Led By The Spirit

Led By the Spirit
Luke 4: 1, 2
Sis. Carolyn Satcher

Being “led by the Spirit,” often it is hard for us to understand what that means most times. In this devotional we are going to uncover what it means to be led by the Spirit.

In Galatians 5:16-18, the Apostle Paul tells us, “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. From the time a person places faith in Christ, they are given the Holy Spirit the Holy Spirit can intervene on our behalf and communicate our feelings to the Father. The Holy Spirit is the third member of the Trinity, which means He is God also.

Being willing and open to the Holy Spirit's guidance is the only true way a person can be led by the Spirit. As Christians, we have to take the active decision to choose to follow the lead of the Holy Spirit rather than our sinful flesh. When we are being led by the Spirit, like Jesus was, we will produce fruits of love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Jesus had all of these attributes. While facing the temptation of Satan for forty days and forty nights, he used these attributes to keep him from giving into temptation. While on earth, Jesus showed compassion for all who came seeking him. He healed the sick, raised the dead, opened the eyes of the blind, and forgave sins of those who wanted forgiveness.

God tempts no one but he himself. I believe he set this example for us to know that we can resist temptation by being led by the spirit. As a human on earth at this time Jesus could have accepted all that Satan offered him. Most people probably would have looked for the riches of the world. But Jesus being led by the Spirit knew that “what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul. That’s what happened to the rich man whom Jesus confronted and asked would he be willing to give up his riches and serve the poor. We know he did not. Jesus allowed himself to be led by the spirit in accordance to what God had allowed.

In John 14:16 Jesus promised the disciples He “would give them another Helper that would be with them forever; the Spirit of truth. . .”

Romans 8:14, says, “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit leads Christians in a specific direction away from their sinful choices.

How do you Know that you Are Not Being Led by the Holy Spirit?

• By going against the word of God.
• An unwillingness to receive counsel from godly Christians
• Living in unrepentant sin
• An unwillingness to honestly study Scripture on a particular matter.
• ‘Counsel shopping’ in our decision-making.
• Relying on an internal peace, feeling, dream, vision, or impression as indication that we are in the will of God.  

The Christian life involves denying ourselves, taking up our cross, and following Jesus.

How to Know that We Are Being Led by the Holy Spirit:

• Following the word of God
• Taking counsel from godly Christians
• Asking for forgiveness of your sins
• Studying to show yourself approved unto God
• Not relying on a feeling or dreams that you are being led by the spirit
  
  

Lastly, did you know that the idea of being led by the Holy Spirit only appears twice in the New Testament. The first occurrence is in Romans 8:14, which says, “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. You are truly a son of God if you are led by the Spirit.

Prayer:
On today and each day o God we come before you asking that you help us be better. Help us Lord to be discerning in knowing when we are (not) being led by the spirit. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.