Being Led by the Holy Spirit

At the very core of leadership within the context of the Church is the fact that every leader's life has had a personal encounter with God. They therefore are:

• Christians
• Followers of Christ
• Led by the Holy Spirit

A CHRISTIAN LEADER IS A CHRISTIAN

Therefore to be a Christian leader, every leader must be a Christian. This is the starting place. A leader therefore needs to be a Christian who:

• Recognizes that they are sinners (Romans 3:23)
• That their sins have separated them from God (Romans 6:23)
• That their good works and lifestyle will not save them (Ephesians 2:8-9)
• Has placed their trust in Christ, the One who has paid the debt for their sins (2 Corinthians 5:21)

A CHRISTIAN LEADER IS A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST

We can be saved, believing that God has cleansed us from our sin, but many people do not move from this position. They do not grow further in their faith with God. However if we desire to be people of influence, it is not enough to just be a Christian, but we need to be a Christ follower. Effective influence takes place when we have placed ourselves under the Lordship of Christ – where we follow His ways, His will and His Word.

Romans 6:13 "Do not let any part of your body become a tool of wickedness, to be used for sinning. Instead, give yourselves completely to God since you have been given new life. And use your whole body as a tool to do what is right for the glory of God."

A CHRISTIAN LEADER SERVES THROUGH THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Romans 8:5 "Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit."

The leaders of the world and the business system lead according to their own abilities, ideas and wisdom, but the Christian leader is led by the Spirit of God.

Jesus was "led up of the Spirit" into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil (Matthew 4:1). Paul and his companions were being led on their journey by the Holy Spirit when they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, "having been forbidden of the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia," and when "they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit of Jesus suffered them not" (Acts 16:6-7). The Holy Spirit led Peter to the house of Cornelius, and Philip was led by the Holy Spirit to the eunuch. The Holy Spirit led three thousand souls to be saved on Pentecost. How? The Holy Spirit came to the apostles with miraculous demonstrations, giving proof that these men were truly messengers of God. Peter spoke "as the Holy Spirit gave utterance." Many were convicted by the truth spoken and asked, "What shall we do?" The Holy Spirit, speaking through Peter, said, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38). Thus about three thousand were led by the Holy Spirit to salvation, when they heard, believed and did just what the Holy Spirit said for them to do.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE LED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT?

Romans 8:14 "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God."

When we become a Christian our spirits are made new in God (John 3:5-6) and He comes and indwells us when we are baptized by Him (Luke 11:13). Through His indwelling presence in our hearts we no longer walk according to the way of the flesh but we walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5) thereby living a life that is radically different to the one we used to live in the flesh. Through His Presence and work in our lives we are:

• Taught spiritual things (John 14:26, 1 Corinthians 2:13-14)
• Convicted of sin (John 16:5-8)
• Given authority (John 20:21-23), as representatives of Jesus (Isaiah 61:1), to preach good news and set captives free
• Given power (Acts 1:8, Acts 4:31, 2 Timothy 1:7)
• Given direction (Luke 4:1-2, 12:12). Direction does not mean understanding everything. We may not understand why and how, but we have direction of our next step.

HOW CAN WE BE LED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD?

Before we look at how we can be lead by the Holy Spirit, let us first look at how the Holy Spirit does not lead us. The Holy Spirit does not lead us through our emotions. If Paul and his companions had been led by their feelings they would have gone to Asia (Acts 16:6-7). Remember that the heart can be a deceptive guide (Proverbs 28:26, Jeremiah 17:9). What may seem right to our thinking and emotions may not necessary be the right action that we are to take. Proverbs 14:12 "There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death." Paul used to be led by his emotions until he surrendered to God and was led by Him. Acts 26:9 "I used to believe that I ought to do everything I could to oppose the followers of Jesus of Nazareth."

The Holy Spirit leads us externally through the Word of God that we read of hear through sermons and other preachers, or through His indwelling presence. Let us look at each of the different ways that He leads us.

THE SPIRIT LEADS EXTERNALLY THROUGH THE WORD OF GOD

The Word of God is the instrument that is used by the Spirit to instruct and convict. John 16:7-11 "But it is actually best for you that I go away, because if I don't, the Counselor won't come. If I do go away, he will come because I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convince the world of its sin, and of God's righteousness, and of the coming judgment. The world's sin is unbelief in me. Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more. Judgment will come because the prince of this world has already been judged." The Word of God is an instrument that leads and guides us: John 16:12-13 "Oh, there is so much more I want to tell you, but you can't bear it now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not be presenting his own ideas; he will be telling you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future." The Word of God is a sword (Ephesians 6:17) that we can use to fight our enemies – our circumstances, our belief system, etc. Through the revelation of the Holy Spirit, as we read the Word of God, He highlights certain scriptures to our hearts which challenges us and changes us.

