How the Holy Spirit Leads the Christian
Holy Spirit Series # 6
Introduction
A. HS series continues. This = 6 of 7 installments. Hope the series of lessons so far has been profitable for you. Since june 6 we have considered the following topics.
1.
Who is the
HS?
2.
The
indwelling of the HS.
3.
How the HS
works through the word.
4.
How the HS
works in conversoin
5.
HS
Baptism.
B. Tonight’s sermon will talk about/consider how the HS leads the Christian as he leads this life.
C.
That the
HS leads/guides the Christian – no one should deny. Observe the words of the apostle Paul
in Rom. 8:9-14.
1.
Notice
esp. Rom. 8:14.
2.
FACT that
He leads us.
3.
Difference
between many religionists is on the matter of HOW He leads.
D. Some teach/believe that HS acts in some kind of miraculous way/means to lead one to salvation/sanctification.
1. Some claim to be Christians & that the HS dwells in them personally.
2.
Claim that
He personally leads them to speak in tongues, heal, make utterances (preach) as
the Spirit gives/directs them.
3.
Claim that
He even directs them in various aspects of life.
a)
HS led one
to a parking place in parking lot.
b)
HS like a
radar blip – leading/guiding/warning.
c)
Always
some kind of mysterious thing.
E. It is our intention tonight to look at the Bible and see what it reveals about the leading of the deity.
I. It is a Fact that the
Spirit Leads us!
A. Rom. 8:14
B.
Mt. 4:1
– Jesus led by the spirit to be tempted by the devil.
C.
Acts
16:6-7 – Paul/silas led on their journey by the HS through Phyrgia and
Galatia.
D.
Acts 10
– HS leads Peter to house of Cornelius.
E.
Acts 8
– HS leads Philip to Eunuch.
F.
Not only
does the HS lead,…but each member of the godhead is said to lead – just
as it is said about the fact that EACH member DWELLS IN US!
1. Learning how deity leads/dwells in us should help clear the confusion in the minds of many about the “how.”
II. The Leading of Deity.
A. God’s leading:
1. NOAH – God led Noah to build an ark – wherein he & his family were saved from the flood.
a)
Heb. 11:7
b)
Gen.
6:13-16; 7:5
c)
God spoke
to him in a language that Noah understood. God gave Noah detailed instructions. Noah followed (did) all that God
commanded.
2. ABRAHAM: led him away from Ur of the Chaldees.
a)
Heb.
11:8-9; Rom. 10:17 – received instructions from God. Had faith in what God said…led him to
obedience.
b)
Gen.
12:1-4 – God lead Abraham by speaking to him & he (Abraham) obeyed.
3. ISRAEL – in leading them out of bondage & toward the promised land.
a)
Psa. 77:20
– He used Moses/Aaron as instruments of His leading.
b)
God
confirmed that He was w/them by His signs/miracles and wonders.
1)
plagues
2)
parted
waters
3)
pillar of
fire/cloud….
c)
God led
them by choosing & equipping Moses who spoke God’s will to the people &
they obeyed.
B. Christ’s leading:
1. Christ made disciples by teaching/instruction.
a)
Jhn. 1:43
– they obeyed.
b)
NOTE: no mysterious or super natural power
possessed theses individuals to MAKE them follow Jesus.
c)
This
different from the claims of many today!
2. People b/c followers of Jesus by being taught – hearing, learning, & obeying – Jhn. 6:44-45.
a)
drawn to
God…through teaching!
b)
Jesus led
people by speaking truth to them (in a way that they could understand)
and they followed Him.
3. This = same way that God led Abraham & Israel in their day.
III. How the HS lead during the First Century…
A. Rom. 8:14 – Bible teaches that HS leads Sons of God today!
1. Does He do it differently from other exapmes of the leading of diety? (God/Christ?)
2.
Notice…the
HS is an intelligent speaking person also speaks to people & they hear and
obey.
B. During FC…there were different manifestations of the HS.
1.
1 Cor.
12:4-7
2.
Apostles
promised HS baptism for the revelation & confirmation of God’s truth. See Acts 15; Jhn. 14:26; 16:13-15; 1
Cor. 12:12-13
3.
There were gifts of the Spirit (miraculous
power) used in revealing & confirming truth.
a)
these were
bestowed on certain ones by the laying on of the apostles hands.
b)
These
gifts = temporary & would vanish away when the completed word was
finished. See 1 Cor. 13:8-10.
C. HS led 3,000 souls to be saved on Pentecost. How?
1. HS came to aposltes w/miraculous demonstrations that these men were truly from God.
a)
Acts 2:4
– Peter/apostles spoke as HS gave them utterance.
b)
Acts 2:37
– many convicted by truth spoken – ask: what shall we do?
c)
Acts 2:38
– HS answered through Peter.
d)
Thus…about
3000 were led by the Hsto salvation – when they heard, believed, &
did just what the HS told them to do.
e)
Observe: HS spoke….people heard & obeyed.
IV. How the HS leads the Christian today…
A. Basically….HS speaks….we obey. But how does He lead….through the word of God.
1. redeemed people need to be led by the Spirit in living the Christian life as much as they did in coming to Chirst.
2.
HS uses
the instrument of truth – the revealed word of God – which has been
called the Sword of the Spirit.
3.
Eph. 6:17
B.
1 Tim.
4:1-2 – Spirit seeks men today through the word.
1.
gives
instruction
2.
warns
3.
exhorts
4.
does all
this through the NT.
C. HS is not concerned w/fleshly feelings/emotions/imagination in the guidance of Christians.
1. concerned in getting the truth across.
2. Christians are led by the Spirit of God as they HEAR the revealed message of truth, believe & obey it.
D. Rom. 8:1, 4, 5, 9,. 13, 14 – this the way that Christians walk in the Spirit, mind the things of the Spirit; are in the Spirit; live in the Spirit; and are led by the Spirit.
Conclusion
A. Deity always led man by the agency of the revealed confirmed truth (god’s will) by being made known to man.
B. This coupled w/man’s faith + obedience.
C. HS never orverrides the free will of man – so that he can’t choose to do or not to do the will of God.
D. I N V I T A T I O N