Text: Romans 8:12-16

  12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.   13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die:  but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear;  but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 

 Saturday, 27^th April 2024    

THE HOLY SPIRIT LEADS

Text: Romans 8:12-16

Memory verse: 1 Corinthians 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

One of the stunning titles that Jesus calls the Holy Spirit in John 16:13 is “the spirit of truth.” “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.” What Jesus is telling us here is that when we have the Holy Spirit in our lives, He will lead us on the part we need to go. The Holy Spirit will not leave us in confusion but will reveal the truth to us. He illuminates the dark areas of our lives to give us a clear vision and direction to God’s purpose for us. 1 Corinthians 14:33 “For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints.”

“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. So, you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful as slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when He adopted you as His own children.” There are so many references as following the leading of the Holy Spirit. These references talk about following the leading of the Spirit on issues that require the Spirit giving us guidance on what decisions we should make in non-moral matters. Non-moral on matters the Bible did not directly address. You do not hear Christians saying, for instance, that the Holy Spirit led them to tell the truth or to resist temptation. These are moral issues. When it is a moral issue, we don’t need specific direction because God has already provided that direction in His word, the Bible.

In Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Galatians 5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

Romans 8:12-15 "So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh, 13 for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, Abba! Father.’"

The context is clearly not talking about making decisions in non-moral issues. Paul is talking here about righteous living. Paul is talking about following the Spirit’s leading to do what God has commanded us to do in His word. When God refers here to leading us by His Spirit, He is not referring to giving us information in addition to what He’s given us in His word. Rather, He is referring to the fact that He has sent His Spirit into our hearts to incline us to do what He has commanded. And so, He says, "Be led by the Spirit and not by your sinful desires." The meaning of Romans 8:14 is this: True sons of God are those who are led by the Spirit of God to obey the word of God.

CGDS HYMN 29: SS&S 642:

WHEN WE WALK WITH THE LORD

1. When we walk with the Lord in the light of his Word
What a glory he sheds on our way
While we do his good will, he abides with us still
And with all who will trust and obey

Trust and obey, for there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey

2. Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies
But his smile quickly drives it away
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh nor a tear
Can abide while we trust and obey

3. Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share
But our toil he doth richly repay
Not a grief nor a loss, not a frown or a cross
But is blest if we trust and obey

4. But we never can prove the delights of his love
Until all on the altar we lay
For the favor he shows, and the joy he bestows
Are for them who will trust and obey

5. Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at his feet
Or we will walk by his side in the way
What he says we will do, where he sends we will go
Never fear, only trust and obey

   Prayers:

1.  Lord Jesus, lead me into all the truth in my life by Your Holy Spirit in me.

2.  LORD God Almighty, lead me in the way that I don’t know and through the path of life by Your Spirits in Jesus’ name. Amen.    

3.  Pray for others in this regard.