True Christians Receive the
Spirit:
How Does the Spirit Guide Christians Today?
Later on in this lesson we will look at the
warnings given in scripture about false teachers,
false Christs (people claiming to be the Christ),
and false spirits. It is extremely important
for each Christian to be able to distinguish between
being truly led by the Spirit...as opposed to being
led astray by false teaching or false feelings or
emotions.
By looking at how the Spirit of God has led
people in both the Old Testament and New Testament,
you will be better able to distinguish whether you
are being led on the right path today.
Although we may never know the exact ways in which
the Spirit is involved in a Christian's walk with
the Lord, included below are a few scriptures that give us a
glimpse of how the Spirit is involved with God and
Jesus in leading us:
I. How has the Spirit Led in the Past:
A. The Holy Spirit as a
Guide in Old Testament Days:
In Section 1 of this lesson, we learned how the
Holy Spirit guided God's children prior to the
events on the Day of Pentecost in Acts chapter 2.
The impact of the Holy Spirit was not having people
shake or to roll on the floor...or to speak in
languages that no one could understand.
Instead, the Holy Spirit was given to them
principally to tell them what God
wanted for them, and to help them as they worked
with God to lead the people:
 "And
Thou didst give Thy good Spirit to instruct them,
Thy manna Thou didst not withhold from their mouth,
and Thou didst give them water for their thirst."
Nehemiah 9:20 (NAS)
"Teach me to do Thy will, for
Thou art my God; let Thy good Spirit lead me on
level ground." Psalms 143:10 (NAS)
"And as for Me, this is My
covenant with them," says the LORD: "My Spirit which
is upon you, and My words which I have put in your
mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from
the mouth of your offspring, nor from the mouth of
your offspring's offspring," says the LORD, "from
now and forever." Isaiah 59:21 (NAS)
"And I will put My Spirit
within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and
you will be careful to observe My ordinances."
Ezekiel 36:27 (NAS)
'As for the promise which I
made you when you came out of Egypt, My Spirit is
abiding in your midst; do not fear!' Haggai 2:5
(NAS)
"And they made their hearts
like flint so that they could not hear the law and
the words which the LORD of hosts had sent by His
Spirit through the former prophets; therefore great
wrath came from the LORD of hosts." Zechariah 7:12
(NAS)
B. The Holy Spirit as a
Guide In The Time of Jesus and His Apostles:
Before the New Testament books and letters were
written and compiled, the early church was guided by
the words of Christ that people had heard
directly...and also the words of Christ as delivered
through the apostles and close disciples. The
writers of the New Testament were reminded of the
teachings they had received from Jesus and also were
directly inspired by the Lord through the Holy
Spirit, as they indicate in
their later writings:
"For
I received from the Lord that which I also delivered
to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He
was betrayed took bread..." 1 Corinthians 11:23
(NAS)
"But I do not consider my life
of any account as dear to myself, in order that I
may finish my course, and the ministry which I
received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of
the gospel of the grace of God." Acts 20:24 (NAS)
"If anyone thinks he is a
prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the
things which I write to you are the Lord's
commandment." 1 Corinthians 14:37 (NAS)
"For I neither received it from
man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through
a revelation of Jesus Christ." Galatians 1:12 (NAS)
II. How Does The Holy Spirit Guide Us
Today?
Let's look at the New Testament scriptures that
talk about the ways in which the Holy Spirit guides
us today.
A. Through the Bible -
The Word of God:
The Holy Spirit reminded the writers of the New
Testament of Jesus' words and instructed them as
they wrote. In addition, the writers received
instruction through the Spirit:
"All
Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for
teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training
in righteousness; that the man of God may be
adequate, equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy
3:16-17 (NAS)
"But the Helper, the Holy
Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He
will teach you all things, and bring to your
remembrance all that I said to you." John
14:26 (NAS) Note: Jesus is not speaking to a
large assembly of His followers. This is when
Jesus was speaking with His apostles and closest
disciples during the last supper.
"It was revealed to them that
they were not serving themselves, but you, in these
things which now have been announced to you through
those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy
Spirit sent from heaven-- things into which angels
long to look." 1 Peter 1:12 (NAS)
"Now these were more
noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they
received the word with great eagerness, examining
the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things
were so." Acts 17:11 (NAS)
"...for our gospel did not come
to you in word only, but also in power and in the
Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you
know what kind of men we proved to be among you for
your sake. " 1Thessalonians 1:5 (NAS)
"For the word of God is living
and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and
piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit,
of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the
thoughts and intentions of the heart." Hebrews 4:12
(NAS)
"And take...the sword of the
Spirit, which is the word of God." Ephesians 6:17
(NAS)
B. The Instructions From
the Holy Spirit Cannot Contradict God's Word:
The Holy Spirit does not speak on His own
initiative.
Jesus says "But when He, the Spirit of truth,
comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He
will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever
He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you
what is to come." John 16:13 (NAS)
Jesus himself did not speak on His own
initiative.