THE SPIRIT LEADS INTERNALLY THROUGH HIS INDWELLING: THE INNER WITNESS

"The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God." (Romans 8:16)

"I tell you the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit …" (Romans 9:1)

The key word in these two verses is the word "witness." The Holy Spirit is bearing witness to something in our human spirits. Jack Hayford defines a witness or witnessing as the following: "Giving evidence, attesting, confirming, confessing, bearing record, speaking well of, giving a good report, testifying, affirming what one has seen or heard, presenting the gospel with evidence."

LEADINGS

In addition to communicating a direct message to you, the Holy Spirit can also give you "leadings" on what to do and what not to do. "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God." (Romans 8:14) "Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil." (Matthew 4:1). These leadings from the Holy Spirit can be anything from a very gentle nudging to something that could be much stronger. When you get a real strong leading to do something specific, it will feel like God has His big hand on the small of your back pushing you forward. You will feel the wind at your back to move in that certain direction. You will feel or sense a very strong unction, a very strong prompting to move in that direction.

CHECK IN YOUR SPIRIT

In addition to the Holy Spirit leading you to go in a certain direction, He can also do just the exact opposite. He can tell you not to move in a certain direction, especially if there is going to be any kind of danger right around the corner. When He does not want you to move in a certain, dangerous direction, many of the times what you will pick up from Him is a "check in your spirit." A check in your spirit is like a stop sign being put up by the Holy Spirit. It is His way of telling you to stop right where you are at and not to proceed any further.

"… they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia … They tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them." (Acts 16:6-7)

QUICKENINGS

A quickening from the Holy Spirit is when He will "jump" something at you. For instance, if you are reading the Bible, you may find a verse or two that will jump off the pages at you. Whenever the Holy Spirit quickens something like this to you, this means you are to grab a hold of it and examine it to see exactly what the message is that He is trying to convey to you. If you are dealing with a specific problem, He may quicken a verse to you that will help solve your problem.

VISIONS, DREAMS AND PROPHECIES

"And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions; and also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days." (Joel 2:28-29)

PERSONAL APPLICATION

To be led by the Spirit of God in our every day lives we need to:

• Set our minds on what the Spirit desires (Romans 8:5-9)
• Die to your sinful nature (Galatians 5:24-26, Philippians 3:18-19, James 4:1-5)
• Pray in the Spirit (1 Corinthians 14:2, 14-15)
• Live a holy life (Ephesians 4:30, 1 Corinthians 6:18-20)
• Do not quench the Spirit's fire (1 Thessalonians 5:19)

THE RESULTS OF BEING LED BY THE SPIRIT – KNOWING HIS WILL

When we are being led by God, we will know His will for our lives. What does He want you to do and focus on in your life?

OFFER YOUR BODY AS A LIVING AND HOLY SACRIFICE

God's will for your life is that you are holy, committed and consecrated completely for and to Him. Before we can ever begin to operate in the will that God has planned for us concerning our vocation and our ministry, we first need to fulfill this part of the will of God. As we offer our bodies to Him we are yielding and surrendering our lives to His will. We are realizing that we are not here to live out our own selfish desires and plans, but rather to live for Him. To accomplish His will on earth.

John the Baptist understood this kind of surrender when he said, "He must increase, but I must decrease." (John 3:30) Paul understood this sacrifice when he said, "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain." (Philippians 1:21). Jesus taught on this type of surrender in Matthew 16:24 "Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.'" Until such a time as you have completely given your life to God and are willing to live for Him totally, you will not be able to find His will for your life, as you will still be hankering after your own desires. Only when you have learnt the act of surrender will you be able to live for the will of God on a daily basis. Your attitude will be "whatever you desire Lord, I will do it" rather than "Lord, I will do anything except…" David was only able to fulfil his calling once he had learnt to surrender his life to God. He needed to repent and give himself completely to God. Only then was he able to fulfil God's plan of teaching the transgressor and the sinner. Psalm 51:10-13 "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence, and do not take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted to you."

BE TRANSFORMED BY THE WORD OF GOD

The conformity that the world brings is opposed to the revelation that we receive in the Word of God. It comes through the senses and through our feelings. People are conformed to gain wealth and prestige, because it makes them feel good and therefore they follow the ways of the world in order to accomplish it. However, God tells us not to do things according to the worldly system, but rather to seek the ways of God through reading, studying and application of the Word.

