For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God Romans 8:14
Scripture teaches that born again Christians are to be led by the Holy Spirit. In other words, we now have a leader - the Holy Spirit. Imagine being in a military offensive, you wouldn’t just do as you pleased, as you would be under authority and leadership. Your commander would instruct you as to your place and role in the battle. Similarly, a Christian is a person who has confessed Jesus Christ as their Lord, and they ought to accept His authority in their lives. We no longer do as we please, or act independently from our leader, the Holy Spirit. In all our decisions we should be sensitive to the leadership of the Holy Spirit. This sensitivity to the Holy Spirit was evident in the ministry of the apostle Paul.
Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia Acts 16:6
This is a significant passage of Scripture because we gain an insight into the leadership of the Holy Spirit, and Paul’s obvious sensitivity to His leadings. Some preachers advocate obeying the great commission of Jesus to preach the gospel to all nations and lay hands on the sick, but neglect to emphasize waiting for the clear leading and direction of the Holy Spirit. This is not the example Paul demonstrated. In the above passage we see a clear example that we shouldn’t just preach the gospel where we think, but rather make the effort to discern the personal leading of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is to direct our implementation of the great commission.
After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not Acts 16:7
Here we see another example of Paul being sensitive to the Holy Spirit. Paul must have been very prayerful concerning the direction his ministry took, allowing the Holy Spirit to lead him in decisions as to where and when he should preach.
And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; there stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, come over into Macedonia, and help us. And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them Acts 16:8-10
In the above verses we see the Holy Spirit being very specific as to where and who Paul should preach to. The Lord is leading the missionary offensive by His Holy Spirit. It is apparent Paul was continually in the process of communing with the Holy Spirit to determine his direction and course of missionary action.
Many good Christian people I talk with struggle in this area of hearing from and discerning the leading of the Holy Spirit in their lives in such crucial areas as their careers, who they should marry, what direction their ministry will take, and the list could go on and on. Not being confident in the leading of the Holy Spirit may result in lack of conviction and confidence, wrong decisions, failure and disappointment.
Learning to discern the anointing and leadership of the Holy Spirit is one of the most important spiritual skills for a successful Christian life! It brings great reward into our lives. In the case of Paul, his Holy Spirit led mission to Macedonia was a great success. God had prepared and opened the heart of a woman named Lydia in the city of Philippi. Lydia and her household became Christians under Paul’s ministry and were baptized (Acts 16:12, 14-15). Later in Paul’s life we read in his letter to the Philippians church:
now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity (Philippians 4:15-16). Paul’s sensitivity and subsequent obedience to the Holy Spirit resulted in: the establishment of the Philippians church, financial partnership and support in the work of the gospel, and as a result of the Philippians’ partnership, eternal fruit for the Philippians from Paul’s missionary work (Philippians 4:17). It is a great success story.
In our lives the Lord has similar good plans. He knows where we best fit into this big and complex world. The Lord’s perspective is all knowing and eternal. We would be wise to tap into His perspective and leadership through allowing the Holy Spirit to be our leader.
Pray with me: “Lord I thank you that you have not left me leaderless. You have given me your Holy Spirit to live inside me (1 Corinthians 6:19). I make the decision to listen to the Holy Spirit, to allow Him to be my leader. I will work on cultivating the skill of being sensitive to His anointing and will always defer my actions to His leadership. Thank you Lord that the Holy Spirit is always faithful to bear witness to my spirit so I can walk in His perfect direction for my life (Romans 8:16).”
(Note: for further teaching on how to discern the leading of the Holy Spirit see my teaching in the
September 2004 Partner Letter at: www.andrewshreeve.org).