"I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I
hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do
not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent
Me." John 5:30 (NAS)
"Jesus therefore said, "When you lift up the Son
of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do
nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these
things as the Father taught Me." John 8:28 (NAS)
"For I did not speak on My own initiative, but
the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me
commandment, what to say, and what to speak. And I
know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore
the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has
told Me." John 12:49-50 (NAS)
"Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and
the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I
do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father
abiding in Me does His works." John 14:10 (NAS)
What Jesus and the Holy Spirit have delivered from
God, as it is written in the Bible, is unchangeable:
"For if the word spoken through angels proved
unalterable, and every transgression and
disobedience received a just recompense, how shall
we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After
it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was
confirmed to us by those who heard..." Hebrews 2:2-3
(NAS)
"But even though we, or an angel from heaven,
should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which
we have preached to you, let him be accursed."
Galatians 1:8 (NAS)
C. What happens if
another spirit, or another teacher tries to lead us
away from what it says in the Bible?
"But the Spirit explicitly says that in later
times some will fall away from the faith, paying
attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of
demons..." 1 Timothy 4:1 (NAS)
"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test
the spirits to see whether they are from God;
because many false prophets have gone out into the
world." I John 4:1 (NAS)
D. What happens if
another spirit, or another teacher appears to perform signs
and miracles, but yet they are
teaching things that are contrary to what the Bible
teaches?
"For false Christs and false prophets will arise
and will show great signs and wonders, so as to
mislead, if possible, even the elect. Behold, I have
told you in advance." Jesus said in Matthew 24:24-25
(NAS)
"...for false Christs and false prophets will
arise, and will show signs and wonders, in order, if
possible, to lead the elect astray." Mark 13:22
(NAS)
"For indeed Jews ask for signs, and Greeks search
for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews
a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness..." 1
Corinthians 1:22-23 (NAS)
"But He (Jesus) answered and said to them, "An
evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign;
and yet no sign shall be given to it but the sign of
Jonah the prophet; for just as Jonah was three days
and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so
shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights
in the heart of the earth." Matthew 12:39-40 (NAS)
"And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon
and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the
mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits
like frogs; for they are spirits of demons,
performing signs, which go out to the kings of the
whole world, to gather them together for the war of
the great day of God, the Almighty." Revelation
16:13-14 (NAS)
"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will
enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the
will of My Father who is in heaven. Many will say to
Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in
Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in
Your name perform many miracles?' And then I will
declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me,
you who practice lawlessness.'" Matthew 7:21-23
(NAS)
E. What if I have a
strong feeling, or influence that is leading me away
from the truth contained in God's word?
Christians must seek the truth...and to love the
truth; ignoring deluding feelings or influences:
"...and
with all the deception of wickedness for those who
perish, because they did not receive the love of the
truth so as to be saved. And for this reason God
will send upon them a deluding influence so that
they might believe what is false, in order that they
all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but
took pleasure in wickedness. But we should always
give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the
Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning
for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit
and faith in the truth." II Thessalonians 2:10-13
(NAS)
F. Led by the Spirit or
by the world?
This a decision that each Christian makes
throughout their life based on the deeds they choose
to practice.
There are four scriptures in the New Testament
that have the phrase "led by the Spirit." Two
of the scriptures refer to Jesus being led by the
Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted (Matthew
4:1 and Luke 4:1). The other
two scriptures are in Romans chapter 8 and Galatians chapter 5,
as follows:
1. Christians are to decide whether or not
they are going to set their minds on the things of
the Spirit...or on the things of the flesh (the
world). Christians are to decide if they will
be separated from the deeds of the body (to put to
death these deeds):
For
those who are according to the flesh set their minds
on the things of the flesh, but those who are
according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6
For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind
set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the
mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it
does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is
not even able to do so and those who are in the
flesh cannot please God. Romans 8:5-8 (NAS)
"So then, brethren, we are
under obligation, not to the flesh, to live
according to the flesh--for if you are living
according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the
Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the
body, you will live. For all who are being led by
the Spirit of God, these are sons of God." Romans
8:12-14 (NAS)
2. Is a Christian going to live in
immorality and sin, or is the Christian going to
walk in a different direction...walking in the
Spirit?
"For
you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not
turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh,
but through love serve one another. For the whole
Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement "You
shall love your neighbor as yourself." But if you
bite and devour one another, take care lest you be
consumed by one another. But I say, walk by the
Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the
flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the
Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these
are in opposition to one another, so that you may
not do the things that you please. But if you are
led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. Now
the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are:
immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery,
enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger,
disputes, dissensions, factions, envying,
drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of
which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you
that those who practice such things shall not
inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the
Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;
against such things there is no law. Now those who
belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with
its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit,
let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become
boastful, challenging one another, envying one
another." Galatians 5:13-26 (NAS)
According to the scriptures above, being led by
the Spirit does not appear in the text as a
mystical, miraculous, emotional experience.
Rather, being led by the Spirit is described in
scripture as involving us in an understanding of the
difference between the path of sin and the path of
righteousness...and helping us choose to walk the
right path and seek after the fruits of the Spirit
(love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
etc.).
A person that is not being led by the
Spirit is described by scripture as one who involves
him or herself in choosing to walk in the path of
the world; pursuing things such as immorality,
impurity, sensuality, and idolatry.
I Will Put My Spirit Within You and Cause You to
Walk in My Statutes:
"And
I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to
walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to
observe My ordinances." Ezekiel 36:27 (NAS)
Are you willing to be led by the Spirit according
to the teachings of Scripture?
We will now look at specific ways that
the Holy Spirit helped the apostles and
disciples in the New Testament days:
Click on "What to Speak"
below to continue... |
More Info
