The Guidance of the Spirit

The Holy Spirit is God’s powerful Agent who pours out the love of

God into our hearts (Rom. 5:5), leads us into a true saving experience

(John 16:7–11), guides us into all the truth (John 16:13), and empow-

ers us to fulfill the gospel mission (Acts 1:8). Because it is the Holy

Spirit who counteracts the degenerating work of Satan, it is no surprise

that Satan tries by all means to distort our understanding of the nature

and work of the Holy Spirit. While some deny His personality, others

emphasize the gifts of the Spirit over His transforming power.

Read Acts 8:4–24. Simon the sorcerer of Samaria wanted to receive

the gifts of the Holy Spirit without being regenerated by the Spirit.

How is this very same attitude still being manifested in our day?

The children of God are those who are being guided by the Holy

Spirit (Rom. 8:14) into all the truth of God’s Word (John 16:13,

John 17:17). Jesus warned in clear terms, “ ‘Not everyone who says

to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the

one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say

to me on that day, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name

and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many

miracles?” Then I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you. Away

from me, you evildoers!” ’ ” (Matt. 7:21–23, NIV). This means that

the Holy Spirit never guides anyone away from God’s Word—which

He Himself inspired—but rather always leads us into conformity to

that Word.

The same Holy Spirit that guides us into all the truth also empow-

ers us in leading others into that wonderful truth (Matt. 28:18–20,

Acts 1:8). While fulfilling our sacred mission, we have His special

assistance. So, morning by morning, we must kneel before the Lord

and renew our vows of consecration to Him. If we do this, He will

grant us the presence of His Spirit, with His reviving, sanctifying

power.

We must, however, be open to His leading by making conscious

choices, every day, to do what we know is right and avoid what we

know is wrong. That is, only by seeking, in our God-given strength, to

live as we should will we be open to receiving that power of the Holy

Spirit in our lives, which God promises us.

Why is it so important, morning after morning, to pray ourselves

into an openness to the Holy Spirit’s leading in our lives?