How Does the Holy Spirit Lead?
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." (2 Timothy 3:16-17) In a recent discussion, the all-sufficiency of the Scriptures was affirmed. Yet, it was argued that without the Holy Spirit leading us, we may never know what the Scriptures teach or how to apply them. Obviously, the Holy Spirit does lead certain ones.

While no one denies that the Holy Spirit leads or guides, we certainly differ about how He leads. Some believe and teach that the Holy Spirit acts miraculously to effect understanding of the Scriptures. Therefore, they believe that the Holy Spirit directly leads to salvation and sanctification, without means or instrumentality. These fail to recognize a difference in ordinary and miraculous manifestations. They want to make the Spirit's action toward the sinner or saint mystical or miraculous.

Some who claim to be Christians feel that the Holy Spirit dwells in them personally and leads them to speak in tongues, heal miraculously, make utterances (preach) as He gives them the words to say, and even directs them in their various life experiences. These affirm that there is little or no need to study the Scriptures to prepare themselves, for the Spirit will give them what they need as occasions arise.

Please note that the Spirit did not so completely take over the lives of men in the first century that every move they made was "Spirit-led." Paul and Barnabas formulated plans for the second journey in their minds, 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 Holy Spirit's direction, our faith might be shaken.

If we truly believe in the all-sufficiency of the Scriptures, let us look to the Bible and see what it reveals about Deity's leading. Yes, God continues to work within our lives, on occasion "choosing our changes," but His providential workings should not be confused with the Spirit's direct leading in the first century.

The Bible says each member of the Godhead leads, just as it says that each dwells in us. Learning how Deity leads and dwells in us should help to ease the confusion in our minds. Looking at how God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit led in the past should help to answer the question, "How does the Holy Spirit lead today?"

This is how the Holy Spirit leads Christians today. Redeemed people need the Holy Spirit to lead them in living Christian lives as much as they needed Him in coming to Christ. However, in leading, guiding, and edifying Christians, the Spirit uses the instrumentality of truth--the revealed, confirmed, word of truth. God's word is said to be the "sword (instrument) of the Spirit" (Ephesians 6:17). The Spirit "saith expressly," (1 Timothy 4:1-2) giving instruction, warnings, and exhortations through the New Testament. The Spirit has never laid aside the agency of truth, substituting fleshly 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, then believe and obey it. This is the way that Christians:

Deity has always led by the agent/agency of making revealed, confirmed truth (God's will) known to man, and coupling it with man's faith and obedience. Deity's leading never overrides man's will (free moral agency), so that he cannot choose to do or not do God's will. Most of our confusion over the Holy Spirit will be resolved when we fully realize that the Scriptures are His product, and that whenever we read the Scriptures, He is speaking to us, teaching us, and leading us. Isn't that simple?

Brother Galloway has taken a subject that is, for many in the religious world, very difficult and used the Scriptures to simplify it.

A number of years ago, I engaged in a discussion with a Christian church preacher and a few of the church members. The discussion centered on the Holy Spirit's work. This preacher said that without the Holy Spirit's direct intervention, there could be no true understanding of the Bible. I calmly showed him from the Scriptures that anything He could show me that the Spirit does, I could show that the Scriptures do.

He then began to tell of his calling to obedience by the Holy Spirit. He was in the field, drinking and behaving in an ungodly manner, when a warm feeling suddenly came over him. He fell down on his knees, and the Holy Spirit entered him and told him that his lifestyle was sinful and that he must abandon it. He accepted Jesus into his heart as his personal Savior. He got off his knees, threw away the bottle, and became a believer that very hour! Since that day, the Holy Spirit has been revealing the truths of God's word to him so he could teach it to others.

Sadly, feelings and emotions don't determine what is true. I made a simple request that he show me the passages where God saved anyone by using a method such as the one he had experienced. He tried to use Saul, but I showed that Christ sent Ananias to Saul to "tell him words whereby he might be saved." Please read carefully the account in Acts 9. Christ's appearance did not save Saul, but his obedience to the instructions of Ananias did (Acts 22:16). Simple isn't it? (KMG)


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