QUESTION: Russ, I am confused by the idea of being "Led by the Holy Spirit" today. Some of my friends talk about how the Spirit works in their lives, yet I don't feel him or understand how he could possibly direct me. Can you clarify this for me?
ANSWER:
I made a statement to a friend recently regarding the fact that I believed that the "Spirit" led us as Christians today, IF we allowed him to do so. He believes the same way I do about the Spirit working in our lives today, but warned me, "A lot of folks would not understand what you are saying, and they would think that you are Charismatic regarding the Holy Spirit." We both know that I am about as far away from the "Charismatic movement" as you can get. I will set the foundation of what I am writing here, but saying I am about as conservative and traditional as you can get. Yet, I sincerely believe that we can be "Led by the Holy Spirit", if we will open ourselves up to him.
I know that may sound like a huge contradiction to some, but I don't believe it is. I believe that God promised us the Holy Spirit; that the Spirit is given for a purpose and is still active in the lives of believers today.
Now, I don't know if I have ever tried to explain my views in detail before, so perhaps this will be a learning and growing study for both you and I.
If I had to choose baseline or foundation scriptures regarding this topic (and I guess I do) there are several I lean towards. The first is Acts 2:38, one of the best known verses in the New Testament. We read, "Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (NIV)
No one can deny that the promise is made very clearly in this verse that we "WILL receive the gift of the Holy Spirit". The question is, "If we have him, what does he do for us and what do we do with him?" That is indeed the question isn't it? We as Christians (for the most part) believe that we have the Spirit, but don't know what for! Our Charismatic (or sometimes called "Pentecostal" friends, feel strongly that, "if we have the Holy Spirit, it must be confirmed by some outward sign. Is that the case or not, or could it just be that God has another purpose for providing us with the gift of the Holy Spirit without being manifest through outward signs?
The Apostle Paul thought that having the Holy Spirit inside of us was an indication of whether or not we are really Christians. He wrote in Romans 8:9-11, "You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you." (NIV)
I know that this verse is puzzling to some of you! Paul made it very clear that we as God's children do have the Spirit, because as he said, "if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ"! So what about you, do you have the "Spirit" or not? Notice this modern translation of this verse: "But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them are not Christians at all.)" (NLT)
Most of you probably will agree that the Spirit is necessary for us to be considered Christians, but it leaves the question, "If we have him what does he do, or what do we do with him?"
Paul carries on this instruction adding to the confusion of many in Romans 8:13 -16. Notice what he says here; "For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children." (NIV)
In this verse we see that not only do we have the Spirit, but that he does some things in our lives. The Spirit "puts to death the misdeeds of the body." The Spirit "leads" those who are "sons of God". By the Spirit, we cry out to God! The Spirit testifies to God that we are his Children.
The word translated as "Led" here in Romans 8:14 is the Greek word "ag'-o" . In Strong's Greek Dictionary of New Testament words we read, " ago ag’-o; a primary verb; properly, to lead; by implication, to bring, drive, (reflexively) go, (specially) pass (time), or (figuratively) induce: be, bring (forth), carry, (let) go, keep, lead away, be open."
Notice what we read about this in Barne's Notes:
"As are led. As submit to his influence and control. The Spirit is represented as influencing, suggesting, and controlling. One evidence of piety is, a willingness to yield to that influence, and submit to him. One decided evidence of the want of piety is, where there is an unwillingness to submit to that influence, but where the Holy Spirit is grieved and resisted. All Christians submit to his influence; all sinners decidedly reject it and oppose it. The influence of the Spirit, if followed, would lead every man to heaven. But when neglected, rejected, or despised, man goes down to hell. The glory belongs to the conducting Spirit when man is saved; the fault is man’s when he is lost. The apostle here does not agitate the question how it is that the people of God are led by the Spirit, or why they yield to it when others resist it. His design is simply to state the fact, that they who are thus led are the sons of God…"(Barne's New Testament Notes).
Another author has this to say:
"The phrase is borrowed (says another) either from those who are guided and directed as a blind man in his way; or from those who, wanting strength of their own, are borne and carried of others: so we are both ways led by the Spirit, for we can neither see our way, unless the Spirit direct us; nor have we strength to walk in it, unless the Spirit assist and draw us along. The Spirit leads and draws us irresistibly and necessarily, and yet not violently or against our wills; though we were unwilling before, yet we are made willing afterwards; so willing, that we desire and pray to be led by the Spirit.(See #Ps 25:5 143:10 So 1:4) (Poole's New Testament Commentary)
THE APPLICATION:
OK, just how do we let the Spirit lead us? I really like the picture drawn by the writers above, of a blind man who is led on his way, or drawn on when necessary, but not against our will.
OK, just how do we let the Spirit lead us? I really like the picture drawn by the writers above, of a blind man who is led on his way, or drawn on when necessary, but not against our will.
