How to be guided by the Holy Spirit?

Being Guided by the Holy Spirit. Our anchor for this reflection is found in Romans 8:4, a verse that speaks of walking not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

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INTRODUCTION:

A. Bearing the fruit of the Spirit in your life is a direct result of being led by the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:18-25; Romans 8:4, 12-14; Colossians 3:1-14). These passages consistently draw a clear line between a life dominated by our earthly desires and a life empowered and directed by the Holy Spirit. The beautiful characteristics of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are not merely aspirational qualities we strive for in our own strength, but the natural outflow of a life surrendered to the Spirit's leading.

B. Each of these texts presents the contrast between "WALKING ACCORDING TO THE FLESH AND WALKING ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT." This is the central tension of the Christian journey. We are constantly faced with the choice of yielding to the impulses of our fallen nature or submitting to the gentle yet powerful guidance of the Holy Spirit.

C. This is the fundamental decision that the Christian must make: they must decide whether they will fulfill the will and desires of the flesh or the desire of the Holy Spirit. Revealed in His Word, the life of every Christian is either under the "DOMAIN" of the flesh (manifested in doing the works of the flesh, as Paul outlines in Galatians 5:19-21) OR under the "DOMAIN" of the Holy Spirit (manifested in producing the fruit of the Holy Spirit in one's life, as described in Galatians 5:22-23). There is no neutral ground; we are either being pulled in one direction or the other.

D. The fruit of the Holy Spirit in the Christian's life is "Evidence." This "Walks in the Spirit" meaning that one is led by the Holy Spirit in one's life. The presence of spiritual fruit in our lives is not a guarantee of perfection, but it serves as tangible evidence that the Holy Spirit is at work within us, guiding our steps and shaping our character.

I. What does it mean to be led by the Spirit?

Being led by the Spirit is not some mystical or elusive experience reserved for a select few. It is a practical and ongoing reality for every believer who has surrendered their life to Christ.

A. Being led by the Spirit means:

1. "Walk" according to the things of the Spirit (Romans 8:4). Our daily conduct, the way we live our lives, should be in alignment with the principles and desires of the Holy Spirit as revealed in God's Word. It's about making choices that honor God and reflect His character.

2. "Think" in the things of the Spirit (Romans 8:5). To "think" here means to set our minds on something, to give it our focused attention. As Matthew 16:23 shows, earthly thinking can be contrary to God's will. Being led by the Spirit involves consciously directing our thoughts towards what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8).

3. "Be Busy" in the things of the Spirit (Romans 8:6). The mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace. 1 Our energies, our time, our focus should be invested in activities that are spiritually edifying and contribute to God's kingdom.

4. "Live" according to the things of the Spirit (Romans 8:9). If the Spirit of God lives in us, then we are not in the flesh but in the Spirit. Our very identity and the source of our life are found in the Holy Spirit. We are, in a sense, "sold to the Spirit," meaning we are His possession and our lives are to be lived in obedience to Him.

5. "Do" putting to death the works of the flesh in our lives (Romans 8:13; Colossians 3:5-9). Being led by the Spirit is not a passive experience. It requires active effort to resist and put to death the sinful desires and actions that arise from our fleshly nature. This is a continuous process of self-denial and obedience.

B. How do we know these things about the Holy Spirit?

1. Simply: "THROUGH THE REVELATION HE GAVE THROUGH THE APOSTLES OF THE NEW TESTAMENT" (1 Corinthians 2:10-16). The Holy Spirit, the divine author of Scripture, has revealed His will and His ways through the inspired writings of the apostles. The Bible is our primary guide for understanding how to walk in the Spirit.

2. Many people ask for the Holy Spirit's guidance and then wait for some inner prompting, feel something, and interpret it as the guidance of the Holy Spirit. In reality, they are following their own inclinations because God has not promised "SUCH A THING." While the Holy Spirit can and does speak to our hearts, His primary means of guidance is through the written Word. We must be wary of elevating our subjective feelings or intuitions above the clear teachings of Scripture. The Spirit guides us through the written word, illuminating its truth and applying it to our lives.

II. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BEAR THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT?

A. To bear the fruit of the Spirit: As we walk, think, are busy, live, and do according to the Spirit, the natural consequence is the manifestation of His fruit in our lives. These are the character qualities that reflect God's own nature.

B. The importance of producing this fruit in our lives should be evident. If this fruit is not produced in us, this truly demonstrates or evidences that we are not “UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.” The absence of spiritual fruit raises serious questions about whether the Holy Spirit truly has control of our lives. Just as a healthy tree naturally produces fruit, a life truly led by the Spirit will inevitably bear the fruit of righteousness. Furthermore, if there is no fruit in our lives, we are in danger of being rejected by our heavenly Father, as Jesus illustrated in the parable of the vine and the branches (John 15:1-8). Branches that do not bear fruit are cut off and thrown away.

CONCLUSION:

A. Being led by the Spirit is:

1. Thinking about the things of the Spirit. Directing our minds towards God's truth and His will.

2. Walking according to the things of the Spirit. Living our lives in obedience to God's commands.

3. Being concerned with the things of the Spirit. Prioritizing spiritual matters and investing our energies in God's kingdom.

4. Living according to the things of the Spirit. Allowing the Holy Spirit to be the very source and guide of our lives.

5. Putting to death the deeds of the flesh in our lives. Actively resisting and overcoming sinful desires and actions.

6. Bearing the fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Manifesting the character of Christ through the Spirit's power.

B. Let us be led by the Spirit so that we may have eternal life with God. This is not merely about living a better life here on earth; it is about securing our eternal destiny. By yielding to the Holy Spirit's guidance, we walk on the path that leads to life everlasting in the presence of our loving God.

May we all commit ourselves anew to being led by the Holy Spirit, allowing Him to transform us from the inside out, so that our lives may bear abundant fruit to the glory of God. Amen.

How to be guided by the Holy Spirit?