In the table below we see how opposed the worldly ways of the world are to God's way:

Worldly ways of gain:

• Dishonest gain (Proverbs 16:8, Ezekiel 22:13)
• Injustice (Leviticus 19:35)
• Greed (Proverbs 15:27)
• Lying (Proverbs 21:6)
• Oppression (Proverbs 22:16)
• Unrighteousness (Jeremiah 22:13)

God's way to prosperity:

• Only trust in God as the source of your provision (1 Timothy 6:17)
• Fulfill His commandments & you will prosper (Deuteronomy 29:9, 1 Chronicles 22:13)
• Seek God (2 Chronicles 26:5, Matthew 6:33)
• Delight in the Word of God (Psalm 1:1-3)
• Be diligent in your work (Proverbs 10:4, 13:4)
• Be generous (Psalm 112:5, Philemon 6)

In order to do things according to the will of God, we need to change our thought pattern. We need to remember that "My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways." (Isaiah 55:8). In order to understand His thoughts we need to renew our minds and learn from the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 2:9-12 "But as it is written, 'Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.' But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, even the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God."

CONFORM TO HIS IMAGE

1 Peter 1:16 "For He Himself has said, 'You must be holy because I am holy.'"

It is the will of God that we be sanctified, set apart and made holy for Him. God is a holy God, and therefore only those who are holy and righteous are able to approach Him with boldness. 2 Corinthians 7:1 "Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete purity because we fear God."

WALK IN LOVE

When Moses was on the mountain receiving instruction from God concerning the laws and the regulations for the people, God wrote the Ten Commandments on stone tablets. These Ten Commandments related firstly to their relationship with God, and then to their relationship with one another. These commandments taught the Israelites to honour their parents, to respect life, to understand the sanctity of the marriage covenant, to respect other people's property and possessions and to be careful not to bear false witness against one another. When Jesus came to earth and was confronted by a lawyer concerning the commandments, Jesus did not reiterate all Ten Commandments, but rather he summed them up into two:

Matthew 22:37-40 "Jesus replied, 'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the other commandments and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.'"

Jesus was teaching those who were listening, that the Ten Commandments hung on two things – love for God and love for man.

"For you have been called to live in freedom—not freedom to satisfy your sinful nature, but freedom to serve one another in love." (Gal 5:13)

When we walk in love to others we will:

• Walk in submission: Ephes. 5:21 "And further, you will submit to one another out of reverence for Christ."
• Walk in unity: When we are walking in love and are submitting to the godly leadership that God has placed over us, we will be fulfilling the will of Jesus to be unified as one. John 17:21-23 "My prayer for all of them is that they will be one, just as you and I are one, Father—that just as you are in me and I am in you, so they will be in us, and the world will believe you sent me. I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are— I in them and you in me, all being perfected into one. Then the world will know that you sent me and will understand that you love them as much as you love me."

WALK IN SERVICE

It is God's will that we bear fruit for Him. This production of fruit however is a result of the living union that each of us have with Christ. It all depends upon the dependency that we have upon Christ. John 15:2-8 "He cuts off every branch that doesn't produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned for greater fruitfulness by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful apart from me. Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who parts from me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you stay joined to me and my words remain in you, you may ask any request you like, and it will be granted! My true disciples produce much fruit. This brings great glory to my Father."

John 15:16 "You didn't choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name."

There are three areas that we have been called to bear fruit in:

• We are to bear fruit in our character: John 15:8 "My true disciples produce much fruit. This brings great glory to my Father." Our lives should bear the fruit of the nature and character of Christ. When we bear fruit in our character we are expressing outwardly the union of our lives with Christ. Galatians 5:22 "But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, He will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."
• We are to bear fruit in our conduct: Luke 8:15 "But the good soil represents honest, good-hearted people who hear God's message, cling to it, and steadily produce a huge harvest."
• We are to bear fruit in our service: Our works and our deeds are to be a visible expression of the power of God that is working inwardly and invisibly. When Jesus was speaking to His disciples He gave them a Great Commission to finish the work that He had started (Matthew 28:19-20). This work is the work of the ministry and is not exclusively for five-fold ministry (Ephesians 4:11-12). Paul wrote, "We work together as partners who belong to God. You are God's field, God's building—not ours." (1 Corinthians 3:9)

SUMMARY

Before we can be effective Christian leaders we need to ensure that we are followers of Christ first and that we are being led by the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit leads us:

• By the Word
• By an inner witness
• By a check in our spirits
• By quickening of revelations
• By visions, dreams and prophecies

When we allow the Spirit of God to lead us and not our emotions and our own will, we will walk in the Will of God. We will:

• Offer our bodies as a living sacrifice to Him
• Be transformed by His Word
• Conform to His image
• Walk in love
• Walk in service