Transcript the personal leading of god

THE PERSONAL LEADING OF
GOD
So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to
live according to the flesh. For if you live according to
the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to
death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all
who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
(Romans 8:12-14 ESV)
For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ
Jesus from the law of sin and death.
(Romans 8:2 ESV)
Flesh vs. Spirit, self vs. word, inner leading vs. Spirit
leading
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the
desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are
against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are
against the flesh, for these are opposed to each
other, to keep you from doing the things you want to
do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under
the law. (Galatians 5:16-18 ESV)
Following self/flesh versus led, walk by the Spirit
An inner leading versus an outward leading
How does the Spirit lead?
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And
I will ask the Father, and he will give you another
Helper, to be with you forever, (John 14:15-16 ESV)
When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how
you are to speak or what you are to say, for what
you are to say will be given to you in that hour.
(Matthew 10:19 ESV)
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 have said to
you. (John 14:26 ESV)
How does the Spirit lead?
“But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you
from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds
from the Father, he will bear witness about me. And
you also will bear witness, because you have been
with me from the beginning. (John 15:26-27 ESV)
…while God also bore witness by signs and wonders
and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit
distributed according to his will. (Hebrews 2:4 ESV)
How does the Spirit lead?
…how the mystery was made known to me by
revelation, as I have written briefly. When you
read this, you can perceive my insight into the
mystery of Christ, which was not made known
to the sons of men in other generations as it
has now been revealed to his holy apostles
and prophets by the Spirit. (Ephesians 3:3-5)
How does the Spirit lead?
…how the mystery was made known to me by
revelation, as I have written briefly. When you
read this, you can perceive my insight into the
mystery of Christ, which was not made known
to the sons of men in other generations as it
has now been revealed to his holy apostles
and prophets by the Spirit. (Ephesians 3:3-5)
How does the Spirit lead?
…how the mystery was made known to me by
revelation, as I have written briefly. When you
read this, you can perceive my insight into the
mystery of Christ, which was not made known
to the sons of men in other generations as it
has now been revealed to his holy apostles
and prophets by the Spirit. (Ephesians 3:3-5)
• Where does the Bible teach an inward
leading?
• Where does it give authority to feeling,
thoughts, or intuition?
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither
are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways and my
thoughts than your thoughts.
(Isaiah 55:8-9 ESV)
Great danger in following OUR thoughts
Abraham said, “I did it because I thought, ‘There is no
fear of God at all in this place, and they will kill me
because of my wife.’ (Genesis 20:11 ESV)
For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil
thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,
(Mark 7:21 ESV)
They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the
hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he
is offering service to God. (John 16:2 ESV)
Great danger in following OUR thoughts
For the word of God is
living and active, sharper
than any two-edged
sword, piercing to the
division of soul and of
spirit, of joints and of
marrow, and discerning
the thoughts and
intentions of the heart.
(Hebrews 4:12 ESV)
Scripture
discerns
thoughts not
the other way
around
What about God opening doors?
But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, for a wide
door for effective work has opened to me, and there
are many adversaries. (1 Corinthians 16:8-9 ESV)
• Open door doesn’t mean smooth sailing, i.e.,
MANY ADVERSARIES
• Open doors are just perceived opportunities
• Paul DIDN’T stay in Ephesus
What about God opening doors?
When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ,
even though a door was opened for me in the Lord,
my spirit was not at rest because I did not find my
brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went
on to Macedonia. (2 Corinthians 2:12-13 ESV)
• Open doors are just perceived opportunities,
not a command
• Opportunities still need to be weighed with
wisdom and other factors
What about God giving signs?
• Are you ready to deal with
coincidence?
• Are you asking for a miracle?
(Like Gideon’s fleece or
Hezekiah’s sundial?)
ANY examples of special guidance? Yes
• But it is
EXTREMELY RARE
• And it is an
INTRUSION, i.e.,
no one sat around
waiting on it
Long ago, at many times
and in many ways, God
spoke to our fathers by
the prophets, but in these
last days he has spoken to
us by his Son, whom he
appointed the heir of all
things, through whom
also he created the world.
(Hebrews 1:1-2 ESV)
And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us
return and visit the brothers in every city where we
proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they
are.” (Acts 15:36 ESV)
No nudges, feelings, intuitions, burdens on his heart
And they went through the region of Phrygia and
Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to
speak the word in Asia. And when they had come up
to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the
Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. (Acts 16:6-7 ESV)
God’s guidance was supernatural and it was clear,
without a doubt from God