The Leading of the Holy Spirit

The leading of the Spirit is seen in perfection in Christ as Man on earth. He was begotten,¹ anointed,² lull³ and led⁴ of the Spirit. What a Vessel the Spirit found in Him marked off as He was in holiness in nature and mind. His whole being in accord with the mind of the Spirit and His will merged in the Will of God. Witness the Temptation. He was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil. Mark says;’ And immediately the Spirit driveth Him into the wilderness.⁵ Luke writes, “And Jesus being full of the Holy Spirit returned from Jordan and was led in the Spirit in the wilderness.”⁶ And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee.⁷ Here we have complete and constant subjection to the Spirit in Him. Being so, He was under the Spirit, led into, in and out of the wilderness.

Such was true of Christ in all His movements, in His ministry,⁸ miracles,⁹ death¹⁰ and resurrection.¹¹ Acts 1: 2 calls for notice too. How captivating to see such singular dependence, subjection and obedience in unbroken continuity in the Perfect Man. May we follow His steps¹² remembering that God giveth not the Spirit by measure.¹³

Coming to the Spirit leading the saints, there are certain requisites whether it be individually or collectively We must be born¹⁴ of the Spirit: this brings us into the possession of a life, nature¹⁵ mind,¹⁶ spirit¹⁷ will¹⁸ all of which constitute susceptible spiritual instincts which produce an intelligent responsiveness altogether apart from the merely natural¹⁹ and of which the carnal²⁰ is entirely insensible.

Moreover, to be led of the Spirit one must be in communion with God. There must be no wilful grieving²¹ no vexing²² no quenching²³ no lying to the Spirit.²⁴

We must be suitable and pleasing to Him. The leading of the Spirit is inseparably bound up with our spiritual state and condition, as also with our body which is His temple.²⁵ Our association and pursuits in every department of life enter into this matter. Let no one deceive himself.

It is not in man that walketh to direct bis steps.²⁶ The steps of a good man are ordered of the Lord.²⁷ To this end the Spirit is in us and shall abide with us for ever.²⁸

To know the leading of the Spirit there must be obedience to the Word of God.²⁹ All human will as such, worldly wisdom and self-choosing are alike detrimental to the Spirit’s guidance.³⁰ Traditions,³¹ apart from those which are Apostolic,³² must not be followed.

It gives confidence to the saints to remember the Divine attributes of the Spirit in His Omniscience, Omnipotence and Omnipresence.³³ Likewise, His Lordship.³⁴ Hence His infinite Competency and Authority to lead us unerringly in the current of God’s will and ways.

May we so think, speak, move and act as we live and walk in the Spirit.

¹ Mt. 1: 20; Lu. 1: 35.

² Lu. 4: 18.

³ Lu. 4: 1.

⁴ Mt. 4: 1.

⁵ Mk. 1: 12.

⁶ Lu. 4: 1.

⁷ Lu. 4: 14.

⁸ Lu. 4: 18.

⁹ Mt. 12: 28.

¹⁰ Heb. 9: 14.

¹¹ Rom. 1: 4.

¹² I Pet. 2: 21.

¹³ Jo. 3: 34, R.V.

¹⁴ Jo. 3: 3, 7.

¹⁵ 2 Pet. 1: 4.

¹⁶ 1 Cor. 2: 16.

¹⁷ Jo, 3: 0.

¹⁸ Phil. 2: 13.

¹⁹ 1 Cor. 2: 14.

²⁰ 1 Cor. 3: 3.

²¹ Eph. 4: 30.

²² Isa. 68: 10-14.

²³ 1 Thess. 5: 19.

²⁴ Acts 5: 3, 4, 9.

²⁵ 1 Cor. 6: 19.

²⁶ Jer. 10: 23.

²⁷ Ps. 37: 23.

²⁸ Jo. 14: 16, 17.

²⁹ Mt. 4; Lu. 4.

³⁰ GaI. 5: 17.

³¹ Mt. 15: 2-6; Mk. 7: 3-13.

³² 2 Thess. 2: 15; 1 Cor. 11: 2.

³³ Ps. 139; 1 Cor. 2: 10.

³⁴ 2 Cor. 3: 18.