Led By the Holy Spirit

By

Shelby G. Floyd

August 13, 2006

 

        Almost every infatuated and misguided religious fanatic claims to have a direct operation of the Holy Spirit. Men today are talking of being led, guided and controlled by a direct operation of the Spirit. This is a false theory and leads to such consequences as claiming to raise the dead, performing miraculous feats of healing and speaking in tongues.

 

Led By the Spirit of God

 

To the church at Rome, the apostle Paul said, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” (Rom. 8: 14.) All children of God are led by the Spirit of God, but this passage does not state how the Spirit leads the children of God. The Holy Spirit is a divine person, distinct from the Father and Son. He is mentioned in the Old Testament at least eighty eight times and two hundred sixty four times in the New Testament.  He is denominated by such phrases as the Holy Spirit, the Spirit, the Spirit of God, the Spirit of truth, the Holy Ghost, Comforter, Advocate, Helper, etc.

 

The Apostles Received a Direct Operation of the Holy Spirit

 

It is true that the apostles received a direct operation of the influence and power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised the apostles that they would receive the Spirit of truth who would dwell in them. (John l4:16-18.) He promised that the Holy Spirit would teach the apostles all things and bring all things to their remembrance. (John l4: 26.) He also promised that the Holy Spirit would come upon them and guide them into all truth. (John 16: 13.) The Holy Spirit led Christ (Luke 4: 1); Paul (Acts 16: 6-7); Peter (Acts 10: 19-20) and Philip (Acts 8: 29) in a direct and immediate manner. This is not the manner in which the Holy Spirit leads, directs and guides his people today. Paul said, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” (Romans 8: 14.)

 

Led By Forces Affecting the Mind

 

The original word for “led” means to drive, lead, and figuratively it means to move, impel with forces and influences affecting the mind.  How does the Holy Spirit lead us in the sense of moving, impelling, influencing and affecting the human mind? One of the great students of the Bible, has said, “In all his work and operations in conversion and sanctification, the holy Spirit uses the instrumentality of truth.” (H. Leo Boles, The Holy Spirit, page 235.) The Bible is the product of the Holy Spirit; since holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit, and since these inspired apostles spoke not as they were taught by human wisdom, but in words taught them by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1: 21; 1 Corinthians 2: 13.); therefore, the Holy Spirit leads by the Bible.

 

The Holy Spirit Operates Through the Gospel

 

The Bible is not a product of worldly wisdom, but the Holy Spirit searched even the deep things of God and revealed them unto the apostles in words which have been recorded and handed down for centuries. When the word of God speaks to man today, it is the Spirit of God speaking. (Revelation 2: 7.) In one of the finest works on the operation of the Holy Spirit, N. B. Hardeman said, “But how does the Holy Spirit operate, that is the question? My answer first, last and all the time is that he influences through the gospel, which is God’s power. The word is the medium through which the Spirit accomplishes his work.” (Hardeman-Bogard Debate, page 21.)

 

In Sanctification the Holy Spirit Works Through the Word

 

         In sanctification, one is led by the Holy Spirit through the word of God. This is not just a simple assertion, but actually taught by the scriptures. Our salvation from sin is through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. (2 Thessalonians 2: 13.) According to this statement, the Holy Spirit sanctifies us through the truth of God. Our divine election is through sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience of the truth. (1 Peter 1: 2.) Some of the Corinthians who had indulged in the most degrading sins left them when they were sanctified by the Spirit of God. (1 Corinthians 6: 11.) The question is how were they sanctified by the Spirit of God? The answer to that question is given by no less authority than Jesus Christ himself. In his intercessory prayer to the Father, he said, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth,” (John 17:17.) He further said, “And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.” (John 17: 19.) Since the Holy Spirit leads men in their sanctification by the word of truth, therefore, it is not by a direct or immediate operation, but by a mediate or indirect operation through the gospel.

 

         When men today talk about being led, guided and controlled by a direct operation of the Holy Spirit they talk like mad men. The man today that is led by the Spirit is led by the truth, and if any man walks not according to the teaching of the apostles, he ab­solutely does not walk according to the Spirit. We call upon all men today to be satisfied with the all sufficient word of God, and to reject all men who claim a direct operation of the Holy Spirit as misguided and designing imposters. Let everyone reject the fanciful theories of Pentecostalism, including speaking in ton­gues and the working of miracles, because they are false doctrines and not taught in the word of God.  Copyright © 2006 All Rights Reserved