Lesson 18: Led By The Spirit

Getting started: It is Scriptural to say that we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2.38). Not only is it Scriptural to say we receive the Spirit, but receiving the Spirit is the culmination of God’s plan to redeem man! We who were created in the image of God (Genesis 1.26-27) can now, because of what Christ has done, be born again (John 3.5). And those who have been born again have been regenerated; they have received His Spirit (Titus 3.5; Ezekiel 36.25-27).

It is also Scriptural to say that the Spirit leads us, because that is what the Scriptures say:

• “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” (Romans 8:14)
• “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.” (Galatians 5:18)

But how does the Spirit lead us? Many of our discussions about the Spirit’s work are about this very question. So, let’s spend a little time on this question.

Spirit Filled People Must Be Led By The Spirit

Paul wrote his epistle to the Galatians because he was concerned that they would turn to a “different gospel” (Galatians 1.6). That different gospel was one that relied on “works of the law” and thus brought with it a curse (Galatians 3.10). At the beginning of Galatians 3 Paul reminded these saints that they received the Spirit not through the Law but “by hearing with faith” (vs. 2). And if these saints were to truly be perfected, that wouldn’t come through the Law, but by the Spirit: “If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5.25). But how is it that we are to be “led by the Spirit” and “keep in step with the Spirit”?

1. Through the word. This is generally agreed upon. After all, the Scriptures are inspired by God and guide us (2Timothy 3.16-17; etc.)
2. Through direct revelation? Many religious people think so. “Father, You sent Your Holy Spirit to be a Counselor to me. He came straight from You to me and other believers. He is the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, and He faithfully testifies truth to me concerning Your Son, Jesus (John 15:26).” (Beth Moore, Praying God’s Word Day By Day)
3. Through feeling / intuition? This is perhaps the most common way that religious people think the Spirit is present in their lives. “Have you ever felt something alerting you to pay attention or pulling you in a particular direction? Perhaps you were listening to a sermon and you sensed God telling you to follow Him in obedience. Or maybe you walked into a restaurant and were filled with dread, as if you should leave quickly. If you are a believer, then most likely these feelings were the prompting of the Holy Spirit, who always guides you to understand and accept the Father’s will. He is the One speaking to your heart, warning you about danger and encouraging you to submit to God’s purposes.” (Charles Stanley, Tips for Being Led by the Holy Spirit. Charisma Magazine)

Before we move on, we should note that Paul was NOT divorcing the Spirit’s leading from the word revealed by the Spirit. First, if Paul was telling the Christians in Galatia that the Spirit would guide them through direct revelation or intuition, why did Paul find it so necessary to write and warn them against turning to a different gospel? Wouldn’t the Spirit have directly revealed that to them? Second, we must bear in mind that Paul’s discussion of “flesh” vs. “spirit” is not contrasting our fleshly bodies with our spiritual selves. Rather, Paul was contrasting life under the Law (flesh) with the new reality in Christ (spirit). Thus, Paul’s rhetorical question, “did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?” (Galatians 3.2). If we received the Spirit through hearing with faith, we should continue hearing with faith.

Some Things To Keep In Mind When Discussing Being Led By The Spirit:

1. First, what’s your motive in this discussion? What has shaped your belief on this subject? If we want to bolster a long held belief, then our motive is wrong. If we want to “fit in” with the current religious climate, our motive is wrong. Our motive must be to understand what the Scriptures teach about this and every matter (John 8.31-32).
2. Know that there are very few occurrences of people being led directly by the Spirit in the Scriptures
   1. Jesus being led by the Spirit into the wilderness (Luke 4.1)
   2. Phillip being led to the eunuch (Acts 8.29)
   3. Paul being led to Troas (Acts 16.6-7)
3. Remember that Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would lead the apostles into all truth… not us. (John 14.16-17,26; 15.26-27; 16.13; Acts 2.1-4). Unfortunately, many religious teachers do not recognize this point and so seek to give greater weight to their teachings by claiming that the Spirit gave them the words, even when they contradict Scripture.
4. Spirit-filled saints were never told to rely on how they felt. They were told to rely on the Scriptures:
   1. Some of the saints at Corinth received spiritual gifts, including the gift of prophecy (1Corinthians 12-14), yet God had revealed His mind through the Spirit to chosen messengers like Paul (1Corinthians 2.6-13).
   2. The saints at Ephesus were sealed by the Spirit (Ephesians 1.13), but to understand the mystery they had to read what Paul wrote (Ephesians 3.1-7). 
   3. Timothy received the Spirit through the laying on of hands (2Timothy 1.6), but was constantly reminded to study and teach the word (1Tim. 4.6,16; 2Tim. 1.13; 2.2; 3.14-17).
   4. Peter wrote to Christians who were “becoming partakers of the divine nature” (2Peter 1.4), but he wrote in order to remind them of God’s will (2Peter 1.12-15).
   5. All Christians receive the gift of the Spirit (Acts 2.38), but must be taught His commands (Matthew 28.19-20).
5. Being a disciple of Christ involves loving God with “all your mind” (Matthew 22.37) While Christianity is not simply a religion of the mind (i.e. simply knowing facts), we must not lessen the mind’s role. Cannot be led by the Spirit without setting your mind on the Spirit (Romans 8.4-5). Christ never downplayed the Word… neither should we (John 8.31-32). After all, His words ARE Spirit (John 6.63).
6. If the Spirit is not shaping our intuition and emotions, we’re doing it wrong (Romans 8.14). If we’ve been recreated in God’s image, then we should be acting and feeling like He acts and feels!
7. God’s special plan for you is that you bear fruit… wherever you are! (Galatians 5.16-26). We will have more to say about this in a future lesson.