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