Leading of the HOLY Spirit

John 14:26

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 things that I said to you.

  The HOLY Spirit is our teacher, our helper(and guide) and the one who reminds us of all the things God has promised to us and also the things God has warned us about.

The Scripture has seemingly contradictory verses for many things. We must remember that the Scripture is divinely inspired (by the Spirit of God) by the One who cannot lie. Hence, it is not literally a contradiction, but it is simply based on different context and each Word holds completely true. A best example could be this: Ephesians chapter 6 verse 2 says “Honor your father and mother” and Luke chapter 14 verse 26 says “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple." Both the verses are completely consistent by itself - for it is divinely inspired! But how do we know which one to apply in our lives and when? It is the work of the Holy Spirit to guide us with the right Word at the right time! The  following gives an account of some of the roles of the HOLY Spirit.

• He is our counselor who teaches us the unique revelations of the Scripture; our whole perspective changes, when the HOLY Spirit teaches us the priceless truths hidden in GOD'S Word.
• During the times of trouble, HE reminds us of the comforting Words and reassures us that the promises of God Will come to pass, no matter what.
• The HOLY Spirit gives us the strength to overcome temptations, which is otherwise simply impossible for us (by Self efforts).
• The HOLY Spirit gives us GOD'S wisdom in everything we do. (Genesis 39: 3 When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, 4 Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant)
• The HOLY Spirit fills us with joy and peace even during our worst days.
• The HOLY Spirit prays for us! (Romans 8: 26 - Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered).

         So, the HOLY Spirit helps us in every way to get closer to God, to accomplish GOD'S Will in our lives. I believe it is very important that we know the reality of our weakness - that we cannot do the will of God all by ourselves! And we are desperately in need of GOD'S spirit to help us in everything so that we remain totally in the center of HIS WILL for our lives!

         Now, how do we know the leading of the HOLY Spirit? Firstly, we need to receive the anointing of the HOLY Spirit. 

Luke chapter 11 verse 13 says:
"If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

When we earnestly ask for the HOLY Spirit, our Father in heaven happily fills our heart with HIS Spirit!

Secondly, we need to simply learn to go by the Spirit's leading. I believe that even though many of us have received the HOLY Spirit, we seldom seek HIS help! The Spirit mostly works in us by our insight, our inner urge and our conscience. If we are filled by the HOLY Spirit, our Spirit - our insight, our inner urge and our conscience - is controlled by HIM. When there is danger or temptation ahead, the HOLY Spirit slowly warns us that we change our course. We feel some slight discomfort in the inside of us. If we disregard that moving of the Spirit, we put HIM off and we end up doing our own will - by either falling into sin or by living a worthless life. We feel by our own thoughts that certain things are good and can be done always and does not need explicit approval of God. We assume that certain things are always GOD'S will. For example, it might be shocking to some, that the spiritual activities like preaching the gospel, praying or even fasting - without GOD'S will - can yield nothing – to us or to God. One instance of the leading of the Holy Spirit that contradicts our human thoughts is given in Acts chapter 16:

6 Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia.
7 After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them.

 
         Had the apostles disregarded the Spirit's work in them, they would've ended up doing their own will (which is actually preaching!) - with no effect in GOD'S kingdom! God had much better plans for them in Macedonia and this will of God, no doubt is higher and much yielding than our own!

It is therefore, not the spiritual activities that matter, but rather - the Will of God - which triggers HIS people who are ready to listen to HIM and obey - is all that is significant.

 It is purely the will of God that matters and we (even the greatest spiritual person) may have absolutely no idea which is and which is not the Will of God. That is why we are totally dependent and are constantly in need of the HOLY Spirit - to be in the center of GOD'S will. How much ever spiritual we become, how much ever closer we get to God, we can please God only when we do His will, and we can know His will only when we inquire the HOLY Spirit, who is our guide and helper.

What happens when we do not listen to the HOLY Spirit? According to the Bible, it is one of the greatest sins! Ephesians chapter 4 verse 30 says "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption" and we also have a very stern warning titled as the “unpardonable sin” in Matthew chapter 12: 31 “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. 32: Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.

So therefore, let us be filled with the HOLY Spirit who is our constant guide, comforter, helper, encourager and friend and be led by HIM everyday, as we accomplish GOD'S will in our lives - totally by HIS help! Amen.