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How to be led by the Spirit, Pt2



  Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’ ” (Isaiah 30:21, NIV)

  Jesus said to His disciples, in the book of John, “I am the door of the sheep” (John 10:7, NKJV).  Jesus opened the way for us to be led and empowered with the Holy Spirit – the same Holy Spirit who had been leading and empowering Him while He was here on earth.  Jesus did not come empowered as God; He came as a man who was filled with the Holy Spirit.  He set a standard for us to follow, not simply to stand looking in awe at the way Jesus worked miracles – we are to look in awe of His glory and what He did for us at the Cross.

  But when He ascended back to the Father, He prayed for the Holy Spirit to be poured out upon us so that we may be empowered just as He was (See John 16:7).  In the Old Testament the Holy Spirit essentially remained in the Holy of Holies.  The price of man’s sin had not yet been paid for mankind to freely be declared holy and have the privilege of coming before a Holy God.  Because of Jesus’ complete work of redemption; having paid the full price for our sin; having declared us holy and righteous before God, we have now become the “Holy of Holies,” temples for God to dwell in.

  In the Old Testament, if someone needed to hear from God, they would seek a prophet.  We are not to run to a prophet in this day and age.  As believers, we have the Holy Spirit dwelling on the inside of us.  In the same way Jesus communed with the Father, we may commune with the Father because we have the ability to hear His voice.  When making difficult decisions, trying to find our way; when we are going first this way and then that way, “(We will) hear a voice behind (us) you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it.’ ” (Isaiah 30:21).

  When we come to Jesus Christ, we must be careful not to stop at the door, but to go all the way into the room and experience all that God has provided for us through Christ.  Often, when we think of the Holy Spirit, we think of wild church services with crazy charismatics everywhere.  But that is not the Holy Spirit, that is the judgment of skeptical onlookers who haven’t experienced His presence.  

  The Bible makes it clear who He is.  Last week I mentioned that He is the Paraclete, the Greek word for who the Holy Spirit is to us: our Helper, Comforter and Counselor; the One who comes alongside to guide us and empower us through life.  Another descriptive of the Holy Spirit is Pneuma.  Also, from the Greek, meaning “Wind, breath, Spirit” or in an expanded form, “Voice of the Spirit.” (www.biblestudytools.com).

   The Holy Spirit has been given to every believer to guide, lead, direct, and yes, speak to us.  Have you heard His voice lately? Call on Him and He will answer.

* * * 

Rob Granger and his wife, Becky, serve as Executive Pastors of Grace Church San Marcos under Senior Pastors Brian and Melissa Bauer. Located at 855 E. Barham Drive, San Marcos, Grace San Marcos meets at 10 a.m. Sundays and 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays with meetings for youth, children and other groups scheduled throughout the week. Visit www.gracesanmarcos.net for further information.

  The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Times-Advocate.

One response to “How to be led by the Spirit, Pt2”

  1. Brenda says:

    Fortunately I truly believe that I was touched by Creator by working through a 12 step prog. I had been trying to stop drinking alcohol through rehab ctr but my addiction remained and hadn’t drank by my own will. As I worked with a sponsor doing as she had, I remember being so heartbroken from having just lost my last bro, we had lost our 3 older bros and then my younger bro, along with my parents. I started hearing messages from others in the 12 step prog. It seemed to have happened after my breakdown regarding the loss of my bro. I had felt overwhelming feelings of pure love and peace within my mind and heart for the first time in my life. That horrible craving for alcohol was taken from me. I then started to see other ppl who were spiritual who had a white glow around them, heard many messages and saw what I believe to be miracles, what happened to me was a true miracle. I’ve witnessed miracles before, being Native American I’d been helped by medicine men and have watched people be cured of diseases but had never felt like I had nor the presence of God. Today I’m living alcohol free, remain close to Creator through prayers and our traditional spiritual ways. I pray for all, God bless*

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