Among the prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch of Syria were Barnabas, Simeon (called “the black man”), Lucius (from Cyrene), Manaen (the childhood companion of King Herod Antipas), and Saul. One day as these men were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Appoint Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.” So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way. (Acts 13:1-5; NLT). The Holy Spirit speaks and leads us daily, so we must learn to follow His directions. He knows the past, the present and the future and what will happen before it happens. He prompts us in our hearts concerning what He wants us to know or do, and He does not shout into our ears or push us around but usually speaks to us in a still, small voice. Before anything happens to us, He prompts us ahead of time so we can either avoid it or prepare for it.
To discern and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, we must know and own these spiritual truths:
- The Spirit of God dwells within us.
When we give our hearts to the Lord and ask Him to come and live in us, He does. The Lord lives in us through the Holy Spirit; Jesus promised us precisely that. He told us that after His ascension, He would send the Holy Spirit to come and continue His work in us.
- The Spirit of God speaks within us.
Because the Holy Spirit lives in us, He speaks from within us. He can speak to us through dreams, visions or the gifts of the Spirit. But the primary way the Holy Spirit leads us is through our spirits. We can call that the inward witness of the Spirit.
- The Spirit of God leads within us.
Sometimes without speaking to us, the Holy Spirit holds our hand, so to speak and walk with us. He nudges us to do things without a voice. We simply know what to do. That kind of spiritual leading can come through a sense of restlessness about a situation that makes you pause. It can also come through a sense of peace about a situation that gives you the confidence to act.
The believer’s challenge is following the Holy Spirit’s leading, where many voices and directions surround us. As we wait on the Lord, expect the indwelling Holy Spirit to speak to and guide you as you should.
