HOW ARE WE LED BY THE SPIRIT?
1. The Holy Spirit has always used words to convey his message to man. In I Timothy 4:1 Paul stated, "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils..." Paul was writing this to Timothy whom he had left at Ephesus. He wanted him to know about the departure from the faith prophesied of in the New Testament. This was the Holy Spirit revealing that it would come to pass. The things said in this passage were the truths of the Holy Spirit and He is leading the people through this truth to be warned of the identifying marks of those departing. We profit from this just as did Timothy because we can compare what people call Christianity today with what the scriptures say and see that indeed people have departed from the faith. Thus we are led by the Spirit to reject innovations contrary to the scriptures.
2. In Revelation 2, and 3 Jesus had a message to each of the seven churches of Asia. After he gave the message to each congregation he said, "he that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches...." (Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:6, 13, 22). We can read these messages and learn just those things the Lord compliments congregations for doing and just those things the Lord condemns congregations for doing. Thus we are hearing the Holy Spirit's words and that is being led by the Spirit.
3. Romans 8:5 states, "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." The things of the Spirit are those things that are revealed in the New Testament. By reading it we are listening to the words of the Holy Spirit. When we mold our lives by these words we are molding our lives by the Holy Spirit. In that way He convicts us of sins, shows us the way of righteousness, and guides us into all truth. "These things are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name." (John 20:31). When we have the words of the Holy Spirit in our hearts He is by them guiding our lives in the ways of righteousness.
4. Jesus said, "Verily I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." (John 3:5, 6). Here the Lord said the Spirit has a part in the new birth. What part does the Holy Spirit do in the new Birth of every individual? The Lord also said, "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing; the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit,
and they are life." (John 6:63). Many disciples went away and followed him no more. Jesus said to the twelve "will you also go away?" and Peter answered, "Lord to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life." (John 6:67, 68). Christ has the words of eternal life. His words must be taught to people for people to be born again. Jesus said, "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard and hath learned of the Father, cometh to me." (John 6:44, 45). Concerning the new birth Peter said, "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever." (I Peter 1 :23). Paul also stated to the Corinthians, "for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel." (I Corinthians 4: 15). The word of God is sown into the hearts by teaching and when people believe it, repent of their sins, confess the Lord with their mouths and are buried in baptism they are born of water and the Spirit. The Holy Spirit gave the word and when people respond to it they are born again. Old things are passed away and all things are become new (Romans 6:4, 5).
5. The Holy Spirit also works on and leads the Christian into greater and higher paths of righteous living by gospel teaching. In Ephesians 5:18, 19 Paul states, "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual sons, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord." (Ephesians 5:18, 19). In the parallel scripture to the Colossians he said, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." (Colossians 3: 16). In both contexts singing praises to God is taught. Both letters were written while Paul was a prisoner in Rome. It is fair to conclude that we are filled with the Spirit when we let the word of Christ dwell in us richly. We are led by the Spirit when we sing to the Lord songs in harmony with the gospel. We are led by the Spirit when we put on hearts of compassion, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness and long suffering (Colossians 3:12). We are led by the Spirit when we "present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service." (Romans 12:1,2). We are led by the Spirit when we are "not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together" (Hebrews 10:25). That's the reason there are 27 books in the New Testament. They are given by the Holy Spirit through 8 writers so we can read them, obey the commands thus be led by the Spirit. C.D.
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