When we become Christians we are born again, into a new way of living, with new values and ideals. We (should) seek that which is above and if we are doing that then the things which we value in our lives will change. We will begin (as we grow in Christ) to place more value on the spiritual and less on the material. We will begin to notice opportunities to serve God where we would never have seen them before.
THE REALITY:
You might protest, I don't believe in the supernatural work of the Spirit in leading people! Might I ask you, have you or one of your spiritual leaders ever prayed to God, "Lord, help our minister remember the things he has prepared"? Have you ever prayed, "God lead us not unto temptation?" Have you ever prayed, "Lord watch over my children while they are in school"? Or how about, "Lord, help me to make the right decisions in my life"? Or "Lord, help me to know what your will is for me in my life"? Have you ever prayed, "God open the doors for the missionaries to go into that country"? Or, "Watch over us until we can meet again." Or, "Watch over that person while they travel." Or, "Lord heal that person and return them to their family".
You see, if you have done that or something similar, then you must believe that God still works in our world! Does he still bring tongues of fire down upon people heads? No, but that does not decrease the power he has to work in the lives of men and women in our world today.
How does the Spirit of God lead us today? Let me make a couple of suggestions. In Acts 16:6-10 we can gain some insight in to this. Notice the incident:
"Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them."
God sent a clear message to Paul and his companions; that they weren’t to go to Asia at that time. How did he send that message? I believe by closing the door that would allow them to go. Yet, when God wanted them to go to Macedonia he put that burden on Paul's heart by allowing him to see the needs there and he "concluded that God had called them to preach the gospel to them."
Does God still direct us in that way? I think he does! I really believe that God puts burdens on our heart to do things or go places that will help the lost be saved or his kingdom be strengthened!
OUR STORY
In 1989 I had been working with the Averill Ave. congregation in Flint, Michigan for 8 years. We had a good working relationship and the support of a loving group of Christians and great elders. Melody and I began talking one day about the future and what we felt we would like to do. To our mutual surprise, both of us had a desire to go to Africa and work in Missions. I believe that God put that dream there, that vision of those where were lost and crying out for someone to come help them.
I knew an elder, Jack Vinton, at a sister congregation in the city which was deeply involved in missions in Kenya, East Africa. I called him and told him that my wife and I were interested in finding out more about African missions. Later that week we met at his home for supper and he shared videos, slides and much information about their mission effort.
Two weeks later Jack called me and said, "Russ, there is a congregation in the Detroit area that has been looking for two years for someone to go to Kenya and replace a missionary who is leaving. They want you to come down and meet them." So that week we traveled to Detroit and met Hayward and Sandra Burton and discussed their needs and how we felt led to become involved in missions.
In three months we set off for what is called a "survey" trip, to take a look at the work and the country and make a decision as to whether this is where we felt God wanted us.
Six months from the time we initially began to pray that the Lord would guide us we moved to Africa. What do you think? Did God prepare the way? Did he plant the seed in our hearts through the leading of the Spirit? Did he open the doors? My wife and I believe with all of our hearts that he did!
FURTHER LEADINGS
We had been living in Kenya for about a year and were part of a team with Dan and Beverly Bell and Later David High and his family. We were all struggling and over worked because of the multitudes of people that we needed to reach. There were about 400 congregations (mostly home churches) in a 200 square mile area where we predominantly worked. We were praying that God would help us find a way to help reach and minister to these people. One night I was sound asleep and dreaming about our problem and woke up, set up in bed and had a program for helping reach people in my mind. I got up and in 30 minutes outlined a program which has been in place for 21 years and taught countless people. The next day I called the other team members and said we have to get together. I shared with them the basics of a plan which would become "African Christian Literature Outreach" and later grew in to "World Christian Literature Outreach". This program has not gone into 17 different countries with no advertising, just word of mouth spreading the messages about what we are doing.
Did the Spirit lead us? I think he did?
HOW ARE YOU LED BY THE SPIRIT TODAY?
We are back to the original question again. I believe that the Spirit leads those who are open to his leading. Just like leading or guiding the blind man about which the writers above spoke. I would suggest that first we need to get rid of self, our desires, our wants, our needs and put God and His kingdom first in our lives. You see we have to make room for the Spirit of God in our lives. He will not force himself upon us; we have to look for ways to serve him. It has been my experience that when we are sincerely trying to serve God he will open the doors he wants us to go through. If we try to do something and it just doesn't work, if "the door won't open" so to speak, if there are barriers set before you, if your efforts fail, that probably a pretty good indication that's not the direction God wants us to go.
How can you know what direction God wants you to go? First pray sincerely, with all your heart about whatever it is you want to do. (Did I mention that there is something required of you, as in "effort" or "commitment"?). Make some effort to do that thing, to start in that direction, if the door does not open, then step back and rethink what you are doing! Are you really putting God and His kingdom first, or is it really just something you want?
