Being Led by the Holy Spirit (Pt. 2)

Contributor:
Terry Whitson

It is an exciting adventure being led by Holy Spirit. He is our teacher, strengthener, our helper, our advocate, our standby, and our guide. HE is not an “it.” He is the Spirit of Almighty God on the earth. HE is to be revered and honored, so be careful not to grieve Him, because you are so dependent upon Him. Jesus said, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you” (John 14:26). I really Psalms 32:8, which is the work of Holy Spirit. “I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counselyou with My eye upon you.”

“I Perceive”
Paul was in the custody of Roman soldiers and was being transported to Rome in Acts 27. He had been placed aboard an Alexandrian ship, when he spoke to the men of that ship concerning their voyage. “When considerable time had passed and the voyage was now dangerous, since even the fast was already over, Paul began to admonish them, and said to them, ‘Men, I perceive that the voyage will certainly be with damage and great loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.’  But the centurion was more persuaded by the pilot and the captain of the ship than by what was being said by Paul.” (Acts 27:9-11).

Note what Paul said, “I perceive.” This is the Holy Spirit giving him this perception, which probably went off on the inside of Paul like an alarm. The scripture didn’t say that Holy Spirit spoke to him, rather it says, “I perceive.” Paul knew what was going to happen unless the men of the ship changed their minds.

A perception is a “knowing” an insight into a situation or circumstance. The men of the ship did not listen to Paul and everything happened just as he told the men, with the only exception being that all their lives were spared. The Angel of the Lord protected them all—because of Paul. (v.21-25)

The Spirit of the Lord will cause you to perceive and know things. He will warn you of things to come. Look what Jesus said of His Holy Spirit in John 16:13-14. “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.” It was Holy Spirit who gave Paul the warning perception of the coming shipwreck. HE was guiding Paul to avoid it, but the men of the ship would not listen.

Some years ago, Roy Hicks, a minister in California was driving down the expressway with another brother in the Lord. They were enjoying conversation with one another when all of the sudden Roy had a sinking feeling in his spirit. His friend asked Roy, “What’s wrong?” Roy responded that something was not right and immediately he reduced the speed of his car and slowed down. Just then, the cars in front of him ran into one another and Roy had slowed down just in time to avoid them. This again is a perception very similar to what Paul experienced. Roy didn’t know what was about to happen, but he did take action and they were not harmed.

The Spirit did not Permit
“They passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia; and after they came to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them; and passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. A vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing and appealing to him, and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us” (Acts 16:6-9).

Some may ask why would Holy Spirit forbid them to preach in those regions. There could be a number of reasons, one being the people would not receive the message of the Gospel and another reason being, they may have been killed in those regions. It’s very important for you to note that Holy Spirit may give a believer direction through a vision as He did with Paul and Silas. Holy Spirit normally leads by the knowing, by the perception, by the witness inside. But if He chooses, He can use a vision, a dream, an angel or He can speak to your heart.

Examples of how some were Led
Jesus earthly father was led by dreams. “But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:20).  “Now when they had gone, behold, an angel of the Lord *appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him” (Matthew 2:13).

Peter and Phillip were led by Angels. “So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God. On the very night when Herod was about to bring him forward, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards in front of the door were watching over the prison. And behold, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter’s side and woke him up, saying, ‘Get up quickly.’  And his chains fell off his hands” (Acts 12:5-7). “But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, ‘Get up and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza’” (Acts 8:26).
* Please note: This was only ONE of the ways Peter and Phillip were led.

Phillip was led by the voice of Holy Spirit. “Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this chariot” (Acts 8:29).  “While Peter was reflecting on the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. But get up, go downstairs and accompany them without misgivings, for I have sent them Myself” (Acts 10:19-20).

Please keep in mind that visions, dreams, angels and the voice of Holy Spirit are not the most common way Holy Spirit leads, but HE may choose any of these as HE wills. The most common way HE leads is by the inward witness—the inward knowing.

We Are Not Led By Circumstances
As believers in Jesus, we’re not to be led by circumstances. If Peter were led by his
circumstances he would have NEVER stepped out of the boat and walked on the water. If Paul had been led by his circumstances he would have never gone up to Jerusalem, because he had been warned time and time again that if he went there he would be bound and delivered into the hands of the Gentiles. But he went because he was led by Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit may have you step out and walk where it may appear foolish. To follow the Holy Spirit, requires faith. It will not always appear safe and practical to follow His guidance.

Some time ago a brother in the Lord was in a church service and was prompted by Holy Spirit to go up in front of the church and do cartwheels. He resisted this as most of us would, thinking in his head, “This is nuts!”  But the prompting of the Holy Spirit would not leave him alone. So he finally gave in and went up in front the whole church and did cartwheels. After this brother sat down another man stood up and said, “I told God today if HE is real, have someone in this church do cartwheels.” That morning this unbeliever surrendered his life to the Lord Jesus and was born again. Why? Because a believer was led and obeyed Holy Spirit. May you be faithful in following your guide- Holy Spirit.