God Lead Me

by Micky Galloway

The Scriptures teach, “Every scripture inspired of God (is) also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness. That the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work” (II Timothy 3:16-17). Though we agree on the all sufficiency of the Scriptures, it is argued that God leads one through an emotional experience or feeling from the Holy Spirit to satisfy something in my life that I feel is lacking. Perhaps it is a feeling that the Holy Spirit somehow leads me to know how to apply the Scriptures. Obviously, the Holy Spirit does lead. “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God” (Romans 8:14).

While no one denies that the Holy Spirit leads or guides, we certainly differ on the matter of how He leads. Some believe and teach that there is something mystical and unexplainable about how the Holy Spirit leads. Others believe that the Holy Spirit is leading them to decisions about salvation, where to worship, and how to worship through some emotional satisfaction or personal experience that they are right with God.

Please note that the Spirit did not take over the lives of men in the first century to the end that every move made by them was “Spirit led.” Plans for the second journey were formulated in the minds of Paul and Barnabas, and when they went separate ways, “Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away unto Cyprus: but Paul chose Silas … and he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches” (Acts 15:39-41). Later, Paul made his own plans to go to Rome and Spain after completion of his third journey, and he asked the Romans to pray that he could come to them “in joy through the will of God” (Romans 15:23-33).These plans did not work out. If this was by the direction of the Holy Spirit, our faith might be shaken.

If we believe in the all sufficiency of the Scriptures, let us look to the Bible and see what it reveals about how God leads us. Each member of the Godhead is said to lead just as each is said to dwell in us. Looking at how God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit led in time past should help answer the question of “How does God lead me today?”

First, let us consider how God has led people in the past. God led Noah to build an ark wherein he and his family were saved from the flood (Hebrews 11:7). The Genesis account tells us that God “said unto Noah … Make thee an ark of gopher wood … and this is how thou shalt make it … And Noah did according to all that Jehovah commanded him” (Genesis 6:13-16; 7:5). How did God lead Noah to build the ark? “By faith Noah, being warned (of God) concerning things not seen as yet, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark …” (Hebrews 11:7). God spoke to him, giving detailed instructions, and Noah followed all that God commanded. God led Abraham out of Ur of the Chaldees. “Now Jehovah said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto the land that I will show thee” (Genesis 12:1). The New Testament tells us, “By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out unto a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing whither he went” (Hebrews 11:8). God led Abraham by speaking to him and Abraham obeyed. Likewise, God led Israel out of Egyptian bondage, and through the wilderness (Deuteronomy 8:14-15; 29:4-5). In doing this He used the instrumentality of Moses and Aaron. “Thou leddest thy people like a flock, by the hand of Moses and Aaron” (Psalms 77:20). Simple isn’t it? God led in time past by giving instructions, speaking His will to His servants, and they obeyed.

Second, let us consider how Christ has led people in the past. Christ made disciples by teaching, instruction. He commanded and they obeyed. One simple illustration, “On the morrow he was minded to go forth into Galilee, and he findeth Philip: and Jesus saith unto him, Follow me” (John 1:43). No mysterious or supernatural power possessed people to make them follow Jesus. Evidence was provided that Jesus was from God (John 20:30-31). John 6:45 says, “It is written in the prophets, And they shall all be taught of God. Every one that hath heard from the Father, and hath learned, cometh unto me.” People became followers of Christ by being taught; hearing, learning, and coming. Again, the process was simple.

Third, let us consider how the Holy Spirit has let people in the past. The Holy Spirit led three thousand souls to be saved on the first Pentecost following the resurrection of Christ. Please note how! The Holy Spirit came to the apostles with miraculous demonstrations, giving proof that these men were in fact messengers of God. The apostles in Acts 2:4 “began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Many were convicted by the truth spoken and asked, “What shall we do?” The Holy Spirit then speaking through Peter said, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins” (Acts 2:38). “They then that received his word were baptized: and there were added (unto them) in that day about three thousand souls” (Acts 2:41). About three thousand were led by the Holy Spirit to salvation, when they heard, believed, and obeyed exactly what the Holy Spirit said for them to do. Again, isn’t that simple?

This is how the Holy Spirit leads today. We need the leading of the Holy Spirit in living the life of a Christian as much as we did in becoming a Christian. However, in leading, guiding, and edifying the Christian, the Spirit uses the instrumentality of the revealed, confirmed word of truth. The word of God is said to be the “sword (instrument) of the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:17). The Spirit “saith expressly …” (I Timothy 4:1-2), i.e. giving instruction, warnings, exhortations through the New Testament. The Spirit has never laid aside the agency of truth, substituting feelings, emotions, experiences, or imaginations, in the guidance of Christians. Sons of God are led by the Spirit of God as they hear the Spirit revealed message of truth, believe, and obey it. This is the way that Christians … “walk after the Spirit” (Romans 8:1,4); “mind … the things of the Spirit” (Romans 8:5); “are … in the Spirit” (Romans 8:9); “live … by the Spirit” (Romans 8:13); and are “led by the Spirit” (Romans 8:14).

Deity leads by the agent/agency of revealed, confirmed truth (God’s will) being made known to man, coupled with man’s faith and obedience. Dear beloved friend, let us realize that the Scriptures are the product of the Holy Spirit, and that whenever we read and study the Scriptures, He is speaking to us, teaching us, and leading us. Let us therefore, “as newborn babes, long for the spiritual milk which is without guile, that ye may grow thereby unto salvation” (I Peter 2:2). Isn’t that simple???