplished. As a result, the believer filled with the Spirit is open to the leading of the Lord.

To be filled with the Spirit, and to come into cooperation with the Spirit’s leading is not difficult. But, it does require personal diligence!

 CONDITIONS THAT ARE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES YOU CAN EMPLOY TO BE CONTINUALLY FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT SO THAT YOU MAY BE LED BY THE SPIRIT MORE READILY

Col 3:16  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. KJV

Number One: Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord!

         Praise, as in expressing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, in song, and from your heart toward God, unlocks the wellspring of the indwelling Holy Spirit. By doing so, a filling occurs, and reoccurs as you practice this regularly. This type of praising is not casual or a formula. This praise is born out of an inward attraction and love for God so that the pre-written and spontaneous psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, born out of true heartfelt desire for God become a catalyst for the Holy Spirit to work, move and speak. It may or may not be accompanied by feeling. Moreover, these expressions exist because of the individual’s intentional application and indwelling heartfelt knowledge of the Word of Christ mixed with sensitivity, wisdom and inspired by the ease of grace. This is the first key in accessing the Spirit’s leading. This possibility is not limited to believers who own a Bible. Because the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead, also knows the written word, and inspires it in the hearts of those who yearn for Heavenly fellowship. But if you do own a Bible, you are without excuse. Feed your inner being with that Word. Give God something to work with while you praise and worship Him.

NUMBER TWO: Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

When was the last time you sincerely thought about what you were thankful for, and then in detail, voiced that thanks to God? The continual filling of the Spirit must be maintained by a thankful heart and expression. It is the second principle that the Spirit looks for to communicate His leading to you.

NUMBER THREE: Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God

As odd as it may seem, one of the most protective and helpful principles by which we maintain the filling of the Spirit ,and open the door for the Spirit to lead us, is in whether we submit ourselves to one another in accordance with how we fear God. Submission is not submission if it is demanded or forced. In fact, when the fear of God is the motivation for the pursuit of the filling of the Spirit, loving, caring behaviors emerge. Many of the crazy, wacky things believers do, in the name of being Spirit led, would not happen if there was a mutual accountability because of a rightful understanding of the fear of God. Alas, a lot saints don’t have a clue what the fear of the Lord is and that there are different types of the fear of God identified in Scripture.

Please consider the following combined definition for the Fear of the Lord derived from the numerous Hebrew and Greek definitions related to the Fear of God.

THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS...

A conscious willful honor, awe or respect of God's awesomeness & character that makes one hesitate cautiously & restrains behavior to avoid harmful consequences & broken spiritual relationship often accompanied by feelings of inward trembling.

When the fear of the Lord is absent ,as pertaining to the operation of the Holy Spirit and His leading, relationships go off. One of the things that a healthy fear of God creates is a right attitude in how we relate to one another and act out our faith in following the things the Holy Spirit may lead us in. If the fear of God was understood, loved and practiced, we would restrain a lot of what we think is spiritual and act more wisely in how we treat each other. Even our expectations of one another would be radically altered and we wouldn’t demand the right to dominate another person by our supposed spiritual leadings. The Spirit of God grants light for the sake of relationship and fellowship. But without the fear of God, there is no genuine love or respect. Then the truth we believe we've been lead into, when in fact, it isn’t genuine truth inspired of God at all often becomes a dagger, "in the name of the Lord" because mercy and love are ignored and timing disrespected. Therefore, we need to submit ourselves to one another in the fear of God so that we might all be filled with the Spirit and available to the leading of the Spirit.

Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. 12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.KJV

NUMBER FOUR:

Being led by the Spirit also means that you choose not to be ruled by your flesh, or be what Paul called “carnally minded” in Romans 8:1-14. There is a huge connection between being spiritually-minded and understanding what it means to be a child of God. Believers who are uncertain of their spiritual lineage, as being loved and belonging to God, always flounder when it comes to cooperating with the Holy Spirit leading them. They face a constant battle raging in their minds that repels faith and causes them great confusion and mixed feelings of condemnation about what the Holy Spirit might be revealing to them as truth. They just can’t get it.

Much could be written about the contrast between the carnal mind and the spiritually minded person. But in order to be led by the Spirit, you simply cannot be focused on the flesh and the spirit of this world. To be led by the Spirit in truth, you must decide which truth you will love. Again, it goes back to the fear of the Lord.

NUMBER FIVE:

Believers who have experienced what the Bible identifies as the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, according to the examples in the book of Acts, will also discover that to be constantly filled with the Spirit and open to the leading of the Spirit, speaking in tongues is a great advantage. Whether you speak in tongues or not, however, does not determine whether you are saved. You are saved by believing and confessing Jesus’ death and resurrection, and receiving Him as your Lord and Savior.  But the daily practice of the prayer and praise gift  as one of the types of manifestations of speaking in tongues, is a wonderful way to keep your spirit sensitive to the leading of the Lord in truth, as well as staying filled up.

NUMBER SIX:

The leading of the Spirit into truth may also come in a sovereign visitation such as when Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist in the river Jordan. This type of event is never forced or instigated of human will. It is according to God’s time table and for His purposes. In the case of Jesus, the Spirit led him into the wilderness.

Mark 1:9 And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. 10 And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: 11 And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 12 And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness. KJV

I hesitate to use the word “driven” pertaining to the leading and operation of the Spirit, as is found in Mark 1:9-12 ,that describes the baptism of Jesus, but the vocabulary needs to be taken into account. I am cautious about saying that the Spirit “drives” us to do things as He leads us,  because I know how people might interpret this and take it to mean that the Spirit, made you to do something with force, and broke your will. I personally believe that there are times when the Holy Spirit leads into truth, and that leading may seem very intense as the Spirit lays hold on the individual with a destination or revelation in mind. However, that is not the norm. I've observed on numerous occasions, that believers seeking to make excuses for their excessive behaviors and emotions, will say "the Spirit made me do it." Ugh. No! That is probably not the Holy Spirit, and most likely is nothing more than emotions gone awry. You do have a choice. Jesus made the choice to be baptized of John, and the course of events necessitated he be driven, or strongly led into the wilderness to face temptation.  Let’s remember, the fear of God will keep us on track.

As I mentioned earlier, and in conclusion, this subject is massive. I am in hopes that this article will instruct you in the leading of the Spirit, and your personal responsibility to walk in that. But more so, I hope you will be challenged to study for yourself. God’s Spirit is the Spirit of Truth. There is a spirit of error we all need to discern and avoid. Be a biblical prospector and begin to seek God for how He wants to lead you that is consistent with His word, His character, His Spirit and so forth. We’ll take a look at how the Spirit speaks in the next blog. Until then, love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.