For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God. Romans 8:14
But when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own authority. But He will speak whatever He hears, and He will tell you things that are to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will receive from Me and will declare it to you. John 16:13-14
This may sound to some of you as a strong statement, but being led by the Holy Spirit identifies us as a child of God! For this reason if we are believers, then we need to pay close attention to a very important subject & look forward to be led by the Holy Spirit in our Christian walk. But how are we led by the Holy Spirit?
In the the Book of Romans, chapter 8, we also read that believers are not to walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit of God.
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 (G2289=put to death, figuratively) 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. Romans 8:1-17
In the Book of Galatians we find about the works of the flesh:
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance (G2054= contentions ) emulations (G2205= Jealousy), wrath, strife, seditions (G1370= dissension, division), heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control; against such there is no law.
And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. Gal.5:16-26
The spiritual man is led by the Holy Spirit and will manifest the Fruit of the Spirit, and the main one is love. 1 Cor. 13. We can distinguish who is leading our life based on our actions. Please see more in Spiritual Vs. Carnal.
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the God head – Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a person, it’s not an it, or a power, or force. Beside the ones showed here, we can search for more Bible verses that speak about the Holy Spirit: Zak. 4:6, Mat.12:31-32, 28:19, John 7:39; 14:16; 15:26;16:7, 26-30 Acts 2:38, 5:3-9, 32, Rom.8: 26-27, 1 Cor. 2:10, 1 Cor. 6:19, 12:3-11, 2 Cor.6:16, Eph.4:30, etc.
“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion (G2842=Fellowship, partnership) of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.” 1 Cor.13:14.
Some guidelines to learn how to be led by the Holy Spirit:
1/ To receive the Holy Spirit we need first to believe in Jesus Christ, see Acts 2:38. After we recognize the need to be led by the Holy Spirit, then we should be willingly open and receptive to the Holy Spirit’s guidance. The Holy Spirit wants us to avoid the works of the flesh (sin). –Prayer, fasting & reading the Word of God will help us to discern & receive guidance.
2/ The Holy Spirit speaks to our spirit, which is our conscience, or our inner heart ( Matt.13:15, Acts 8:21, Eph. 3:17, Phil.4:7, 2 Thes.3:5, 1 John 3:19-21), some called an “inward still small voice”. Through the conviction of the Holy Spirit, we can repent and turn back to God.
We make our spirit strong the same way we make our flesh strong, by a good diet & exercise. Our spiritual diet is the Word of God & we exercise by being doers of the Word not just hearers (James 1:22). When we obey the Holy Spirit we will become more sensitive to His leading. It takes some time, but the more mature and stronger your spirit is, the more you will be able to be led by the Holy Spirit of God.
If a person consistently refuses to listen to the Holy Spirit’s guidance, they can become cold and callous to His guidance, will develop a seared conscience & eventually they will not be able to be led by the Holy Spirit. 1 Tim. 1 :19, 4:2, Rom.2:15.
3/ The main way the Holy Spirit lead us is through the Word of God, for this reason it’s critical to know the Scriptures in order to be led by Him. The Holy Spirit will lead us in accordance with the Word He inspired ( 2 Peter 1:21, Mark 2:8, Psalm 119:105).
God doesn’t lead us by our feelings, emotions, or our minds, yet most of us are trying to figure out what to do based on how we feel, or on what we see others doing. But the Word tells us not to be led by our own understanding. See Proverb 3:5-6 :
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge Him,
and He will direct your paths.
If we are going to be led by the Holy Spirit it will be through our spirit. The condition of our heart affects our ability to see with our spiritual eyes & to hear with our spiritual ears. (Matt.13:15; Mark 8:17-19; Acts 28:26-27). We pray to God to please help us to be sensitive to His Holy Spirit in every situation, that He will help us to know when we are being led by Him & to give us the faith to obey, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
You shall seek Me and find Me, when you shall search for Me with all your heart. Jer.29:13
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