1

Led By The Spirit

2

Rom. 8:14

• For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

3

• Please note that we have to go to the word of God, which the Spirit revealed, to learn of this leading

4

•I. “Led By the Spirit of God”

5Some popular yet false ideas on how the Spirit leads:

• A. Direct guidance in our lives – which comes about by following impulses or hunches

6

• Denominations who teach that the Spirit works in a direct manner depend upon a message (written or taught) to inform their members that the Holy Spirit acts directly

7

• If what they say is true (about the Spirit working directly) – then why does not the Spirit tell them directly that He operates directly?

8

• B. By “Illuminating” the written word so we can understand it• This is the belief that man cannot

understand the scriptures without direct divine guidance

9

Jn. 16:13 – Promise to apostles

• 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.

10

1 Jn. 4:1 – try or test the spirits

• Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.• Spirit = every person making a

religious claim

11

Eph. 3:4 – read & understand

• Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ

12Eph. 5:17 – understand the will of the Lord

• Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

13

2 Tim. 3:16-17 – thoroughly furnished

• All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

14

• C. Giving us some special blessing of spiritual strength beyond the written word and the working of God’s providence

15

• D. Some believe they hear a voice speaking directly to them from the Holy Spirit

16

• If the Spirit does work in a direct way upon the heart of the sinner – why are there no Christians where the word has never gone?

17

• E. Others believe that the Holy Spirit leads them by showing them special signs – which Indicate specific decisions that need to be made at a given time

18

• “Human emotions and experiences are not to be confused with a message from the Spirit”

19

1 Cor. 14:33

• For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

20

• Some have wild emotional experiences, but others do not

21Acts 10:34-35 – God is no respecter of persons

• Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

22

II. “They are the sons of God”

• How were sons of God made in Paul’s time?• Paul was the apostle to the

Gentiles

23

Gal. 2:7

• But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;

24

Rom. 11:13

• For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office

25

• How did he make men into the sons of God?• He went – he preached – those

who heard and believed obeyed

26

• The Spirit was leading – Paul was preaching – people were obeying – sons of God were being made• This is how people were

converted to Christ

27

• The Spirit led – Paul edified by teaching, preaching – those sons of God, faithful Christians, remained faithful• This is how the Spirit sanctifies

28

Jn. 17:17

• Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

29III. “But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.” (Gal. 5:18)

• Some were trying to go back to the Old Law - How did the Holy Spirit show them to be wrong in what they were doing?

30

• It was not by a direct operation of the Holy Spirit • Peter, Paul, Barnabas and others

who were defending the truth depended upon God’s word which they presented in a powerful way! (Acts 15; Gal. 2)

Conclusion

• The Spirit leads us by the word of God• He does not lead people to become

Jews, Catholics, Protestants, etc.• He leads people to become Christians

and to remain Christians