Does the Holy Spirit guide Christians? If so,
what means and methods does He use?
Yes, the Holy Spirit is our guide
as believers in Jesus Christ. “This
ministry of the Spirit is one of the most assuring ones for the Christian. The child of God never needs to walk in the
dark; he is always free to ask and receive directions from the Spirit Himself.”1 Jesus described the coming Holy Spirit as a
guide before Pentecost; “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide
you into all the truth...” (John 16:13).
God guiding us through the Holy Spirit is a confirmation of our
salvation, and that we are members of God’s family, because children of God are
led by Him. “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons
of God” (Romans 8:14).
The way the Holy Spirit guides is
not mystical or emotionally based. We
cannot simply “follow our heart” believing that because the Spirit lives in us
we will therefore live righteously. “The
heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick…” (Jeremiah
17:9). “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.” (Galatians 5:17) Even within Christians, we still battle the
old sin nature, and cannot trust our own judgement/motives. Rather we need to; “Trust in the Lord with
all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge
Him, and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5,6) How do we go about “acknowledging Him in all
our ways”? What source does the Spirit
use to direct us if it’s not feelings?
He uses the Bible, the Word of God; our source for God’s truth. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light
to my path.” (Psalm 119:105)
We need to be consulting the Word
of God for His directions for how to live our lives. The Holy Spirit will never ask you to do
something contrary to the Word of God, because the Holy Spirit is God, and
would not contradict Himself. It is only
through the Spirit that we have any ability to know God through salvation (1
Corinthians 12:3), and to live for Him rather than self (Galatians 5:16). He convicts us of wrong, prompts us to obey
God’s Word, and enables righteous living. “Or do you not know that your body is
a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not
your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” (1
Corinthians 6:19). In areas the Bible
does not give clear direction we ought to be praying for wisdom (James
1:5). The Holy Spirit will prompt us,
give peace, and help us make decisions.
1 “Basic Theology”,
Charles Ryrie, page 381
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